What do you do if you want to break the stereotype that teachers are only meant for teaching roles?

Diversify your skillset and articulate these skills. Your ability to explain complex ideas clearly, manage a classroom, and adapt to different learning styles can be applied to roles in training, human resources, or any field requiring clear communication and presentation skills. These capabilities are valuable outside the classroom is crucial for envisioning a new career path.

To break the stereotype you have to understand your own capabilities and worth. In addition to educational qualifications, and experience, you possess incredible skills. These skills such as managerial skills, communication skills, presentation skills, critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, flexibility to mention a few, are valuable assets. These are requisites to get a job in other fields. To envision a new career path just recognise and effectively articulate the unique skills you possess as a teacher.

Teachers are traditionally recognized for imparting knowledge or the banking education mentioned by Freire. However, teachers can first develop soft skills such as empathy that allow them to connect with their students and thus learn about their interests and generate mutual learning, without showing themselves as the owner of knowledge but rather as a person open to learning with their students.

As a teacher it’s important to recognise your valuable skills. Being in a system that constantly requires you to improve,gives you the great skill of a growth mindset. Use your growth mindset and start building upon your existing skills, research about the new industry, identify skills that are required and start developing those by enrolling into courses. LinkedIn learning is a great start to develop those skills.

Your incredible set of skills, and experience make you a strong candidate for other jobs. Don't hesitate to explore career options, where your transferable skills are a requisite. Acknowledge the fact that you as a teacher possess unlimited repertoire, as you continuously learn and develop new techniques, strategies and activities in class. Your excellent ability to multitask, and the set of skills you possess make you a valuable asset. Your skills and knowledge can be applied in other career options, and make you a suitable candidate for a variety of jobs, like motivational speaker, life coach, HR manager, creative entrepreneur, event manager, and educational consultant. The need is just to explore and utilise the options.

Transitioning teachers need to start with a resume. This is the hardest part. Corporate resumes are totally different than teaching. Quick Tips 1. Each bullet point should start with an Action verb 2. Put stats in at least 80% of the bullets. Examples: - Collaborated with 7-member team to deliver appropriate specialized training for learners (not participated in IEP Meetings) - Performed 3,000+ personalized needs assessments, authored training, conducted post assessments -Selected to be 1 of 10 teachers in Science Curriculum Task Force – Aligned district standards to comply with Next Generation Science Standards - emphasis on interactive lessons 3. Eliminate all teacher jargon and translate it into the field you are applying to

Lo mejor para que el alumnado no vea la figura del profesor como alguien que solo enseña es romper con ese estereotipo mostrándose cercano y apoyarles en sus momentos más complicados. Tienen que verte como un confidente y alguien en quien abrirse ante problemas que les vayan surgiendo.

As a language educator since 2009 and a marketing professional, I firmly believe in breaking the stereotype that teachers are limited to teaching roles. My diverse skill set, including my marketing background, allows me to contribute to various aspects of education, such as curriculum development, educational content creation, and strategic partnerships. By leveraging my expertise in both fields, I demonstrate that teachers possess transferable skills and can excel in roles beyond the classroom. It's crucial to showcase our multifaceted talents and advocate for the value we bring to the education industry as a whole.