Possible Career Change - Advice Needed

[acamp]

@acamp, I'm not sure if it is similar in NJ but here in CA teaching at a community college is a pretty good gig. It is kind of the best kept secret of teaching. All you need it is a Masters and you generally don't get all the "other" stuff that comes with teaching in the public school system. With your work experience and Masters you could be a prime candidate for a full time instructor position at a community college. You get the joy of teaching without the headache of k-12 and typically fewer hours on campus. Around here community college instructors make more than k-12.

Source: My spouse is a tenured professor at our local community college.

Hello!
I would love to do that but in NJ the tenured professors usually have to hold a doctorate degree. Also, many of the professors at the community college level in NJ are only brought on as adjuncts unfortunately


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I'm afraid that I'm going to be the sour note in this thread.  I recognize that K-12 teaching is not the gig it once was.  Personally, I don't think that I could do it.  So I understand your interest in moving on to something new.  However, it seems quite unrealistic to think that you can move into a new career track without any training or experience and maintain anything close to your current salary, benefits, etc.  I'm wondering if you'd collect any pension benefits if you stuck it out until you hit 20 years.  In those next 3 years you could try to use the educational benefits at your job to gain some skills for your next gig.  I know that lots of teachers are fleeing their jobs/schools.  I'm not sure where they're all going to but I wish you the best of luck in any case.

No I appreciate the honesty; sadly I figured there wasn’t a career change path available. I would still need another 19 years to be eligible for pension since it’s 25 years and not all my teaching years were pensionable since I taught in a private school prior.

Appreciate the post though.


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I'm afraid that I'm going to be the sour note in this thread.  I recognize that K-12 teaching is not the gig it once was.  Personally, I don't think that I could do it.  So I understand your interest in moving on to something new.  However, it seems quite unrealistic to think that you can move into a new career track without any training or experience and maintain anything close to your current salary, benefits, etc.  I'm wondering if you'd collect any pension benefits if you stuck it out until you hit 20 years.  In those next 3 years you could try to use the educational benefits at your job to gain some skills for your next gig.  I know that lots of teachers are fleeing their jobs/schools.  I'm not sure where they're all going to but I wish you the best of luck in any case.

They may not have a pension. Every state hasn't offered a pension in many years. Mine is one of them. Teachers here have 401Ks. Once you get close to retirement, many of my teacher friends were treated like garbage. The admins wanted them gone before they retired. They cost too much money. They aren't afraid to speak up unlike most new teachers. 

Many teachers are moving to corporate training and talent development. I see a ton of former or soon to be former teachers in the MS Learning Expereience Design program at WGU. So many see this as their way out of teaching in schools.

Those paths would be ideal but usually they require some type of educational leadership/administration masters or curriculum and instruction masters.


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I'm afraid that I'm going to be the sour note in this thread.  I recognize that K-12 teaching is not the gig it once was.  Personally, I don't think that I could do it.  So I understand your interest in moving on to something new.  However, it seems quite unrealistic to think that you can move into a new career track without any training or experience and maintain anything close to your current salary, benefits, etc.  I'm wondering if you'd collect any pension benefits if you stuck it out until you hit 20 years.  In those next 3 years you could try to use the educational benefits at your job to gain some skills for your next gig.  I know that lots of teachers are fleeing their jobs/schools.  I'm not sure where they're all going to but I wish you the best of luck in any case.

I agree with possibly sticking it out if 20 years is where you could earn a pension, although for most, I don't think it's a set time, but age + years = 55 or something like that.

I also think that switching careers will PROBABLY (but not guaranteed) set you back a bit financially for a while. $100k is a fairly high bar to hit for someone with no experience in the field.  So I think ss20ts's suggestion of Corporate Training, or AnalysisParalysis's suggestion of teaching at a CC, might be your best options.  The only thing that might help is that you could find a good gig with better pricing for benefits (ours are only $400/mo, and my husband's last job was $150/mo).  But nobody is giving pensions these days, mostly 401(k)'s or 403(b)'s, so unless you find someone with a good match, you're on your own for saving for retirement.

I'd probably also look for jobs in state government.

