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Yes, very focused on the beginning of the school year here... we
started this past week. Haven't had time to post until now.

Are you wanting to get back into elementary, or move to middle
school? From your post this isn't quite clear.

I would not wait until earning additional certifications before
looking... start looking for a position, and if you are working
towards another, being able to say "I'm currently working toward a
special ed certification" (or whatever) could be a plus. You won't
yet be qualified for positions in the certification you're working
on, not until it's completed, but knowing that you may have that
flexibility in the future could be an advantage.

Your age should not be a factor. The fact that you've already
retired might be a concern, but if your qualifications are good, it
shouldn't prevent you from finding a position. (In my case it raises
the question: "Will your second retirement come very soon, since
you've already retired once?", but since that particular question
isn't factored into our hiring rubric, it would not affect your
changes at getting the position.)

As 1admin said, ESL and special ed certification are useful. Where I
am, certification for teaching English Learners is required of all
teachers. Look into whether there are any new requirements for new
hires that may not have existed when you were hired, or requirements
required of current employees that may have been added after you
retired; if there are, make sure you meet those requirements! Where
I am there are a few requirements for which veteran employees
are "grandfathered in," but all new hires have to meet them. So you
may find that you were fine without meeting some requirements before
you retired, but need to meet them now to apply in a new district.
Be aware of those, and familiar with Common Core standards and Next
Generation Assessments which probably weren't as much of a focus
before you retired.

This is quite rambling and long, but it's getting near midnight here
and as they say, "I didn't have time to write a shorter message".
And I agree with 1admin about the snippy response. It's been a long
week of long days, not much time to stop and take a break and when I
do finally get to relax on a Friday night, I come to this chatboard
and respond to questions like yours. (You do realize that we come
here in our free time because we don't really have lives outside of
work? And that when it's busy we don't even have time for that? Not
that I can speak for everyone, but still....) This chatboard has
been a bit slow lately... outside of cyberspace life has not!

On 8/23/13, 1administrator wrote:

> Your snippy response tells me you may need more than

> certifications. Most administrators are very focused on back to

> school. My self, I don't visit hear much this time of year. I do

> think SP ED, & ESL are worth your time as you re-enter the

> education market. No, not all administrators are alike!

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> On 8/22/13, Mary wrote:

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>> Thanks for nothing! All you administrators are alike!

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>> On 8/18/13, Mary wrote:

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>>> I am an elementary teacher who retired two years ago due to

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>>> a family illness. I want to return to teaching but realize

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>>> the competition is huge. I want to make myself more

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>>> marketable by getting additional certification in another

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>>> area. (I already have Reading certification, as well). I

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>>> was thinking about Special Education or English/Language

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>>> Arts. The number of courses needed are about the same.

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>>> Honestly, do I have a chance at being hired with one of

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>>> these certifications? Which do you think would make me a

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>>> more desirable candidate in a middle school? I will be

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>>> nearly 65 when I do receive this certification....will that

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>>> hinder my chance of being hired? Thank you for your advice.

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