The Houston Independent School District has another information session planned for Monday, October 27 to talk about the alternative certification path for a teaching career.
All you need is a bachelor’s degree and an interest in teaching. According to Interim Press Secretary Norm Uhl, the program takes a year to complete, during which time the would-be teachers are interns teaching full time – and here’s the best part — with full teacher pay.
A mentor teacher monitors the goings on during the first year. HISD hires about 1,000 teachers every year and the alternative certification participants are a part of that. “The number used to be more like 1,200-1400, but we are retaining more teachers. We believe the teacher performance pay program is having a significant impact on teacher retention,” Uhl tells Hair Balls.
So if you’ve always thought you wanted to teach or if life in these uncertain economic times has thrown you a left curve and you no longer see yourself as a trader on Wall Street, head to the district’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 West 18th Street, in the auditorium from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday. For more information call 713-556-7373.
– Margaret Downing
This article appears in Oct 16-22, 2008.