Hello,
Yes my next step is to see what state jobs, if any, I would qualify for since they offer the same type of benefits. I am at the point where as long as I am making comparable and have health benefits for my family, I would forgo the pension and switch to a 401k. Not the best retirement option compared to a pension but that’s how bad the schools are nowadays.

As for my current health benefits, that’s the same for all state workers and public school teachers in NJ. They use a formula and base it off a percent of your income. Aka you make more money on the pay scale then you are required to pay more which isn’t right but that’s a whole different topic for another time =)

[ss20ts]

If you want to move into another field, you're most likely going to need some training. You may need another degree. You need to figure out what you want to do first. That's the hard part. You don't need a degree in C&I to become a corporate trainer or work as a Talent Coordinator. What degrees do you have?

[acamp]

If you want to move into another field, you're most likely going to need some training. You may need another degree. You need to figure out what you want to do first. That's the hard part. You don't need a degree in C&I to become a corporate trainer or work as a Talent Coordinator. What degrees do you have?

I think corporate trainer would be a good match with my teaching background and personality.

BALS
Masters in English Language Learning (ESL)


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[AnalysisParalysis]

@acamp, I'm not sure if it is similar in NJ but here in CA teaching at a community college is a pretty good gig.  It is kind of the best kept secret of teaching.  All you need it is a Masters and you generally don't get all the "other" stuff that comes with teaching in the public school system.  With your work experience and Masters you could be a prime candidate for a full time instructor position at a community college.  You get the joy of teaching without the headache of k-12 and typically fewer hours on campus.  Around here community college instructors make more than k-12.

Source: My spouse is a tenured professor at our local community college.

Hello!
I would love to do that but in NJ the tenured professors usually have to hold a doctorate degree.  Also, many of the professors at the community college level in NJ are only brought on as adjuncts unfortunately


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I just looked at Raritan Valley Community College in NJ (it was just the first one that popped up), I can't find anything indicating a requirement for a doctorate degree. In fact, only one of the two tenured track openings right requires a masters, the other one doesn't even require that.  All the adjunct listings only require a masters and teaching experience as requirements.
However, you are correct that they use part time adjuncts to fill most of the positions.  My spouse taught part time at three schools (the community college and two universities) while waiting for a full time tenured track position to open up at the community college.  It is not always easy to get in, but once you are it is golden.

[acamp]

@acamp, I'm not sure if it is similar in NJ but here in CA teaching at a community college is a pretty good gig.  It is kind of the best kept secret of teaching.  All you need it is a Masters and you generally don't get all the "other" stuff that comes with teaching in the public school system.  With your work experience and Masters you could be a prime candidate for a full time instructor position at a community college.  You get the joy of teaching without the headache of k-12 and typically fewer hours on campus.  Around here community college instructors make more than k-12.

Source: My spouse is a tenured professor at our local community college.

Hello!
I would love to do that but in NJ the tenured professors usually have to hold a doctorate degree.  Also, many of the professors at the community college level in NJ are only brought on as adjuncts unfortunately


Sent from my iPhone using DegreeForum.net

I just looked at Raritan Valley Community College in NJ (it was just the first one that popped up), I can't find anything indicating a requirement for a doctorate degree. In fact, only one of the two tenured track openings right requires a masters, the other one doesn't even require that.  All the adjunct listings only require a masters and teaching experience as requirements.
However, you are correct that they use part time adjuncts to fill most of the positions.  My spouse taught part time at three schools (the community college and two universities) while waiting for a full time tenured track position to open up at the community college.  It is not always easy to get in, but once you are it is golden.

Just curious - what is your wife’s masters degree in? Is she able to teach a variety of community college courses with it? Thank you!


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[dfrecore]

@acamp, I'm not sure if it is similar in NJ but here in CA teaching at a community college is a pretty good gig. It is kind of the best kept secret of teaching. All you need it is a Masters and you generally don't get all the "other" stuff that comes with teaching in the public school system. With your work experience and Masters you could be a prime candidate for a full time instructor position at a community college. You get the joy of teaching without the headache of k-12 and typically fewer hours on campus. Around here community college instructors make more than k-12.

