Teachers need to back up their qualifications with the enthusiasm and energy to pass on a passion for education and a desire to learn about the wider world. Suzanne Waguespack, who recently retired from the profession after 35 years, said she relied on her own keenness to fire up the minds of her pupils, Nola.com reports. She added her approached paid dividends as she got to see those children "mature as responsible adults". "My greatest reward from teaching are my students," she said. "By giving my all, I got satisfaction in return … This is what has kept me doing it for so long." There are many different levels of education in which teachers can work from preschool and kindergarten to elementary, middle and high school, the Department of Labor said. In all of these areas, educators play a vital role in developing the academic and social skills of their students, it added. In 2006, there were around 4 million teachers in the United States. By 2016, this number is projected to have increased by 12%. In May 2006, the average wage for teachers working at preschool to secondary school level ranged from $43,580 to $48,690.  |