Best places to teach in Iowa (Iowa City, Dubuque: teaching jobs, school district, teacher salaries)

[missy3681]

I am looking to try and relocate to Iowa to look for a secondary teaching job. My fiance is from Le Mars and I have been to Iowa and really liked it. We were wanting to live in Wisconsin or Illinois, since my family is in Michigan, but would like to be in Iowa.

Where are great places to live and teach? What is the schools like in Iowa?

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by missy3681

I am looking to try and relocate to Iowa to look for a secondary teaching job. My fiance is from Le Mars and I have been to Iowa and really liked it. We were wanting to live in Wisconsin or Illinois, since my family is in Michigan, but would like to be in Iowa.

Where are great places to live and teach? What is the schools like in Iowa?

Iowa has some of the best public schools in the nation. Like anywhere else, some are better than others. It depends on where you want to live -- small town? Bigger town? Can you give more specific information about where you're looking and what type of environment you want? I think it would make it easier to respond to your post.

Iowa City has excellent public schools but it's very competitive to get a teaching job in the school district because it's a highly desirable area to live and work. (It's also the most expensive area to live in the state).

If you can provide more info I'll be happy to help further!

[patmc]

If you're giving consideration to smaller towns you might find some good input at HeyIowa.com. There are some teachers and prospective teachers at that site.

[mackinac81]

From what I gather, Iowa schools are among the best in the nation. I have vaguely heard of the good reputation Iowa schools have.

But my question is, what are the job prospects for teachers in Iowa? I'm a newly certified secondary teacher from Michigan. I remember driving through Iowa several times, and always liked the landscape (I have thing for farmscapes for some reason). It always seemed like the quintessential "heartland". I liked that.

So any good chances out there for a teacher?

Mackinac

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by missy3681

I am looking to try and relocate to Iowa to look for a secondary teaching job. My fiance is from Le Mars and I have been to Iowa and really liked it. We were wanting to live in Wisconsin or Illinois, since my family is in Michigan, but would like to be in Iowa.

Where are great places to live and teach? What is the schools like in Iowa?

Go to Dubuque. It's close to Wisconsin and Illinois. I'm sure the school system is pretty good.

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

So any good chances out there for a teacher?

I think most places have plenty of opportunities for good teachers!

Here's one tool for checking them out: Iowa Teaching Jobs - Where Iowa School Teachers & Administrators Find Jobs - IAREAP
Here's another: Teach Iowa!
Another: Find Iowa teaching Jobs at SchoolSpring.com!
Another: Iowa Teaching Jobs

According to many, our pay is among the lowest in the nation for teachers: December 15, 2006: Teacher salaries still among lowest in the nation The legislature has said they intend to address this, but it won't happen overnight. Here's another discussion: http://www.dom.state.ia.us/pfp_commi...y_Adequate.pdf

Otherwise, I'm not sure what you're looking for...

[metro223]

Wisconsin, Il, IA Tri-State area sounds like it might fit u? <<< dubuque

[Not Iowa]

Only because of the low pay Iowa teachers receive, I would live in the Quad Cities area and see if you can teach on the Illinois side. The difference in starting pay and annual increases in considerable. I know they are trying to fix the low wages for teachers in Iowa, but I also heard that they were only going to increase the current starting wages ($26K) by $1K. Your work will be worth more than that.