AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of March 31, 2006
eds. Patricia Knezek, Jim Ulvestad, & Joan Schmelz
This week's issues:
1. Responses to Teaching HS Physics and Math
2. NYC Teaching Fellows Program
3. Reminder: CSWP Sponsored Events in April
4. Program Director Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics Program/South Pole
Science Manager
5. How to submit, subscribe, or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
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1. Responses to Teaching HS Physics and Math
[Eds. note: The items below are responses to an inquiry in the AASWOMEN
Newsletter of March 24, 2006 about the possible pros and cons of switching
from a research career in astronomy to a career teaching physics and math
at the high school level.]
*********
From: Edna DeVore (edevore
seti.org)
Greetings to Anonymous (Mar. 24)
The American Association of Physics teachers is a wonderful resource for
mid-career changes to teaching from research. The next national meeting is
July 22-26 in Syracuse, NY. There are also several regional associations of
physics teachers that can be found at the AAPT site: www.aapt.org If you
make connections to the regional or national membership, you'll likely find
people who have made this transition. If you would like to communicate with
me privately, I can put you into touch with a local physics teacher (Bay
Area, CA) who made the transition from engineering at Lockheed to teaching
HS physics and never looked back.
Cheers,
Edna DeVore
*********
From: Cindy Taylor (ctaylorlawrenceville.org)
Anonymous,
I teach at a private boarding school and I started right after graduate school
so some of my experiences are not the same as yours. I do find teaching high
school rewarding and challenging. You have a greater impact on the kids lives
and can encourage more to pursue math and science in college. I love it when
some kids email me to say that they're majoring in science in college.
Because I teach at a private school, I didn't have to go through the
accrediting process, so I can't speak about that. Since I came right from
graduate school, I did go through a bit of wistful longing of "maybe I should
have done a post-doc and tried finding a faculty job" at times (whenever I saw
data about the "leaky pipeline" I felt guilty), but now I'm comfortable with
my decision.
Have you done any teaching before? I had done very little in grad school so
the first couple of years were a bit rough for me. I would research into what
kind of mentoring program is there for the new teachers. I think most
programs that do the accelerated credentials have mentoring programs.
Also, teaching involves a lot of work. Granted I'm at a boarding school so
I'm expected to also coach two terms and also supervise in the dorms (I now
live in one of the dorms), so my day ends up being longer than at normal high
schools. But even so, the prep time is longer than the general public thinks.
I remember my father grumbling about the salaries of teachers when they only
work 9 months of the year. Last year my parents visited me to help me out
when my husband was away for a few days and they saw how much I worked
(granted it was at the most insane time of the year and again, I'm at a
boarding school so I had more duties than public high schools).
I know sometimes the AAS meetings coincide with the American Association of
Physics Teachers, but I would like to see more from the AAS for high school
teachers.
If you want to email me, feel free.
-Cindy Taylor
Lawrenceville School (in Lawrenceville, NJ)
*********
From: Lucy McFadden (lucy.mcfaddenverizon.net)
I have a late 20's aged, beginning graduate student, who had an engineering
degree, worked as an engineer for a few years and lost his job due to the
company being bought out. He decided to teach high school science, became
credentialed, was mentored for it, did it for a few years, and it was the life
issues that became too much for him. He took a huge pay cut, tutored students
for SAT's (which pays quite well) as a second job, and is now in graduate
school in astronomy.
The message is, as long as you don't expect satisfaction from the physics and
astronomy side of things, and want to help with the life issues and moral
development side of things, you might find it rewarding. But then it is like
dealing with kids at home and at work. No harm in trying it for a couple of
years. I thought of doing so too, but learned that it wasn't easy getting a
job as a High School science teacher in my area.
Have you considered the tutoring route for SAT's. Very lucrative. $40/hr
around here.
Lucy McFadden
*********
From: Andrea Schweitzer (schweitzfrii.com)
Re: Teaching HS Physics and Math
I have 3 data points of friends who have done this:
#1 Quit after 1 year, mostly because of discipline problems and lack of
support from school administrators and parents.
#2 Quit after 4 or 5 years, mostly because of the long hours.
#3 Been doing it for years and loves it!
What I have learned from them, and from my years on the AAS Employment
Committee:
- Find out what it is like teaching in your area. Volunteer in science
classrooms or become a substitute teacher first, to get a better idea of the
environments at different schools. Volunteering and substituting also
improves your resume.
- Find out how many different science and math courses you'll have to teach
simultaneously. Some science teachers end up teaching many different subjects
at once which is exhausting.
- The personalities of parents, administrators and school boards can be the
tipping point for your teaching to be a good or bad experience. Many schools
(even those in poverty areas) have supportive administrators and parents.
Other schools may not mesh with your teaching and discipline style.
