There’s a message that many schools put up on their digital marquee at the end of the school year. Tag, parents. You’re it. The message is silly and playful, but it also hints at a deeper truth. Educators and parents have a symbiotic relationship. They partner in the raising of the next generation of adults.
It is a big responsibility that requires the careful application of a similar set of skills.
In this article, we take a close look at how parents can leverage their domestic skills to have successful and enjoyable careers in education.
Why Parents Pivot Into Education
Education is actually a very common second career for parents. While the skill overlap is certainly one factory isn’t the only one. For one thing aspiring teachers with a college degree, need only to complete a certification course to begin working as a licensed teacher. Certification requirements vary based on where you live. However, in most cases, they can be accomplished at an affordable price within one to two years.
Another thing to keep in mind? Teachers work schedules that are extremely compatible with parents’ lifestyles. It’s great being able to get up and leave for work at the same time your kids are going to school and return when they get back in the evening.
Because teachers have summers off, they also get to have much more time with their families than people working in their professions. The salary isn’t much to write home about, but it does match or exceed the national median, and in terms of work-life balance it would be difficult to find a more favorable career.
Teaching Requires a Unique Kind of Patience
Parents and teachers specialize in the same unique kind of patience. They are dealing with people whose minds are not fully developed yet. Children for the most part intend to do good but they aren’t always rational, and they’re more reactive than adults. This can make them very difficult, coworkers/housemates.
Neither parents nor teachers do what they do with the expectation that it will always be easy or fun. They enjoy molding, young minds and leveraging patients to help kids learn that same skill themselves.
Children know only what we show them. When they’re handled with patience and kindness they will learn to do the same. Teaching the next generation this skill is a big responsibility that parents and teachers rise to every day.
All Parents are Teachers
Obviously, parents teach children all of their most important life skills. The pedagogical approach is certainly different than that of the teacher.
Still, there are certain similarities. Parents, like teachers, understand that they have to be thoughtful about how they approach their lessons. Children respond differently to every situation. What works for one child may not be effective for another.
The same is true of students.
Granted, it would probably be a stretch to say that a good parent will naturally be good at teaching students. However, it may be accurate to suggest someone who is excited by the idea of educating their child and trying different approaches to make lessons come to life may be a good candidate for an education career.
What is the Best Way to Pivot Into Teaching?
We mentioned at the beginning of the article that parents who already have an undergraduate degree can often pivot into teaching by completing a licensure program. These classes are intensive in that they condense years of instruction into a 12-month or so period.
That said, they are also more affordable than getting a four-year degree and they will allow you to move into your new career relatively quickly.
There may be a number of reasons why this option is not well suited for your needs. Maybe your state requirements make it very difficult to acquire alternative licensure.
You may also find the programs in your area do not suit your lifestyle requirements or simply do not reflect what you were looking for.
If you are not interested in pursuing an alternative relationship program, you may also get licensed through several different ways. There are volunteer organizations that allow you to acquire a teacher’s license through a combination of instruction and service.
Teach For America is a common alternative route to licensure—although it may not be appropriate for most parents because it often requires participants to temporarily relocate.
If that doesn’t sound right for you, you can pursue a graduate program. Getting a graduate degree not only makes you eligible to teach in your state, but it will also allow you to start at a higher pay level than people who only have an undergraduate degree.
Naturally, to get a graduate degree, you will already have your four-year degree.
If you do not have any degree at all, you will need to complete a traditional four-year program to get your teaching license. Obviously, this path is more time-consuming than many people are looking for, but it is worth it if teaching is something you think you are passionate about.
Not sure if you want to give it a try? There are lots of ways you can get a taste of what is like to be an educator without fully committing to a licensure program. Consider working as a paraprofessional or seeing if you can get opportunities to sub. While neither adequately reflects the responsibilities of a fully licensed teacher. It will at least give you a taste of the educator’s life.
A Perfect Skill Match?
Well, it’s better not to exaggerate. Educators and parents have many common trades, but their responsibilities are ultimately different. Parents have an emotional relationship with their children. Teachers have a professional one. This can make all of the difference in the world.
There are also very important practical differences. Teachers manage up to 30 children at a time. Parents rarely have to deal with more than one or two.
Teachers are constantly worrying about state-required benchmarks. Parents legally are required to do very little more than give their children access to food and shelter.
This is not to say that it is harder to be a teacher, nor is it insinuating in any way that is easy to be a parent. It is only to emphasize that parents and teachers are held to a different set of expectations.
There is skill overlap. Education can be a great fit for parents were looking for a new career. However, it takes more than having a good nurturing personality. You have to have a passion for education. You have to want to be a teacher and feel very strongly about helping students achieve their academic goals.
Bottom line? Great teachers are needed now more than ever. Ready to give it a try? If you are interested in becoming a teacher look into certification programs in your state. Often you will find a wide range of in-person and remote options.
