Become a Georgia Middle School Teacher
Middle school teachers build upon the foundations laid during elementary school. They also lay the groundwork for high school. Read on for more information about teaching middle school in Georgia and the requirements for getting certified.
Teaching in Georgia Middle Schools: Job Description, Education Requirements, and Certification Process
Middle school teachers in Georgia generally teach from grades 6-8. In order to teach in a Georgia middle school, depending upon the teaching area, a candidate may certify in grades 4-8 or P-12. This article provides a brief job description and overview of the steps to becoming certified to teach in Georgia middle schools. This article will be focused upon Induction certification for candidates who have completed their bachelor's degree and educator preparation program in the state of Georgia.
<table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; <br/> Completion of educator preparation program; <br/> Completion of course on identifying and educating exceptional children</td></tr>
<tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> GACE Program Admission Assessment; <br/> Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Entry; <br/> GACE Content Assessment: Middle Grades (4-8) or P-12 subject assessment; <br/> Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Exit; <br/> Content Pedagogy Assessment: edTPA</td></tr>
<tr><td> License Validity Period </td><td> Induction Certificate, 3 years</td></tr>
<tr><td> Mean Salary for Middle School Teachers in Georgia (2018) </td><td> $58,190<br/> $56,780 (Career/Technical Education teachers)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Estimated Job Growth for Middle School Teachers (2016-2026, nationwide) </td><td> 8%*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3><p>Middle schools in Georgia have five main teaching areas: Language Arts, Math, Reading, Science, and Social Science. Other subjects can include: Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Health, and Physical Education. Middle school teachers in Georgia generally specialize in and instruct on one subject area. Within the classroom, middle school teachers instruct courses, assign work, deliver exams, and maintain classroom rules. Outside of the classroom, teachers plan lessons, create course materials, grade assessments, help students, and meet with parents.
</p><h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3><p>To teach middle school in Georgia, the first steps are to achieve a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and to complete a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-approved educator preparation program. Admission into an educator preparation program requires a 2.5 GPA in a 4.0 system and a passing score on GACE Program Admission Assessment and GACE Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Entry. As part of the educator preparation program, candidates are required to have a Pre-Service Certification to complete field work and clinical, this will be requested by the institution where the candidate is completing the program. Candidates for Middle Grades (4-8) certification will complete field work and clinical practice at grade levels 4-5 and 6-8, whereas candidates for P-12 certification will complete field work and clinical practice at grade levels PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
</p><h3 id="section---InitialCertification">Initial Certification</h3><p>Georgia has a tiered teacher certification; The first tier is the Pre-Service tier, which is required for field work and clinical practice. The second tier is the Induction tier; which candidates can qualify for in one of four ways, depending upon their educational background. Candidates for Induction certification for teaching middle school must pass one of the following GACE Content Assessments:
</p><ul><li>Candidates for Middle Grades (4-8) - Language Arts certification: Middle Grades Language Arts
</li><li>Candidates for Middle Grades (4-8) - Mathematics certification: Middle Grades Mathematics
</li><li>Candidates for Middle Grades (4-8) - Reading certification: Middle Grades Reading
</li><li>Candidates for Middle Grades (4-8) - Science certification: Middle Grades Science
</li><li>Candidates for Middle Grades (4-8) - Social Science certification: Middle Grades Science
</li><li>Candidates for P-12 certification outside of the above teaching areas should take the content assessment corresponding to their teaching area
</li></ul><p>Candidates must also pass the Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Exit Assessment and the Content Pedagogy Assessment: Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA). Finally, candidates for Induction certification must complete a course on identifying and educating exceptional children.
</p><h3 id="section---ProfessionalCertification">Professional Certification</h3><p>Educators can advance to the third tier, the Professional tier, after they have taught for three years in a Georgia institution. Educators can advance to one of four certifications at the Professional tier.
</p><ul><li>Three years' teaching experience will earn an educator a Standard Professional Certificate.
</li><li>Three years' teaching experience and completing a GaPSC-approved Tier I Educational Leadership program will earn an educator the Standard Professional Educational Leadership Certificate.
</li><li>Earning a 'Proficient' or 'Exemplary' rating all three years on the TAPS component of the statewide Teacher Keys Effectiveness System evaluation during the three years of teaching in Georgia will earn an educator the Performance-Based Professional Certificate.
</li><li>In order to earn the Performance-Based Professional Educational Leadership Certificate, in addition to the three years' teaching experience and meeting the evaluation standards for the Performance-Based Professional Certificate, educators must complete a GaPSC-approved Performance-Based Educational Leadership program and pass the GACE Educational Leadership content assessment and the Performance Assessment for School Leaders.</li></ul>