As a teacher, I have to say the idea of "jumping into teaching" isn't particularly realistic:
- Yes, even if you already have a bachelor's degree, you probably don't have a teaching certificate. Sure, you can look into private schools, etc., but they pay considerably less than public schools -- and give no benefits.
- Someone said a teaching license is good for life. False. They must be renewed every five years and require CEUs.
- Realistically, if you're looking for a teaching job, you have one "window of time" every year. Teachers don't tend to leave the classroom mid-year (emergencies happen, of course, but they're few in number).
- Teaching has never been easy, and changes in society /expectations are making it harder.
However, while teachers are the most numerous employees in the school system, other jobs exist:
- Substitute teachers. Yes, if you have a degree + have taken one 3-day community college course, you can substitute. Without question, this is your most flexible job choice in the school system.
- Teacher assistant for young elementary kids or special ed classes.
- Bus drivers. It's an awful job: you must get up in the wee hours of the morning, run two loads (probably one for the high school, then one for the elementary school) ... then you have a couple hours of downtime mid-day before you repeat the process in the afternoon. But, yeah, you can walk in and ask for this job any week of the year, and they'll say, "Yes, yes, yes! Our next training session is ___."
- Cafeteria worker.
- Receptionist or office worker. These jobs don't require a teaching credential, yet these staffers enjoy the same hours and benefits as teachers.
- Coaching sports teams. Yeah, coaching jobs go to teachers first, but we have more sports teams than we used to have, and more teachers have second jobs ... meaning we hire outside the teacher pool more and more often. You might not want to take on a big team like football ... but you might be interested in coaching tennis or golf, teams that typically have 5-10 players.
- Referee. The county never has enough referees. Even if you've played the sport for years, you have to go through a short training program and get a certification, but you can work as much as you like, and you'll take home a check that very night.
Jobs you aren't likely to get through the school system -- unless you're a retiring teaching:
- Teaching online. Teachers are lining up to get this gig in retirement. The state writes the curriculum, so all you do is put up the work, communicate with the students, and grade things. The pay is lower than classroom teaching, and you get no benefits, but you can do the job from home. Realistically, so many retiring teachers want this -- a new person isn't going to break into this system.
- Supervising the SAT or ACT. This is a cushy gig. Check credentials for a room of kids, read the instructions from the book. Package the tests and mail them away. I've been trying to get into this deal for about five years, and I haven't been successful yet. And I'm in the school system.
- Tutoring. The easiest way for parents to find tutors is through the school system, and they only promote teachers and retired teachers. Maybe you can go through another door -- Boys and Girls' Club or the YMCA?