7 Must-Have Work Friends for Teachers

A successful work environment isn't controlled by one teacher. The entire school staff can make or break a work day. Ensure your school days go by in a flash by knowing which seven people hold the power.

#1: School Nurse

If you're a classroom teacher, then you know that a good relationship with the school nurse goes a long way.

Making the School Nurse Your Friend

DO send students to the nurse that seem legitimately ill, injured, contagious, and may need to go home.

DO send a note with the student to the nurse explaining what prompted you to send the student.

DON'T send students who are chronic complainers and aren't really sick.

DON'T send students that need a Bandaid or simple first aid. If the school doesn't supply you with a First Aid kit, then purchase basic supplies (and rubber gloves!) to deal with minor injuries.

Some schools don't even have full-time nurses these days, so every minute a nurse is in the school building is precious time that should be spent on students who need medical attention. Utilize the school nurse only when necessary and the nurse will come to know the serious nature of your student's health when sent.

#2: Janitor

I've always thought that janitors are a school's unsung heroes. Even in my elementary years, I can remember our school janitor fondly. As a teacher, I learned that the janitor is a jack of all trades- helping lift, move, clean and fix just about anything.

Making the Janitor Your Friend

DO require your students to clean up after themselves.

DO ask for help when lifting or moving large objects to avoid on-the-job injury.

DO plan in advance if you need the assistance of the janitor.

DO say thank you every day when you see the janitor cleaning something in your classroom.

DO treat janitors with respect and courtesy.

DON'T leave a mess just because you ran out of class time. The janitor should not be used to clean up projects. Schedule clean up time into everything you do.

#3: Copy Queen

Many schools have what I like to call a "Copy Queen." They control how well and how fast requested copies of worksheets, tests and quizzes are made. If your lesson hinges on printed materials, then being friendly to the Copy Queen is a must.

Making the Copy Queen Your Friend

DO make your copy request official by using the proper paperwork and clearly writing how many copies, sides and collating are necessary.

DO use words like "please" and "thank you" even though you're a busy teacher and in a hurry.

DO make your own copies after hours if it's allowed.

DON'T wait to go over your required lesson materials until the day of the lesson.

DON'T copy busy work- it's a waste of paper! Copy only paper materials if they are absolutely necessary and no substitute (like technology) will do.

Do you have more advice about the copy queen? Share below!

#4: PTA President

Making the PTA President Your Friend

DO find out who this important person is at your school. A powerful PTA makes things happen when you alone can not.

DO join the PTA at your school and attend PTA meetings. The "T" in PTA stands for teachers, so go offer advice on big or small issues.

DO introduce yourself and make yourself available for phone calls or emails. If you're the science teacher and a dream of the PTA is a new science lab, you'll want in on the planning, so don't miss out!

DO find a parent on the PTA that can help champion your cause if you need it. One parent that knows and supports you can go a long way.

DON'T complain. The PTA is a volunteer organization and the president gives a lot of their free time to the school.

Remember that the PTA is not responsible for a school's finances or programs. Everything they do is supplemental. If you butt heads with the PTA president, chances are the administration is going to know about it and that's a tough one to smooth over.

#5: Lunch Lady

Making the Lunch Lady Your Friend

You only have 10 minutes to scarf down lunch, take a pee break and prep for your next class, but you find yourself standing in the lunch line looking invisible while the lunch lady helps all the students. Why isn't she stopping to make your lunch??!!!

DO respect everyone that prepares and serves food at school.

DO speak politely and friendly even though you're in a rush. Don't bark immediately what you want, but ask a quick, "How are you? I'm Mrs. Blank."

DO compliment what is prepared that you do like. "Wow- those french fries are delicious!"

DON'T say, "Ah- Salisbury steak? Yuck!" while waiting in line...even if it's gross.

DON'T expect to get special treatment if the only time you see the lunch lady is when you're in a rush. Try and say "hi" when you're getting coffee, water, or happen to be passing through the cafeteria.

If you're going on a field trip that requires bagged lunch, then you'll want to ask fellow teachers way in advance how to file the proper paper work. Otherwise, your students may go hungry!

#6: School Secretary

Making the School Secretary Your Friend

The school secretary sees all and hears all. They can help you out of a bind (when you're out of paper) or hang out with a sick child while you go on a field trip....but only if they like you.

DO know the school secretary by name.

DO treat them like the knowledge expert they are. They know where the principal is at all times, what parents are involved, and when teachers arrive late.

