About the Author
Chaplain Paul Slater
by Chaplain Paul L. Slater
San Diego, California
Examining her pathway to becoming a teacher, my wife, shared with us how she ended up teaching 3-year-old students at Point Loma Nazarene University, located on Pt. Loma in beautiful San Diego, California.
We were discussing her teaching career and the topic of career change for teachers had come up. Asked why she had ever considered career change as a teacher, she said: "I consider my teaching career to be my ministry, as a way to serve God by meeting the educational needs of children."
Point Loma Nazarene University Early Childhood Learning Center
Yes, that's you read that right, she teaches preschoolers at the university level. She does so as a laboratory teacher at Point Loma Nazarene University Early Childhood Learning Center. Wow, what a mouthful of words. And No, the children don't have to say where they attend school.
Discussing her teaching career, career change for teachers was recently the topic around the dining room table at our home in San Diego.
Teacher Burnout Is A Reality In The Teaching Profession
My wife, a career educator, made this statement: "I see teaching as my ministry." We were talking about how career change for teachers is a career change decision made by burned out teachers and frustrated educators every day.
Teacher burnout is a reality in the teaching profession. Of course, teaching burnout does not necessarily need to be seen negatively.
New Fulfilling Career Options For Teachers Leaving The Teaching Profession
The educator's career path can lead to new fulfilling career options for teachers who have faced a teaching career crisis or who are simply ready to explore new career options.
Teachers leaving the teaching profession use their marketable education skills to change careers, with purpose, moving into fulfilling, purpose driven careers.
Teaching Is Only One Aspect Of The Field Of Education
Often what is seen as a teacher quitting is really quite different than that statement suggests. The field of education is just so wide and there are numerous education career opportunities available.
On another website, I share how my wife Aleta has had many career experiences as an educator that, while in the field of education, would not be seen as being a classroom teacher.
In an article describing the wonderful field of education and its many education career options I describe her journey through her teaching career journey with this statement:
Pathway From Being A Substitute Teacher To Becoming A School Principal.
In a substitute teaching job, my wife enjoyed 5 years employment as a music specialist for the Bellingham Public School District in Bellingham, WA. She moved from teaching middle school music to 8 more years as a classroom kindergarten teacher.
Responding to a kindergarten job opening, she returned to her first love in her teaching career -- teaching young children. There was a kindergarten teacher job opening that allowed her to return to being a classroom teacher.
Great Classroom Management Skills Lead To The Principal's Office
Yet it was her great classroom management skills that caught the attention of the chairman of the board at a Christian school where she later taught, having moved with me in my ministry career to a new assignment.
But as she share with us at lunch, she views her teaching career as a ministry career as well. And I would agree.
Now back to those great classroom management skills noticed by the chairman of the school board. He was so impressed that he arranged for her to obtain her masters degree in school leadership from Seattle Pacific University. His generosity led to a elementary administrative position as school principal at the elementary level.
Can you see the progression in her teaching career and how responding to a music specialist position as a substitute teacher eventually led her to becoming a principal?
Yes, teaching is a ministry opportunity she has embraced throughout her career. How she ended up teaching preschoolers at the university level is another story to be told at a later time. But I would challenge you to explore your own career journey, to see the leadership of God in your own ministry career.
Published by Chaplain Paul Slater on September 24, 2006 07:23 PM
