Strange Question LONG

I have been teaching for 7 years. Two were on Long Island. I resigned five years ago and have been working in the city every since. Now I want to come back to LI and have been trying. Last year I got a ton of interviews....did demo lessons but never go the job. It had me thinking that maybe I am too expensive.

This year I want to try again. I am thinking maybe I should drop off the 2 LI years and claim to only be teaching 5 years; all in the same NYC school. My thought is that maybe they would be more willing to negotiate with 5 years as oppose to 7 years. Based on the other post many of you said my amount of experiece is now working against me.

So my question is: Could I drop the LI school off my resume and pretend it never existed? Is there some DOE data base that keeps track of every place you have ever worked?

I really need to get out of the city but it is just so hard. Do you think this would help?

Or should I say right off the bat that I am will to start from the bottom of the pay scale with the exception of my master's degree?

What do you think?

Message edited 6/8/2009 8:55:32 PM.

Re: Strange Question LONG

I would do neither of your two thoughts.

one, LI districts might like to see that you do have experience on the island... they might think, "oh a similar district hired her and liked her. we might like her too" so no, i would NOT take your LI years off your resume.

also, many districts on LI like teachers with good experience and we all know the city gives you that. you get good PD and many LI districts like the Teachers College training you get in the city (if you're on the elementary level).

I would bring it up during an interview. perhaps you can say something like "I am willing to negotiate some of my experience." Again, i don't know how or when to bring it up exactly, but you get what i mean. i know several women in my district that were city teachers and were flat out told that due to budget issues they couldn't honor all their years in the city, but would love to hire them if they would be willing to lose a few steps on the salary scale. for these particular people, even though my district didn't take all their years, they still made out better on the LI district salary wise than in the city.

Also, it depends on the LI district you get an interview with. you may find that, say you're offered the job, you may be earning more in the city anyway, or you may definitely be making more in the city if they take years away from you, KWIM?

but overall, i would keep your experience on there and don't' be so quick to sell your years and steps away... depending on the district, it may not pay off.

GOOD LUCK!

ETA: Albany tracks every place you've worked for your pension so i would think the LI district might be able to find out anyway.

Message edited 6/8/2009 9:08:46 PM.

Re: Strange Question LONG

it's a tough situation. I changed certifications and found myself in the same problem.

I didn't leave off anything and one district offered me a job at step 1 MA (minus my 45 credits) I turned down the job. So it's possible, but this was before the economy turned.

I did end up with a district that paid me on the exact step I was supposed to be on and all my credits. But I started to think the same as you before I got it.

Could you "hide" the dates in your resume? what I did was put them at the end of the job description (not right justified) - so that they weren't blaring out. maybe that helped?

I don't leaving it off is a bad thing - but just be prepared to not get paid for that.

Re: Strange Question LONG

I don't know. I got a job in LI after teaching for 6 years and when they gave me the job, they bumped me down to a 3rd year teacher's salary. I remember coming onto this board and asking how they could do that, and everyone told me it was pretty standard. So I took the job without complaint (best decision I ever made).

So I'd suggest you keep that experience on your resume. It's valuable experience and shows your versatility. If they want to hire you, they'll probably just do it at whatever salary they feel like paying you (and it's up to you to accept or turn it down).

Re: Strange Question LONG

I wouldn't take it off your resume. Doesn't make much sense. Most LI districts only give you credit for 2 years anyway, so the whole "I'm too expensive" thing doesn't really mean anything.

Just keep doing what you're doing. The fact that you got a few demos last year is a great thing! GOOD LUCK!