NonProfit Helps Professionals Transition To Teaching

Ever wondered if you have what it takes to shape young minds?

Professionals interested in finding out if they have the stuff needed to be a difference-making teacher may want to attend a meeting taking place at 6:30 p.m. on April 18, 2012, at The University of South Florida’s 40 Fifty Lofts Apartments at 4050 Rocky Circle in Tampa. A certification specialist from American Board, a national nonprofit organization that helps recruit and certify professionals, will be on hand to explain how to the organization can help would-be teachers obtain the certification and licensing necessary to get in front of a class. 

“Career changers have very little time, very little money and are very busy,” explains Albert Chen, CEO of American Board. “But there are so many hoops to jump through. Bill Gates wouldn’t be able to teach computer science. Colin Powell couldn’t teach civics. You have to be licensed to become a teacher in the state of Florida. We try and break that down for you.”

Chen says attendees can expect to learn about themselves as well as his organization at the April 18 meeting. “People really like to talk to people when they are considering a career change,” says Chen. “There’s something about that person-to-person contact. Participants can expect to be walked through the reasons why people go into education. We believe if you want to help children then you’ll be motivated and have a passion for the job.”

Chen says that while there is a fee for American Board programs, those who enroll can expect on average to be ready to teach within one year. “When someone asks me how long it will take to prepare for the exams, I say, ‘It’s up to you.’ If you take an aggregate of people it takes about 10 months to one year. For those who stick with our program, our success rate is 97 percent.”

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Albert Chen, American Board