Looking for a job teaching (Houston, Dallas: job market, transfer, school districts)

[jfg06001]

I hold a BSE in Education and am currently certified in another state to teach Middle School (4-8) Math, Sci, LA and SS. I have applied for a Texas review of credentials to get my TX license. I have applied in many districts around the Austin area and have yet to receive any calls. Any tips? What about school recommendations? Are there any I should avoid?

[chickenfry]

austin isd and i think leander isd have hiring freezes

[Papillon Mom]

Hi,
I don't know much about the Austin area right now but I will tell you three tips I have learned from moving between states as a teacher-
1) If you don't already live in the area don't expect too many responses
2) Be persistent- when I moved to NM HR said not to contact schools directly but after a month or so of waiting I sent my resume and cover letter to any school I was remotely interested in. Got 3 interviews within a week and accepted the job I currently hold.
3) Be patient- 2 out of 3 of my last positions started after the school year was in progress. In some states they wait to hire until after the school year starts so you will not be an automatic re-hire the following year. (Don't know if this is the case in TX but was in AZ and NM)

Each time I move it seems all people tell me is how there are NO teaching jobs (especially in LA/ENG) but each time I have found one by September. Be flexible as well- you can always transfer schools later.

Hope this helps!

[mego65]

Most districts are having hiring freezes. They have positions posted, but they are not open to outside applicants, it is just for internal transfers. I so far have applied to 27 school districts, and sent out at least a hundred E-Mails. I've had one interview, and no job offers. It is a very hard job market right now, especially if you do not already live in Austin.

[jfg06001]

I applied at Austin, Manor, Round Rock and Pflugerville. I'm hoping to hear something in the next few weeks.

[loves2read]

PapillonMom's advice is good--it is better to ignore what the websites and HR say because their jobs are to keep people out of the schools--away from principals who don't want to be pestered...but principals do the hiring and they hate to go read personnel files...

ISDs in TX are being affected by the economy--many of them have BIG shortfalls--and I mean tens of millions of dollars...
the fact that you are a teacher with experience will put you above new grads and certainly Alt-Certs
w/o any experience at all--but your experience also makes your salary higher (negative feature)

the fact that you are certified in math and science is also a positive...even if you do not get approved for automatic certification you can still take the tests and earn it that way...just more timeconsuming and expensive--and I guess possibility that you would not pass...but you can be hired with a 1 yr provisional certification allowing you the time to gain the required credentials...

I guess you have a drive time/comfort zone that you are applying in--might consider adding Leander and Georgetown ISDs to see how they fit--Leander is growing and Georgetown is too -- don't know about new schools this year but think they are both viable districts...as well as some to the south like Dripping Springs

[hstfan82]

Unless you are absolutely set on Austin, I would recommend applying in the DFW or Houston areas. Austin has a very high percentage of their citizens with at least a BA and so it's much more competitive. Dallas and Houston also pay about 5 grand more on average with a lower cost of living. As Loves2Read said, districts are in the red right now, even in DFW, so it will be difficult here as well, but probably more likely than Austin.

[love roses]

Broaden your search to include other ISD's, like another poster suggested. You only applied to 4, but there is Georgetown, Dripping Springs/Buda/Kyle and possibly even Bastrop, Hutto, Taylor. And I'm probably leaving some out too (not on purpose).

[mego65]

Exactly I have applied to 27 ISDs at least an hour out in every direction. I have great connections and am still having a horrible time. You have to apply apply everywhere. Contact as many principals as you can. I have spent hundreds of hours on this and I know several other people in Austin doing the same thing. You have to be flexible and open to applying everywhere.

[mego65]

I just read your post again. It's great that you have applied to Texas, but until you get cleared most will not consider you. Then if they say you have to take tests with in the next year most districts will not hire you until you have passed the tests. The state says you have a year, but when you are up against teachers that have passed the tests (which makes them highly qualified) they are going to pick the person who passed the tests. Sorry, it's a really hard market right now.