Photo by Anthony Turducken

The top schools in Louisiana offer teachers the opportunity to work with high-achieving students from all backgrounds, with the support and resources that make it possible for both students and educators to succeed. Getting hired by these institutions will require more than Louisiana teacher certification, but dedicated and passionate teachers have nothing to lose by applying to these fine school:

Benjamin Franklin High School
Benjamin Franklin High School is not just one of the top schools in Louisiana, it is one of the top schools in the nation. This charter school serves New Orleans’s brightest youth, including about 40 percent who are economically disadvantaged and 50 percent non-white. In 2009, Businessweek rated Ben Franklin the No. 1 high school in Louisiana based on overall academic performance, and Ben Franklin rated 27th on both U. S. News & World Report’s and Newsweek’s 2011 national high school rankings, higher than any other Louisiana school. The school is located in the Orleans Parish school district in the city of New Orleans, but as a magnet school, it draws qualified applicants from school districts throughout the city.

Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Baton Rouge Magnet High School is the second-ranked Louisiana high school on Newsweek’s 2011 list of the nation’s best high schools. The school is located in the East Baton Rouge Parish school district in the city of Baton Rouge, and with a 100 percent graduation rate and a 92 percent college enrollment rate, working with these engaged and successful young people will be a rewarding job for any teacher. The 26-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio will allow you to work a little more closely with your students than you would be able to in most public schools.

Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts
Located in the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts is a competitive residential magnet school which students attend for their last one, two or three years of high school. LSMSA is the third-ranked Louisiana high school on Newsweek’s 2011 list of the nation’s best high schools. The school has a 98 percent graduation rate and a 99 percent college enrollment rate. The 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio provides educators with the opportunity to really get to know their students, fostering a level of academic and creative engagement rare in public schools.

Calvin High School
Calvin, in the Winn Parish school district of the city of Calvin, is one of only three high schools listed on the Louisiana Department of Education’s list of “High Performing, High Poverty” schools. Of its students, 60.4 percent receive free or reduced lunch, yet 85.7 percent graduate — which is 15 percent above state average. One key to the school’s success is its small size, serving 316 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.5-to-1, according to SchoolDigger.com. Calvin is the perfect destination for teachers interested in working closely with economically disadvantaged children in one of Louisiana’s best schools.
—

You can find out how to become a teacher in Louisiana here.

Subscribe to Certification Map’s monthly newsletter to receive updates about teacher certification, education news and much more!

Photo by ucentralarkansas

Each year, teachers have a great opportunity to try a new line of work during the summer. You could allow yourself a little recess by working at a camp, take a break from kids and take a stab at freelance writing, or explore a foreign culture while teaching abroad. Because you’re less busy than during the school year, summer could also be a great time to expand your knowledge and boost your salary by beginning a Master of Education program. The ideal summer job for teachers will not only pay well, but inspire you, allowing you to return to your classroom refreshed in the fall.

1. Teaching Abroad
Teaching abroad is a very different experience than teaching in the United States. America’s economic prominence has created a huge international market for English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers, and international teaching certification is fairly easy to earn. Teaching abroad is an excellent way to explore a foreign country and will like give you a new perspective on the classroom. The disadvantages are that many employers look for a longer-term commitment, and it can be difficult to obtain visas to many countries. Pay varies by exchange rate, from the equivalent of minimum wage in much of Latin America to more than $100 an hour for the most competitive positions in Tokyo.

2. Tutoring
Rather than teaching a whole class, why not do what you have probably wished you could do many times and devote your energy to one child at a time? As a teacher, you already have the ideal professional network to find clients, as well as the knowledge they seek. The disadvantages of this summer job for teachers are that you may have to travel to some students and scheduling can be inconvenient. You will need to decide your own rate, but anything up to $40 an hour is fairly standard.

3. Camp Staff
Spending your summer outdoors working with kids in a non-educational context can be a fantastic change of pace. You will have the opportunity to build a more playful relationship with kids, to get some exercise and to enjoy nature. Unfortunately, camp staff are generally on-call multiple nights a week and have little time to themselves. Pay ranges from $175 to $400 a week, plus room and board. Look for a position with administrative or supervisory responsibilities to earn as much as you can.

