"Teaching is a perfect second career for me," says Chastity McGraw, 35, of Charleston, W.Va. McGraw received a TEACH grant through Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, where she's pursing a master's degree in elementary education.

(ARA) – Do you picture yourself one day standing in front of 26 or more pairs of eyes, filling the brains of students of various ages with the information they will need to graduate from high school and go on to a fulfilling life? If molding young minds is your dream, you may be able to get federal help in fulfilling it.

Jobs will always be available in the field of education, and the prognosis for the next several years is that demand for teachers will grow an estimated 12 percent through 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The BLS goes on to report that most job openings will result from the need to replace the large number of teachers expected to retire during the next seven years. Subject areas with the highest demand include elementary education, math, science, bilingual education, reading, special education and foreign languages.

In order to help fill the need for new teachers, the federal government created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program offering undergraduate and graduate students up to $4,000 per year for tuition. Students who receive the TEACH grants sign an agreement to serve as a full-time teacher for four years at a low-income school in a high-need field once they’re finished with school.

“Teaching is a perfect second career for me,” says Chastity McGraw, 35, of Charleston, W.Va. McGraw received a TEACH grant through Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, where she’s pursing a master’s degree in elementary education.

TEACH grants require applicants to be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate student in an educational institution that is participating in the TEACH grant program.

GCU has seen a dramatic surge in students applying for the grant money.

“This grant only became available this academic year, and we already have 267 students taking advantage of it,” says Dr. Cindy Knott, dean of GCU’s College of Education. “The students are high quality and committed to their careers — there’s no doubt that this program is going to have a major impact on the quality of teachers over the next decade.”

In addition to the TEACH grants of $2,000 per semester, GCU offers scholarships for high academic achievers attending classes on campus. Other financial aid may be available for online students.

Once she graduates, McGraw will be required to serve four out of eight years — not necessarily consecutively — at a public or private elementary or secondary school designated as a high-needs area. But she isn’t concerned about the commitment.

“Our entire state is full of eligible schools, so there’s no worry of not being able to serve in a high-needs area,” she says.

For more information about GCU and the TEACH grants, visit www.gcu.edu or call (877) 860-3951.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Demand Rising for Career Training Amidst Recession
2. Recession Inspiring More Mothers to Go Back to School
3. Score with a Career in Video Game Industry

Many working mothers now perceive a return to school as not just a dream but a necessity.

(ARA) – Earning a degree has long been a dream of many working mothers. While it might seem the recession would put that dream even further out of reach for most, many working and single mothers are actually drawing inspiration from the economy to pursue their dream of getting a higher education.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of women returning to school,” says Adena E. Johnston, campus dean of DeVry University’s Philadelphia campus. “Degree completion programs are very popular for those who have not finished their education, but we’re also seeing more questions about the bachelor’s programs with an entrepreneurship specialty. Women seem to want to learn more about starting their own businesses or having more flexibility and control over their movement in and out of the workforce.”

There’s no arguing that an advanced degree can help mothers improve their employment situation, judging by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The higher an individual’s level of education, the less likely she or he is to be unemployed, according to the bureau. The unemployment rate in 2007 (the latest year for which data is available) for women 25 and older lacking a high school diploma was 8.2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau. For those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the unemployment rate drops to about 2 percent.

Many working mothers, it seems, now perceive a return to school as not just a dream but a necessity. In an increasingly competitive job market, they recognize they can no longer afford to remain in low-paying jobs, or to be the only competitors in the field without a degree.

“In 1968, my father advised me I didn’t need a college education. He said all I needed was to get married and take up homemaking,” says Chris Dulaigh-Bates, a 56-year-old medical transcriptionist and mother of two. “I have worked out of my home for the last 17 years, but over the course of the last five years, technology and world trade have eroded away the job security I once enjoyed.”

“My future needs a new ending,” she says. “I’m going to school to help rewrite the ending to my story.”

