I’ve been a teacher for almost 2 years now (in January). I’m burned out, underpaid, and need a better future for myself and my son. I only have an associate’s degree in health science, but that’s all my educational background.
Is it unrealistic to think I can get into EdTech? Where should I start? What would the timeline look like? Pay? Should I take classes (I can’t commit to full-time school since I’ll still be working full-time)?
I’m based in Austin, and a friend in tech suggested looking into this field, but I’m new to it all. Any advice would help!
EdTech is a competitive field, and a lot of teachers with master’s degrees are trying to make the switch. If you have the technical skills for it, you might have a shot, but the competition is tough because of people’s advanced education and work experience.
Honestly, I’d recommend getting your undergrad degree in a field you enjoy and moving on from there. Education doesn’t pay much, and it’s overwhelming for most.
How are you teaching without a degree? You might be better off going back to school and starting a new career entirely. EdTech isn’t some golden ticket either.
Brown1 said:
How are you teaching without a degree? You might be better off going back to school and starting a new career entirely. EdTech isn’t some golden ticket either.
I get it. In some states and certain schools, you can teach without a degree. My mother-in-law works in a similar setup at a charter school, and they don’t require degrees for some teaching positions.
Brown1 said:
How are you teaching without a degree? You might be better off going back to school and starting a new career entirely. EdTech isn’t some golden ticket either.
I work at a private Montessori school with toddlers. It’s not uncommon in preschools to work without a degree. Employers tend to care more about passion and experience working with children—it’s a tough job!
Brown1 said:
How are you teaching without a degree? You might be better off going back to school and starting a new career entirely. EdTech isn’t some golden ticket either.
Chris said:
What kind of professional development (PD) do they offer? Any potential salary growth?
They offer a Montessori certification, but it takes 2-3 years, and honestly, I can’t see myself staying with the company long enough to finish it. I haven’t gotten a single raise, even though I’ve been promised one. Turnover is really high, and the head of school keeps changing, which they blame for the lack of raises. I’m stuck at $20/hour, and I’ve been told I won’t make much more.
Are you in public education? If so, were you hired through a district of innovation (DOI)? I ask because some districts hire people without degrees for tech roles.
Personally, I started out wanting to teach but found my true passion in EdTech. If you’re interested, I recommend starting with an A+ certification. It’s an IT cert you can earn just by passing a test, and there are prep books available for relatively cheap. The test costs money, but there are coupons out there.
With your classroom experience and an IT cert or two, you could set yourself apart. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions!
@keny
I’m actually in a private Montessori setting, but I’m not a fan of the company. Thank you for the tips! I’ll definitely look into those certifications.
Check out the job boards on https://www.edsurge.com/landing/find-a-job and also check out r/TeachersInTransition—it’s a forum for teachers looking to leave the profession.
Just a heads up, EdTech doesn’t pay well in the beginning. But without a degree, you could start in sales or customer support. The pay might not be great at first, but if you do well, you could work your way up to better pay and promotions. Austin is a great city for EdTech, but the cost of living is something to consider.
My first boss, the digital media lead at a university in California, didn’t have a degree but had tons of experience in programming and web development from a young age.
Eventually, the university required him to get a degree. It didn’t matter in what field; he just needed a degree for the job.
So if you have the skills and experience, that can sometimes matter more than the specific degree.
There are plenty of people with degrees (and master’s) competing in the EdTech space. Sales is its own skill set, so you might have better luck finding a sales job, even outside of education. EdTech is a small niche, so it might be tough, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! Even if you’re only 50% qualified, it’s worth applying.