Bryan Setser’s: Ten Tips for Teacherpreneurs

Since Arnie Duncan’s new normal speech, we have seen teacher tenure battles, evaluation tool ideas, frozen pay schedules, and a host of reforms define an American Crisis moment for teachers.
Yet, the market I see reminds me of how the Chinese define the term crisis:
For the family members and friends of mine who are teachers, I remind you of Michael Fullan’s phrase, “Being right is not a strategy for change”. Nor is wearing red to school and yelling in a microphone. Now is the time for a whole new opportunity culture for the teacherpreneur.
Here’s ten tips to unleash the “teacherpreneur” inside of you:
1.     Teach for another district – In many states including my home state of North Carolina, multiple years of teachers having their pay frozen can be undone with one simple move – across the county line. Many districts will negotiate supplements, signing bonuses, or starting teachers out on their correct step on the pay scale simply by driving a few more miles.
2.     Teach for a virtual school – many teachers supplement their income by teaching for one of the state virtual schools or a configuration of them. See more on your state virtual school here: www.kpk12.com
3.     Teach your talent– provide content design or assessment services to the field. Many jobs are often listed for teachers weekly on sites like www.edsurge.com or  http://forum.inacol.org/. Postings like these are fairly common as to help  wanted from teachers oncourse content development.
4.     Teach as tutor 2.0 –As examples like the 4 million dollar teacher in Korea emerge, tutoring has become big business and far more than just after school at a desk. Think differently about marketing your talents to your community, state, and nation.
5.     Teach for DoDEA – many Department of Defenses Education Activity schools in the United States and around the globe offer great salaries and benefits packages as well as housing and utility allowances.
6.     Teach for start ups – many non public school markets like charters or next generation model schools often hire teachers to help in their planning years and when they open. Market you services to one of these sites.
7.     Teach in a SMOOC – while many have heard about the Massive Open Online Courses such as EdX and Coursera – you may not have heard of Synchronous Massive Open Online Courses or SMOOCs – this is an emerging e-bay teacher model where you can pick the times or amounts of intensity you provide as an instructor, assessor, coach, or tutor. Companies like Straighter Line are starting to pay teachers for these services.
8.     Teach and travel – many countries around the world value teaching more than we do here. Explore, take a fellowship, and experience these destinations with your family.
9.    Teach for a company – Connections Education where I sit on the board recruits teachers for services as does a host of for profit companies. Before you think corporate America is evil, really spend some time checking out organizations who are mission driven likeConnections or My Virtual School.
10.  Teach for a shingle: Graphic designers often learn their trade on Lynda or Udemy; they find their work on Elance or dribble. Similar markets exist for software engineers. Virtual law groups make legal services more accessible and affordable.  On Care.com you can find a babysitter or elder day care.  Angie’s LIst doesn’t manage a distributed workforce but they extract some friction from a decentralized market by improving discoverability and sharing recommendations (Getting Smart, 2013). Develop your shingle for education and help others through lighter, more nimble ways.
As with any educator or worker, you’ll have to define the right balance of family and work life. But, you are a gifted educator – consider sharing your expertise more broadly than between four walls.by Bryan Setser – Partner – 2Revolutions

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