Congratulations! You have completed the requirements to become a California schoolteacher. Now, it’s time to start looking and interviewing for your first teaching job. Here are a few things you should know before signing that contract.
What is my total compensation?
Total compensation includes not only the base salary that you’re offered but also the benefits that you’ll receive when working for a school district. Here are some of the questions you should ask about benefits when deciding which district and school are right for you.
What are the health and welfare benefits?
Benefits are not the most exciting things to think about, and they weren’t on my mind when I started looking for teaching jobs, but this is the first question I ask, and here’s why: At the age of 3, my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Of course, this was not something I could have predicted or planned for. Overnight, our life became centered on counting carbs, finger pricks, and insulin injections. Six months later, we were looking at insulin pumps; seven years later, we ordered our first glucose monitoring system. And now, every three months, we order the supplies that are necessary to keep him the healthy 12-year-old boy he is today.
I am fortunate that I work for a district that has invested in a comprehensive insurance plan for its employees. I pay $10 for a four-month supply of insulin and not a penny for the parts we need to keep the equipment working.
My experience demonstrates why, when a school offers you a starting salary, you need to ask about their health and welfare package. Ask how much a month you will pay for insurance and what that insurance covers. Because there will be a time when something comes up that you cannot predict or plan for, and when that happens, you will be the one paying the difference.
Who pays for induction?
Surprise! You now get to spend two years working to upgrade the credential you worked so hard to obtain.
Induction is the completion of orientation steps required of new teachers. Some districts offer a way for you to clear your certification at no cost to you and some districts don’t. If they don’t, then you will need to pay for induction—at a price between $3,000 and $4,000 a year. Those districts may offer a larger yearly salary on paper, but you will ultimately be making less while paying to clear your credential.
For a full discussion of credentialing, watch this video.
What salary increases can I expect?
Districts vary in how they increase salary over time. You can find most salary schedules on the human resources page of districts’ websites. Look to see how your salary will increase over time. Is it continuous year to year, or does the rate plateau? Does your district provide a stipend or a percentage increase for continuing your education? You want to plan for your future, and mapping out your salary over the years is an important part of that.
How important is professional development?
Teaching is a craft. You will spend years learning and refining your teaching style and adding instructional tools to your toolbox. If there isn’t an opportunity for you to learn, you will become stagnant in your practices and your students will suffer. Professional development is key to continuing to learn and grow.
At the end of most interviews, the interviewer will ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” This is a great time to ask about professional development opportunities. Will I have a mentor on campus whom I can meet with regularly and ask questions? Someone who can help me think through problems I might be having in the classroom or with a particular student? What opportunities does the school provide for teacher collaboration throughout the year? Does the district have professional development days built into its calendar? If so, how are the days structured?
Asking these questions will show them that you are a lifelong learner who understands that professional development is key to becoming a better teacher.
Should instructional methodologies be part of my decision-making process?
Throughout your education, you have learned about many different instructional models, and you may have already decided what kind of instructional methodology you want to use in your classroom. It is important that the district you choose allows you to use that model.
Some schools may hand you a list of resources and require that you use only those resources to teach. Some schools may give you complete freedom to plan and use a variety of methods, with the only expectation being that you are teaching students the district standards. You will not be happy as a teacher if you cannot be the educator you want to be, so you need to know what kind of teacher you will be allowed to be before you sign the contract. If your core values do not align with the school’s values, you will not be happy. Your unhappiness will affect all of those around you and the education of your students.
The information I have offered here was gained through years of experience. I hope I have spared you the frustration of learning a few lessons the hard way. However, as a young teacher starting out in the profession, there are many things you will learn for yourself. Teachers who are also active learners are most likely to find teaching a rewarding profession.
Dr. Jodi Marchesso holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Dakota and a doctoral degree in Education from William Howard Taft University in Colorado. Currently, she is the STEM Specialist for the Pasadena Unified School District.
If you are looking for more information on degrees in education or you are continuing your education, learn more from Pacific Oaks College’s School of Education.
