Careers in Education

Job Outlook

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, job opportunities for teachers will vary based on location, grade level and subject taught. Overall student enrollment, which affects teacher hiring, will grow more slowly than in the past. Most job openings will result from the need to replace those teachers who are expected to retire over the 2008 — 18 period.

However, the number of special education teachers is expected to increase by 17 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than average for most occupations. This is due to the increasing number of special education students needing services.

Career Services for Education Graduate Students

The CEC is here to help Education students and alumnae/i with all your career preparation needs. The CEC takes our commitment to students seriously, honoring the Simmons promise to put you first.

The CEC offers services and resources tailored specifically to the needs of graduate students in Education. The CEC staff partners with Education faculty to present customized in-classroom workshops on topics such as the MBTI, resume, cover letter, interviewing and job search for Education graduate students.

In the Career Toolkit here on the CEC site you will also find the resources you need to begin your preparation for your job search.

In addition to providing faculty-requested workshops, the CEC offers personalized career coaching to help you launch your teaching career. You can make an appointment with a career coach for a one-on-one meeting (see below).

Career Programs and Events

Education Career Networking Fair

The CEC and Education Department co-sponsor the annual Education Career Networking Fair in March on the Simmons campus. This event is your opportunity to meet with representatives from Massachusetts school systems who are seeking to hire graduating Simmons Education students for potential employment in their schools. Information about attending the fair and student registration is posted early in the spring semester. Your department faculty and staff will be in touch with second year students about the fair.

Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium (MERC)

The Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium (MERC) holds an annual career fair in April to bring together employers from across the U.S. with undergraduate and graduate students and alumni from member institutions for networking, interviewing and job searching. The consortium is made up of representatives from colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts. The fair is usually held in Boston.

Eligibility to attend the fair is restricted to matriculated students and alumni from MERC member schools, including Simmons. Students and alumni interested in attending the fair must get a MERC registration packet from the CEC. You may pick up the packet in the CEC office or e-mail [email protected]. Please include your name, degree and class year in your e-mail. Packets become available during the spring semester towards the end of February.

Learn more about other CEC recruiting events and other career programs here.

Outcomes

The Simmons graduate programs in education include General Education and Special Education.

The programs in general education have a strong reputation in area public and private schools. Supervisory administrators and teachers rate Simmons students as extremely confident, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. A leader in special education training since 1975, Simmons is a passionate advocate for including learners with special needs in general education classrooms and in community and work environments. In recent years, the significant trend toward educating learners with special needs in integrated settings has created a demand for highly qualified special education professionals who have a strong focus on content and knowledge. Consequently, Simmons graduates are in great demand.

Selected Practicum and Internship Sites

Simmons General Education students can take a 14-week, full-time teaching practicum or a yearlong internship, allowing students to gain more clinical classroom experience than most teaching programs provide. Here are selected recent hosting school districts and schools:

• Andover Public Schools
• Bellingham Public Schools
• Belmont Public Schools (numerous school sites)
• Boston Public Schools (numerous school sites)
• Brookline Public Schools (numerous school sites)
• Cambridge Public Schools (numerous school sites)
• Canton Public Schools
• City on a Hill Charter School
• Cohasset Public Schools
• Dartmouth Public Schools
• Dighton Rehoboth Regional
• Dover-Sherborn Public Schools
• Everett Public Schools
• Fall River Public Schools
• Foxboro Public Schools
• Franklin Public Schools
• Landmark
• Lexington Public Schools (numerous school sites)
• Malden Public Schools
• Medford Public Schools
• Methuen Public Schools
• Needham Public Schools
• New Bedford Public Schools
• Norwood Public Schools (numerous school sites)
• Park Street School
• Prospect Hill Academy Charter School
• Reading Public Schools
• Rockland Public Schools
• Sharon Public Schools
• Somerville Public Schools
• Sudbury Public Schools
• Swansea Public Schools
• Waltham Public Schools
• Watertown Public Schools
• Wayland Public schools
• Westborough Public Schools
• Westford Public Schools
• Weston Public Schools
• Westwood Public Schools
• Wilmington Public Schools
• Winchester Public Schools
• Winthrop Public Schools

Special Education Partnership Sites

• ACCEPT Metrowest Education Collaborative — Framingham, Massachusetts
• The Landmark School — Prides Crossing, Massachusetts
• The New England Center for Children — Southborough, Massachusetts
• South Coast Educational Collaborative — Seekonk, Massachusetts
• Horace Mann Education Associates — Franklin, Massachusetts
• The Reading Institute — Williamstown, Massachusetts

Selected Employers Recently Hiring Simmons Education Graduates Full-time

• Acton-McCarthy Town School — Acton, MA
• Amigos Bilingual School — Cambridge, MA
• Ayer Shirley Regional High School
• Bates School — Salem, MA
• Berkowitz School — Chelsea, MA
• Blake MS—Medfield, MA
• Bourne Middle School
• Broadmeadow School — Needham, MA
• Brookline High School — Brookline, MA
• Browne Middle School — Chelsea, MA
• Burlington High School — Burlington, MA
• Cambridge Rindge & Latin — Cambridge, MA
• Chestnut Hill Private School — Newton, MA
• Day Middle School—Newton, MA
• Dover-Sherborn Middle School — Dover, MA
• Durfee School — Fall River, MA
• Forest Avenue Elementary School — Hudson, MA
• Franklin High School — Franklin, MA
• Granite Academy — Braintree, MA
• Haverhill High School — Haverhill, MA
• John Eliot School — Needham, MA
• King Phillip High School — Norfolk, MA
• Lexington High School — Lexington, MA
• Malden High School — Malden, MA
• Marshfield High School — Marshfield, MA
• Masconomet High School — Topsfield, MA
• Massachusetts International Academy — Marlborough, MA
• Nayaug Elementary — Glastonbury, CT
• North Andover Middle School — North Andover, MA
• Northeast Metro Tech — Wakefield, MA
• Odyssey Community School — Manchester, CT
• Oscar F. Raymond School — Brockton, MA
• Park School — Brookline, MA
• Prospect Hill Academy Charter School — Somerville, MA
• Quinsigamond Community College — Worcester, MA
• Salve Regina University — Newport, RI
• San Dieguito School District — San Dieguito, CA
• Schecter School — Braintree, MA
• Southern New Hampshire University — Manchester, NH
• St. Columkille Partnership Parochial School — Brighton, MA
• Warsaw Middle School — Pittsfield, ME
• Weston Middle School — Weston, MA
• Whitinsville Christian Academy — Whitinsville, MA
• Wilson Middle School — Natick, MA
• Winn Brook Elementary — Belmont, MA