Vocational Education Teachers, Secondary School

Career Description: Teach or instruct vocational or occupational subjects at the secondary school level.

Industry: Education, Training, and Library

Other Job Titles for Vocational Education Teachers, Secondary School:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

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

Emerging Tasks

• Acquire, maintain, and repair laboratory equipment and tools.
• Review books and journal articles for potential publication.
• Supervise the clinical work of practicum students.
• Talk with students about academic and personal problems and refer them to the appropriate resources.
• Teach classes using current technology, such as by developing multimedia course materials and on-line courses.
• Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audiovisual equipment, computers and other electronic resources, and provide technical assistance when needed.
• Maintain and troubleshoot problems with library equipment, including computers, photocopiers, and audiovisual equipment.
• Order all print and nonprint material for library, prepare order slips, check prices, figure costs, and make invoice payments.
• Plan and conduct children's programs, community outreach programs, and other specialized programs (e.g., library tours).
• Represent library or institution on internal and external committees.
• Review and evaluate materials using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audiovisual, and electronic resources.
• Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
• Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as how to search for information using computerized databases.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adapt course of study to meet student needs
• advise students
• assess educational potential or need of students
• communicate student progress
• conduct parent conferences
• convert information into instructional program
• design classroom presentations
• develop course or training objectives
• develop instructional materials
• ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• establish and maintain relationships with students
• evaluate student performance
• maintain educational records, reports, or files
• maintain group discipline in an educational setting
• monitor student progress
• organize educational material or ideas
• prepare educational reports
• recognize student learning levels
• recognize student problems
• record student progress
• resolve behavioral or academic problems
• select teaching materials to meet student needs
• use classroom management techniques
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve educational data
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use inventory control procedures
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use motivational techniques in education
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use teaching techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use teaching techniques
• write research or project grant proposals
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use motivational techniques in education
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use special education techniques
• use teaching techniques
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years 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.

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

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

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• Average annual wage (2007) - $50,090.00

• Employment (2006): 95,534

• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
• Graduate Teaching Assistants
• Health Educators
• Instructional Coordinators
• Teacher Assistants
• Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary
• Instructional Coordinators
• Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
• Sociologists