Who is a NYC teacher?

What do you like/hate about your job?

I am *considering* changing fields from social work to special education through the NYC Teaching Fellows program.

I find that a lot of people (ie. especially teachers) try to talk me out of it though. Thoughts? Discuss!!!

P.S. Anyone living on Long Island who commutes to the city each day for teaching?

Message edited 7/1/2008 5:40:59 AM.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

Message edited 9/28/2008 10:20:42 PM.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

i live in nassau and commute to the queens/brklyn border. i love teaching, but dont really get to do too much of it. i teach 4th, and we spend way too much time worrying about/preparing for the tests. its mind numbing and futile. now that the budgets have all been slashed (thanks bloomberg/klein) i will have upwards of 27 students crammed into my room. 10 of them are beginning ELLS and do not speak English, although they will be required to take all three tests this year. then my principal will ask me why they got 1's or 2's come June, and I will get a hard time because I didnt work a miracle.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I work in NYC in Queens not in one of the most desireable neighborhoods. The principal is turning the school around though.

PROS (about my school) The principal leaves me alone, I don't have to hand in my plan book, I have some freedom in what I do in my own classroom

PROS about NYC..Cheap health insurance if you choose GHI, also dental and vision, we also get discounts at Verizon and other places. Not sure if LI teachers get that.

CONS..The commute KILLS me. I live on the SShore and my school is almost into Manhattan because it is the most northern tip of Queens.

CONS about NYC as someone as said...NO snow days ever..You will hear that a$$hole Bloomberg say on a bad snow day "all non essential vehicles must stay off the road, Oh yeah and school is open"

The pay is less than LI

We work more days and have less vacation days

Message edited 7/1/2008 9:30:12 AM.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I taught Spec Ed in Queens for 5 years b4 going out on child care leave this past September. I was in Far Rockaway for 4 years and Corona for 1 year.
I hated the administration in Far Rockaway and the kids were horrible. I couldn't wait to leave.
I loved my school in Corona. The principal was so good to me when I was pregnant. I had a horrible class, but unfortunatly I have never had a good class while teaching for NYC. The Spec Ed deparamnets are poorly run by unqualified people and most of the students are missed placed.
The commute was so long. I live in Wantagh and it usually took me 1 1/2 hours to get to work and the same returning.

The school administration is what makes for a good or bad NYC schhol.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I live in Centereach and commute to Manhattan everyday I teach HS English and actually really love it. I just finished my 6th year. My administration is pretty good and we pretty much are left alone to do our thing with support from them. The students can be difficult sometimes but most are there to learn. Eventually I do want to get a job on LI because I have a child now and I just feel that I am to far away if something were to go wrong.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I work in NYC in the Bronx. The school is located in an area that is fine during the day but you wouldn't want to take a leisurely stroll at night. We have a family oriented school and that makes a big difference. Parents are involved and show up for PTC night and any meetings you ask for.

PROS- Principal leaves us alone, don't hand in a plan book and have the freedom to do what I want in my classroom. The staff is helpful and most have been there for awhile, a lot of people don't leave this school so more people seem invested rather then using it as a stepping stone to somewhere else.

The commute is awesome. I am in Nassau and it takes me about 20-25 minutes in the morning and 30-35 minutes in the evening.

CONS- Paying the damn toll on the TNB, but I commute with 3 other ladies so I only pay it for one week a month.

Cons about NYC, pretty much same as whats been posted here

Good luck with your decision

Message edited 7/1/2008 11:09:17 AM.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

Hi! I am a NYC teacher in Brooklyn in an undesired area. Everyone has their experiences, and my own have not been very good. I agree that it depends on the administration and parents are a big part, too.

PROS
*love teaching
*love being creative
*love learning

CONS
*no snow days
*paperwork overload
*some adminstration, secretaries, and staff

* I can go on with the CONS, but you will find CONS in any field. The most important thing is that you are happy doing what you do!

I commute from Suffolk to Brooklyn. The commute home, especially on rainy, snowy, and Fridays, are insane.

Good luck!

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I live in W. Suffolk and teach at the Queens/Nassau border.

Pros: Freedom to do what you want in the classroom. I am pretty much left alone, don't have to hand in lesson plans or anything like that.
Supportive parents, for the most part.
I love where I teach and love the students.

Cons: I'm still bitter about having to come in before Labor Day.
We never get snow days and work more days than LI.
Commute-right now it is fine, it takes me 35 to 40 minutes, but that is with no traffic. If they ever put me on late session, I am out of luck. So the different sessions is also a con.
Not a lot of supplies. Having to fight over laptops, tvs, etc. Although we are supposed to be getting more smartboards, which will be nice.
34 students in every class, not having your own classroom.

Even though I have more cons, I haven't made a move to leave to come to LI because I truly enjoy where I teach.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I'm in the same boat as OP...thinking about switching careers through the NYCTF...this thread is great and your opinions really put things in perspective. I think I'm ready to do this!

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I agree w/the pros and cons listed by everyone.

I work in Queens close to the Nassau border - Dist. 29. The commute for me is pretty easy but two things that kill it for me is the staff/admin. (too many different personalities, very little interaction w/one another, little communication).

The other is the school community. I find the students come in with no prior knowledge and very different home life. For example, I find it very odd that the parents buy their kids all sorts of new clothes/toys/electronics but don't send them in w/supplies (pencils/notebooks...etc).

I have a friend however that works in Dist. 26 and can't be happier so I guess it's where you wind up.

Re: Who is a NYC teacher?

I work in District 26, 5 min from nassau border.
Pros

*A big pro for me is in NYC you are appointed and have your job unless you get unsat. ratings. None of these one year leaves, year after year like many long island districts.

*Lots of opportunities to make make extra money after school.

* Great professional development opportunites.

* The parents are very grateful and appreciative of what the teachers do.

*Everyone who wants one has a smartboard.

Cons
*more days of work, longer school day than Long Isalnd

*Have to use teacher's college methods

*spend a lot of time out of classroom for professional development

That is all I could think of now, all in all I am very happy. However I have only been here a year. T