Cossondra George teaches math, history and science. She maintains a positive attitude about her career, and she encourages everyone to do something they really love every single day. Be sure to follow her blog, Middle School, Day By Day From a Teacher's Point of View, for more information and musings.

Why did you decide to pursue a career as a teacher? Did you always know you wanted to teach?
I enjoy working with young people so teaching seemed a logical choice. I wanted to share my love of math with students, hoping to encourage them to realize that everyone can do math.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field, such as educational experience and work experience?
Teaching requires a four-year bachelor’s degree as well as many hours of working in schools. My program also consisted of a semester-long student teaching intern experience. Some programs require a yearlong internship. I completed a master's degree program after getting my bachelor's degree because I wanted to teach special education. In addition to the preparation I received in college, I did a variety of volunteer work with young people, including Girl Scout leader, Odyssey of the Mind coach, Sunday school and Bible school teacher, as well as day care.

If your education was directly related to your career, what types of classes and projects did you have to do in school?
I took classes in methods of teaching all subjects. These helped me learn to incorporate the best teaching practices in the classroom. Projects included writing lessons/units for a variety of ages and content areas. I also spent many hours working in classrooms. Sometimes these were spent observing other teachers. Other times, I taught lessons or worked individually with students.

How did your education help you in your career?
Teaching requires a degree, so without education, I wouldn’t have been able to enter this career field.

What was your career path like in this field? For example, did you begin in one position and advance through others to reach where you are now?
I began as a special education teacher, but was asked to take a regular education job at one point. I continued in this position for many years, but this year, took advantage of a chance to change back into special education.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position? What would you say is the most important skill?
The ability to be self-reflective is the most important skill for a teacher to have. Having the willingness to look critically at what you have done, what worked well, what changes need to be made and how you can reach students more effectively is the only way to be highly effective in the classroom. You also need patience, a willingness to work outside the school day, a desire to continue your own pursuit of knowledge, and a willingness to help others grow and learn.

What do you do on a typical workday?
I get to work on a typical school day about 7 a.m., about an hour before students arrive. I use this time to plan ahead, update grades or just get myself organized. First hour: I co-teach a ninth grade American history class. Some days, I sit and take notes; others, I work with individual students or small groups on assignments. On other days, I lead the day’s lesson. Second hour: I co-teach a sixth grade social studies class which is much like the first hour. Third hour: I teach an eighth grade pre-algebra class to a small group of special needs students, trying to prepare them for high school algebra next year. Fourth hour: I co-teach an eighth grade science class. Fifth hour: I have a small group of special needs students for a guided study hour where I work to help them be successful in their regular education classes. Sixth hour is my prep hour. I use this time to get my grades updated, put work online at my website, get my classroom prepared for the next day, attend meetings, etc.

Do you plan to advance to another position within your career field? If so, to what position and why?
There really is no place for teachers to advance other than in teacher leadership roles or moving to administration. I have no plans to become a school administrator but have explored many teacher leadership roles, including mentoring new teachers, leading professional development training sessions and working with other teachers to improve their classroom effectiveness.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
The best teacher is one who realizes their job is not 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, September through June, but instead an ongoing pursuit of personal growth and improvement. Other important characteristics include patience and a love of working with the age group you are teaching. You should also have a strong foundation in your content area. A strong sense of humor goes a long way as well!

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
Only become a teacher if you truly enjoy students. Middle schoolers in particular can be very difficult to deal with. Special education middle schoolers are even more complex. Love what you do, do what you love.