DO be punctual and meticulous when submitting paperwork to the school secretary. It will insure that your tasks are carried out in a timely manner.

DON'T share any gossip with the school secretary unless it's about you. It'll make you seem unprofessional.

DON'T treat them as your personal secretary.

#7: Veteran Teacher

Making the Veteran Teacher Your Friend

The best way to get the lay of the land in a school is through relationships with veteran teachers. They've seen dozens of teachers - and maybe principals- come and go. They know how the school really works and that can especially help new teachers.

DO find a veteran teacher you admire in your school. It doesn't have to be someone in your field or grade. If you like their style of teaching and methods, you can learn a lot.

DO ask questions when you feel overwhelmed. Veteran teachers have been teaching for decades and they can handle just about anything.

DON'T make them feel old. Age is experience, and it should be respected even if your methods are different.

Do you have more advice? Share below!

5 Reasons Teachers Fail

Failure is a part of life. It's what makes us learn and eventually succeed. Sometimes it's our fault that we fail, and other times, we're not given the tools we need to succeed. Failure isn't the worst thing that can happen to us in our lives. It can make us stronger and more prepared to face what lies ahead. These five reasons are some of the biggest reasons that teachers fail. Even if you feel like a failure now, there's still hope. Realizing your failures is more than half the battle to finding your way to success.

1. Teachers fail because their heart isn't in the job.

Teaching isn't the perfect career for everyone, and that's okay. We were all given unique talents, but sometimes figuring out how and where to use those talents can be tricky. You may have originally thought you were destined and talented as a teacher. However, if you know that you're heart isn't in your job when you step inside the school walls, it's time to evaluate your career path and make some necessary changes.

Perhaps you got into teaching for the wrong reasons, or perhaps your education career has changed so much that you don't even recognize what drew you to it anymore. It happens.

Teaching is a unique career, so unique that it is one of the few careers people say they love doing. Do people like being accountants and sales clerks? Sure they do. But I've seen very few people in my life profess their love for their job more than teachers. Teachers can go on and on about their students like proud parents. They are careful grading papers and making lesson plans because they are empowered to make a difference in the life of a student. If this doesn't sound like you, then it may be time to take a step back and reflect. What about your career is satisfying you professionally?

2. Teachers fail because they're teaching the wrong thing.

So you knew you wanted to become a teacher, but you weren't sure what you wanted to teach. Your teacher training program went by fast and the next thing you knew you were teaching a subject you don't really care for or an age level you don't seem to connect with. Don't worry!

The good thing is you are a qualified teacher. The bad thing is you're not utilizing your talents in the best way. Are you teaching high school and are scared to make the leap to a younger grade? Are you teaching writing but really prefer math? Make a list of what you like about your job- and more importantly- what you're good at. Use your most recent evaluations to figure this one out, and even ask your peers.

It's hard to imagine what having your own classroom will be like in teacher training. Once you graduate, the possibilities can be endless...unless jobs are sparse. Maybe you took a middle school job because there were no elementary positions at the time. If you've made the best of it, then great! If it's time to move on, start looking.


Not sure what subject or grade would really suit you best? Then you've got some work to do. Visit other schools and other classrooms if you can during your prep period, lunch or even after school.

Find what you're passionate about and which students you click with best. Success will be just around the corner.

3. Teachers fail because they aren't prepared.

Teacher prep programs don't always do a good job of instructing teachers on how to plan. This is one of the most important aspects of teaching. The school year is a continuum, and lessons must be planned in advance with thought and care.

What can you do to stay prepared for your lessons? Read, think, plan. Read your goals for your students. Think about how you can best accomplish them. Plan activities and opportunities for your students to learn.

Don't try to plan every detail of every lesson a year in advance. But do think about the big picture when you plan your year. Do think about how you are building on prior knowledge. Do involve your students in planning and shaping curriculum extensions.

If you need quiet time to plan, slot a chunk of time each day or week to really focus on your lesson preparation.

Everything important in life takes solid preparation.

4. Teachers fail because they're overwhelmed.

Do you feel overwhelmed more often than you feel in control of your class? You're not alone. Many teachers- especially new teachers- feel this way at some point in their first few years in the classroom.

Once you feel overwhelmed, it's how you deal with it that makes or breaks you. Take a deep breath and step back. What part of your job is stressing you out? Is it grading papers? Is it working with parents? Is it class management? You can work on each of these areas to gain more control over your career.

