Chemistry Lab to Chemistry Classroom:My Journey to High School EducationJoan KozlowskiPHY 69011/10/061AbstractThis paper details the experiences of a chemistry laboratory worker (supervisor and technologist) in the chemical industry who successfully transitions to a career as a secondary science teacher. It details the steps taken to obtain the necessary education, and gives advice on what to expect when undertaking such a career change. It also highlights many of the varied experiences encountered in this process.There were many difficulties in this transition, including getting into the education program (at Buffalo State College), making up deficient general education classes, and transitioning from the elementary education field to a secondary science (physics) field. Also addressed is the process of gaining a science teaching certification based on prior education (and current teaching certification).These experiences may be somewhat unique to the state of New York, as requirements for teachers can and do vary by state. (New York is generally very strict in their certification requirements.)Most of all, this is a personal narrative of a highly rewarding, albeit often frustrating experience in a career transition from industrial chemical worker to secondary science teacher.2Oftentimes during the school day, I gaze around at my surroundings and wonder, how in the world did I get here? It has been a long, difficult journey from my lab world to here, and the path has been anything but straight and narrow. But through it all, the experience has been interesting, enlightening, inspiring, and yes, even fun at times. If you are considering pursuing a second career in education, be prepared for a difficult journey, full of unforeseen challenges.Before I begin, please note that it is most useful to the prospective teacher to consider the job opportunities available to you in your geographical area (American Association for Employment in Education, AAEE and National Science Teachers’ Association, NSTA). Unless there is a need for teachers in your desired field, or you are willing and able to move, you may find yourself in a long, frustrating job search after having met your educational goals. My teaching inspirations began many, many years ago (no need to know exactly how many) when I was in the fifth grade. I loved to read and I was a good student, so myteacher (who I still think was the best teacher ever to this day) would send me to read to the kindergarten classes. Despite the fact that I was shy, I thrived on this activity and loved every minute of it. Thus began my teaching aspirations, though I would not be ableto act on these for many years to come. I must tell you that throughout school my dream had been to ride and train horses and had little to do with teaching children. However, bythe end of high school I had decided that my best path (to making a living) was to become a teacher. When I announced my plans to my guidance counselor however, he quickly dismissed my idea because, as he said, there were no jobs to be had as a teacher. 3And so, driven by financial need and lack of parental support, I chose to enter the field of chemistry (and more specifically laboratory technology), at the local community college. Now I must add here that I did enjoy science throughout school, so I felt that my choice was a good one, and seemed to be the best one I could make at the time.After working in the lab for twenty-three years, my dreams of teaching were all but forgotten. Although I couldn’t see myself working in the lab until retirement, it was not economically feasible for me to leave either, a situation not uncommon to most of us. As fate would have it, my company would soon provide me the opportunity to change myfuture if I chose, an opportunity that created both feelings of fear and hope for the future.The chemical plant I worked at was shutting down a process, which occupied about half of the plant workforce. This of course meant downsizing and a huge amount of turmoil for all involved. To make a long story short, every person was offered a severance package, part of which included some funding for returning to school. Although I struggled with the decision for several months, and although I was remiss at leaving the lab I had come to feel was my own, I decided to take the plunge, return to school, and finally fulfill my long lost goal of becoming a teacher. This decision did not come without any idea of what I would be getting into. For ten years prior to leaving my job, I had volunteered at an inner city elementary school, helping children in kindergartenand first grade learn to read. This school was the plant’s adopted school, and so I had their blessing each year to work with the students of my assigned teacher. Needless to say, I loved this work. It was this experience that had fueled my interest in moving on to teaching. It was a great feeling to make a difference in the lives of children who really needed that little bit of extra attention. I was also struck by the completely different 4atmosphere of a school compared to the atmosphere at work. There were no safety rules, no hard hats or safety glasses or respirators. No protective clothing or dirty, dangerous processes. Though school seemed like the almost idyllic setting, little did I know exactly what I would be getting into. If you are like me and you find you have a desire to leave your job and become a teacher (the desire should be considerable to endure the path you are about to enter), then prepare yourself to work very hard for three to four years. (The time required to complete your education will depend on the need to obtain a Master’s degree or not in your state.)And so, a month after leaving work, I found myself back in the foreign but familiar world of academia, where I often felt more like an interloper than a real participant. My difficulties began before I had even arrived at school. Applying for the Elementary and Childhood Education program, the teaching field I had chosen and thought I wanted to be in, I found that the program was too full to take me. Here was where my lack of research into job opportunities would rear its ugly head. To get into school, I entered as a Social Studies major instead. Little did I know that this initial problem would be indicative of the many future problems I would have in Elementary Education (Buffalo State College Elementary
View Full Document
Unlocking...