CAREER ADVICE PLEASE...

I am a tenured NYC teacher...this is my 4th year...I just had my first DD in November and returned back to work this past week. I am seriously considering resigning after this year, but am extremely torn and don't know what to do. Your adivce, opinions, experience would be greatly appreciated...

REASONS TO STAY-
1.) $$$$ - this job allows our family to live comfortably and save a good amount of money as well
2.) I am a well respected teacher in the school and the principal has mentioned me becoming an AP down the line
3.) There are NO JOBS ANYWHERE! I do understand that I am extremely fortunate to have my own classroom and a permanent, reliable job in the current education field.
4.) My DD is at a daycare my mom owns. So my mom is with her everyday and charges us $0 (my DH also works down the block from the daycare)
5.) I do work a school calendar with all the perks that includes. (Summers, vacations, etc)

REASONS TO LEAVE-
1.) I commute 5 HOURS a day (2.5 each way)...all I do is think about my baby and how I want to be home with her.
2.) I feel like I need to start subbing or somehow getting known out on long island in order to ever get a job out here.
3.) I feel like if I don't leave soon I will be stuck there forever...and I don't think it's realistic to continue a 5hr a day commute when we would like to have 3-4children down the line.
4.) We can get by without me working, even if it took a little while to even find a per diem subbing job (which is what I have heard - even a sub position on long island is hard to come by)
5.) I think the job market has to turn up at some point and I would rather be known and experienced on long island instead of submitting another resume among thousands from the city.

** All in all I HATE the commute & want a job closer to home and to my baby...however I understand it is not that easy to just find a teaching job out on long island and I should be grateful for what I have in the city**

PLEASE HELP!!! WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Re: CAREER ADVICE PLEASE...

The commute must be really hard but I would try to stick it out as long as possible. The near term economic climate for education in NY is not good. There are talks of school closings in a number of long island districts. If districts start consolidating - well you know what will happen.

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I know it sux, but I agree with OP. Education in NY is definitely looking grim at the moment. I don't know where in NYC you work, but could you apply for a transfer so you are closer to home?

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What about looking within the city during the Open Transfer? Maybe you'll be able to find something closer to the Nassau border and you won't lose your tenure.

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I would stay. I am in the exact position as you but I have two kids and pay lots of $$$ for daycare. I am petrified to give up my job and tenure for the uncertain.

I am however looking to transfer when open market opens in April. A school in Queens would cut my travel time in 1/2. Have you considered that?

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That commute seems horrible but as a teacher on Long Island that has sat on interview committees, resigning never looks good. Get your resumes out now and see if anything comes of it. April is when I, as well as all the other women out on childcare leave, have to let my district know if I'm coming back for September. Send your resume all over asap! You are tenured and you have 4 years experience and those are 2 great things. If you were offered a job, the pay on Long Island may be lower but your commute would be less. Best of luck!

Message edited 2/12/2011 5:07:13 PM.

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My cousin was a NYC teacher and she said she had 5 years after the birth of her youngest child to come back to her position. is that still the case? is staying home an option for now so the commute is not so onerous. Where do you live? where do you work? I agree with some of the APs. Can you transfer to somewhere w/in the city that's not as far. or what about moving? or send resumes now. I definitely agree that I'd find a position first before quitting.

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You are not going to like this, but option C:

I'm not sure where you live that you are commuting for 2.5 hours each way. Honestly, for you to realistically keep working (and be happy), that has to change. I know what a long commute does over time.

If you live far out on the island, and conditions allow, I would look at renting or buying closer to NYC. Your DH (I'm assuming) could commute longer. If you have childcare that is inflexible (like a parent who lives by you now) this can be difficult...

If you are taking public transportation, rent a garage near your workplace and get a "commute car". It can be a little $$, but the hour you may save is well worth it.

