I'm a teacher, though I'm high school and a core subject. Still, I have insight into your questions:
Yes, I have enjoyed being a teacher; however, I don't enjoy everything about teaching. I enjoy planning /presenting lessons, I enjoy my co-workers, and I enjoy working with
most of the kids. I hate grading papers, the politics in teaching (very, very real), and the ever-increasing loads of unnecessary paperwork (which helps no one and actually decreases my effectiveness in the classroom). Aside from the early morning start time, I like my highly-predictable schedule
Teaching is a job that's in transition. Charter schools, online education and homeschooling are growing in popularity (keep in mind, I'm high school -- you should investigate whether this is true of elementary and middle school), and the fact is that public school is something that's on the decline.
PE is a different type of class, and it tends to be taken less seriously (especially by parents) than other subjects.
Keep in mind, too, that no teacher JUST teaches classes, and since PE teachers are considered "less busy" than other teachers, they get more than their share of these extra duties: Expect to be assigned morning/afternoon duty supervising car rider drop-off or loading of busses. Expect to be required to be required to earn a bus driver's license and serve as a back-up driver. In elementary/middle school, expect to be required to attend occasional evening school activities; in high school, expect pressure to coach in addition to teaching.staff development trainings. Don't forget after-school staff meetings, small group meetings, meetings with parents, and mandatory Expect to keep emergency certifications (i.e., CPR) and to deal with minor emergencies frequently. In middle school, expect to break up fights and deal with tears.
In middle school you're very likely to be not only a PE teacher; you're likely to teach health as well. You can check the requirements for various grades in Texas:
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter116/index.htmlYes, elementary schools have dedicated PE teachers, though they are fewer in number than classroom teachers. PE is usually looked at as a "special" (along with music, art), meaning that the classroom teacher brings the class to the gym and drops them off, leaving her with an hour of time to plan lessons. This means you'll teach every student in the school, but infrequently; the downside is that you won't get to know the kids well.
Yes, a Texas teacher would be eligible for a pension. The question is, what's the vesting period. In my state, you must put in 10 years to be eligible for a pension. Depending upon your state, expect 6-8% of your salary to be deducted for the pension plan. Teacher salary and benefits are public knowledge, and you can find all this information online -- including a formula that'll allow you to figure the dollar figure.
Overall, I think you're underestimating the job -- most people do. I think you're thinking it'd be a little part-time gig for a person who doesn't need the money badly. My suggestions:
- Consider becoming a substitute teacher. In my state this requires a high school diploma, no criminal record, and a three-day class at the community college. This would give you a taste of teaching with little commitment.
- Consider becoming a coach. This would allow you to work with kids on a seasonal basis instead of a full school year. It doesn't pay well, but it's much less time.
- Consider becoming a referee. You must be certified for each individual sport, but it'd allow you to work with sports without the big time commitment of a full-time job.