Source: My spouse is a tenured professor at our local community college.

Hello!
I would love to do that but in NJ the tenured professors usually have to hold a doctorate degree. Also, many of the professors at the community college level in NJ are only brought on as adjuncts unfortunately


Sent from my iPhone using DegreeForum.net

---

I'm afraid that I'm going to be the sour note in this thread.  I recognize that K-12 teaching is not the gig it once was.  Personally, I don't think that I could do it.  So I understand your interest in moving on to something new.  However, it seems quite unrealistic to think that you can move into a new career track without any training or experience and maintain anything close to your current salary, benefits, etc.  I'm wondering if you'd collect any pension benefits if you stuck it out until you hit 20 years.  In those next 3 years you could try to use the educational benefits at your job to gain some skills for your next gig.  I know that lots of teachers are fleeing their jobs/schools.  I'm not sure where they're all going to but I wish you the best of luck in any case.

No I appreciate the honesty; sadly I figured there wasn’t a career change path available. I would still need another 19 years to be eligible for pension since it’s 25 years and not all my teaching years were pensionable since I taught in a private school prior.

Appreciate the post though.


Sent from my iPhone using DegreeForum.net

---

I'm afraid that I'm going to be the sour note in this thread.  I recognize that K-12 teaching is not the gig it once was.  Personally, I don't think that I could do it.  So I understand your interest in moving on to something new.  However, it seems quite unrealistic to think that you can move into a new career track without any training or experience and maintain anything close to your current salary, benefits, etc.  I'm wondering if you'd collect any pension benefits if you stuck it out until you hit 20 years.  In those next 3 years you could try to use the educational benefits at your job to gain some skills for your next gig.  I know that lots of teachers are fleeing their jobs/schools.  I'm not sure where they're all going to but I wish you the best of luck in any case.

They may not have a pension. Every state hasn't offered a pension in many years. Mine is one of them. Teachers here have 401Ks. Once you get close to retirement, many of my teacher friends were treated like garbage. The admins wanted them gone before they retired. They cost too much money. They aren't afraid to speak up unlike most new teachers. 

Many teachers are moving to corporate training and talent development. I see a ton of former or soon to be former teachers in the MS Learning Expereience Design program at WGU. So many see this as their way out of teaching in schools.

Those paths would be ideal but usually they require some type of educational leadership/administration masters or curriculum and instruction masters.


Sent from my iPhone using DegreeForum.net

---

I'm afraid that I'm going to be the sour note in this thread.  I recognize that K-12 teaching is not the gig it once was.  Personally, I don't think that I could do it.  So I understand your interest in moving on to something new.  However, it seems quite unrealistic to think that you can move into a new career track without any training or experience and maintain anything close to your current salary, benefits, etc.  I'm wondering if you'd collect any pension benefits if you stuck it out until you hit 20 years.  In those next 3 years you could try to use the educational benefits at your job to gain some skills for your next gig.  I know that lots of teachers are fleeing their jobs/schools.  I'm not sure where they're all going to but I wish you the best of luck in any case.

I agree with possibly sticking it out if 20 years is where you could earn a pension, although for most, I don't think it's a set time, but age + years = 55 or something like that.

I also think that switching careers will PROBABLY (but not guaranteed) set you back a bit financially for a while. $100k is a fairly high bar to hit for someone with no experience in the field.  So I think ss20ts's suggestion of Corporate Training, or AnalysisParalysis's suggestion of teaching at a CC, might be your best options.  The only thing that might help is that you could find a good gig with better pricing for benefits (ours are only $400/mo, and my husband's last job was $150/mo).  But nobody is giving pensions these days, mostly 401(k)'s or 403(b)'s, so unless you find someone with a good match, you're on your own for saving for retirement.

I'd probably also look for jobs in state government.

Hello,
Yes my next step is to see what state jobs, if any, I would qualify for since they offer the same type of benefits. I am at the point where as long as I am making comparable and have health benefits for my family, I would forgo the pension and switch to a 401k. Not the best retirement option compared to a pension but that’s how bad the schools are nowadays.