Once you feel overwhelmed, don't give up. Focus on what is working and why it is working well. Try to apply your success to areas of your career that are lacking.

5. Teachers fail because they're too scared to ask for help.

Sometimes teaching seems like an exclusive club of experts. I think the best kind of teachers are those who share their secrets of success freely. If you have a problem you can't solve, ask for help.

Do you need to ask for supplies? If you haven't asked for the help of your local merchants, you can post your request on a site like Donors Choose.

Ask your student's parents for help volunteering in your class.

Can you offer help to teachers on these subjects and more? Leave your comments below.

5 Ways to Quit Taking it Personally

Sometimes the biggest on-the-job hazard for teachers is not being able to let things go. We think about our students, school, our principal, our evaluations, and parent interactions all day. We want things to go perfectly, and when they don't, we're devastated and disappointed. Finding success at work and at home is finding ways to not take things so personally. I've found five ways to help.

1. The Performance of Others is Not a Mirror of Your Effort

The system by which teachers are measured is far from perfect. Its imperfections are finally getting noticed by the Secretary of Education, but that doesn't mean the system is fixed yet- or even close to it.

The problem: You have a class of students with widely diverse abilities. You work your hardest to help them achieve and improve, but they don't score as well on tests- especially standardizes tests- as you'd hope.

The solution: While standardized tests are important to some, teachers know they can't control the exact outcome. Try your best to help students improve, but in the end, you can't take full responsibility for their scores -even the good ones. Be satisfied in knowing you tried hard to help students take steps toward improvement.

2. Only Exert and Expect Control in Your Environment

The school walls, and more particular, your classroom, create a micro environment of the real world. The problem is your students don't spend all their waking hours under your control or influence. Once they leave the room and later the school building, they come in contact with outside factors that change their mood, their habits, and even their learning process.

The problem: Your students just won't behave and are pushing your buttons to see what happens. Students that misbehave aren't necessary acting out on you. They may be reacting to trouble at home, trouble with peers, or some deeper personal issues.

The solution: Control what you can when you can and don't take it personally every single time students act out. Try to get to the bottom of what's really causing the behavior. More likely than not, the behavior is not stemming from something you've done, so don't blame yourself. Get your counselor or school psychologist involved if you need to.

3. Don't Let the Mood of Others Bring You Down

The school environment is unique. It's not like desk jobs where tons of colleagues sit in the same room. Hours may go by without seeing another adult when you're a teacher. So when you do see another adult, have a bad interaction and leave it unresolved, it can fester all day or week.

The problem: Adults on the job can have a bad attitude or are negative about your performance. Whether it's a co-teacher or principal, adults can be just as cruel (or worse) than kids.

The solution: If you just taught a great lesson and are feeling good, but then bump into someone who tries to bring you down, don't give them the satisfaction. One positive person can do wonders for the work environment. Remember this: The bad moods of others are more about them than they are about you.

4. Remain Confident

A successful teacher is a confident person. They know their subject matter, they know their lesson, and they deliver it in a believable way. Maintaining confidence at the head of the classroom is key for teachers.

The problem: Students, teachers, or even parents can whittle away and make teachers second guess their actions.

The solution: As long as you carefully and thoughtfully teach, stand behind your work. Back up your actions to others with sound reason and calm responses. If others see you remaining confident about your job, they'll know you take it seriously and can't be shaken easily.

5. Don't Read Into Things

Teachers communicate all day with students, co-workers and parents. This communication may take place through email, phone calls, or even paper notes.

The problem: Teachers are always thinking about things, sometimes too much. Don't add extra words or tone that isn't in correspondence.

The solution: Take things at face value. If you don't understand the point someone is trying to make, ask for clarification. Don't assume anything.

5 Non-School Jobs for Educators

If you've been an educator but working in a school full-time just isn't for you, there's hope. Don't throw that education degree away! Try to stay in the education field with one of these jobs that can utilize your teaching degree in other ways. In each of the following job descriptions, I've listed jobs that are currently posted on our job board for immediate hire.

1. Workshop/Trainer for Teachers

Think of all of the workshops that you attend as a teacher. Continuing education is mandatory for all teachers. Do you have expertise to share with school staffs across your region, state or U.S.? Start small by creating buzz in your local area then see if going broader is a viable option for your career. There are many companies that arrange workshops for schools and who employ many trainers and education consultants. Marketing yourself and your skills to existing companies could save you a lot of legwork and jump start your career in this field.

