{"id":3255,"date":"2026-11-06T15:54:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T15:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/?p=3255"},"modified":"2026-11-06T15:55:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T15:55:59","slug":"from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/","title":{"rendered":"From Mortgages to Middle School: Jim’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Forty years into his career in the mortgage industry, Jim Morton was still signing mortgages every day when he decided to change careers to teaching. Today, he teaches eighth-grade science at Hilton Head Island Middle School in South Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Jim, a career change to teaching meant finding a new way to serve his community. It also meant becoming the person who gets to see an eighth grader\u2019s face light up when a tough science concept finally makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Jim Decided to Become a Teacher After 40 Years in Mortgages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore stepping into the classroom, I spent 40 years dealing with mortgages and contracts,\u201d Jim says. \u201cWhile that background sharpened my analytical skills, I eventually realized I wanted a change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He knew what he wanted from his next career. \u201cI wanted a career that felt more purpose-driven, where I could make a direct, positive impact on my community every single day. That desire to inspire people and give back is exactly what drew me to teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Jim Pursued Online Teacher Certification While Working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jim began researching alternative certification routes in South Carolina. He found American Board<\/a> online and liked that he could study on his own schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I decided to shift careers, I needed a program that fit my life,\u201d Jim says. \u201cIt immediately clicked as the right choice for me because it’s completely self-paced.\u201d For Jim, that flexibility made the transition possible while he was still working. \u201cIt allowed me to keep up with my day-to-day responsibilities (I was still signing mortgages daily) while working toward my teaching certificate, without forcing me to sit through years of university classes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also appreciated the focus of the program. \u201cThe best part about the American Board was how straightforward and practical it was.\u201d He valued the emphasis on teaching methods and subject knowledge he could use in the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jim\u2019s Advice for Teacher Certification Candidates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jim recommends setting aside regular time to study, using practice tests, and breaking the work into smaller milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cIf I have any advice for current candidates, it\u2019s to set up a solid routine and stick to it. Treat it like a regular appointment, dive deep into the practice tests, and take it one milestone at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re studying around a full workweek, start by picking a time you can keep. Give each session a concrete goal, like completing a practice test or reviewing a topic you missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Jim Loves About Teaching Eighth-Grade Science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMiddle schoolers get a bad rap, but they are honestly at such a fun age,\u201d Jim says. \u201cThey are figuring out who they are and transitioning into critical thinkers, which makes exploring science with them incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some days, the energy in his classroom can feel overwhelming. It\u2019s also one of the things he loves most about teaching. His favorite moments come when a hands-on lab helps a student understand something they\u2019d been struggling with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThere is nothing better than watching a student\u2019s face light up during a hands-on lab when a tough concept finally clicks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Jim gets as much out of being there for his students as he does out of teaching science. \u201cFostering those \u2018aha!\u2019 moments and being a steady, supportive guide for them during these crazy middle school years is the best reward I could ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start Your Own Teaching Story With American Board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jim started by figuring out which certification route fit his life. If you\u2019re considering teaching after years in another profession, you can start the same way. Decide where you\u2019d like to teach and what subject you\u2019d want to share with students. Then check what certification requires in that state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Board\u2019s online teacher certification program lets eligible candidates prepare for exams at their own pace. See how the route works where you want to teach. Find your state and explore your teaching options<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs About Changing Careers to Teach in South Carolina<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Can I become a teacher in South Carolina after a long career in another field?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes. American Board is an approved alternative certification route in South Carolina. To be eligible, candidates need a bachelor\u2019s degree from an institution that meets state accreditation requirements and must meet the other eligibility rules. American Board doesn\u2019t require your degree major to match the subject you want to teach. Review the state\u2019s American Board eligibility requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I prepare for teacher certification while keeping my current job?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes. American Board\u2019s study materials are online and self-paced. Jim kept working in mortgages while preparing for his teaching certificate. You can set a study routine around your own schedule. Explore American Board\u2019s South Carolina program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does South Carolina offer an alternative certification route for middle school science?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes. The South Carolina Department of Education lists Middle Level Science for grades 5\u20138 among the certification fields available through American Board. Check the state\u2019s grade bands before choosing a subject. See the approved certification fields<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens after I pass my American Board exams in South Carolina?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After passing the subject area and Professional Teaching Knowledge exams and earning your American Board completion certificate, apply through the South Carolina Department of Education. The state issues the initial Alternative Route Teaching Certificate after you complete its application requirements and secure qualifying employment in your certification field. Review South Carolina\u2019s certification steps<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forty years into his career in the mortgage industry, Jim Morton was still signing mortgages every day when he decided to change careers to teaching. Today, he teaches eighth-grade science at Hilton Head Island Middle School in South Carolina. For Jim, a career change to teaching meant finding a new way to serve his community. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-state-teacher-certification"],"yoast_head":"\nCareer Change to Teaching After 40 Years | Jim Morton<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After 40 years working with mortgages and contracts, Jim became an eighth-grade science teacher in South Carolina. See how he made the switch.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Career Change to Teaching After 40 Years | Jim Morton\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After 40 years working with mortgages and contracts, Jim became an eighth-grade science teacher in South Carolina. See how he made the switch.