Fun in Education: A Look at How I Used My College Degree

I graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I also received Middle School endorsements in English and Social Studies. What this means is that I am qualified to teach from Kindergarten through 9^th grade. For lack of a better term, I "specialize" in Middle School, which is 7^th and 8^th grade. I received that degree in 2006. Since graduating, I have been unable to find a classroom teaching position, but have been able to at least find work in schools. My first year after graduating, I was a Teacher's Assistant in a self-contained special education classroom. While a great deal of my time was spent grading papers and doing classroom management, I was able to coerce the teacher into letting me teach the Social Studies section of the class.

The next year, my wife found a teaching job at a high school in central Illinois. I was unable to find a classroom teaching position, but was able to get a job, again, as a Teacher's Assistant for special education in the same building as my wife. There, I served multiple roles as a study hall monitor, classroom assistant and individual tutor. At the end of the school year, my position was eliminated due to the hiring of a new full time Special Education teacher.

The following school year, the same school hired me on an emergency basis to teach a middle school Community Based Education class of severely disabled students. They were able to find a Special Education certified teacher mid-year and I was released from the position. I spent the remainder of the year substitute teaching in the area.

This year I spent the first couple of weeks substitute teaching in the area when my wife's principal informed me that a nearby high school was looking to hire an in school suspension supervisor. I interviewed for the job, and based on my recommendation, got it. I now spend my days reading books while making sure the students who manage to get sent to me spend the day awake and in silence.

All in all, I suppose I can say I haven't done a whole lot with my degree. I have not managed to get a teaching position in a middle school, despite many good interviews. However, I consider myself moderately successful, since I have been able to find work in education every year since graduation. The market is very competitive and with education funding on the chopping block, teachers are being let go left and right. I consider myself very lucky to have a job in education at all right now.