Bernadette Katrisiosis, a former grant writer enrolled at Burlington County, has lined up a job in September teaching Latin and Italian at Lenape and Shawnee High Schools in Medford.

"I was just overwhelmed that people were still into taking Latin," said Katrisiosis, of Mount Laurel, who majored in classical languages and studies "years ago" at Drew University in Morris County.

Grant-Holmes said most in demand were instructors of math, science, foreign language, and specialty subjects such as business or technological arts. The most competitive jobs are in elementary education.

She counsels prospective teachers to volunteer to coach teams or advise clubs. "The more diversity you can bring to an interview," she said, "the better you'll look."

Katrisiosis said she was "excited but terrified" to begin teaching. Looking over the New Pathways syllabus, she saw a lot to master.

In 12 four-hour classes this summer, students will study classroom management, testing, lesson plans, communication, motivation, and discipline. They will spend 15 hours observing in a school.

"Once I was in the classroom, I realized how important that summer preparation was," said Michele Schneidereit of Medford, who completed Burlington County's New Pathways program in 2008.

Schneidereit just finished her second year teaching computer science at Maple Shade High School, where she draws from 20 years of software-engineering experience. Her first year, she welcomed "the confirmation and reassurance" of her New Pathways peers. She switched careers after being laid off.

"I'm halfway to a master's degree," said Schneidereit, who took New Pathways for credit. "I couldn't be more pleased."

The program was developed a decade ago to help replace retiring teachers. During the 2005-06 school year, the most recent for which data were available, about 23 percent of the state's teachers were older than 50, and 20 percent were between 42 and 49, Vespucci said. The economy may delay some retirements, but demographics continue to fuel turnover, a teachers union spokeswoman said.

Some alternate-certification programs - such as the newest, at Montclair State University in Essex County - focus on filling shortages in particular subjects.

The first "traders-to-teachers" class, a federally funded program created in March by the state Legislature, will begin in September.

More than 200 people applied for 25 spots, said Ada Beth Cutler, Montclair's education dean. The 18-month pilot program is tailored to out-of-work financial-services employees who did not major in math in college, but who have skills to teach it. The U.S. Department of Labor will provide tuition through 2010 to train 100 math teachers.

Grant-Holmes, a former principal and teacher, advised the Burlington County students to approach alternate certification with confidence: Their life experiences would inform their teaching.

"You're mature students," she said. "You know what you want."

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For more information

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