Pleasant Hill Elementary? (Houston, Austin, Leander: job outlook, transfer, neighborhood)

[CaseyRyan]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this school. I have a job interview there and would love to hear of any experiences that you all have had, if any. Thank you!

[timtemtym]

I remember going there for science inservices years ago. I did know a few people who worked there. From what I heard, it's a good school. Anything in that area of South Austin usually gets low complaints from my teacher friends.

I left AISD mostly for the pay. I got a 12k raise moving to Houston. It's also a very competitive district in terms of people don't like to help or plan with other teachers and it wasn't really encouraged in the schools I worked in. That being said, I did four years in AISD and it sharpened my skills and allowed me to go anywhere I wanted. From what I hear, the south austin schools are usually a lot more collaborative and friendly than the inner north schools (but you know what they say about making gross generalizations). heh.

I think you'll like it if you're friendly, professional and willing to work. Good luck!

[CaseyRyan]

Hmmm, I'm not sure all South Austin schools can be lumped together. I did my student teaching at Zilker Elementary, an Exemplary school, (South Lamar & Bluebonnet), and I absolutely LOVED it! My cooperating teacher is a friend of the principal at Pleasant Hill and she said that she worries about me at that school because it is very tough. I just don't know what I'm in for. My neighborhood school, Baranoff Elementary, another Exemplary school, is my absolute dream school at the moment...I have applied for 6 positions there, 29 total in AISD, and 3 in Hays. I just don't know how "choosy" I can be with the current job outlook for new teachers these days... And moving isn't an option, as my husband and I are here in Austin, from Lawrence, KS, because he is working on his PhD at UT. ::STRESS::

[timtemtym]

Yes! Generalizations are not a good thing to make, that was just my impression from teacher friends throughout the area. I wouldn't say P-Hill is particularly a rough area, but then again I've worked in some of the "toughest" areas of Austin and they're not anywhere near comparable to the "mildly tough" areas of Houston so I might be used to it.

I worked around the Highland Mall area and that's supposed to be tough. You might not be able to be too choosey as a new teacher to the district, but getting a few years experience will allow you to make contacts at the schools where you want to be and be in a position to transfer at a later date.

[neddy]

We go to PHE but its the one in Leander ISD and we love it. Let me know if its not the AISD one.

[CaseyRyan]

Nope, I've applied at the Pleasant Hill in AISD. I hear there are tons of openings in the northern suburbs, but I live near Manchaca and 1626, basically out of town on the south, so I will only apply way up north as a last resort. I'm not sure how I'd tolerate the drive! :-/

[cdfblair]

There are good and bad things about Pleasant Hill. I worked there for 7 years. Lately there seems to be a lot of turn over. I like the Principal as a person, but had some trouble with leadership. It isn't the worst school in Austin! Teachers work hard there! I still know teachers who wanted to stay there after getting offered a position at schools such as Baranoff.