I love life experience

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I love life experience
By heather

I mentor new teachers and work with first and second career people. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but one thing is for sure...second career people have a perspective sorely needed in teaching. They know what life
is like in their former occupation and come in with some skills that many of us (me for instance) had little of coming to teaching right from college. Often second career teachers have raised children and that gives them a different perspective than I had at 21 and begining teaching.
At the high school level my sister noticed that as a second career teacher she felt her students

had a respect for her as a science teacher that she was a scientist first and really knew her material. She also said she had a better grasp on paperwork and documentation from working for the federal government first.

One disadvantage I've seen is that a few were in power posiitons in their last job and have trouble adjusting to being the new kid on the block and try to "mother/father/boss" younger more experienced teachers...just a caution. Second career teachers also need to focus on the way schools operate today, not when they were in school, but then again we all have to work on that!

I know I will probably here it from those right out of college (remember I was one of them too), but I enjoy working with second career people. I think they have alot to offer.