So I’ve pretty much made the decision to give up what’s a fledgling writing career for television and go back to school to become a teacher. I’ve spent four years in New York City and haven’t gotten as far as I would like, and I’m tired of working as a secretary. I want to do something I enjoy, so I’ve decided to get my teaching certification.
I have a four-year-undergraduate degree in music performance (french horn, so I’m very familiar with both band and orchestra). I’ve already spoken with the music department at my undergraduate school, and they’re very excited about the possibility that I might return there (they have a 1 year MAT program, plus I could work as a graduate assistant in the music department and have my tuition paid, receive a stipend, and work towards my MFA as well.). I was an excellent student while I was there (not to blow my own horn, no pun intended:), but I worked hard and graduated with a 3.6 GPA, and I got along with all of my professors. So getting an assistantship would more than likely be easy.
However, I’m considering more than one program. Besides their program, I’m considering trying for a program that the state of Virginia offers. Essentially, you take a battery of tests, and if you pass, you go through an intensive four-week course during the summer and in the fall, you teach. During your first year, you’re assigned a mentor, and you work towards your certification, which takes a year. My sister-in-law applied for the program and didn’t make it, but they only take 100 people. So I’d still have to make it into the program first. Still, it seems like a good option to me.
The other program is another year-long program at the university of Richmond, which isn’t a masters’ program, but a certification program. This is the program that my sister-in-law has just finished. The pros of this one would be that I would be certified to teach elementary school, giving me wider options than just a music education degree would. I could also take a Praxis test, enabling me to become certified as a music teacher too. The downside is that I wouldn’t have my Master’s degree when it was over, just my certification. And since one of my long-term goals is to teach music history at the college level, that’s something to consider. If I did this program, I could get my certification and then still return to a Master’s degree program the next year to get my music degree.
All of the programs have their pros and cons. I would love to return to my alma mater because I seriously have missed being in school, I know the department, I love the town the school is in, and I’m a grown up now, so I’d be living on my own and still have friends nearby to see. Not to mention, my BF lives four hours away from the school. Still, the other programs would be good—I would love to be able to be approved to teach after a four week program. And if I could teach elementary school, I’d have a better chance at a job.
I think what I’m mainly concerned about is the fact that some states require a Master’s degree even to teach elementary school, some don’t want people with a Master’s because they have to pay them more, etc. And I do NOT want to remain in Virginia–I’d like to move out West somewhere, Washington state or Oregon. So I’m a bit torn as to which program to do. I’d love to get some advice from teachers or anyone else who’s familiar with this kind of thing. Thanks!
Ava