Educator Certification
Services and Information for Prospective Illinois Educators
If you are thinking about changing your major or your career path, consider becoming a teacher. Teaching is about making a difference in the lives of students. It involves stimulating young minds and awakening the natural curiosity in children. It involves guiding students and having a positive impact on their lives. If you love learning and want to share your knowledge and passion with students, think about teaching as your next career.
Teaching is a very rewarding career. Some of the rewards and benefits are:
- Helping students to get the most out of their school experience,
- Serving as a positive role model for your students,
- Unfolding the maximum individual potential in all students,
- Finding opportunities to grow and explore,
- Seeing the successes of each student,
- Making a meaningful contribution to your local community and society as a whole,
- Feeling good about helping others to see and learn new things, and
- Having a flexible work environment that provides challenge.
There are things you can do now to prepare to be a teacher:
- Get involved in extra-curricular activities at school and in your community such as clubs and sporting events
- Seek volunteer opportunities such as tutoring
- Begin to explore teaching areas in which you have an interest
- Actively search for learning experiences
Specific information regarding becoming an Illinois-certified educator can be found at http://www.isbe.net/certification/html/becoming_teacher.htm
