High School Teacher Job Description, Duties and Requirements
High school teachers educate students in grades 9-12. They are required to have a bachelor's degree and must be licensed in order to teach in a public school. Read on to learn more about career and education information for prospective high school teachers.
Job Description
High school teachers work for schools that enroll students from grades 9-12. They typically instruct students on a single subject, such as English, math, science, history, language or art. To do so, they must plan curriculums, which may cover basic topics in algebra to advanced information on psychology.
High school teachers can be influential in students' lives, since students will apply what they learn to their future endeavors. Though teaching can be rewarding, high school teachers may have challenging jobs when dealing with unmotivated or disruptive students. Stress can occur when facilities aren't up to standards, workloads become difficult to manage and teachers work more than 40 hours per week.
Duties
High school teachers put together informative and engaging lesson plans for their subjects. Teachers use a variety of visual aids, textbooks and creative projects to gain student involvement. As technology becomes an increasingly large part of education, high school teachers may be required to have and teach computer skills. Other duties may include:
- Making administrative and budget decisions
- Chaperoning classes and trips
- Prioritizing teaching methods
- Completing parent and student counseling
- Enforcing rules and disciplinary action
- Lecturing and discussing concepts
- Preparing material for presentations
- Grading tests and conducting progress reports
- Recordkeeping student activities in accordance with laws and school policies
Requirements
Aspiring public high school teachers must obtain a bachelor's degree; although private high school teachers are not required to earn a 4-year degree, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that private high schools may still favor applicants who have a bachelor's degree (www.bls.gov). The BLS also notes that prospective candidates may consult the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, who accredit education programs for teachers (www.bls.gov). These institutions may help candidates to facilitate their entry into the profession.
While in college, prospective high school teachers may simultaneously participate in a teacher preparation course or program, which is typically required by state licensing boards and may be a part of their curriculum to earn a degree. These programs usually last for one year and provide aspiring teachers with experience in student-teacher interactions.
Licensing
Public high school teachers must also be licensed in the state in which they are going to teach. Private high schools are exempt from this requirement; however, they may still favor applicants to have a bachelor's degree. According to O*NET, 87% of high school teachers have a bachelor's degree, with 13% having at least a master's degree.
Certification
High school teachers may also opt to complete a professional certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org). Completing a certification is voluntary, but teachers may wish to obtain this for the potential career benefits, including possible salary increases. Additionally, the NBPTS certification is nationally-recognized for teachers who may move from one state to another during their careers.
Related to High School Teacher
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Reasons to Go Visit Your Old High School Teacher During Break
Did you have a favorite teacher in high school? Someone who made a big difference in your life, who you miss now that...
High School Teacher, Role Model and Youth Advocate: Education-Portal.com Speaks with Anthony Curtis
Anthony Curtis is a high school lit teacher and one of the 2010 recipients of Illinois' Golden Apple Awards....
High School Criminal Justice Teacher: Job Description and Requirements
High school criminal justice teachers are responsible for instructing students in how the criminal justice system...
Junior High Teacher: Job Description and Requirements for Becoming a Junior High or Middle School Teacher
A Junior High Teacher provides instruction in a specific subject to students in grades six, seven and eight. Most...
How to Become a Preschool Teacher Online
- Substitute Teacher: Career Info and Requirements for Becoming a Substitute Teacher
- High School Calculus Teacher Incorporates Free Online Videos Into Flipped Classroom Method
- High School Teacher: Requirements and Career Information for Those Interested in Teaching High School
- Top Ranked Instructional Leadership and Teaching Degrees - Atlanta, GA
- Top Degrees for Educational Administration and Teaching - Kansas City, MO
- Top Degree Programs for Web Design and Multimedia - Anaheim, CA
- Top Ranked Psychology Degree Programs - Chicago, IL
- High School Teacher: Career Education for High School Teachers
- Become a Reading Teacher: Education Requirements and Career Info
- Top Ranked Master's Program in Educational Leadership - Dallas, TX
- Top Ranked School for Computer Networking Technology - Denver, CO
- Top Ranked Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees - Chicago, IL
Other Popular Schools:
-
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Agriculture
- Architecture
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Legal
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at New England Institute of Technology include:
-
- Non-Degree: Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies
- Medical and Health Professions
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at Golden Gate University include:
-
- Graduate: First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Business
- Computer Sciences
- Legal
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Professions
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at University of South Florida include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Architecture
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at Texas Tech University include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Agriculture
- Architecture
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Legal
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at Grand Valley State University include:
-
- Graduate: Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Legal
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at Northern Arizona University include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Legal
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
-
Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
-
- Graduate: Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Business
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Professions
-
-
Areas of study you may find at Virginia Commonwealth University include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Diploma
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Legal
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