Honestly, even in the best careers, a job is never guaranteed. I don't know what your DH does, but even though I love my job, a large part of why I am working is financial stability, to pay off all of our house ASAP, to save a large sum of money to pay for my DS's school tuition & to save for retirement. We try to live off one salary & save as much as we can of another (we are lucky & have cut our expenses to be able to live off of one salary). We are each other's insurance policy.

Who knows what will happen with the economy? I don't think things are going so well & I thing lots of things are still very unstable. You can always decide to stay home after your second (or third) child's birth & enjoy your first at an older age.

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I would not resign my position; I would look to transfer to a NYC school closer to where you live - or take an extended child care leave. Seeing that you have 5 years of leave you can use, it doesn't make sense to resign completely.

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I could never do a 2.5 hour commute. That in itself would make me either resign or move. If it was temporary, MAYBE but if it was permanent, no way.

For a few months, DH and I lived separately (I lived with DS with my parents) while DH finished residency because I would have had a 2h commute.

Is it possible to move closer to your work, even if it means sending DD to another daycare or your DH could drop her off on the way to work?

Message edited 2/13/2011 10:43:10 AM.

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this is from a coupon clipping sahm...
no way could i commute 5 hours.

there is just no way.
mine was 3. i loved my job and made good money...left it and never looked back.

i think if you are willing to accept that you may never teach again, go for it and resign.

your mother already watches baby...get a little job tutoring or something, anything close to home.

i am sorry you are faced with this.

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I cried for 2 weeks straight when I went back to work in Sept. I hated my students - hated the building I was in (They put me in a new building in my district) and just hated the commute (1hr each way). I wanted to quit too. But it did get better. I can't say I love all those things now, but I do enjoy working and don't mind being away from DS anymore. In fact, I still put him in daycare on my days off so he has the routine and I can get housework/shopping done.

You have to think long term. Salary, pension, retirement AND what it'll say on your resume if you just resign.... no one will hire you if you just quit. Find a leave replacement closer to home if you really want and say you're trying to get your foot in the door at a local school district, but DON"T resign until you have another job! It'll ruin your career!!!!

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I know it sucks. I know. I am a SAHM mainly because I knew I would never be able to be away from DD for my 4 hour commute (total) each day.
BUT, I was also a NYC teacher several years ago (before I had DD). I got burnt out for so many reasons and I resigned. worst mistake ever. at the time, I was sure I would never want to teach again. Now, I am not so sure and I think I basically ruined any chance of that back then when I was young and stupid. Please do whatever you can to keep your job for now.
Your DD is in the best place she can be, with your mom in a daycare setting, I cant think of a better option for her than that! I know you still want to be with her..I completely get that.

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I was a NYC teacher. And I also hated my job and commute. Then in June 2009 I had DS. I decided to take a childcare leave of absence. You do have 5 years from the birth of your last child before you have to return. Every June I reevaluate my finances and decide whether or not to return. I have taken 2 years so far and will probably take a third. In the meantime I'm enjoying my time as a SAHM and considering other options if I choose not to go back to the city.

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Well, I was a NYC teacher commuting every day from Stony Brook to Flushing and it was AWFUL. I was out of my house by 6:30am and not home until at least 5 every day which was "tolerable" before DH and I had kids. Once I had my DD in Sept. 2008 I didn't go back. There's just no way I could continue. I would've seen my DD only 2hrs. a day and that wasn't okay with me. I've been taking the childcare leave since she was born but once that's up I am officially resigning. I am happy being home, I don't miss the stress and commute of working in the city, and for me at this point in time I don't have any immediate plans to return to teaching.

My two cents.............you can always work, there will always be a job somewhere for you BUT your children won't always be little. You get one shot at this and when it's gone, it's gone. For me, I didn't want to miss a single second so I became a SAHM and never looked back. Work will always be there, my sweet little toddler won't be.

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I would take a leave of absence and look on LI. OR consider moving closer to your job. There is no way I could continue doing that commute. Heck, mine is 45 mins - an hour during the winter and I complain, LOL!

