Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

Overview

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Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.

Yearly Salary

High: $96K
Median: $62K
Low: $43K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
  • Prepare materials and classroom for class activities.
  • Instruct students in the knowledge and skills required in a specific occupation or occupational field, using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop, and field studies.
  • Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  • Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
  • Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage.
  • Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
  • Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.
  • Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.
  • Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
  • Assign and grade class work and homework.
  • Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
  • Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
  • Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
  • Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
  • Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
  • Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
  • Keep informed about trends in education and subject matter specialties.
  • Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
  • Plan and supervise work-experience programs in businesses, industrial shops, and school laboratories.
  • Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
  • Place students in jobs, or make referrals to job placement services.
  • Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
  • Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
  • Select, order, store, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
  • Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of secondary school programs.
  • Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
  • Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
  • Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
  • Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
  • Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Calendar and scheduling software
Calendar and scheduling software
Computer aided design CAD software
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Computer based training software
Sakai CLE
Desktop communications software
Edmodo
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Information retrieval or search software
iParadigms Turnitin
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Multi-media educational software
Kahoot!
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
Image scanning software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Accommodation furniture
Drafting boards
Agricultural and forestry and landscape machinery and equipment
Compost grinders
Arts and crafts equipment and accessories and supplies
Mitre boxes
Audio and visual presentation and composing equipment
Carousel slide projectors
Commercial and industrial furniture
Shampoo chairs
Communications Devices and Accessories
Multi-line telephone systems
Components for information technology or broadcasting or telecommunications
Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Interactive whiteboard controllers
Consumer electronics
Compact disk CD players
Data Voice or Multimedia Network Equipment or Platforms and Accessories
Conference telephones
Developmental and professional teaching aids and materials and accessories and supplies
Dissection trays
Domestic appliances
Electric ranges
Domestic kitchenware and kitchen supplies
Chef's knives
Fire protection
Fire suppression blankets
Hand tools
Anvils
Industrial laundry and dry cleaning equipment
Clothes irons
Industrial process machinery and equipment and supplies
Injection mold equipment
Industrial pumps and compressors
Portable air compressors
Institutional food services equipment
Food measuring scales
Lamps and lightbulbs and lamp components
Grow lights
Material handling machinery and equipment
Hydraulic jacks
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Digital multimeters
Metal cutting machinery and accessories
Tap and die sets
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Laser facsimile machines
Personal care products
Hairbrushes
Personal safety and protection
Welding helmets
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Digital video cameras
Pneumatic machinery and equipment
Pneumatic nailers
Printing and publishing equipment
Offset presses
Raw materials processing machinery
Milling machines
Textile and fabric machinery and accessories
Sewing machines
Welding and soldering and brazing machinery and accessories and supplies
Magnetic torch guides

Top 10 Knowledge Required

Education and Training
91%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language
81%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Computers and Electronics
76%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Customer and Personal Service
71%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management
66%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Public Safety and Security
66%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Mathematics
63%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Psychology
62%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Communications and Media
57%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Design
57%
Importance

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Top 10 Skills

Instructing
90%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Active Listening
83%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Learning Strategies
83%
Importance

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Reading Comprehension
83%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Speaking
83%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking
80%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring
80%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness
80%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Writing
80%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning
78%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Top 10 Abilities

Oral Expression
85%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension
83%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Clarity
83%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Comprehension
83%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Inductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Problem Sensitivity
80%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Speech Recognition
80%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Near Vision
78%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Top 10 Work Activities

Training and Teaching Others
95%
Importance

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Coaching and Developing Others
90%
Importance

Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
90%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Thinking Creatively
90%
Importance

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
89%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information
89%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
89%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
89%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
88%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Developing Objectives and Strategies
86%
Importance

Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Apply multiple teaching methods.
  • Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
  • Set up classroom materials or equipment.
  • Monitor student performance.
  • Monitor student behavior, social development, or health.
  • Evaluate student work.
  • Teach vocational courses.
  • Teach others to use technology or equipment.
  • Develop instructional objectives.
  • Create technology-based learning materials.
  • Advise students on academic or career matters.
  • Maintain student records.
  • Plan educational activities.
  • Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
  • Prepare tests.
  • Assign class work to students.
  • Enforce rules or policies governing student behavior.
  • Assist students with special educational needs.
  • Encourage students.
  • Plan experiential learning activities.
  • Discuss problems or issues with supervisors.
  • Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
  • Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
  • Supervise student research or internship work.
  • Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
  • Perform student enrollment or registration activities.
  • Select educational materials or equipment.
  • Distribute instructional or library materials.
  • Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
  • Coordinate student extracurricular activities.
  • Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
  • Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
  • Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance.
  • Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
  • Supervise school or student activities.

Education

Interests

Social
100%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Artistic
52%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Conventional
50%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Investigative
48%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Realistic
41%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Enterprising
39%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Work Values

Relationships
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Independence
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Working Conditions
69%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Support
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.