4. Freelance Work
Depending on your area of specialization and other skills, you are probably qualify for some kind of freelance writing, web design or other technology-related work. The advantages of freelance work include making your own hours, a constantly varying set of challenges and learning new things. Disadvantages include the necessity of meeting frequent deadlines, uncertain work flow and occasional difficult clients. You will, of course, negotiate your own wages, but you should be able to make as money as you do teaching and possibly more.

5. Summer School
If you prefer to stick with what you know best, there are plenty of summer jobs for teachers available in summer school. The days are typically shorter than during the year, leaving you a little extra time to relax. This is also a great job to work while easing your way into a Master of Education. You already know the rewards of working in the classroom: sharing your passion with the next generation, making connections with exceptional young people and quite often learning as much as they do. Summer school pay rates in your area will likely be comparable to the wage you make during the year.

Subscribe to Certification Map’s monthly newsletter to receive updates about teacher certification, education news and much more!

Photo by Brent Danley

Many school districts are faced with the problem of a growing student population coupled with a shortage of school facilities and limited funds for new facilities. In response, some districts are adopting or looking into year-round education (YRE). In addition to maximizing the use of existing schools for larger numbers of students, some education experts claim that year-round school improves student learning.

With YRE, students attend school for the same number of days each year (180 days, according to the U.S. Department of Education), but school breaks are arranged differently. A popular YRE calendar uses a 60-20 plan, with students attending school for 60 days and then going on break for 20. Other popular plans include 45-15 and 80-40. The common element with YRE calendars is that students attend school throughout the year and, instead of the three-month summer break, have several smaller breaks interspersed.

Most schools that need to maximize facility usage implement a “multitrack” YRE calendar that assigns different breaks to different groups of students and teachers. At any given time, there is always at least one group on break. According to the California Department of Education, using a multitrack year-round calendar can allow a school to enroll up to 50 percent more students. Schools that use a “single track” YRE calendar (with all students taking the same breaks) usually have done so to eliminate the long summer break.

There are advantages and disadvantages to year-round school. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of year-round school as presented by education experts.

Pros to Year Round Education:

- For schools with facility shortages, a multitrack year-round calendar increases school capacity.

- Year-round schools support continuous learning. Educators have long noted that student retention suffers during the long summer break and many believe that shortening school breaks will improve student achievement.

- Year-round school can replace summer school, which many districts have cancelled due to budget cuts. For students who traditionally attend summer school because they need remediation, year-round school allows remediation to be addressed throughout the year.

- With a traditional calendar, most teachers spend several weeks at the beginning of the school year reviewing the previous year’s work. Shorter breaks allow this review time to be reduced.

- Teacher and student stress is reduced by the frequent breaks provided by a year-round calendar.

- Many families appreciate the opportunity to take vacations throughout the year.

- Children from disadvantaged families who may be at risk during long summer breaks with unscheduled time on their hands benefit from shorter breaks.

Cons to Year Round Education:

- Multitrack year-round calendars eliminate the idea of a single class using a single classroom. More storage space is usually required for students and teachers.

- Multitrack year-round calendars place additional demands on school support staff and on cafeteria, custodial and maintenance services.

- Special accommodations must be made for annual school events like graduation and parent conferences.

- Teachers who traditionally continue their own education during the summer break need to find alternative forms of education and training.

- Working parents may find it harder to find childcare for shorter breaks during the year than for the long summer break, when summer camp and other full-time activities are available.

- Families with children in different schools or districts may be faced with conflicting school break schedules.

- Many adults, both parents and non-parents, believe that children learn valuable life lessons by attending summer camp or working during long summer breaks.

—

According to the National Association for Year-Round Education (NAYRE), more than 2 million students attended a year-round school in the 2006-07 school year (that last year for which figures are available). Despite anecdotal evidence from teacher and parents about the academic benefits of year-round schools, the evidence is inconclusive. Until there is more research on the benefits of YRE, school districts will have to weigh the year-round school pros and cons when deciding if it’s time to make the switch.

Subscribe to Certification Map’s monthly newsletter to receive updates about teacher certification, education news and much more!