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Could you use that 5hrs to do school work and get caught up before you get home? TRUST ME I get the being away thing. I work A LOT and hATE it, but the reality is that she will grow up and leave some day. I also want to provide her with the ability to go to dance class, sports, new clothing when needed, good food and so on.

Try to think of it as a "temp" full time job. With holidays, and vacations you're really only gone for 8months out of the year. SIlly I know but when I get down on my job I think about the time I get to be with her and the relief my husband felt when I went back. The financial strain was much harder on him then I thought or then he let on. Is she with your mom this whole time or is she with her dad as well?

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The commute sounds like a killer. At this point, though, I think it would be nearly impossible to find another teaching job closer to home. I work in a large district where 30% of each department was called in last week and told they may be excessed. With state aid cuts and a property tax cap coming down the road, districts are going to be letting tons of teachers go. There were people in my school who had 13 years in and were told that their jobs were in jeopardy. I think that if you are willing to not teach right now and could survive on one salary, then go for it. Otherwise, I don't think I would feel comfortable giving up a teaching job in this economic climate.

I am so sorry you are dealing with this dilemma. Being a working mom is so difficult and your commute must make it even harder. Hang in there...

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As an unemployed and frustrated teacher, I am quite biased towards telling you to stay, but I'm still not going to do that.

The truth is, it doesn't matter how "lucky" you are to have a job. If this situation is not the right one for YOU, then you have the right to explore a different one.

That doesn't mean, though, that you shouldn't consider the effect that resigning might have on your future employment. I just meant that if you're that miserable, well, then, you're not that "lucky" after all.

The problem with this market is that the unemployed teachers are saturating the other educational job markets. Do NOT count on subbing. I am on two sub lists - my alma mater plus the district where I did my 1.5 year leave replacement - and in two months I think I've been called 6-7 times. Thankfully, I have other part time work, but my point is it can't be depended on for either money or contacts. I think the same is true for tutoring unless you teach a very in demand subject like high level math or science.

If NYC provides 5 years of job protection - I don't think I knew that! - it strikes me as a great option to take that time and think about what you want to do. The answer will eventually make itself apparent to you, whether you move, find a great job on Long Island, hit the lotto, etc.

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Since you have the option of taking up to 5 years off I would give it a year and see how it goes.

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i would stay,or look for a city school closer to you, or at least take the child care leave (don't officially resign). The teaching market SUCKS right now. NO ONE is hiring. every district is making cuts, even my "wealthy" district on LI is letting people go. it's even hard to get subbing and leave replacements. i also think you have to think long term: pension, etc. Also, although it sucks to be have such a long commute and being away from the baby, you have the best possible arrangement: FREE daycare with your MOM and your husband so close.

good luck... trust me, i hear you... i am a teacher too. and although my commute is not nearly as long, i miss my baby too, but i try to think of the greater good that my working provides.

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I have several teacher friends and clients. There are NO opening for teaching jobs on LI. Subbing is really really hard. Some only get 5-6 hours per month. There is no hiring right now. And not even sure when there will be.

If you want to quit, don't do it thinking you will sub. Assume you are a SAHM that "might" get a few hours now and then per month.

Yes, the commute is nuts but this is "secured" job.

Only you knows how you feel about it.

Personally I could not do your commute.

But don't count on a sub job to get your the extra $$$$

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I don't think I could handle that commute. I agree with the advice a few other ladies gave you - take your leave, and explore your options. You are guaranteed a position in your district for 5 years. That's enough time to see if you can find a position elsewhere, and if you can afford to or want to be a SAHM. DON'T RESIGN. You will not be able to get back into the system while they are talking about layoffs.

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My door to door is 2 hours each way so I know it's tough but at the same time...I love my job and love the paycheck even more.

You have to do what you think is best but my opinion is stay and ride it out until an opportunity presents itself. If it's as difficult as everyone says to find something I would wait.