Secondary Education teachers work within public or private middle schools and high schools
to educate students in subjects such as English, science, mathematics, and physical education
(State). According to the OOH, some teachers can earn the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards’ professional certification. This certification often allows the teachers the
benefits of higher wages, help with continuing education expenses, and the ability to work with
the same license in different states (OOH).
The OOH also stated that with more experience and training, teachers may advance to other
jobs within the profession such as guidance counselors, supervisors, administrators, and
senior teachers. Higher wages usually accompany such a move along with a greater degree of
responsibility (OOH).
JOB OUTLOOK
Finding a teaching position opening is becoming harder and harder for students graduating from
the Idaho Falls campus who are expecting to get a permanent job in the area. Although good
teachers are always in high demand, those most in demand both in Idaho and the rest of the
nation are math and science teachers. According to the OOH, qualified teachers are hardest
to find in “mathematics, science (especially chemistry and physics), bilingual education, and
foreign languages” (OOH). Within the Idaho Falls community, family sciences teachers are also
in demand. For students who graduate with other majors such as English or social studies, social
networking may be their best access to the jobs they want. ISU’s Career Education Fair held
annually in Pocatello allows students to network with local employers in a convenient setting
(ISU).
As with most job positions, the more advanced is the prospective teacher’s education, the greater is the chance that he or she will be chosen for the job as opposed to another prospect with only the minimum required educational background. The pay will also be commensurate with the educational level in that district.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
The secondary education program has many special requirements:
• Class-specific minimum grade point averages are required
• Background checks are required
• Students must pass the Praxis I exams (reading, mathematics, and writing) before admission to the teacher education program
• Students must pass the Praxis II exams (teaching principles) prior to student teaching
These exams are not available in Idaho Falls. They can be taken on the Pocatello campus based
on availability, and the students are financially responsible both for them and for the background checks.
Teacher candidates must be able to pass EDUC 3309, Planning, Delivery, and Assessment. In this class students work very closely with their professors and are evaluated as teachers. If they get bad reviews or cannot work well with their teachers, they will have to repeat the class,
working harder to pass so that they can remain in the program.
ADVANTAGES
The Secondary Teacher Education program offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
degrees. ISU in Idaho Falls has a particular advantage that applies to students attending this
campus solely for Secondary Teacher Education degrees. All of the General, Professional,
and Secondary Education classes required to complete the degrees are offered on the extended
campus. Many of these classes are offered as night classes once a week, catering to the
nontraditional students attending the Idaho Falls campus.
DISADVANTAGES
The Secondary Teacher Education program has an important disadvantage for the students as
well. The Idaho Falls campus does not offer a majority of the upper division classes necessary
for them to complete their content area Major and Minor requirements for their degrees.
It is hard for students to follow the class format for their education classes in Idaho Falls, and to commute to Pocatello currently for their content area classes. Some students make the
commute four or five days a week and work around the education classes in Idaho Falls at night.
Others temporarily relocate to Pocatello either to complete all their requirements there, or to
complete just their content classes there.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Degree requirements checklist:
Occupational Outlook Handbook information found at: