I recently landed a position as an ESL teacher. It's my first time in my own classroom, but I have TONS of support and I'm really enjoying my work. However, since this budget crisis arose, there have been rumor that I might be let go, and the position, (which is not expendible), will be given to someone who is more experienced. See, I'm technically an intern teacher in the process of getting the full clear credential. I am just extremely worried because I don't know what I will do if all of a sudden I get let go and NO ONE is hiring new teachers! Especially when I won't finish the clear credential until December, and even then, if I stick with the Intern credential program, I have to be teaching in order to receive it! I don't understand! If teachers are such an important resource for this state, why do they make it so rediculously difficult for us! We don't get paid what we're worth, we have to go through years of schooling just to find out you don't learn what you NEED to know until
you are actually IN the classroom. Why do they make it so difficult? I just want to work so I can get on with my life, finally marry my boyfriend of 8 years, and maybe one of these days feel secure enough to have kids of my own. Things are getting really scary! I guess I'm just asking...What should I do if I DO get canned? I probably won't find work in education with all of the more experienced teachers who will be looking. My degree is in English. I wanted to go back to school to get an MA, too. ALL of my plans are on hold, and I feel like I'm in limbo, watching possibility fly out the door. Please, help!
Thank you SO much for your answers. You have no idea how much you've set my mind at ease...at least for the moment. Thank you.

Relax ,take it easy... I'm sure there always be position for teaching . Lol we die eventually isn't it so its not like we are always gonna have the same job for a million years!!!!!. Also the students may make a teach angry and they'll walk out of the school(it happens my class did it once)

Lolz i have a family of teachers

Keep pushing,you're more ahead than what you think.And no matter what don't worrie!!! What's this life for? To be happy,nomatter what! nomatter what, nomatter what.

Don't worry yet. You still have three more months of school left! Do your best teaching so that the principal won't want to let you go.
You also have to understand that sometimes principals must let teachers go due to ever changing budgets. It just happens, and the low teachers on the totem pole are the ones to go. It doesn't have anything to do with their teaching. You can't worry yourself to death about the uncontrollable.

Also, remember that teachers are ALWAYS retiring, moving, getting pregnant (maternity leaves) so there could be openings from those teachers.

Personally, I think NOW would be the best time to get your master's degree. I just finished mine about a year ago. It has made quite a difference in my salary. My husband also teaches, and he is planning on starting his masters this summer. It will take you a year and a half to two years to finish it, so if you know what you want to study, go for it. Get it done before you have kids! I did it while I was working by taking night classes, and I was mostly done before I got married. I had one semester left when I got married, so now I have *time to spend with my husband* (Ha. He's a coach.)

Anyway, with the job thing, go to meet other schools in the area and meet the principals. Ask about their programs at the schools and make yourself marketable just in case. There may not be any job openings now, but I have never heard of any school not having any new teacher openings.
Good Luck! Be confident!

Come to Arizona. We need teachers. The thing about you being a new teacher versus the more experienced ones... sometimes principals specifically look for newbies because they can pay you less and they can mold you to fit their educational philosophy. Sounds shady but it makes sense, right? A principal has fork over more money for teachers with top-notch credentials and higher education. Principals also might not want someone on their staff who could possibly be more educated than they are!

Just don't stress; start being more confident in yourself, and be aggressive on the job hunt if you do get let go. Is there any way you can ask the principal if your job really is in jeopardy? You might try that route; tell him/her your predicament and you might get some support. They'll at least know that you're concerned and that you clearly want to be there.

I wouldn't go for your masters just yet. Sounds like a good idea, but in teaching, it usually doesn't make your pay all that much better.

The contract that you signed will keep your job until the end of the year. Go find a copy of all the information that the contract covers it will give you the dates that you have to be told if you will be asked back. They won't let you hang until the last day of school.
ESL teachers are in great demand, especially in my area (northern Illinois), Texas, Colorado, etc. Because you are going back to school, your principal knows that you are dedicated and that you are learning the Best Practices of teaching. Because you're one of the newest teachers, you are costing the district very little. So, you're one of the ones that they'd like to keep if they could.
If there just aren't enough jobs in your district for ESL teachers, then move where the population is booming with new arrivals from other countries. Get a recommendation not only from your principal, but also from the other teachers you work with. This shows that you'll get along with others.
How have your earlier evaluations been? If you feel comfortable talking to your principal, you could say something like, "I'm thinking of looking for a house to buy in the area, but I need to know my job security." That will give you a head's up as to what will be happening for next year. He/She would be a real dog if they were thinking of replacing you and would still let you commit to buying a house.
You won't have any trouble finding a new job, if that's the situation there. ESL teachers, speech teachers, and reading specialists will never be out of jobs.

There are always jobs for teachers. Go to Teachers-Teachers.com. You will be fine where you are at probably. Don't worry till it happens.

Try to seek a teaching position at a private school. Trust me, they will not be as picky, and do not have the same requirements for their schools. The pay will not be as high, but at least you will be able to fulfill your educational requirements.
Try to visit the schools in person, especially in the areas where an ESL teacher would be needed. You could try to do look into doing it at an afterschool program where there are always in need of extra help.