Educational paths and career development in the high school level

This article analyses the career paths of teachers from two high schools in Mexico: CETis 104 and Independence Institute. A quantitative-descriptive study is done. The insertion mechanisms to the teaching labor market, the reasons why they chose teaching, the career paths, the stages of career and the fields of teaching update were analyzed. Each of these findings was compared between both institutions. Three types of career paths of teachers were identified: linear, nonlinear and discontinuous. The first one frequently presented with the public institution teachers, while the nonlinear is often found in the private institution teachers. These research subjects are grouped in three stages: initial, intermediate and advanced. Teachers who work in the public school are mainly located in the advanced stage, while private institution teachers are primarily located in the intermediate stage. Relational mechanisms are the access to teaching labor, although some of them do not have the pedagogical training. Teachers who work in a public institution have more development opportunities if they have at least a half time work, whereas the development opportunities for teachers who work in a private institution are limited to increase their academic load.