Considering Redding, CA (Chico, Tulare, Anderson: houseboats, construction, university)

[ShastaLiving]

You're going to like living in Redding. The job situation may be a little tough just because we're not known for high paying jobs? What do you do? My sister is the vice-principal at Bethel, great place!

[Severra]

Hello there,

This question is geared towards those in the education field. My husband and I (both teachers) are looking to relocate in Redding to be closer to family. As I peruse edjoin.org and other job sites, it doesn't seem like there are too many middle school/high school job openings in the Redding area. Is this due to the limited number of schools, or level of content with existing teachers, or am I just not looking in the right place? We currently live in the Inland Empire, which is always in need of teachers, so we have a limited perspective.

Thanks for any input, fellow teachers!

Severra

[eureka1]

I live in Humboldt County, about 2 1/2 hours away, on the coast and most of our teachers just got pink slips because of the 10% (or more) budget cuts ordered by the State. You should contact the districts directly to see what their hiring picture looks like for next year. I had thought these cuts were statewide, but hopefully that's wrong. Good luck!.

[notmeofficer]

Severra

My wife is multi subject clad (middle and HS) AP science... she had taught in L.A. and the Bay area for about 15 years before we got married,, she struggled to find a job here eventually going into to a different profession

The cold facts about teachers and Redding are...

If you "know" someone you will have a better chance than coming cold.. this includes persons less qualified being hired over you.. its all who you know here. Even if Edjoin might list a job.. it will be full already trust me

Charter schools are popping up because the regular schools cant meet state standards. As I understand the private schools like Bishops Quinn are losing students.. and closing programs..I believe Bishops is closing its high school

The "sub" list for the county is HUGE, hundreds of teacher on it..... call the board of education and find out... if you think you can make it subbing while you come here.. youll probably starve

If you can do special ed.. or lower grades..after hours programs etc... youll have better opportunities.. the pay is.... not great

Sorry.. thats the reality I know...

[Lori4CJ]

Originally Posted by iCalifornia

We are moving to join the Bethel Church in Redding.

We have visited twice already.

At this point, we are soon to relocate. I will be searching for jobs in about 2 weeks.

God willing all will go well.

I'm in Zion, Illinois and will be joining Bethel Church next year. I'm a divorcee w/ two elementary school children, so it will be interesting. I haven't been to Bethel before, but God has definitely lead me to move in Summer 2009. Crazy huh? I know! I've been listening to messages online for a little while now and will be going to a conference to meet Bill Johnson next month. I pray I will get a chance to check out the church before the move next year.

Please give me some feedback on the relocation. Did you move already? Either way, I'd love to chit chat about it.

[Lori4CJ]

Originally Posted by joshndeb

Yikes that must have been scary to been chased like that.

Redding has some Hispanic population, but I would guess it to be close to those old census numbers. The city is mostly white. There are some Asian influences but again, it is a very small number. If I had to guess, I'd say the Native American population is the biggest "minority" in the area.

In regards to the tax thing.

I don't know what local city government taxes are used to be sent out to other communities in the state. I think the only effect you might see is that STATE monies that once came to the local city of Redding coffers are no longer available because they are bailing out other STATE programs/efforts.

City of Redding and Shasta County are managed pretty well. You do have some controversies about development in this town. Some are stanch opposers to any growth, others are so insensitive to the area, they'd like to pave it all and turn it into a So Cal city. Thankfully the councils seem to find a good balance between the two.

Lifelong Redding Resident

I'm been reading your posting and they have been very helpful! Can you tell me of some surrounding counties or cities for IT work. I am moving from Illinois next year and would have to secure a job before I come. Please advise, as I am moving with two elementary children and want to ensure I can support them accordingly. Also what's your experience or what have you heard about Bethel Church (Pastor Bill Johnson) in Redding? I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

Warm Regards,

Lori

[iCalifornia]

We have moved. This forum was very helpful and disheartening at the same time. Helpful because of the amazing source of info and the specifics placed carefully by users like notmeofficer. I truly appreciate that. Thank you all. And disheartening because of the statistics mentioned here what really made me think twice about coming and putting my family through this. There are issues of low paying jobs and not much good employment. A temp agency told me that many professionals and people with degrees were in such desperation to live here that have accepted positions with very low pay, keeping the wage margin very low for what they do.

