All About Being a Teacher

Being a teacher is one of the most demanding yet rewarding career paths. Generally, teachers are kind, caring, empathetic, and passionate about helping children and young adults grow. Teachers are responsible for preparing lesson plans and educating students on various subjects. 

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out nearly 20 years of educational gains. And as of February 2022, the percentage of students at risk of not learning to read remains higher than ever before, disproportionately affecting grades kindergarten through second.  

By 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an 18% job growth in early childhood education teachers, a 7% job growth in elementary education teachers, and an 8% job growth in secondary education and special education teachers. 

What Does a Teacher Do? 

Teachers instruct students of all ages in a broad range of subjects, including math, science, English, and history, to other subjects, such as art, music, and physical education. 

Elementary school teachers typically teach the same group of students daily, while middle and high school teachers will work with a different group of students every hour. As you get to a higher education level, each teacher typically only focuses on one or two subjects. 

Teacher responsibilities include allocating homework assignments, notes, and tests, supervising classes to ensure all students are learning in a safe and productive environment, organizing supplies and resources, encouraging interactive learning, evaluating and documenting students’ progress, and attending parent-teacher meetings.

How Much Does a Teacher Make Yearly?  

Like most careers, teacher salaries can vary depending on location and level of education. In the US, the average starting teacher salary for 2020-2021 was $41,770, an increase of 1.4% over 2019- 2020. 

But while upwards of 600 school districts saw starting teacher salaries surpass $40,000 during the 2020-2021 school year, 5,600 school districts (47%), employing nearly 700,000 teachers, still offered a wage below $40,000.

There are many jobs in the education field, and each job offers a different yearly salary. To name a few, chief academic officers can expect to earn an average salary of $117,541, school principals make an average salary of $95,310, college professors earn a median pay of about $78,470 annually, and high school teachers make a median salary of $62,870. Middle school teachers follow closely behind with an average salary of $64,990. 

Teacher Requirements 

All teachers must obtain a Bachelor’s degree in teaching or a relevant field. Most school districts and other employees require at least a bachelor’s degree in addition to state certifications. Next, you must participate in student teaching. 

During student teaching, future educators will have the opportunity to practice managing a classroom while still having the full support of a cooperating teacher. Student teaching is critical to help individuals gain the skills and experience required to be a teacher and provide them with valuable tools and expertise to connect practice and theory.

Lastly, individuals must take the Praxis exam offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This exam corresponds to the subject and grade level the candidate is interested in teaching. While passing scores vary by state, all prospective students take the same exam. 

Notably, there is no limit to how many times an individual can retake the Praxis exam as long as they wait ETS's mandated 28 days between attempts.

Top Undergraduate Teaching Institutions 

This past summer, a U.S. News survey asked top college administrators to vote for colleges and universities that stand out among other institutions by highly focusing on undergraduate teaching. 

The top 20 schools, according to top college administrators, are as follows: 

#1 - Elon University
#2 - Brown University
#3 (tie) - Princeton University
#3 (tie) - Rice University
#5 (tie) - Boston College
#5 (tie) - Dartmouth College 
#7 (tie) - Georgia State University
#7 (tie) - William and Mary
#9 (tie) - University of Maryland, Baltimore County
#9 (tie) - University of Notre Dame 
#11 - Duke University 
#12 (tie) - Gonzaga University 
#12 (tie) - Marquette University 
#14 (tie) - Loyola Marymount University 
#14 (tie) - Santa Clara University 
#16 (tie) - Baylor University
#16 (tie) - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 
#18 (tie) - Arizona State University
#18 (tie) - Harvard University
#18 (tie) - Miami University- Oxford