Dulaigh-Bates is a DeVry University student who was awarded a full-ride scholarship in 2008 through a special “Project Working Mom” scholarship program for working mothers who wanted to return to school through an online program. For many working mothers, the online nature of the scholarship means they will be able to better fit their education into their busy lives, which already revolve around their children, family and jobs.

The flexibility of online learning may be contributing to the growing interest among mothers to return to pursuing higher education, Johnston points out. The ability to fit online class schedules into already busy lives means many mothers will be able to better balance work, family and educational obligations.

“Online education is the best route for me because sometimes my children with disabilities or special conditions require extensive involvement,” says Sandy Decker, a home daycare provider who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DeVry University. “This ability to attend school online will prove critical to my success as a student and allow me the flexibility I need as a mother.”

Johnston says schools are seeing an increase in the number of women seeking information, scholarships and degrees in areas deemed recession-proof, like accounting. “Accounting concentrations for undergrad and graduate students are popular as more and more want to be able to have portable skills,” she says.

“Working mothers looking to earn a degree should begin to identify their transferable skills, or those skills they bring with them as older adults who have significant life experience,” Johnston advises. “These students are usually motivated and just need encouragement as they move forward with their education.”

To learn more about DeVry University and its online degree programs that can help mothers achieve their educational goals while still fulfilling personal and work obligations, visit www.DeVry.edu.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Demand Rising for Career Training Amidst Recession
2. Dreaming of a Career in Education? Federal Grants May Help
3. Score with a Career in Video Game Industry

“The educational system is continuously evolving,” comments Carlos Cashman of CourseAdvisor. “Today’s students are highly diverse in what they need. Colleges and universities are offering more program options than ever to fit the changing face of the American student.”

For some, a brick-and-mortar school is the foundation of the college experience. But more and more students are finding that online education is more affordable and flexible. With millions of adults currently pursuing degrees online, school administrators are realizing that this trend is only going to increase.

If you have been thinking of attending college, it’s important to find what works best for your personal situation. By visiting CourseAdvisor.com, you can search a variety of educational resources and work with the “Education Wizard,” an online tool that helps students learn more about what they are looking for and what programs would be best for them.

Many students will find that an online education is the best option, but they don’t know much about how it works. For most students, e-learning is more convenient, flexible, and often more satisfying than going to school in a traditional campus setting. So how does an online education work?

Asynchronous Classes
Some online education programs are asynchronous. This means the instructor’s teaching and the students’ assignment completion do not happen simultaneously. Asynchronous online programs are usually the most flexible, allowing students to work on assignments with as much time as they need and on their own schedule, whether before breakfast, after the kids are in bed, or some time in between.

Synchronous Classes
Online programs can also be synchronous, with the instructor and students all “tuned in” to the class at the same time. Synchronous e-learning programs provide the benefit of interacting as a group the way a campus class would, but also the benefit of including students (or a teacher) who cannot physically be on site. Synchronous e-learning is great for classes that include international students, or for students who are just too far away to commute to school.

Hybrid Programs
Online learning also includes blended or hybrid programs. Blended classes combine online coursework with some on-campus, in-person class time, giving students the advantages of both learning environments. A blended program can be effective for a class that requires some, but not 100 percent, in-person interaction among students or with the instructor. Medical assistant career training is one that might be offered in a blended format, combining some online study of medical billing and coding, for example, with on-campus training in taking patients’ blood pressure and other diagnostics.

“An online degree can be just as valuable as one from a campus program – it depends on the quality of the offering, the institution and the program, and over time we’ll see more and more acceptance of these ‘non-traditional’ type degrees,” comments Cashman. “The most important thing is for students to choose the method of education that is right for them. With all the educational options of the 21st century, there’s a program that can fit any lifestyle.”

To start learning more about what career path is right for you, visit www.CourseAdvisor.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Dreaming of a Career in Education? Federal Grants May Help
2. Recession Inspiring More Mothers to Go Back to School
3. How Your Resolution to Make More Money Can Become Reality