A number of San Antonio teaching jobs (Click here) could be in danger.

The San Antonio Independent School District is currently facing a $33 million to $55 million budget gap next fiscal year. While district officials are considering a number of remedies to lessen the shortfall, it’s likely that some jobs will be affected.

One option on the table is to eliminate a number of district positions, including campus instructional coordinators, teaching specialists, and textbook clerks, and placing those employees in other vacant positions if possible. Another option is to cut the number of days that some employees work.

According to an article by the San Antonio Express-News, other options being considered by district officials include:

• Outsourcing services
• Reducing the school week to four days
• Cutting free pre-K to half a day and charging tuition for a full day
• Eliminating food at meetings and cutting district travel and cell phone stipends
• Consolidating some specialty schools

Several schools throughout Texas are facing budget shortfalls as state and federal funding decreases. Reducing the school week to four days seems to be a popular option among many officials looking to save money.

In fact, instituting a four-day school week could ultimately save about $10 million per year. However, state requirements for the number of days teachers are supposed to work could end up squashing the idea before it’s even discussed.

Those interested in the media and considering San Antonio teaching jobs may want to look into a position as a post-secondary communications teacher.

Post-secondary communications teachers work in a variety of higher-education institutions to teach students about communications, including organizational communications, public relations, radio and television broadcasting, and journalism.

The education required to become any post-secondary teacher depends on the subject you want to teach and the educational institution you want to work for. Four-year colleges and universities typically require candidates to have a doctoral degree, while research universities may require a Ph.D. Most candidates for teaching positions also have to undergo a Texas background check.

There were about 1.7 million post-secondary teachers throughout the nation during 2008, and that number is expected to grow by 15 percent by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 29,900 of these positions belong to communications teachers.

Employment of post-secondary communications teachers in South Texas, where San Antonio is located, is anticipated to remain steady at 50 workers through 2016.

Throughout Texas as a whole, employment should increase from 2,250 workers during 2006 to 3,050 workers by 2016, resulting in 800 additional jobs and an overall increase of 35.6 percent. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, there will be 40 openings per year due to replacement and 75 openings because of job growth.

Colleges, universities and professional schools are responsible for employing 73.35 percent of post-secondary communications teachers in the San Antonio area, while junior colleges are responsible for employing 26.22 percent of workers in the industry.

During 2009, the average wage for post-secondary communication teachers throughout Texas was $30.41 per hour, while the average wage for those across America was $31.34 per hour.

Positions for adult literacy, remedial education, and GED teachers and instructors are among the most necessary and rewarding San Antonio teaching jobs (Click here) available.

These teachers generally work with children or adults who have dropped out of school or need extra help. They typically teach literacy, English as a second language, or prep classes for the General Educational Development test, which is equivalent to a high school diploma. Check out this teacher job description.

It is usually required that applicants for these teaching jobs obtain a bachelor’s degree, although some positions require a master’s degree in adult education or ESOL instruction. In addition, many states require all teachers to have a public school teacher license or license specifically for adult education.

In order to become a licensed teacher in Texas, students must be at least 18-years old, undergo specialized training and education, and pass a written competency test from the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards. Most employers will further require you to partake in a Texas background check.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 96,000 adult literacy and remedial education teachers throughout the country during 2008, and that number is expected to grow by 15 percent by 2018.

Employment in South Texas – where San Antonio is located – is expected to remain even at about 100 workers during the near future. However, employment throughout Texas is anticipated to increase from 5,850 workers during 2006 to 7,350 workers by 2016, accounting for 1,500 additional jobs and a growth rate of 25.6 percent.

The top industries that employ adult literacy, remedial education, and GED teachers and instructors in the South Texas area, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, include:

• Junior colleges – 30.40 percent
• Elementary and secondary schools – 15.82 percent
• Vocational rehabilitation services – 12.18 percent
• Other schools and instruction – 10.61 percent
• Individual and family services – 4.43 percent
• Local government, except education – 2.57 percent

During 2009, the average wage of these teachers in South Texas was $26.28 per hour, while the average wage of those in Texas was $21.58 per hour and the average wage of those throughout the nation was $24.23 per hour.

As the area’s unemployment rate continued to drop and more jobs were added on a monthly basis, San Antonio teaching jobs saw the second-largest yearly increase in employment, behind only government.

During March, the San Antonio-New Braunfels area’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.4 percent to 7.3 percent, following a decrease from 7.7 percent during February. That decrease keeps the area’s rate below the national average of 9.7 percent.

The San Antonio area had a total non-farm employment of 823,500 workers during March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 821,400 workers during February, but a 1.8 percent decrease from last year.

Only three industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: leisure and hospitality by 3,800 jobs; other services by 100 jobs; and government by 700 jobs. Employment in the mining and logging, information and financial activities industries remained even over the month with 3,300 jobs; 18,700 jobs; and 64,800 jobs, respectively.

Four industries managed to see a yearly increase in employment, with government adding the most jobs. The industry employed 162,400 workers during March, up from 161,700 workers during February and a 1.6 percent increase from last year.

The education and health services industry saw the second-largest yearly increase, employing 122,500 workers during March, down from 123,700 workers during February, but a 1 percent increase from March 2009.

Employment in the financial activities industry increased by .6 percent over the year, while employment in the other services industry increased by .3 percent between March 2009 and March 2010.

After months and months of steep construction and and manufacturing declines, the information industry took the biggest hit during March when compared to last year. The industry lost 9.2 percent of its workforce during the 12-month period.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• Mining and logging by 5.7 percent
• Construction by 8.6 percent
• Manufacturing by 6.6 percent
• Trade, transportation and utilities by 3.4 percent
• Professional and business services by 3.6 percent
• Leisure and hospitality by 1.2 percent