Developing the Big Picture

What Does Teaching Look Like Today?

Jeffery Cassity

Grand Canyon University: EDU-576

June 1, 2015

How many teachers are there in the U.S.?

According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are approximately 3.5 million full-time-equivalent (FTE) elementary and secondary school teachers were engaged in classroom instruction in fall 2013. The 2013 projected number of FTE teachers includes 3.1 million public school teachers and 0.4 million private school teachers (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015).

A demographic breakdown of the race and ethnicity of teachers is very similar whether in a public or private school. A breakdown of each appears on the following slides.

The Demographics: Gender

Female44%

Male 56%

% of Teachers

The Demographics: Ethnic/RacialPublic Schools

Amer. Indian or Alaska Na-tive2%

Asian or Pacific Islander3% African American

6%

Caucasian84%

Hispanic4%

The Demographics: Ethnic/Racial Private Schools

American Indian or Alaska Native

2%

Caucasian87%

African American3%

Asian or Pacific Islander3%

Hispanic5%

Preparing to be a Teacher

There are different ways to prepare yourself for the teaching

field. Some individuals will complete a baccalaureate

teacher education program. Others, who already have a

bachelor’s degree in another field, may return to school to

complete an alternative teacher preparation program (Webb,

Metha, & Jordan, 2010,) .

Preparing to be a Teacher

Once you have successfully completed a teacher training

program you must obtain a teaching certificate or license

from the state you will teach in. Teacher certification

requirements vary from state to state. If you will teach in a

school that receives federal funding, you must be certified

by that state(Webb…).

Preparing to be a Teacher

To acquire a teaching certificate you must pass a state

certification test. A teacher who decides to teach at the

middle or high school level may also be required to pass a

subject area test(Webb…).

Fostering Professional Development and GrowthThere are a number of things that educators can do to

continue to grow and develop professionally:• Read Books on Professional Development• Take Professional Development Courses• Take Additional College Courses• Read Well-Established Websites and Journals• Visit Other Teachers Classrooms and Other Schools• Attend Teaching Conferences• Join Professional Organizations

(Kelly, M, 2015)

Education and Credentialing in a Teacher’s SuccessThe biggest difference between education and credentialing

in the success of an educator is that while a college or

university can provide a person with the necessary classes

and background to be a success as a teacher, the role of a

credential agency is to makes sure the educator has the

ability to apply that knowledge and meet the proper

professional standards.

Education and Credentialing in a Teacher’s SuccessAnyone of reasonable intelligence can pass the required

courses to become a teacher. The question is whether that

person can apply that knowledge and maintain the correct

professional demeanor as well as maintain the proper

standards day in and day out.

References

Kelly, M.(2015). Methods of Professional Growth for Teachers. Retrieved from http://712educators.about.com/od/Professional_Development/tp/Methods-Of-Professional-Growth-For-Teachers.htm

MediaWiki. (2011). WikiMediaCommons: Creative Commons Photos. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2015). Digest of Education Statistics, 2013 (NCES 2015-011)

Webb, D., Metha, A., & Jordan, K. (2010). Foundations of American education. Columbus, OH: Pearson