Fed up with your job? Consider becoming a teacher

Over the next decade, 180,000 new teachers will be needed to meet the needs of New York State, according to Angela Pagano, senior assistant provost for educator prep and partnerships for SUNY systems.

“There are several reasons for the education shortage, including retirements — one in three teachers here could retire in the next five years — and teachers who left post-pandemic due to stress and low morale,” she said.

Statewide, high-need subject areas include science, technology, engineering and math, early childhood, health and physical fitness.

In New York City, Spanish and foreign languages, bilingual education/ESL and special education teachers are also highly sought.

For anyone considering a career change into the profession, there are a host of teacher education programs and supportive pipelines to help foster a shift.

Since the majority of the 8.4 million inhabitants of New York City are people of color, NYC Men Teach was launched in partnership with the Young Men’s Initiative, the Department of Education, City University of New York and the Center for Economic Opportunity.

Their aim is to recruit and unite black, Latino and Asian men committed to educating today’s diverse student population.

Armando Cosme, age 29, of Jersey City was one such recruit, impassioned to join the teaching ranks in an effort to help better represent diversity in the tri-state’s classrooms.

In 2013, Cosme realized his acting dreams were a stretch, and that the demand for teachers, especially math specialists, was high. With some prior experience as a tutor, he was motivated to transition to teaching.

“Back in high school, I’d helped my cousin, a struggling student, to pass her math exam,” he said.

“I worked hard with her and pushed her through. I felt I could do this full time.”

Science, technology, engineering and math, early childhood, health and physical fitness are the subjects where teachers are needed at a high level. Armando Cosme (pictured) joined the teaching ranks in 2013. Matthew Stanton / New York City College of Technology.

Cosme first achieved his associate degree in math at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and took the school’s tutor course before achieving his Bachelor of Science in math education, and was introduced to NYC Men Teach.

They provided workshops to help with coursework, certification exam prep and to address culturally relevant education, classroom management and supporting special education students.

“I ended up teaching at my tutoring school, Science Skills Center High School in Brooklyn,” said Cosme.

He’s now worked for seven years as a high school math teacher of geometry and AP calculus.

“The events and keynote speakers organized by NYC Men Teach are so cool. The program is growing every year,” said Cosme, who is gratified by his career change.

Gary Crump is one of the countless individuals who decided to become a teacher as he moved from the legal field to now a fifth- through 12th-grade social studies teacher for the Buffalo public school system. SUNY

“It’s important to have teachers in the classroom that match what students look like. The connection is easy and more relatable for them. They are more open to having conversations regarding diversity issues in America,” said Cosme.

Traditionally, to get a teacher certification, you need to have taken a 4-year undergraduate, 2-year graduate college preparation program or approved college certificate program that leads to teacher certification, according to SUNY.

Another route is to get an individual transcript evaluation.

Through this New York State Education Department process, you can submit an application for a variety of levels of certificates, including interest areas like coach, classroom teacher, school administrator, teaching assistant and pupil personnel service.

Or, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you can take an approved, registered alternative teacher preparation program offered through an institution of higher education.

Denise Grandits, who initially was working as a medical assistant, decided to pursue a career in teaching in her 30s. SUNY

Additional special programs include Teach for America, which recruits and develops a corps of leaders for 250 urban and rural communities countrywide.

A two-year commitment is required to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong teachers.

Additional entry-point programs for career-shifters include TeachNYC, a centralized application and screening portal which “gets you into the system, and allows you to see jobs and apply to them,” said Ashleigh Thompson, City University of New York’s university dean for education.

“There are so many schools and kinds of needs; there are lots of opportunities to find your best match.”

Another route is via NYC Teaching Fellows, which enables individuals to teach while earning their master’s degree in education. In partnership with New York City’s public schools, “Career changers take courses over the summer, start teaching in a real New York City classroom the following September, and while teaching full time, continue university coursework at a partner university, leading to achieving their master’s simultaneously. It’s a different kind of entry point with adults with some work experience.”

This past March, a new statewide effort launched in partnership with New York State Department of Education.

Teach New York offers free career advice from a coach, step-by-step certification guides, teaching test prep, financial help for training, help applying to teaching programs, jobs and more.

Gary Crump, 61, who was raised in the South Bronx, moved from the legal field to his current role as a fifth- through 12th-grade social studies teacher for the Buffalo public school system.

As a paralegal for a large Manhattan law firm, Crump was ultimately inspired by clients his firm defended.

“Ten years back, our attorneys repped three leading gang members,” he said.

“They were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 50 to 70 years. They were from a housing project in the community where I’d been raised. I decided that I had to do more to make an impact. I started looking into teaching.”

Crump was steered toward the University of Buffalo Teacher Residency Program.

The one-year, paid residency covers professional certification for childhood and adolescent education, as well as English for speakers of other languages.

“It’s a lot of work — writing papers, lesson planning, learning from mentors,” he said.

“The big program draw was their partnership with the Buffalo Public School System. We all knew we could segue upon graduation into a role as a classroom teacher.”

For others, an inner calling is enough of a driving force to transition into teaching.

While working as a medical assistant in Buffalo, Denise Grandits, in her 30s at the time, decided to pursue a career in teaching.

“My then-boss encouraged me to achieve a higher degree. Someone seeing something bigger in me was a wow moment,” said Grandits.

Grandits took SUNY Empire State College’s online Bachelor of Arts program, earning a degree and later her Master of Arts in teaching.

Despite the hard work, “it’s making a difference in these kids’ lives that drives me — guiding them through challenging times,” she said.

“I’m meant to give back to this community. It’s the best way we can do it — to help our young people see their potential. It’s the whole reason I was put here.”