Hired to Teach, Failed the Praxis, Deadlines Closing in — What Now?
This may come across as a rant, and I'll keep it brief.
I recently got a job as a science teacher at a middle school. Initially, I had come in to interview for social studies (US history is my thing), and they ended up asking me to move into that science position because of a transfer to the social studies one. For some context, I work as an archaeologist during the summer, and it is a form of science/humanities, so they saw that as a good experience in the field. They had told me that if I get a license in science, I would more likely get hired into teaching then I can smoothly get into a social studies position.
Now, I had told them I was pursuing Transition to Teach for the Fall and was still waiting on applications to roll through in my interview, since I did not graduate with a teaching license when I graduated from college. I graduated with two bachelor's degrees, one in General Education and the other in Anthropology. I had initially pursued social studies education, but switched after a grade tanked my GPA below the requirement and I had no money to stay another semester/year. The interviewers initially told me all I needed was a Praxis, and I was good, and they would help me get there, so I toned down looking at transition to teach altogether. Then after a few weeks, I had a call with the superintendent; I found out I do need to be in transition to teach and will also need to take a Praxis. I was also told I have 30 days after the school starts to get into transition to teach, or I would be terminated from my teaching role since I would be placed on a transition to teach license. Working on my application and, after submitting a TECR, I waited and waited (forever) for the results until finally last week, when I was told exactly what Praxis I needed (horrible timing).
I researched the Praxis all last week and around the holiday season, trying to juggle it all (studying, knowing what to go over and what is expected, when the test results are due for the program I applied to, etc.), and studied what felt like day and night for it and took it today. Sadly, I was just a few points off from the passing score. I know I have 28 days to retake it, which places me near the start date of school, and I'm coming up past a few transition to teach deadlines for the fall semester. I'm unsure where to go next: if I should even keep this job, if I should try to get into a different type of licensing program, or if I should use this time to study hard every day, retake the Praxis, and hope the program I applied to still gives me admission. I've been looking at other universities' programs as other opportunities as a failsafe too. I love teaching and have for some time now. Right before this job, I was a paraprofessional at an elementary school and enjoyed it.
Any advice or comments would be so helpful! I would appreciate anything.