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Thanks for the heads up about Iredell. That's the kind of info. I'm looking for. Okay, so I'll skip that county (yay -- one I can cross off my list!). I do think I'll stick with Mecklenburg, Union, and maybe Gaston Counties.
It's funny -- we don't do things on the county system like some states do. There's so much that's different about NC compared to New England. We're excited for the possibility of learning about a new state. It's beautiful!
Thanks Ani!
Zoe, honestly, I don't feel like I helped that much. I hope that others will see this post and give you better info. People who actually live in these other counties could be a lot more help than I am. But I thought this may at least give you a starting point.
Yes, I bet there will be a lot of new things to learn about when you get here. When I moved to Kansas, I had a "learning curve" about how the schools operated - even their school calendar was very different for us. But it won't take you long - and you know we are here to offer any assistance that we can along the way.
Thanks Getatag! I've heard of Fort Mill, so I'll look into that. I'd need to get my SC teaching license though. It wouldn't be a problem to look into that, but I currently hold my NH teaching certification and I'm in the middle of getting a NC license. I hadn't thought of having 3 licenses, but I'll consider it.
My husband's possible job is located in the Southpark neighborhood (?) of Charlotte. !
Zoe, so let me get this straight. Your husband doesn't have a job set in stone here yet, and you don't either?
And you're looking for homes here?
Umm, just a suggestion. Don't even waste your time looking for permanent places to live until you AND your husband can secure a job that is not in danger of termination.
There are thousands of couples just like you that made the mistake of thinking they could secure employment once they moved here.
Unemployment rates are anywhere from the low teens to low 20's (reported)....
It IS that bad here.
Sorry, but didn't want to get your hopes up for a big downfall later on.
Just find permanent jobs FIRST, then worry about the home.
Jack, I think Zoe and her hubby are planning to move wherever he gets a position. If he doesn't get offered the job, they won't be moving here. She is just trying to get her ducks in a row in case her hubby gets word he has the job.
Having been in that same position before . . . it is really helpful to have things figured out in case one has to move quickly once the word comes in that the company is hiring her husband.
Jack, Ani's right. We wouldn't move anywhere until we find jobs. My husband has a second (phone) interview with the hiring manager from a company in Southpark and from everything that's been said, there's a very real chance he will be offered the position this week. The job is a three month contract position that could be made permanent after the three months are up. Right now, he'll plan on staying in some sort of corporate housing or something like that for the summer. If his contract is extended and we like it, THEN we'll move down there permanently.
And we'd be renting a condo/townhouse/apt. for a while before we bought. We already own a condo up here and we're going to be stuck with paying some or all of the mortgage until we can rent it out. Trust me, we're not in any hurry to own property again at the moment.
As for me, I'm planning on applying for teaching positions just in case my husband gets this position. As Ani said, I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row in case that happens. There's a lot of paperwork, etc. to do in order to get a teaching position, especially one in a new state. I'm in the middle of working on all of that. IF my husband gets this job and I don't find anything by August, I'm staying here for the 2009-10 school year. Then I'll look for teaching jobs again.
Ani's said it perfectly -- it is helpful to have things figured out in case one of us has to move quickly. If my husband is offered this position, he'll do everything he can to begin work next Monday.
I spoke with the Education Dept Head at my daughter's college graduation this past weekend (my daughter plans to begin her teaching career this fall). It seems that due to the economic crunch, and the uncertainty of funding, most school districts are in some sort of freeze right now. The Dept Head indicated that the news coming to them is that jobs would not open up until the end of summer, when, possibly, the districts would have a better handle on their funding.
Thanks for the heads up about Iredell. That's the kind of info. I'm looking for. Okay, so I'll skip that county (yay -- one I can cross off my list!). I do think I'll stick with Mecklenburg, Union, and maybe Gaston Counties.
It's funny -- we don't do things on the county system like some states do. There's so much that's different about NC compared to New England. We're excited for the possibility of learning about a new state. It's beautiful!
I used this site to apply for schools in any counties close to where I live in addition to going to job fairs listed in the various counties. Unfortunately, you are still in New England, so you can't attend the fairs. There were many applicants, but if you have experience, that can help you be a little ahead. I restricted myself to a drive under one hour, which in Southeastern MA was not unusual.
The schools here are arranged by county, as you noted, and in Winston Salem many of the middle and high schools are based on a "theme". I looked at a magnet school that is basing their courses on the Global Economy. I worked with many international students at the college level and in a subject field that is no longer crowded, so they need that type of certification in this state. The other schools I talked with are based on the visual arts, which also would be covered with my certificate.
I have names to contact in late May at these schools, which really helps. But now I am no longer in need of them, because I am starting a position with a company in Charlotte next week. It means a move, but not like the one we made last time from Massachusetts to Winston Salem.
Thank you, Marvinnative. I'm aware of the difficulites of finding teaching positions right now, which is why I won't move down to Charlotte until I find something. I'm going to apply regardless though -- I figure that it can't hurt to get my resume out there.
Thanks Ragdoll Kitty Lover! There seem to be a large number of magnet and charter schools in the Charlotte area. Or at least that's what it seems like. We don't have many of them around here (I have no idea where an elementary charter or magnet school would be, but I'm sure they exist). Thank you for providing that link, and best wishes to you in your new job!
Thank you, Marvinnative. I'm aware of the difficulites of finding teaching positions right now, which is why I won't move down to Charlotte until I find something. I'm going to apply regardless though -- I figure that it can't hurt to get my resume out there.
Thanks Ragdoll Kitty Lover! There seem to be a large number of magnet and charter schools in the Charlotte area. Or at least that's what it seems like. We don't have many of them around here (I have no idea where an elementary charter or magnet school would be, but I'm sure they exist). Thank you for providing that link, and best wishes to you in your new job!
Since your husband's potential new job would be located in the South Park area your best choice is going to be if you can get a job working for CMS or possibly Union County. The other district I would normally recommend, Cabarrus, is just going to be too far a commute. And keep in mind, some parts of Union county will be too far also. Best of luck, it's really tough for teachers right now unless you are a speciality teacher like high school math or science.
Thanks LovesMountains. I appreciate your help and the heads up about Cabarrus being too far. It looks like I'll try to stick with CMS and Union Counties. There are PLENTY of schools to apply to between those two alone. To be honest, I'm kind of relieved to have my current job here in NH. It would really stink to be up here and have my husband down in NC, but I love the security I have (I'm tenured). We just got married last summer, and I'd hate to be living so far away, but we'd make do. I've taught Kindergarten, first, and second grades (and I have experience with fourth grade as well), and I'm also a certified reading specialist. I'm hoping the reading specialist certification in addition to my elementary ed. certification will help.
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