For teachers, no other career choice equals the excitement and opportunities of the classroom. Once the passion takes hold for helping students improve their lives, most teachers find their lives changed forever. They find the rewards of being a teacher far exceed the challenges.
Some find inspiration in the critical role teachers play in society. Whether they teach elementary or secondary education or focus on special education students, teachers make an impact that significantly changes students’ lives.
Teachers are in high demand. The federal government projects a 7 percent increase in elementary and middle school teachers nationwide over the next decade and an 8 percent increase in high school and special education teachers. Overall, the teaching profession will have more than 1.5 million jobs for elementary, secondary, and special education teachers by 2030.
“School districts across Wisconsin and around the United States need quality teachers in their classrooms,” said Dr. Kimiko Ott, Associate Dean/Chair of the Marian University Education Department. “At Marian, we’re dedicated to providing teachers the education they need to maximize their skills and play a strong role in bettering the lives of students.”
The Rewards of Becoming a Teacher
The rewards of being a teacher extend beyond what most careers offer. While becoming a classroom educator presents challenges, it’s a career with many benefits.
Impacting Students’ Lives
Everyone has a “favorite teacher” story from their school days. Research now backs up what most people understood through their own experience: the better the teacher, the better the students. Ott said research cites teacher quality as the most critical factor in students’ academic success. The opportunity to positively impact students ranks as the most significant benefit of becoming a teacher.
Transferable Skills
Teachers also learn transferable skills that allow them to become educators in any location. The high demand for teachers in Wisconsin, the U.S., and around the globe gives teachers a solid chance to get a job wherever they wish to teach. Also, reciprocity agreements between states allow teaching candidates to be mobile.
Work-Life Balance
The teaching profession requires a strong level of commitment and dedication. However, most teaching jobs are “family-friendly,” allowing education professionals to focus on their private lives outside the classroom, including developing hobbies and furthering their education.
Collaboration
The teaching profession provides an outlet for educators who enjoy collaborating in an environment that supports creativity. That includes making use of innovative technology that helps teachers develop strategies that provide access to learning for all students. As Dr. Ott points out, “Creating multiple pathways to learning is exciting, life-transforming work.”
Marian University Masters in Education Programs
Marian University offers Master of Arts in Education (With License) programs focusing on K-12 special education and elementary/middle-level education. Teachers can benefit from the flexibility of online learning, building their class schedule around their lifestyle rather than the other way around.
The university also offers traditional online graduate-level programs for At-Risk and Alternative Education (ARAE) and add-on Reading Teacher licensure.
Dr. Ott said that the education profession attracts people driven to better the lives of others. They consistently work toward preparing students to be engaged citizens in ways that benefit local, regional, and global communities.
“Teachers make a difference every day in the lives of the children they teach. Most of us can remember a teacher that made a lasting impression,” Dr. Ott said. “In the words of Maya Angelou: ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’”
