Give the Gift of Education

We've all had a special teacher in our lives. Maybe she helped you understand a tricky mathematical concept. Perhaps she inspired you to speak fluent French. Or maybe she just took the time to listen and be a friend, believing you were special enough to merit the attention. Whatever the circumstances, the fact is that this teacher made a difference in your childhood or teenage years. By earning your education degree, you can be that memorable teacher for someone else.

Opportunities


In the United States, there is a need for professionals with education training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004, the education services industry was the second largest industry in the economy, providing jobs for about 13 million workers. And, wage and salary employment growth of 17 percent is expected in the education services industry over the 2004-2014 period, higher than the 14 percent increase projected for all industries combined.

Once you have the proper education training (including a bachelor's degree and a teaching license), numerous teaching opportunities are available. In fact, teachers account for almost half of all workers in the education industry.

Career Options


Become a preschool, kindergarten, or elementary school teacher and help shape the development of children. You'll be responsible for their formal introduction to math, language, science, and social studies. But don't stress -- at this education level, you can have lots of fun with your lesson plans, using games, art, music, and computers to teach basic skills.

If you prefer to provide more in-depth instruction to older kids, an education degree for middle or high school teaching is your best bet. The fun part about teaching on this level is working in one specific subject in which you excel, rather than providing an overview of all subjects. You can teach anything from English, math, or history, to auto mechanics, business education, or computer repair. You can also supervise extracurricular activities or coach a sports team.

Do you have a heart for students with special needs? Special education might be the way to go. These teachers work with students who have a variety of learning and physical disabilities. With a special education degree, you can work in a traditional school and provide resource room and one-on-one assistance, or you can work in a special education school that serves students with more severe disabilities. With special education training, you'll learn how to accommodate students' individual needs, and help students develop the social skills needed to thrive in society.