Secondary educators teach students in middle school, junior high school, and high school, with the goal of preparing them for post-secondary education or employment after graduation. As specialists in their field, they help students delve more deeply into subjects introduced in elementary school and expose them to more information about the world. In many schools, an instructor may teach several related courses, such as American history, contemporary American problems, and world geography.

Secondary teachers work with many types of students and must adapt to a variety of learning styles, abilities, and interests. To meet the needs of students, they may supplement classroom presentations with reading and writing assignments, interactive discussions, hands-on learning experiences, and group projects that allow students to solve problems together. They may also use computer technology to expose students to a vast range of experiences and teach them responsible use of the Internet for research and information gathering.

Overall, employment of secondary school teachers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2008. Opportunities vary widely by geographic area and subject specialty but will be best for those who teach math, science, computer science, and bilingual education, as well as those who are willing to teach in inner city and rural school districts.

Secondary educators who are bilingual, especially in English and Spanish, will have a distinct advantage in finding jobs, as will those who obtain licensure in more than one subject.

Secondary teachers must enjoy working with young people and have a strong desire to both learn and teach. They must be able to inspire trust and confidence, motivate students, and understand their educational and emotional needs.

Leadership, communication, and people skills are essential, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with others. Creativity, dependability, commitment to excellence, high-stress tolerance, humor, and patience are also valuable.

Secondary teachers must understand the school’s philosophy and organization, and work to support its aims, objectives and policies. They must know their subject matter and be able to ensure that national, state, and local education requirements are met.

In addition to presenting lessons, secondary teachers must be able to maintain a quality learning environment, write tests, evaluate students, prepare grades, and maintain order and discipline. Other common responsibilities include overseeing study halls, supervising extracurricular activities, and helping students choose courses, colleges, and careers.

Secondary teachers in public schools must have a bachelor’s degree, teacher education courses, and a state license in the area of specialization. Many states also require that teachers take and pass the National Teachers Examination.

To sharpen their skills, teachers must be willing to participate in ongoing conferences and workshops.

Working with secondary students can be very rewarding but also very frustrating when students are unmotivated, disrespectful, unruly, or even violent. This profession is becoming increasingly stressful as teachers deal with large classes, heavy workloads, troubled teens, and students who have special needs.

Most secondary teachers work more than 40 hours a week and are often required to supervise extracurricular activities. They typically work a 10-month school year and take a 2-month vacation in summer, during which they are free to travel, take other jobs, or enroll in college courses to continue their education.