High School Teachers
High School Teachers educate pre-teens and teenagers. Some specialize in teaching single subjects while others specialize in 2 or more related subjects.
This occupation is expected to grow faster than average in California, with a projected growth of 31% from 2000 to 2010.
Here's what you need to know to become a High School Teacher in California:
1) Requirements in California
2) How to get your California Preliminary Credential
3) How to get your California Professional Credential
4) Duties and Responsibilities
5) Show me the money!
6) Schools
How to Become a High School Teacher in California
1) High School Teachers Requirements in California
In California, you are required to get a Single Subject Teaching Credential to be authorized to teach a specific subject in high schools.
The subjects available for Single Subject Teaching
Credential are as follows:
- Agriculture
- Art
- Biological Sciences (Specialized)
- Business
- Chemistry (Specialized)
- English
- Foundational-Level Mathematics
- Geosciences (Specialized)
- Health Science
- Home Economics
- Industrial and Technology Education
- Languages other than English (specify)
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics (Specialized)
- Science: Biological Sciences
- Science: Chemistry
- Science: Geosciences
- Science: Physics
- Social Science
To teach in California's public schools, you must first obtain a Preliminary Credential which is valid for 5 years. Within those 5 years, you must complete a set of requirements and obtain your Professional Credential.
The requirements are set by the California Commission on Teacher
Credentialing. Once you have completed all requirements
for certification in California, you may apply for and receive a California
teaching credential.
2) How to get your California Preliminary Credential
To obtain this credential, you must satisfy ALL the following requirements:
- Have a Bachelors or higher degree.
- Complete a Single Subject Teacher Preparation Program including successful student teaching
- Pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
- Satisfy the Developing English Language Skills, including Reading requirement
- Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA).
- Complete a course in the U.S. Constitution, or pass an examination given by a regionally-accredited college or university
- Pass the appropriate subject matter examinations.
- Complete foundational computer technology course work
- Verify knowledge of the subject to be taught by ONE of the 3 methods:
- achieve a passing score on the appropriate subject-matter examination.
- complete a Commission-approved subject matter program or its equivalent
- for Specialized Science subjects - take and pass the approved-subject matter exam
3) How to get your California Professional Credential
As mentioned earlier, the Preliminary Credential is only valid for 5 years. Within that 5 years, you will need to complete the requirements to obtain your Professional Credential.
You will have to complete a Commission-approved Professional Teacher Induction Program through an approved school district, college or university or private school. The Induction Program includes the advanced study of health education, special populations, computer technology, and teaching English learners.
4) Duties of High School Teachers
A high school teacher's main duty is to obviously teach and educate. But that's not all they do. Teachers also spend much of their time on non-teaching duties such as attending faculty meetings, establishing lesson plans, meeting parents, etc.
Their list of duties may include:
- Establishing and organizing lesson plans
- Preparing and grading tests and assignments in order to evaluate students' progress.
- Adapting teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Meeting with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators in order to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Enforcing administration policies and rules governing students.
- Guiding and counseling students with adjustment and/or academic problems, or special academic interests.
5) Show me the money!
According to the Employment Development Department, the average annual elementary school teachers salary is $53,104 in California.
The starting salary for elementary school teachers range from $32,843 to over $35,124. The middle range salary is from $48,813 to over $57,000. The most experienced teachers salary range from $59,000 to over $71,000.
6) Teaching Schools
For the Preliminary Credential, you can satisfy the Single Subject Teacher Preparation Program at Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University.
You can also request information from schools online, which is much easier.
Request info from Education and Childcare Schools in CA
For the Professional Credential, you can complete the Commission-approved Professional Teacher Induction Program at the Fresno Unified, Central Unified and Clovis Unified School Districts.