Thread: Frustration; Math teachers

Hello.
I hold a math degree, and am working towards my masters in secondary education, so that I may be certified that way, instead of through a 4 year program.

Though I only have a math degree, I have also had 90% of the education courses offered at my college. The reason why I didn't finish with the degree, is that they changed their requirements to get 'into their program' (which simply means once you're in the program, you can take the final two courses)- anyway, they changed their requirements so much, that I couldn't keep up with them, and found that I could be well on my way with my masters by the time I graduated with the 4 year education degree. So in turn, I'm savnig time and money.

But now that I'm graduated with a math degree, and I really only want to teach high school math, I can't find a job. -Rather, the job I want.

Let me put it this way. I live in Southern WV, and my mother, who is a elementary teacher of 33 years, makes just over 30k a year. I should be starting out around 22k if I get a job here in the area I grew up in, which is a joke. By the time I pay my insurance, rent, and car payment, my paychecks are going to be obsolete.

On the other hand, my best friend that I grew up with graduates the same date as me, and already has a position. She is starting out at 37k in NC. Her mother is a teacher of about <10 years, and makes 52k. When I found this out, I was discouraged so much from even temporarily staying in the Southern WV area.

My problem is, I just can't find a teaching position that will consider me without my teaching certification just yet. I would be interested in a lateral entry or a provisional basis- one that I could teach on as long as I received my masters and certification in an X amount of time.

Also going for me, I have 90 hours of 'unofficial'(it wasn't supervised by an institution) student teaching, and I have passed my PRAXIS I series for all states.

I need a job fair or something. ;(
If my friend can get a job starting out at almost double what I am starting out at, I'm in the wrong place for a math job. And math is in high need right now? Prove it. I'm not getting any offers outside of WV.

What do you guys think?