Corporations train their workers, too. Becoming a corporate trainer could put your teaching skills to good use.

2. National Education Company

If you look around your classroom, you should be able to make a long list of companies that have presence in in education. From the makers of textbooks to school supplies, there are numerous companies with a wide variety of jobs available. A background in education and teaching could be a great asset in landing a job with these types of companies. Here are just two jobs that might be of interest for a national education company:

Textbook Sales

How do you think your school system decides which textbooks to purchase? The sales team does a good job of presenting the education material to selection committee of teachers. I was on the committee that chose the textbooks for my subject years ago. The sales team from each education company sent out tons of materials and went through the process of how their materials can best be utilized by teachers. If you feel passionate about curriculum and are good with people, this job may be for you. Travel is usually involved. Applicants will do well with previous educational and sales background.

Curriculum Development

Do you have a great ideas on how curriculum should work? Curriculum development might be something that you could excel in. Many of the big curriculum companies have offices in more than one major city in the U.S. Think about your skill set and what you could offer a team of curriculum developers. Previous writing experience is probably a must as well as at least 5 years in an education related field.

3. Tutor

Do you love to teach but a classroom full of students isn't right for you? Private tutoring could be the perfect career. Teachers are not allowed to tutor students for pay in most states, but once you step out of the classroom, you can offer your services to former students. Teachers that are in the classroom are always looking for good tutors- and recommending a former teacher as a tutor for their students would be an easy sell. You can call your own tutoring hours, hold group sessions, or even work for a tutoring company, like Sylvan or Kumon. If you like working one-on-one with students, this may be a great career option and put your education background to work.

4. Private Organization/ Boys/Girls Club

Do you love working with kids but hate being tied to a curriculum? Apply your skills with children to a career with a private organization, like the Boys & Girls Club or YMCA in your area. Organizations that work with children seek employees that are reliable, creative, and responsible with children. Children need to come in contact with caring adults outside of school, too, so explore this option if you still want to make a difference.

5. Writer

Author

Are you a talented writer? Get published! Depending on your talent, you can work towards publishing articles, a resource book for teachers, or even a children's book. If you're still teaching while you start to pursue a career in writing, run your thoughts by your colleagues. If you working on a book for children, make sure to get your own students' endorsement. There's no time like the present to find your voice. Start a blog (like this one!) to find your passion and express it with the written word.

Composer

Are you a talented musician? Try your hand at writing a book for kids with music, a choir song, or even band or orchestra music. If you've taught these subject before, you know what music publishers are popular and what they're looking for. Music writing software and recording equipment is cheaper than ever before. If you're teaching while you start your composing career, be sure to get your students' input on the music you've created for their age group. If you are a choir, band or orchestra teacher, have your students perform you original work and record it to send to the publisher.

Race to Nowhere

I had the privilege of seeing a screening of Race to Nowhere recently in Atlanta. I have a feeling that the hour and twenty minutes I spent watching that movie could alter my future as a parent and educator more than any other single event in my life. As I looked around the screening room at the almost 500 other people watching the movie, I had to wonder, how could we get the people who really need to see this documentary to watch it? If like me, you bought a ticket to see Race to Nowhere, you already recognize the issue and want to learn more. But the movie isn't for those of us who are trying our best to stay abreast of the latest research and make changes accordingly.

The issue that spoke to me most as an educator was homework. The movie talked to so many stressed students who had mountains and hours of homework each night. One teacher said, "When did the teacher get to decide how students spend their time when they leave school for the day?" So many parents saw the stress that homework had on their kids, and craved to have time after school to let their kids just be kids. Research says there is no correlation between homework and academic achievement in elementary school. There is a correlation between homework and learning in middle school, but after an hour of homework, the correlation disappears. The same is said for homework at the high school level, but after two hours, the correlation of learning and homework drops off.

Homework is a local school issue. Each school has homework policies, and my hope is that every teacher knows where the value of homework stops. Teachers need to talk to each other at each grade level to ensure that students don't have more work than they can handle.

If parents talk to each other, they might find that homework assigned in certain grades or at certain schools is too much. Advocating for appropriate levels of homework should be a dialogue between schools and parents. Making students sit for hours each day after school to complete unnecessary homework doesn't benefit the teacher or the student.

