Teachers Let's Be Realistic

When do we really forsee this job market getting better?

What would you do if you couldn't teach?

You know I am always weighing my options. I don't know how many more years I can sit around and hope for a job.

I have an interview with Palm Beach Schools on Monday...I know I will walk away with an offer to come down and interview at schools.

Part of me says go..part of me says stay.

When is enough? When do you either move for your career or give up on your career?

I am stressed out 24/7 trying to find a job. It is becomming a financial burden at this point.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

Honestly, at this point I have pretty much given up on returning to a public school district on LI. I left in October 2007 when DD was born and officially resigned a year later.

I feel like for every semester I am out - how many more student teachers/leave replacements with current good contacts are coming through these districts? Why would anyone hire an outsider based off a 30 minute demo lesson when they have people in-district ready to go?

And they are a LOT cheaper on the scale then I am (2 Masters degrees).

ETA: To answer your other questions, I don't see it getting better anytime soon. Pretty much every district is looking at major cuts so the market is going to be flooded.

Not sure what to do with the rest of my life. Right now DS is only 8 months old so I have some time to decide.

Message edited 2/28/2011 8:53:21 PM.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

*I don't see this market getting better anytime soon. Just keeps getting worse. Could be years. Keep hearing if you think this year is bad wait until next year or the year after.

*I have a degree in journalism. I would try something in that field if I couldn;t get a teaching job.

*If I were looking for a job I don't really know how long I could do it for. I remember looking in the summer of '06 and I felt like I was going to need to be medicated...I'm not kidding and that's when there were a good amount of jobs.

I don't mean to discourage you but the city is talkiing 4500-7000 layoffs right now. I'm sure LI schools aren't doing much better and then the constant attack by the media on teachers...things are not good right now.

Message edited 2/28/2011 8:57:47 PM.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

I don't even know what else I would do if I stayed in NY and didn't teach.

I HATE subbing. I cringe when my phone rings (I'm on 3 lists). I was so happy when I had my last leave replacement.

I am so stressed, I just can't take it.

I have created so much financial stress with trying to teach in NY that I just want to make our life better.

I started interviewing back in the fall, for admin and management jobs and I walked out of the interview thinking "Please don't call please don't call!"

I didn't want them to call because I didn't want to have to turn down a job.

My husband doesn't get it. He is tired of discussing our options. He says I can make the decision because he doesn't care.

I feel like I am tearing us apart.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

This year the state cuts are causing issues and the next year the tax cap is going to cause problems, so there seems to be 2 bad years coming up. It doesn't mean that there isn't anything out there. Especially if you are in a high demand, low supply certification.

Karen - I think you could blow anyone away at an interview and get a job. Don't sell yourself short!


With the tax cap next year, I have been told that there is a big chance that they would eliminate my position (I'm not state mandated). So I think I would take some time off on unemployment and be a class mom and wait to be recalled.

I could look to go back to my first certification (maybe my old city school would have an opening?). or see if i could get a job in the public library. I'm sure subbing would be in my future.


I moved to CA when they had a hiring freeze and it was hard finding a job. One of the reasons DH and I talked about moving back was for my career, so I wouldn't rule out FL.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

There are lots of educational type of jobs out there :)

I am a principal now but if I ever decided to quit there are lots of things I would interview for:

Working for an organization that provides supports to schools such as Learning Leaders or Teaching Matters

Working for an educational vendor (textbooks and online resources)

Becoming a daycare director

Opening or working at a Gymboree

Teaching part time at a community college

Some things to consider:

Applying for the Teaching Fellows (NYC is still hiring fellows for hard to fill positions) SPED and ESL are the best licenses to get since they are still shortage areas.

Don't give up hope and do go out there and interview -- the layoff scare is nonsense -- also new NYC schools still get to hire 50% of their staffs outside the DOE. New NYC schools are opening in 2011-2012 -- Attend the new school fairs and introduce yourself to the new principals. Good Luck!

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

I have a job, but all the changes regarding tenure and evaluations make me feel unsafe. I work in a low-performing school and our scores are never good enough.

If seniority is overturned, the older you get, the more likely you'll have a target on your back. It's making me feel that next year (end of 2012) will be my time to get out.

I am not sure what I will do, but I have time to figure it out. This summer I'll take some computer classes to make myself more marketable. I need 10 years of service and 15 if I want to make the age, and I just don't think I can continue in this system- it just seems like there is way too much working against me. But I am glad I have time to plan (unless I am the one teacher from my building to go, which would surprise me.) and I am actually looking forward to my next steps, once I figure them out.

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I'm a very new teacher. I've been in the same district 3 years. I started out as a leave replacement, worked full time last year, now I'm a private contractor (I'm Spec. Ed. so they contract me out to the private schools).

For the past 3 years I've been excessed. Every time they were able to re-hire me. Once again, I'm nervous. As a private contractor I have no union, no seniority etc.

Every year I pray I have a job next year and go through ups and downs. One day hearing I have a job and one day hearing I don't. I can see this going on for awhile longer.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

Message edited 4/18/2012 9:55:43 AM.

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Message edited 3/1/2011 11:51:09 AM.

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Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

I dont know if it will ever get better and that is scary. I was in a private Catholic school on LI that closed. Thak God I got another job in the diocese but I will say they are few and far between. And forget opublic schools in the city or LI. There are just no teaching jobs and its very sad and scary!

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

I think the job prospects do not look good for a few years. This year my district is laying off 5 people (in addition to 15 retirements). Next year is suppose to be worse because of the tax cap. The only good news is that my district usually keeps the tax increase between 1.5 and 2.5%.

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic

Re: Teachers Let's Be Realistic