As for my current health benefits, that’s the same for all state workers and public school teachers in NJ. They use a formula and base it off a percent of your income. Aka you make more money on the pay scale then you are required to pay more which isn’t right but that’s a whole different topic for another time =)

[Charles Fout]

Good evening, everyone,
I have been teaching full time in NJ for the past 17 years.  Sadly, it is no longer teaching for many reasons.  It’s actually very sad what public school education has been turned into.  It’s a huge disservice to teachers who want to actually teach and ultimately a huge disservice to the students.

With that being sad, I really need to make a move into a career change.  Since I have 17 years of teaching, I am at the top of the pay scale making very close to $100,000 (not that I see anywhere near that amount due to useless union fees, $900 a month medical benefits deduction, pension, and of course taxes).

All I have known is teaching.  I love interacting with people and helping them.   I have a masters but it is in a teaching speciality so that won’t really help in regards to a career change.  

Does anyone know or can offer any ideas as to a career I can try to move into where I am making close to $100k a year and offers family medical health benefits?  Side note - I am the sole provider of my family.  My home isn’t big so I can’t downsize and make any money on it.  

I don’t think I would be good in sales due to the risk of not  having a salary come in to feed and provide for my family.  Also, I am descent with technology but don’t have the brain for coding (I am a very black/white, concrete sequential thinker).

Any ideas or suggestions I would appreciate.  Thanks in advance!



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Again, I return to my stock advice. Which is to Network! Network! Network!
Surely after seventeen years in the field, you have mentors and senior colleagues who have left the field for retirement and other reasons. If you have not already, I recommend discussing your career change plans with them. Many things to consider:
Are you vested in your retirement plan?
What will you lose by exiting the system Now (healthcare, 401K-like mechanism, etc.)?
I believe there is not one of us who is irreplaceable but, do ask yourself -are you making a difference in your students' future? I would think this is the most rewarding part of being a teacher.
I assume you became a teacher shortly after No Child Left Behind was implemented. How well do you students perform on standardized exams? Do you think that is a fair metric?
Are there opportunities within the schools (administrator, such as principal, Vice principal, counselor, etc.)

Wishing you the best with your vocational exploration.

[AnalysisParalysis]

@acamp, I'm not sure if it is similar in NJ but here in CA teaching at a community college is a pretty good gig.  It is kind of the best kept secret of teaching.  All you need it is a Masters and you generally don't get all the "other" stuff that comes with teaching in the public school system.  With your work experience and Masters you could be a prime candidate for a full time instructor position at a community college.  You get the joy of teaching without the headache of k-12 and typically fewer hours on campus.  Around here community college instructors make more than k-12.

Source: My spouse is a tenured professor at our local community college.

Hello!
I would love to do that but in NJ the tenured professors usually have to hold a doctorate degree.  Also, many of the professors at the community college level in NJ are only brought on as adjuncts unfortunately


Sent from my iPhone using DegreeForum.net

I just looked at Raritan Valley Community College in NJ (it was just the first one that popped up), I can't find anything indicating a requirement for a doctorate degree. In fact, only one of the two tenured track openings right requires a masters, the other one doesn't even require that.  All the adjunct listings only require a masters and teaching experience as requirements.
However, you are correct that they use part time adjuncts to fill most of the positions.  My spouse taught part time at three schools (the community college and two universities) while waiting for a full time tenured track position to open up at the community college.  It is not always easy to get in, but once you are it is golden.

Just curious - what is your wife’s masters degree in?   Is she able to teach a variety of community college courses with it?  Thank you!


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She has a bachelors and masters in Math, she teaches all levels of math. It depends on the school on how specific the degree needs to be.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, so, as I mentioned... if you have the energy, money, time to spend on some extra learning, do so with the cheapie/freebie options available. If you want to swing it differently, with your undergrad/graduate degree, you can try the local community colleges or even private, smaller ones to see if there are other positions closer to teaching... If the salary is up to your standard, then give it a go, if not, back to the drawing board!

[RavindraNagai]

Given your background in education, you might want to explore roles where your teaching skills and experience can be valuable. Have you thought about roles in training, curriculum development, or educational consulting? Your ability to communicate effectively and manage diverse groups could be assets in these fields.