One high school AP teacher said when he started assigning less homework, his students' grades got better. Several schools, because of parent advocates, started implementing homework free nights or no homework altogether. Students became more excited to go to school and learn, and after school time with families was drastically improved.

Homework Tips to Take to Heart

Homework isn't all bad. It teaches students responsibility and helps them practice their newly learned skills. “One thing is certain,” stresses Roch Chouinard, vice-dean of the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Education, “homework is more beneficial when it is short but frequent rather than long. What’s more, the correlation between homework and cognitive and social benefits is precarious. This means if there is too much homework potential benefits can become negative. This tipping point varies from one family to the next and from one environment to the next.”

Pat Hensley, author of Successful Teaching writers, "Don’t give homework just for busy work. Make sure there is a valid reason for the students to be doing this assignment."

"Make sure the assignment length and difficulty is appropriate for the age of your students. One rule of thumb is that very young children should have no more than 15-20 minutes of homework a night (all subjects combined), students in grades 4-7 should have less than an hour (all subjects combined), and secondary students should have no more than 2 hours a night (all subjects combined). An alternative rule of thumb is that there should be no more than 10 minutes per grade level each night. For example, third grades have no more than 30 minutes, fifth graders no more than 50 minutes, etc, "author Julia G. Thompson writes.

Expectations & Praise

If you're a teacher, how do you praise your students? Do you hold your praise until each student attains the same accomplishment? Or do you praise every students for their personal achievements? Many students in the movie felt guilt until they completed their homework. One student told his mom that he had to do his homework or his teacher would get mad. Reflect on your homework expectations and how you reward students. Make sure the process is one that helps students understand the value of learning.

As a parent andan educator, the message of Race to Nowhere was more powerful. The language parents use to set expectations for kids and the way they are praised for their accomplishments is an important issue. Many times in the movie, parents had motivated their kids to do school work to "get in to a good college." This is where the name of the movie transpired. One student described how he was working so hard to complete everything and do it well, and then he would get to college and do it all over again to "get a good job." All of the racing to nowhere didn't make sense if the goal of life was to be happy.

The parents in the film were mainly middle to upper class parents who pushed their kids to be the best, get involved in as much as possible, and motivated them by the results of a great college and top job. Parents reflected that sometimes they focused too much on trying to get their children to be the highest achiever. One mom said she always asked her child "How'd the test go?" And by innocently doing that on a regular basis, she may have created the stress the child felt towards doing well in school. It's great for parents to care about the school day, and each child should be held to reaching their full potential. However, doing well shouldn't be stressful. After school hours should be filled with a mix of activities, both free and planned.

The education system we have today doesn't measure all types of success. It's important as an educator and a parent to find and redefine success based on the individual, not what society defines as successful. For me, success is happiness. What do you think the ultimate success in life is? Share your thoughts about these issues and your take on the movie Race to Nowhere.

9 Keys to Teaching a Successful Lesson

1. Start With the Standards

Each teacher has a set of standards by grade level and subject that they are tasked to accomplish throughout the year. If you haven't committed them to memory, make sure you post them or have them ready for easy reference. These standards should guide everything you do.

Follow the wording of the standard closely to make sure you hit the target. While straying from the standard a bit may be okay, if you go too far off course, you'll loose valuable time.

2. Plan for Outcomes, Not Activities

Think about what your students are required to learn. It's easy to fall into a pattern, especially at the elementary level, to plan activities rather than outcomes. Don't get caught up in activities associated with unit themes unless the activity really helps drive comprehension. Some activities require more preparation and time than they're worth. If at the end of a long (and even fun) activity your students aren't sure what they did, the activity needs to be rethought and reworked for the next year.

3. Plan Ahead

Last minute lesson success is rare, so take your time thinking about the big idea of the unit and how each class period or lesson fits together. Planning a lesson in advance can help teachers revisit their initial thoughts and maybe make changes that weren't foreseen in the first planning stages. Teachers should allow plenty of time to plan, gather supplies, literature and even technology necessary to carry out a successful lesson.

4. Think Cross Curricular

The best teachers are the ones that don't teach a subject in isolation. Every lesson taught in school can relate and should relate to something students are doing in other areas of school. If teachers can connect student learning throughout the school day, students are more likely to retain information.

At a workshop I recently attended, a PE teacher told me how she had helped students understand pioneer times by setting up stations in the gym with activities similar to the labor activities (fetching water, etc) that pioneers did. It kept the students active and drove home a concept in another class.