- Be realistic about your energy level and how much time it takes to teach.
Even good teachers can get burned out. Plan ahead for how you will get
support, set boundaries and manage your time efficiently.
- Evaluate the pay/hour since you will be working very long hours.
- Read "Teachers Have It Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of
America's Teachers" (2005) by Dave Eggers, Daniel Moulthrop, Ninive Clements
Calegari
- The web has many discussion forums, blogs and other sites written by science
teachers which can give you additional perspectives and useful resources. One
of my favorite career websites hosted by Science
(sciencecareers.sciencemag.org) currently has featured articles on "Scientists
as Schoolteachers." When I went to their career discussion forum and did a
search on high school teaching I turned up 90+ postings
(sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/tools_resources/forum/search).
I hope this is helpful, and best wishes to you. We need good science
teachers! If you do make the career switch, please write back and let us know
about your experiences.
Regards, Andrea Schweitzer, Ph.D.
Little Thompson Observatory in northern Colorado
(and former chair of the AAS Employment Committee)
*********
From: Jennifer Hoffman (jhoffmanastron.berkeley.edu)
I was interested in the topic of leaving astronomy to teach high school.
I forwarded the request to a good friend who did this, and he sent me the
following comments in response:
"Be prepared to get a job for sure (math and science are in demand), but
despite generally rising salaries, working conditions can be hit or miss.
You may teach courses (curricula) you don't like or even fundamentally
disagree with. With emergency certification, you will be spending long
evenings completing coursework, all while struggling to deal with rookie
teacher issues like class management and paperwork. June will not come
soon enough. But you may also find some of the most meaningful and
stimulating work in the world. I've been teaching for 7 years, and look
forward to it every morning. Good luck!"
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2. NYC Teaching Fellows Program
From: WIPHYS of March 29, 2006
[Eds. note: Deadline is TODAY!]
New York City has created the New York City Teaching Fellows program, which
seeks future math and science teachers. This is an alternative certification
program through the NYC Department of Education which seeks to hire mid-career
changers and recent college graduates who wish to become full-time teachers in
the NYC public schools beginning in September 2006. Key components include:
full teacher's benefits and salary (starting at $41,172); a subsidized
Master's degree in Education; intensive pre-service summer training with
living stipend; and on-going school and district support. Details at
www.nycteachingfellows.org or contact Scott Hechinger, Recruiter, NYC Teaching
Fellows (718) 935-4721 shechingernycboe.net. Deadline to apply has been
extended to March 31.
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3. Reminder: CSWP Sponsored Events in April
From: WIPHYS of March 28, 2006
The Committee on the Status of Women in Physics will sponsor or co-sponsor a
variety of events at the APS April meeting in Dallas, Texas. All events will
take place in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. All are welcome, both men and women.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
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1:15 pm - 3:05 pm, Invited Session J5: "Pioneering Women Astronomers" (with
the Forum on the History of Physics)
3:15 pm - 5:03 pm, Invited Session L4: "Women in Science Policy" (with the
Forum on Physics and Society)
Monday, April 24, 2006
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12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, CSWP/DPF Networking Luncheon. Buffet luncheon, and an
opportunity for networking with colleagues! Natalie Roe (LBL), Marcela Carena
(Fermilab) and Ann Heinson (Univ of California Riverside) will offer informal
remarks. Cost: $20 ($5 for students, thanks to the generosity of the Division
of Particles and Fields). Pre-registration is strongly advised as there will
be only limited space for walk-ins. Register at
http://www.aps.org/meet/APR06/social.cfm#cswplunch (pdf file).
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, CSWP/COM Reception. Enjoy light fare, relax and network
with colleagues while you hear about the work of the Committee on the Status
of Women in Physics and the Committee on Minorities.
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4. Program Director Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics Program/South Pole
Science Manager
Program Director Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics Program/South Pole
Science Manager
Antarctic Sciences Section
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
NSF's Office of Polar Programs (OPP) seeks an outstanding scientist for the
position of Program Director Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics Program/South
Polar Science Manager. The Program Director will lead, develop, and manage a
world-class, proposal driven research program across a broad range of
sub-fields of aeronomy and astrophysics. The program provides ~$9.0 million
annually in direct support of scientific research. The incumbent also serves
as the South Pole Science Manager at South Pole Station.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent experience in aeronomy, astrophysics
or a related discipline, plus six or more years of research, research
administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.
The announcements E20060070 and E20060071-Rotator, which include position
requirements and application procedures, are posted on NSF's Home Page at
http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/ . Additional information may also be
obtained by contacting Yvonne Woodward at (703) 292-4386. Hearing impaired
individuals may call TDD (703) 292-8044. Applications must be received by
05/31/06.
NSF IS A EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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