Dr. Toni L. Mild, Dr. Vaughn Bicehouse, and Dr. Eric Bieniek College of Education, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
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f the question “what was your favorite part of school?” was posed, many of you would not answer that it was that math lesson on inequalities that really piqued your interest and kept you coming back day after day. Most students enjoy and attend school for the extracurricular activities in which they are involved. Extracurricular activities draw many students in and assist in favorable attendance rates. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (1995), there is a strong association of better attendance, achievement and an increased interest in advancing their education when students were involved in extracurricular activities. Due to this trend, schools offer many extracurricular activities for their students. However, filling these teacher leadership positions is not always easy. If you have an interest and can commit to the time that is required in advising extracurricular clubs or coaching a sport or team, you will want to showcase this fact within your resume, cover letter and the interview process. Include a statement outlining your background and interest in sports or extracurricular activities. Ensure that during your interview you also bring this up to the administrators interviewing you. If you happen to have the opportunity when completing the application process to ‘check that box,’ do so. You will find that overseeing extracurriculars can be a timeconsuming process, but you will also experience many benefits. Being an educator while overseeing extracurriculars is a win-win for both you and the students. You have the luxury of not only instructing students within the classroom setting, but also building relationships outside of the classroom. You will see a different side of your students in these settings, and they will see you in a different light as well.
This participation can help to build stronger student-teacher relationships which can ultimately decrease student discipline and classroom management issues. Advising or coaching an extracurricular can also build stronger parent and community relationships, which is also a huge benefit for not only you as the educator but also your district. If you are not interested or cannot commit to the amount of time required for coaching sports teams, most districts need supervision for other activities as well. Such opportunities could include supervision for at-risk programs, alternative education programs, instruction in the home/homebound teachers, or summer school programs.
Preparing for Interviews and Job Fairs
Remember Extracurriculars During the Hiring Process
No matter what type of extracurricular a school may need to hire someone for, remember that bringing up your willingness during the hiring process could ultimately get you the job over someone else. Just make sure that you do in fact have the time, energy, and expertise to commit to this added responsibility, and do a great job. References: National Center for Education Statistics (1995). Retrieved from: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs95/web/95741.asp
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