She serves on several boards, committees, and task forces that formulate programs and activities to increase minority children s success in school and foster understanding and interaction between schools and the community. As a legislator, Crittenden serves on a legislative committee established for the purpose of recommending strategies to encourage minorities to enter the field of education. She also believes programs and initiatives on national, state and local levels should promote the recruitment and retention of minorities to the teaching profession. Although teaching is not necessarily a lucrative field financially, good fringe benefits are usually provided. The rewards derived from helping young people grow and develop into productive citizens are enormous, particularly those youth who are stigmatized by society.
Teaching requires a bachelor s degree and the obtainment of a teaching certificate.
Most states except for Idaho, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Washington require licensing exams for certification. The average beginning teacher salary has increased 24 percent in the last several years. Current educational reforms on the local, state and national levels continue to address the need to increase teacher salaries in order to recruit African-American teachers into the field of education. The benefits of teaching in most states include a 10-month contract, personal and sick leave days, retirement and healthcare packages, holiday and summer vacation time, professional development and family medical leave. When you begin to make career choices, consider the rewards of the entire package of teaching and not just the annual salary.