Moving was not easy. Not at all. I tried so hard to find a job in Redding. Having done admin job for 13 years didn't help. Placed my resume all over the city. Went to so many offices, from regular and small businesses to government places. It's amazing that all you get for most places is "apply online". That got me desperate at a point. A lady in the city hall told me that the city was in depression.

Without sounding preachy (I am just sharing my plain honest experience in moving because i was asked to), the last time I came to Redding to scout, I stayed for a whole week with my wife and two babies in a hotel, went to a job fair and found nothing. Most were jobs that could not hire you at once, temp or very low paying jobs. A lot of people in Redding truly think that the city is really in depression. I will tell you, most people agrees that it is very hard to get a job here. However I consider it a virgin territory for businesses since it is an expanding city and the biggest one in this area in Northern Cal. So, I told my wife as we were returning empty handed to Los Angeles: "Honey, we have to come to Bethel Church. If we are going to do it, we are going to trust God." So we did. Three weeks after, we sold couple of our furniture. My father offered help and brought us in his truck with a 12 footer tailer attached on the back. I only paid gas. My wife found online in Craiglist a townhome we now rent. The landlord trusted us, even while I didn't have a job. Then a week after we arrived to Redding, i had this almost ridiculous assurance and faith that "everything was taken care of". So we did not a worry thing, but rested in God's providence. With just enough money to survive for a month. Then, I was referred by a friend to a company which hired me within two weeks. Only God could have done that. Sounds almost insane. But if your heart is set to leave all you have to seek for Him, don't matter where you are heading, God will not leave you, it's His promise. Sometimes, you only know as good ol' Abraham of knew... not really where he was to go, but he well knew where he couldn't stay.
I feel quite emotional about it. I am so thankful. Risk was taken, God responded. Tangible for me now.

Now the ice frosting...

Redding is far more beautiful than I ever expected. People is mostly friendly here. Sacramento River is beautiful. Mount Shasta could be seen from Redding. Landscapes I have never seen in my life as a city boy. I used to vacation in Lake Tahoe because of the little town in the mountains kind of thing, but I actually live in a town just like it. it's an absolute blessing. Too much to write and I have to go to sleep.

Again, we took risk, and since post one in this thread, I tried hard to do it "the safe way" I have a young family, I am the sole provider. I went through tears and uncertainty, until the decision was solidly formed. Because of the hardship to get employment, this could be a place of desperation if you "just move" here. At the same time, I am emphasizing that our call moved us here. Things lined up, because when God calls, He provides. No preachy thing, I am showing the evidence.

So I will close to say, we moved because of Bethel Church. You could search for "Bethel Church Redding" or "Pastor Bill Johnson" in Google or Yahoo. I fed from this ministry for four years. Changed my life. I was yearning I could come to get trained. A dream come true. I'm now here. I cannot take it for granted. My family and I are very happy. we never expected Redding to be this beautiful. Even going to the only Walmart tey have is beautiful. Running through their only main streets "Churn Creek" "Market St." "Old Alturas" etc... I hear a lot that you could get anywhere here in 10 mins. No traffic... almost never. Even people drives quite slow... and so life feels slower here.

I wrote about our family experience which is far more intimate in my private website. PM me and I will direct you to it.

Thank you everyone for the information.

I value online forums because of the helping community that loves to take the time for others well being. I hope that my information becomes valuable for those who consider my personal story and opinion relevant.

God bless.

-iCalifornia.

[abcde]

Congrats, iCalifornia! Great to hear of these success stories.

I had not logged onto these forums for a long time, but then started thinking about Redding, and if it had changed since the last time I was there, in the 80's. It was beautiful then, and I thought it might be a good place to retire, but now I'm hearing about all the fires, and it makes me want to cry.

Good Luck to you and everyone in Redding! Maybe I'll still make it there one day!

[Sarah Marie]

I lived in outskirts of Redding for a couple of years. It gets really really hot! There is a big meth population there... I personally dont like Redding, eew

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Sarah Marie

I lived in outskirts of Redding for a couple of years. It gets really really hot! There is a big meth population there... I personally dont like Redding, eew

I went to Redding for the first time 2 weeks ago. Hot Hot Hot, it reminded me of areas of Phoenix-without cactus.