High school teachers have specialized training for one, two, or a couple of subjects. They teach high school students from grades 9 to 12, who are typically aged 13 to 18 years. Their work is even far more specialized than the teachers in middle school. For instance, a high school biology teacher may have to teach different grades and different parts of a subject as it pertains to that grade. Usually, the subjects taught by high school teachers could be language, science, mathematics, art, history, English, music, or drama. A typical high school with rotations of five to six classes each day would mean a teacher would potentially have over one hundred different students to teach daily.
A prospective high school typically requires earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education or a teachable subject like mathematics. To teach in public schools, they’ll also need a state teaching certification or license. This normally means that potential teachers must finish a state-approved teacher preparation program. The job outlook for this field looks fair as the BLS estimates high school teachers’ employment to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030.
The work of high school teachers continues outside the classroom as they work on exams, lessons, assignments, and other materials related to the subject they teach. These tasks must be done in the most creative ways, so they can be of interest to the students.
Apart from preparing materials and tutoring their students, they also organize several other extracurricular activities for their students. Some of these activities include sports team coaching and field trips. Their work is one that impacts lives, both in the classroom and in the world as a whole. They work for long hours – teaching, conducting and grading examinations, dishing out and scoring assignments, correcting and encouraging their students, as well as meeting up with parents (if necessary).
The role of high school teachers extends beyond the curriculum, as they can advise students sometimes on career and college plans. They may even take up the role of counselors if students are struggling with any issues or problems and want to talk about them. They may also oversee particular areas when required, and at times, make budget and administrative decisions.
As racial, ethnic, and religious diversity continue to increase, high school teachers need to be capable of bridging any cross-cultural gaps. They can do this by having adequate knowledge of the students’ backgrounds and teaching them in the most effective way possible.