5. Collaborate

Thinking cross curricular doesn't happen without collaboration. Many schools are realizing the power of collaboration by allowing more common planning time among grade level teachers. This effort can pay off big when students see how teachers work together and pieces of the puzzle start to fit into a bigger picture. If collaboration at your school isn't off to a roaring start, try working with at least one other teacher. Talk over your plans for lessons and see if you can offer each other ways to enhance existing lessons or activities.

6. Real World Application

Students are more motivated to learn when they see how the knowledge they learn can be applied outside of the school building. If you're teaching a lesson on rock forms, don't just stop at naming and viewing rocks. Talk about what kinds of professions would do this and why it's useful. Studying Picasso in art class is great, but isn't it better to see a local artist paint and how she makes a living? If you don't have enough money or resources for field trips, there are plenty of virtual opportunities to bring real world application of concepts into your classroom.

7. Utilize the Technology Available

Classrooms these days are decked out with interactive white boards and computer stations. Don't plan your lesson around technology (unless that's your core goal), but make sure you explore the options that exist for complementing your lesson. Even the youngest of students are hooked into technology these days, so utilizing technology may make your lesson more memorable.

If you don't have a classroom full of technology, you can extend the lesson at home. Students can complete complimentary lessons on a home or library computer for extra practice and exploration.

8. Have a Plan B

If you're trying out a new lesson, make sure you have another direction in mind if the lesson doesn't go as planned. The students may not be grasping your approach, or something could go ary, like a power outage, or a fire drill. Teachers are great at thinking quick, but expecting the unknown is a great way to insure your lesson is successful, no matter the circumstances.

9. LOVE Your Lesson

If you don't love the lesson you've created, then you won't be able to deliver it enthusiastically. If you're not psyched about a particular lesson, look back over it and see what's missing. What one element would help you get pumped up to teach it? The best teachers know how to craft lessons that not only inspire their students to learn, but create an environment of curiosity and excitement.

Where Have All the Teaching Jobs Gone?

At the beginning of the recession, many careers were flagged as being "safe." Education was among the few careers at the top the list. The popular thought was people being laid off would go back to school. Education would be a huge priority at all levels so a disastrous recession wouldn't repeat itself.

In the middle of the recession, educators around the country were feeling things differently. Schools weren't hiring, jobs weren't being posted, and the teacher job fairs of past years were dwindling. Districts seemed to convey that it was a one-year problem. After state and district budgets were squared away and played safe, the following hiring season would be more promising.

Well, we are now in the midst of the next hiring season for teachers. The experts say the recession is over, but teachers aren't prospering more than last year. In states where school begins in August, contracts are traditionally offered late March or early April. Large urban districts, like Atlanta, are holding contracts longer this year as current staff is expected to wait and see what happens.

Gone are last year's long lines for job fairs, since most prospective teachers can't even find one to attend. Several schools, including one in Rhode Island and one in Georgia, have fired their entire staff. Hot spots for teaching jobs in the U.S. dwindle to include just several urban markets. The highest paying cities for teachers are inundated with applications for teaching spots they don't have, or the candidate pool doesn't match their need.

In other recent news, Kansas City is closing half its schools, The Chicago Tribune lists per district the hundreds of teachers getting the axe, 700 teachers expect to be laid off in Albuquerque, and a whopping 22,000 teachers may get pink slips in California. The once over 3 million strong teaching force in the U.S. is shrinking rapidly.

The President stands behind these mass firings as way to change the status quo. A big focus of the education policy agenda has been the Reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Every teacher in the system knows a big change is necessary for progress. But for those great teachers now sitting on the side lines without a job, the current process is hard to swallow. As states stammer to fix their budgets by eliminating school staff, class sizes get bigger. Good teachers-- new and veteran ones with fantastic skills-- get shoved out of classrooms and lose hope. Teachers with advanced degrees and wealth of knowledge sit idle and wait for a job to open while others try to secure a teaching job overseas in a more in-demand climate for teachers.

What's going to happen to our next generation of teachers? Will the current job market for educators deter more promising minds from pursuing the profession? I seriously hope not.

Jobless teachers: don't give up. Continue to search job boards for open positions. Keep learning, keep networking, and keeping looking to find a way to put your talents to good use, perhaps in an alternate education career.

I hope next year's hiring season shows districts bouncing back and offering contracts rather than pink slips.