Choosing A Path....

I really could use some advice from those who are NYCDOE teachers. I am a specialty teacher and I am currently employed full-time on LI. I was just offered a full-time position in the NYCDOE, but it is in the Bronx.

I love the kids I work with (I work for a private company), but my pay is $10K less than what I would be starting at in the teaching position. There is no room for salary growth in my current position.

I enjoy what I do now and the reason I began applying for teaching positions in the first place was to gain placement in a school system, which would mean a pay increase. In my current position I have a 7 minute commute, whereas the Bronx job would mean a 40 minute commute in the morning and a 1.5 hour commute in the afternoon.

What is it like working for the DOE?Commuting - does that suck the life out of you- as I have read on this board?
Any specialty teachers (speech) out there? What is the job in the DOE like- paperwork, bringing work home?

Bottom line- I don't want to dislike what I do- I worked a long time to get my licenses. My husband *who I love so much am grateful to have in my life* has already put off a lot (we delayed our wedding 2 years at my request so I could finish school). I don't want to delay putting off having children too because I am too tired at the end of the day. Am I over-thinking this? Focusing on the wrong things?

Thanks for your input. I appreciate all.

Thank you for your input.

Re: Choosing A Path....

The good thing about working for the DOE is the ability to transfer schools. I was hired in March in Canarsie, BK.

I took the job and I wound up hating everything about it. The administration was unsupportive, the commute was horrible, etc.

My ass't principal told me about the online transfer system. I was able to apply to city jobs and transfer to a school that was closer and that made me happier.


If you take the BX job and decide the commute is too much for you down the road, there are options once you are hired within.

Re: Choosing A Path....

I've been in the DOE for 10 years and at this point commuting is the least of my problems. I live in Suffolk and work in Queens (last exit before Brooklyn). My commute is about an hour in the morning and depending on what time I leave an hour to an 1.5 hours in the afternoon. It does not suck the life out of me. If I don't have any meetings or tutoring after school I can be home at 3:45. I leave at 5:30 in the morning though.

I think the hardest thing with the DOE is the CCSS and new teacher evaluations. I have never worked harder then I have the last two years dealing with all the paperwork that comes with the above. Teaching (at least for me) is not what it used to be. It is more about test scores than anything. It is sad and the next couple of years will probably be a real eye opener with all the new stuff they are trying to implement.

If you love your current job I don't know if it would be wise to switch now. I know that the new teachers in my building were extremely overwhelmed last year.

Re: Choosing A Path....

What are the new teacher evaluations? I am not familiar with them, and I hear not such wonderful things about them- like it's very common to get a "U" rating? Is this true?

Message edited 7/14/2013 12:29:46 PM.

Re: Choosing A Path....

Hi,

I am a career changer relatively new to the DOE after a long search. Here are some thoughts:

1. If teaching is really what you want to do for the rest of your life and you want to truly grow within the field - get the professional connections, the salary advancement, and the chance to branch out into consulting or administration - then the DOE is a better place than where you are now in the long term. No question about that.

However:

2. Gas - and for the Bronx, tolls - will eat into your salary gains. You'll still come out ahead, but keep it in mind.

3. Personally the commute does kill me. I also work in Canarsie so mine was similar to Mrs. Schwags' (Belt Parkway.) Time wise it takes me a little longer than what you estimate your commute would be. Only you know your tolerance for commuting. Most people who don't mind the commute either leave very, very early or have access to the HOV lane. One of my colleagues gets to school an hour early to get a parking spot and do some work before class. I personally do not leave that early because frankly, I hate my school and would rather sit in my car than sit in the building. You'll figure out what works best for you.

4. I have learned that the DOE experience really varies according to school and principal. If you want to FM me the school I can tell you if I know anything about it. I've been in a lot of different buildings for various reasons.

5. The new teacher evaluations, in short, give principals the opportunity to really play "gotcha" and generally make a lot of peoples' lives miserable if they so choose. I'm sure the good ones won't abuse them. But many will. They also entail a lot of paperwork for everyone and a few features that I personally find repugnant, such as student surveys.

6. In summary, your first few years will be TOUGH as you navigate the system, get to know your colleagues and students, and secure tenure. However, there will be more opportunity long term. Only you can decide. Good luck!

Message edited 7/16/2013 1:54:18 PM.