Teacher Jobs in Columbus and Surrounding Area (Cleveland, Pickerington: 2015, job market)

[AustinTXTeachr]

My husband is being offered a job in the Columbus, OH area which would mean if he accepted, we would be moving our family from the Austin, TX area. I have a BS Education degree from Cleveland State University (I don't have a masters degree) and have been teaching in Austin for the last 10 years. That said, how easy would it be to get a teaching job grade 4-8 in Columbus and the surrounding suburbs? I have ESL, 4-8 Generalist, and Science 4-8 currently on my teaching certificate. I heard rumblings about the teacher retirement system changing in 2015 in Ohio so I wasn't sure if this would help my chances of getting a teaching job....correct me if that is inaccurate.

The likelihood of landing a job within the first year is contingent on whether this move would be worth it for our family as my kids are finally getting to the age they will be entering school. We are hoping to not have to move if possible once both kiddos are in school.

What are your thoughts about teaching job availability in the Columbus and surrounding area?
Are there some districts that you wouldn't even consider? If so, why?
Are there any rules about not being able to move districts once you have a signed contract?
Is there anything else I should consider about moving to Columbus and trying to continue teaching?
Is the teaching job market in Columbus as flooded as I hear it is?


Many thanks for your insight!
Grade 5 Teacher

[Lily55]

My husband and I moved to Pickerington in 2006 due to his job transferring him to Columbus. (He works for DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Services) near the airport.

It's pretty difficult to get a teaching job anywhere in Ohio - the Columbus area included. Your years of experience and ESL might help you. Sorry that I can't give you much more info. Maybe you could check the individual school websites and check them for available teaching positions.

I have been substitute teaching since we moved here. I keep busy enough with that for what we need.

[AustinTXTeachr]

Thanks Lily55. This is something to consider. We would have been in the same situation had we stayed in Cleveland before coming to Texas. In general it seems with this economy, less people are wanting to give up a secure income.

Our concerns would be getting my kids into a good quality school and teaching at a school that is hopefully in the same district as my kids. Right now I have the best of both worlds which would be hard to give up. However, price of living is getting expensive and job wise we are meeting the glass ceiling...so it is almost like making less and less money every year. Right now I love the school where I am teaching and my kids are/will be attending as well, so that is a great situation that would be hard to repeat in any other location we would move.

Any other thoughts about teaching in the Columbus and surrounding area are appreciated.

Thank You!

[dxdtdemon]

I am not a teacher myself, but I have heard friends of mine who are teachers talk about a rule that if you have taught for more than eight years and switch districts, you get paid the rate for eight years experience the year after you switch districts. I'm not sure if this rule is only for teachers going from one Ohio school to another or if it also includes people coming in from out of state.