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On 12/20/13, Kate wrote:
> On 12/20/13, wannabe wrote:
>> I would really like to become a principal, instructional
>> coach, or a director of instruction. I know I obviously
>> need to go back and get my Master's. I'm just not sure
>> though how I will be able to do my Master's and work full
>> time. It seems so overwhelming.
>>
>> I was thinking maybe taking a year or two off to work on my
>> degree. Financially I would be able to do it, but I'm
>> wondering if this is a good career move. I have 3 years of
>> teaching under my belt after this year. I worry that
>> schools won't hire me as a principal with only 3 years
>> experience and/or want to hire me for teaching again after
>> I left and returned with a principal license-I'm thinking
>> that would be a red flag that I'm career climbing and won't
>> be there for long.
>>
>> Any advice on what to do?
>
> Most administrator grad programs are designed to accommodate
> the working professional. I completed my coursework while
> working as a teacher, raising 2 children, and holding another
> PT job as a coach. I don't say this to demonstrate that I'm
> wonder woman, but to show that with commitment you can do this
> while still working. Most of my course assignments required
> application within the school setting, so being actively
> employed as a teacher would help you get through the program
> and make you a better administrator. Completing assignments
> that relate to your job helps to raise you into leadership
> positions within your current district. Admin programs
> typically last 2 yrs if you take 2 grad courses per semester,
> plus summer courses. You can finish with 5 years of teaching
> under your belt. My advice would be to keep your current
> teaching position, explore programs that require short
> commutes from where you work, or consider reputable on-line
> programs. Being a leader within your current district will be
> the best investment you can make.

I agree completely with Kate. I also completed the problem while
working full-time as a teacher. The program is designed for that,
and many assignments will ask you do to various activities "in
your current district".
If it seems overwhelming to you right now, it may mean that you
should wait another year or two (or more). I know that if I had
entered an admin program as a third-year teacher, I too would
have been overwhelmed. You are not a brand-new teacher anymore
but you are still fairly new to the profession. I did not enter
the admin program until I'd been teaching eight years, and that
was right for me; many in my program had more experience than I
did. (Ironically, I ended up in the admin program with two of my
own former teachers, one of whom had been my own SECOND-GRADE
teacher, as well as one of my own current supervisors who was an
admin intern. The fact that one had been my own second grade
teacher gives you an idea of how much experience some of the
other candidates in the program had since I was in my early
thirties at the time. As a third-year teacher I imagine I might
have found that horribly intimidating. As an eighth-year teacher,
I had more confidence, so it was not an obstacle at all and I
thoroughly enjoyed it.)
Before you start, look into how long you have to complete the
program. My program was usually a two- to three-year program, but
I think we had up to eight years to complete all the coursework
and master's thesis/project/exams before we "timed out". You may
want to take just one course at a time instead of two, or at
least start with one course the first semester and then decide if
you're able to take on more the second semester. That's what I
did, and later I did take two courses per semester which was
considered a full-time course load by the university.
Be prepared to have your evenings and weekends fairly full (and
summers; my program offered the more intensive courses in summer,
with the expectation that we would not be teaching summer
school). Aside from the time you spend in class, you'll have
projects to complete, reading to do, essays to write, research to
conduct, and some of them will take you out of your own classroom
(probably a few times a semester).
My recommendation, start with one course, see how it goes, and go
from there.

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