You have decided to go the extra mile and become a Certified Texas Educator. You have invested time and money in your studies and certification process, and you are now looking for the next best step to continue your teaching career. Congratulations! You are among the lucky ones who were able to find a great opportunity in a Texas EIT-Approved Education Provider. Now what happens?
Every year, thousands of people like you put their trust in the Texas Educator Certification Process. After passing the rigorous testing and following a detailed application process, you will be given the opportunity to work in a public school in one of the poorest counties in Texas. While this may sound like a glamorous life, there are a lot more responsibilities that come with the job than you may expect. Here is a closer look at what happens after you become a certified teacher in Texas.
The Annual Professional Development
One of the biggest advantages of being a certified teacher in Texas is the opportunity to develop your professional skills through continuous education and training. To keep up with the dynamic world of education, you will need to make sure that you are constantly learning and developing your skills. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers a number of professional development opportunities, some of which are listed below.
Teaching Fellowships & Scholarships
One of the best things that the TEA does for its certified teachers is provide opportunities for professional growth through teaching fellowships and scholarships. A teaching fellowship is a one-year paid position that allows you to work with experienced teachers in your field and allows you to continue your education. Many times, teaching fellowships require applicants to have a graduate degree or teaching certificate. If you are interested in a teaching fellowship, make sure to apply early as there is a limited number of positions available each year. Some of the best teaching fellowships in Texas are:
- Apple Distinguished Teaching Fellowships
- McConnell Family Teaching Fellowships
- Teaching Fellowships from the University of Texas at Austin
- Pasadena Teacher’s Pension Trust
- Thurgood Marshall Teacher’s Excellence Fund
- Toubin Family Excellence in Education Fund
- Scholarships for Secondary Education from the University of Texas System
- U.S. Department of Education
Graduate Assistantships & Internships
If you are looking for a more long-term solution, you can consider pursuing an internship or a graduate assistantship. An internship is when you are working under the supervision of a professor or an experienced educator. Graduate assistantships offer you an opportunity to gain valuable experience while also educating yourself about your chosen field of study. Some of the best graduate assistantships in Texas are:
- University of Texas at Austin Scholarships
- STEM Teacher’s Assistant Scholar
- University of Texas at Dallas Undergraduate Teaching Fellow
- STEM Teacher’s Assistant
- STEM Teacher’s Assistant at the University of North Texas
- UNT Summer Graduate Research Assistant
How Do You Specify Your Certification?
One of the most important things that you need to do before moving forward with your teaching career is to specify your certification. Every year, thousands of people like you have the opportunity to choose their certification before the first day of school. You will need to make sure that you select Teaching Certification in Secondary Education (TCS) or Elementary Education (ECTS) if you decide to teach in the Elementary School or that of Secondary Education (TCS) if you wish to teach in the Secondary School. Your certification will help you identify the needs of students, as well as, determine how you will educate them. For example, if you are certified as a Secondary Education teacher and you notice that your students are not graduating, you may need to adjust your strategy and approach for educating them. Certifying in both Secondary Education and Elementary Education will make you more versatile and provide you with the opportunity to teach a wider range of students. In addition, the more specialized your certification, the more opportunities you will have. One of the best things about the TEA is that it is truly a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all of your certification needs and allows you to easily find the information that you need. You can also visit this website to find out what courses you need to complete for your specific certification.
Continuing Education
No matter what stage you are at in your teaching career, you will always be able to continue your education. The TEA offers a number of ways for you to develop your skills and continue improving your effectiveness as a teacher. Some of these include:
- Certificate Programs
- Doctoral & Master’s Degrees
- Online Professional Development
- Registered Education Provider (REPS)
- Registered Nurse Aide-Resource Teacher (R.N.A.R.T.)
- Reading Specialist
- Teacher Licensing
Matching & Verifying Your Certification
Before you start your teaching career, you will need to ensure that your certification is currently valid. You can do this by visiting the website for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and entering your information into the ‘Match and Verify’ section. You will then need to choose whether you are registering for a new certification or verifying the status of an existing one. If you are applying for a new certification, you will need to provide your school and certification numbers. If you already have a certification and wish to verify its validity, you will need to provide your name, Social Security number, and birthdate. Remember, you are registering with the TEA, so make sure that your information is accurate. Once you submit this information, you will receive a confirmation email, stating that your application has been received. You can also call the TEA at (512) 463-7300 to verify the status of your certification.
Once you are done with these steps, you can move forward and start looking for your first teaching job in Texas. Remember, the TEA is a trusted source of employment in Texas and provides you with the opportunity to continue your education and grow as a professional.