O/T Job Advice for Son

My son has been trying to get a teaching position for a couple of years. He subs, both short term and long term, at a school close to him. He also works 25-30 hours a week at Best Buy nights. When he subs long term. he's paid a teacher's salary. He was offered a job in another district where he would have to prepare five lesson plans every day--currently it's only two or three on long-term assignments--for not a lot of money. If he subs, long-term, for two semesters he'll make 60% of what the other job would pay for the whole year. The district where he subs has teachers and administrators helping/referring him to other schools and districts for opening teaching positions. There are at least a couple of openings in the districts in the future.

He called last night looking for advice, although I think it was more confirmation of what he had already decided--to stick with the sub. It's a short term loss but with long-term gains if he can teach where he wants for higher pay. He'll have time to get certified to teach math over the winter and there are more math openings than science/chemistry. I told him to do what he thinks is best for him and that there are more important things than money. Others are telling him a job in hand is worth .... What would you have advised your son in a similar situation?

Larry

I think you have done a good job. You can give advice to the young-uns but things are different these days. He should make a plan and stick to it to arrive where he would like to be. I have a son(who is now 60) that wanted to teach chem and math. He subbed as yours has done. Two years no tenure. He was offered a sales job and since then has been very successful at it. Each person is different. I think you did good Henry

By staying where he is, and wants to be in the future, he has a foot in the door. They already know how good he is.

My wife taught elem for 35 years, says she"d never get hired again cuz of no coaching certificate. Our district has not hired one without that for decades. First sorting of apps, they throw those without. We have an excellent academic program, recognized State and Nationwide, (yes, by Time magazine) but I"m sure they"ve missed a lot of good apps because of that.

Larry, your son appears to have a plan. If the district is a good one (and he must think it is), then he should keep trying.

A few things to consider: Five preps for a young teacher is too much, but it is no doubt a small school and that happens. I have done it and it is no picnic; it is however, good experience and will be a resume builder when an opening comes up in the preferred district. He doesn't have to stay at this school forever. Getting the additional licensure is a really good idea, multi-licensed teachers are usually hired over one subject area candidates. Is your son willing to coach, advise? That seems to be a big advantage when schools hire. Has the school passed him over for a full-time position in the past? That sends a big message about what they think of him. Tell him best wishes. Rand

For what it is worth....

I'm not sure where you are, but in my experience, subs, even long term subs, do not get the benefits a full time teacher does. This means no health insurance and no retirement. I would think taking the job in the neighboring district would be to his benefit in that regard. You didn't mention a family, but I would think health insurance and the like would be beneficial for them and it is never too early to start building a retirement fund.

Also, he really shouldn't fall in love with a particular district. After working for a couple different districts, they each have their good and bad. Gaining experience, as a full time teacher, is going to be beneficial for him and could land him an even better job that he hasn't even considered yet.

As far as preps go, I've never had less than 5 in my 14 years of teaching. I teach orchestra, so it is to be expected, but it can be done in other areas too. As a young teacher, he shouldn't be afraid of working harder than everyone else. It just happens that way. It may not be fair, but it is reality. Most days, I am at school by 7:00 and don't leave until 5:00 and I eat breakfast and lunch at my desk. I then conduct another orchestra on the weekend. All told, I usually put in a 60 hour week. The teachers who only put in 40 hours generally don't have a reputation as being a "good" teacher. The only reason they can do it is because they are using the same materials they have used for the last 25 years. In some cases it works, but in many it doesn't. If he doesn't want to invest that kind of time, teaching may not be for him.

The only reason I wouldn't take the job was if I new it was an impossible situation. If he just absolutely does not believe he has what the students need in the neighboring district, stay with subbing. There are some places I would choose not to work because I know I wouldn't be supported. It's hard to stay positive and do a good job in that situation.

I learned from someone who subbed for a long time in a district without ever being offered a full time position that schools need good subs as much as they need good teachers. If he is a good sub, they might be hesitant to put him in a teaching position. It seems counter intuitive, but it happens. If the admin. really wants him as a full time teacher, they would figure out a way to get him there. If they haven't done it yet, I would be suspicious. They are fully aware of his talents and haven't found a way to put him to work full time. Why? The person I know finally put in an application in a neighboring district and was immediately hired. She said she should have done it years earlier.

If a job does come open in the district he really wants to teach in, he can still apply and change jobs. My opinion is that your son is being overly loyal. If he does a good job next door, and they have an opening, they will want him back. In my opinion, he isn't going to loose his "foot in the door" by working somewhere else.

Wish him the best. Another of my mentors tells me to "make a decision and know that whatever you decide will be correct." I think Harry Truman said the best way to give your children advise is to "find out what they want to do and tell them to do it." Good Luck!

Don't know your location, I'm in Texas, SugarLand, SW Houston,area. Our local district has been hiring or stealing teachers this Spring from NC. In the past even Germany. If he applied to Houston ISD he would probably be hired very fast. My son teaches in Conroe ISD. Elementary, PE, the SIL teaches History at a local Community college. I tried to get a teaching job when I retired, but no, my wife explained I was too old, if I had really wanted to teach history she said, go get a Physical Ed Minor added to my degree.
The wife worked for a School district for 25 years. She explains the district can hire whomever they wish, and they do.
Beginning teacher pay in this area is about $52,000.
I worked on my certification thru one of the Alternative Cert Programs, the Director said to all of us, "You may not get a job at the little red school house in your neighborhood, take one elsewhere and maybe you get get back there later if you still want to, but first get a teaching job".

(quoted from post at 18:25:12 08/04/14) For what it is worth....

My opinion is that your son is being overly loyal. If he does a good job next door, and they have an opening, they will want him back. In my opinion, he isn't going to loose his "foot in the door" by working somewhere else.

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Good advice. In my own situation I stayed in one job for one company too long, when I should have moved on. Could be making much more now if I had.

Charter schools are getting to be a big thing here in AZ because of the subsidies. Some teachers won't apply to teach in charter schools. but others will. Don't know what the pay is, but the charter schools students are getting much better test scores than the public schools kids, so they must be doing something right.

He needs to get over the idea that 5 lesson plans is to much. Granted a home room elementary school teachers don't prepare that many but they do have to make more detailed lesson plans.

My wife's school REQUIRES that all lesson plans be turned in every Friday for the next week. My wife is a part time teacher with 6 classes a day and 4 lesson plans for the 6 classes. After the first year the plans get easier as you are usually only modifying the lesson plan for new requirements and varations to keep it somewhat fresh. The lazy teachers simply edit the date and reuse.

Depending on the state your son is missing out on retirement benefits that are usually based on years of service and as mentioned below the health insurance. Good teachers work hard, lousy teachers can coast with ease - the NEA makes sure they both get paid the same.

There is no perfect answer, and the ones we can give are from a distance.

He just has to trust his gut.

Speical ED (special needs) is usually a high demand, especially for a man.

High school physics teachers are hard to find.

It's sad to say, school corp like to save money. They like to hire teachers with zero experience. The older ones with experience have a problem getting a job. Tell you boy, a good chance his first job may be his only job. Good luck.

You might consider this fellows solution for a good paying job.