Chances are, if you’ve been floating around somewhere in the teacher orbit, you likely agree with the proclamation that all students deserve great teachers. We’ve been working hard to give you the training you need to become the teacher they all need.
As we continue our mission together, it’s time to tackle the next issue – What can be done to address the needs of all? Wherever you are in your teaching journey, whether you’re a casual lurker, dream of becoming a teacher, are currently studying to become a teacher, or if you’re already a teacher, you’re probably aware that there is an ongoing teacher shortage. In fact, all 50 states report teacher shortages, meaning Florida is no exception.
The teacher shortage is real – there’s no dispute. Teachers of Tomorrow has worked diligently over the past 15 years to address this serious issue. Let’s circle back the small word packed with a big significance: all. If serving the needs of all is the goal, we need to start by providing teachers to the populations who need them most. Within the teacher shortage in Florida, some areas are critically short. These areas are deemed “high-need subject areas”.
Make yourself more marketable as a teacher by adding or pursuing a high-need field! These positions are so greatly needed, you may find yourself one of the only qualified candidates. This could be the ticket to your immediate hire. Teachers of Tomorrow is here to meet you wherever you are in your teaching journey and help make the next step of pursuing a high-need subject area easily accessible to you. Here at Florida Teachers of Tomorrow, we help certify teachers in the following high-need subject areas:
- English as a Second Language
- Exceptional Student Education
- General Science
- Mathematics
Becoming a teacher helps combat the teacher shortage. Go one step further and become a high-need subject area teacher to provide all students with the teachers they deserve. Together, we can work to remove Florida from the teacher shortage list, and it starts with addressing the critical high-need subject areas openings.
What exactly does pursuing a high-need subject area entail? For starters, high-need subject area teachers typically earn higher pay, get hired faster and have job security. Read more about the benefits here. Let’s take a brief walk through each of the subject areas on the list:
English as a Second Language
As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, you only need to speak English. ESL teachers work with our students who may have limited English proficiency. The objective is to help students acquire the language.
If you’re confused about the differences between Bilingual Education and ESL, you’re not alone. Read more here to understand their differences.
Exceptional Student Education
Becoming an Exception Student Education teacher is arguably one of the most rewarding careers. These teachers work with students who have a disability. The objective is to ensure that curriculum is accessible for these students who learn differently from their peers.
You may have read this acronym before, but what does it mean and why is it important? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It is important because teacher shortages are reported for each subject area. The remaining two subject areas on our high-needs list fall under the umbrella of STEM. Read on for a brief overview of each.
Science
Quick science teacher quality checklist:
- You enjoy hand-on learning
- You are endlessly curious
- You enjoy taking students on field trips
- You encourage non-conventional learning
If you scored four ‘yesses’, look no further – becoming a science teacher just may be your calling.
Mathematics
The key responsibility of a mathematics teacher is to teach general and advanced math topics to students. There is an important difference between knowing how to do math and knowing how to teach math. If you have a knack for explaining sticky concepts, consider becoming a mathematics teacher.