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"American Board Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/abcte\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-06T15:54:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-06T15:55:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1832\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"858\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Melanie Olmstead\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@abcte\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@abcte\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Melanie Olmstead\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Melanie Olmstead\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5d7208090039c4677051d6e72ebc2115\"},\"headline\":\"From Mortgages to Middle School: Jim’s Story\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-06T15:54:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-06T15:55:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":920,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"State Teacher Certification\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/\",\"name\":\"Career Change to Teaching After 40 Years | Jim Morton\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-06T15:54:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-06T15:55:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"After 40 years working with mortgages and contracts, Jim became an eighth-grade science teacher in South Carolina. See how he made the switch.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png\",\"width\":1832,\"height\":858},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"From Mortgages to Middle School: Jim’s Story\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"American Board Blog\",\"description\":\"Information about Teacher Certification\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Untitled-2_preview.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Untitled-2_preview.png\",\"width\":250,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/abcte\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/abcte\",\"http:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/onlineteachercertification\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/americanboard\\\/overview\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCFiielm-EsM6RRvN0MGKd7Q\\\/videos\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5d7208090039c4677051d6e72ebc2115\",\"name\":\"Melanie Olmstead\",\"pronouns\":\"She\\\/her\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/03d04f5fc543a6cae11139214f5f31bc9c48f60e4b1e5e1b7be5e0aa4e140d10?s=96&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/03d04f5fc543a6cae11139214f5f31bc9c48f60e4b1e5e1b7be5e0aa4e140d10?s=96&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/03d04f5fc543a6cae11139214f5f31bc9c48f60e4b1e5e1b7be5e0aa4e140d10?s=96&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Melanie Olmstead\"},\"description\":\"Melanie Olmstead is the Executive Director of American Board, where she writes about online and alternative teacher certification, trending education topics, and the experiences of American Board teachers across the country. She brings 15 years of experience in education policy to the role, and her favorite part of the job is spotlighting the work of American Board\u2019s more than 25,000 teacher graduates. Melanie earned her Master of Public Policy from American University in 2013. She lives in the Midwest with her family.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.americanboard.org\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/melanie-olmstead-pharis-8544b044\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/americanboard.org\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/melanie-olmstead\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Career Change to Teaching After 40 Years | Jim Morton","description":"After 40 years working with mortgages and contracts, Jim became an eighth-grade science teacher in South Carolina. See how he made the switch.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Career Change to Teaching After 40 Years | Jim Morton","og_description":"After 40 years working with mortgages and contracts, Jim became an eighth-grade science teacher in South Carolina. See how he made the switch.","og_url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/","og_site_name":"American Board Blog","article_publisher":"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/abcte","article_published_time":"2026-11-06T15:54:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-11-06T15:55:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1832,"height":858,"url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Melanie Olmstead","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@abcte","twitter_site":"@abcte","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Melanie Olmstead","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/"},"author":{"name":"Melanie Olmstead","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5d7208090039c4677051d6e72ebc2115"},"headline":"From Mortgages to Middle School: Jim’s Story","datePublished":"2026-11-06T15:54:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-06T15:55:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/"},"wordCount":920,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png","articleSection":["State Teacher Certification"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/","url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/","name":"Career Change to Teaching After 40 Years | Jim Morton","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png","datePublished":"2026-11-06T15:54:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-06T15:55:59+00:00","description":"After 40 years working with mortgages and contracts, Jim became an eighth-grade science teacher in South Carolina. See how he made the switch.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png","width":1832,"height":858},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/from-mortgages-to-middle-school-science\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"From Mortgages to Middle School: Jim’s Story"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/","name":"American Board Blog","description":"Information about Teacher Certification","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#organization","name":"American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence","url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Untitled-2_preview.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Untitled-2_preview.png","width":250,"height":250,"caption":"American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/abcte","https:\/\/x.com\/abcte","http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/onlineteachercertification","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/americanboard\/overview\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCFiielm-EsM6RRvN0MGKd7Q\/videos"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5d7208090039c4677051d6e72ebc2115","name":"Melanie Olmstead","pronouns":"She\/her","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/03d04f5fc543a6cae11139214f5f31bc9c48f60e4b1e5e1b7be5e0aa4e140d10?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/03d04f5fc543a6cae11139214f5f31bc9c48f60e4b1e5e1b7be5e0aa4e140d10?s=96&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/03d04f5fc543a6cae11139214f5f31bc9c48f60e4b1e5e1b7be5e0aa4e140d10?s=96&r=g","caption":"Melanie Olmstead"},"description":"Melanie Olmstead is the Executive Director of American Board, where she writes about online and alternative teacher certification, trending education topics, and the experiences of American Board teachers across the country. She brings 15 years of experience in education policy to the role, and her favorite part of the job is spotlighting the work of American Board\u2019s more than 25,000 teacher graduates. Melanie earned her Master of Public Policy from American University in 2013. She lives in the Midwest with her family.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.americanboard.org","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/melanie-olmstead-pharis-8544b044\/"],"url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/author\/melanie-olmstead\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/From-mortgages-to-middle-school-science.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3255"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3259,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3255\/revisions\/3259"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}