What Can You Learn from a Teaching Career?

By Kate McIntyre
Learning & Life Columnist
February 9, 2007

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The Wall Street Journal recently compiled a list of the most satisfying careers in the U.S.--and education topped the list. Careers in education offer intellectual stimulation, independence, and the chance to change students' lives. Two career paths in particular--special education and curriculum development--were singled out by the Wall Street Journal as the most rewarding.

Two Smart Career Paths in Education

Special education teachers work closely with students who have disabilities such as autism and mental retardation. Sometimes they teach a special curriculum that prepares students for basic life tasks like cooking and making change, but often they use a modified version of the general curriculum. Class sizes are often smaller in special education classrooms, so you can develop very close relationships with your students. As a special education instructor, part of your job is ensuring that your students' emotional growth keeps pace with their academic progress.

Education administrators who work in curriculum development create lesson plans on a grand scale, deciding what should be taught in classrooms across the country. They also select textbooks, train teachers, and make sure that local curricula meet state and national requirements. Curriculum development is a very important job because developers can shape the learning of a whole generation of children. Unlike teachers, who often have summers off, curriculum developers work year-round.

Getting the Right Education for Your Teaching Career

If you are interested in a career in special education, check your state's licensing requirements. Most states require special education teachers to earn bachelor's degrees in education, but some require a master's degree in special education.

For a career in curriculum development, most states require that you have your master's degree in education. Often, curriculum developers teach for several years before moving into education administration.

Few industries can make you feel as good as education. Your work is vital and ever-changing, and you manufacture the most important thing imaginable--educated young people.

Sources:

The Wall Street Journal, "2006 Best Careers: The Results Are In"
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Instructional Coordinators"
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Teachers - Special Education"

About the Author
Kate McIntyre, a fiction writer in Portland, Oregon, holds an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.

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