Secondary School Teacher
If you have always wanted to become a teacher to share your knowledge, why not become a secondary, or high school, teacher? Depending on the school district you teach in, you can teach kids in grade 7 through 12, from ages 13 to 18. Secondary teachers help young adults succeed in school, work and life.
Secondary school teachers are subject-matter experts and have special training in fields like math, science, reading, English, foreign language or the arts, to name a few, so they can effectively impart their knowledge to different types of learners. On most days, teachers have from four to seven classes in their fields of specialization.
Whether you choose English composition and literature, math, biology, chemistry or another subject, you’ll need to adapt your teaching to the students at each grade level.
Middle- and high-school teachers follow a curriculum, develop lesson plans, teach classes in their subject matter and correct their students’ work. They also communicate with parents, assess student’s work and fill out report cards, and give individual students the specialized attention they need. As a hgh school teacher, you also help students get ready for standardized tests like the STAAR test and TSI assessment.
Teachers may be also assigned to homeroom classes, where they take attendance and handle other school business, and study halls, where they must maintain an orderly, quiet atmosphere for study.
The first step to teaching at the secondary or high school level is a bachelor’s degree with a core subject concentration from a university accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. You’ll also need to pass the appropriate tests to become certified as well as complete an Educator Preparation Program.
$48,652-$51,380
entry level salary estimate
$66,381-$67,092
experienced level salary estimate
9,343
projected annual job openings
Influence lives and help change the world.
Have you been inspired by a teacher? If you want to make a meaningful difference in others’ lives, careers in education offer many choices. From opportunities in grade school to high school, special education to bilingual, education can be a career where you can start as a teacher and transition to school administration. For most, but not all, careers in education you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree.
Additional In Demand Careers in Education
Sources:
Texas Labor Market Information, Texas Workforce Commission. Statewide wages by occupation. Entry and experienced wages for secondary school teachers except special education, 2021. Statewide projections by occupation. Total annual openings for secondary school teachers except special education, 2020-2030.
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