Teaching in Miami-Dade County (Bell: 2009, power lines, renting)

[MJ2009]

I am considering a career change. I am looking to become an english/ language arts teacher in Miami. What is it like teaching in Miami-Dade County? How are the benefits?

[rogerbacon]

As a new teacher the system will try to force you into the worst schools. Only by knowing a principle at a school can you avoid this fate. If you just go where they tell you to go you will be in a very bad area with very bad students. I taught school for two years. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Beg for money at an expressway off ramp and sell your blood when you can. You will find the experience more rewarding and possibly more lucrative.

[ray1945]

Originally Posted by MJ2009

I am considering a career change. I am looking to become an english/ language arts teacher in Miami. What is it like teaching in Miami-Dade County? How are the benefits?

I taught school for MDCPS for 36 years, as did my husband. My children are currently teaching. I enjoyed my 36 years in the classroom - of course, teaching was my first/only career choice.

Teaching in Miami-Dade can be tough. What is your current career and how long have you been doing it? Why are you considering teaching? If you don't like working with kids, you will hate every minute of the job.

As far as benefits go, the starting salary is pretty poor, but the job is steady. You will get medical coverage for yourself only. All other health benefits (vision, dental) are paid for out your pocket. Teachers are part of the Florida Retirement System and can choose between a traditional pension plan or an investment plan.

[cuba libre]

Originally Posted by ray1945

I taught school for MDCPS for 36 years, as did my husband. My children are currently teaching. I enjoyed my 36 years in the classroom - of course, teaching was my first/only career choice.

Teaching in Miami-Dade can be tough. What is your current career and how long have you been doing it? Why are you considering teaching? If you don't like working with kids, you will hate every minute of the job.

As far as benefits go, the starting salary is pretty poor, but the job is steady. You will get medical coverage for yourself only. All other health benefits (vision, dental) are paid for out your pocket. Teachers are part of the Florida Retirement System and can choose between a traditional pension plan or an investment plan.

How was your experience in Miami's public schools the last 10 years (specifically) ?

Did Miami's pervasive gangster culture make it hard for some people in the school system?

Was English a problem for parents when it came time for parent-teacher conferences?

[rogerbacon]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

How was your experience in Miami's public schools the last 10 years (specifically) ?

That's very important when talking with someone who was a teacher a long time ago or a teacher for a long time. Things have changed and not for the better.

Was English a problem for parents when it came time for parent-teacher conferences?

Most teachers speak English. Oh wait, maybe you meant the parents. Don't worry about that. Our tax-dollars provide translators for every language (even Vietnamese) when needed.

[doggiebus]

My sister taught at one of the best schools in Miami-Dade (and on top of that some of the brightest students at that school) and still left the school system all together. She was tired of the low pay (when she started she had more pay than her friends, within three years her friends not in the school system had all pasted her in salary) and she hated beurocrocy of the schools system. Those new teachers that will stay in this field for the next 20+ years really must love to teach to put up with the low pay and beurocrocy. I sure enough couldn't deal with that.

[Cougar Beach]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

How was your experience in Miami's public schools the last 10 years (specifically) ?

Did Miami's pervasive gangster culture make it hard for some people in the school system?

Was English a problem for parents when it came time for parent-teacher conferences?

Is every school in Miami run by the gagstas? In fact is every resident of Miami a gangbanger, or a gangster waannebe? Dude, my pants hang sooo low.

[ray1945]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

How was your experience in Miami's public schools the last 10 years (specifically) ?

I retired in 2003, but both of my children are high school teachers in Dade and many of my friends are still in the classroom.

IMO, there's very little hope that MDCPS will ever be a 'good' school system again. Too much corruption, cronyism, nepotism, and stupidity in the administrative ranks. Too many teachers who are 'just passing through' the classroom on the way to a better job and have no real commitment to teaching children. Too many parents who do a really crappy job of parenting.

I taught in Dade and, after I retired, I consulted for Broward. I found that teachers are happier in Broward - it's another country up there.

Did Miami's pervasive gangster culture make it hard for some people in the school system?

I don't know where you live or where you went to school, but at my former school there was no "pervasive gangster culture."

Was English a problem for parents when it came time for parent-teacher conferences?

No. If my limited Spanish did not get the message across, I found someone who could translate.

[cuba libre]

Originally Posted by ray1945

I retired in 2003, but both of my children are high school teachers in Dade and many of my friends are still in the classroom.

IMO, there's very little hope that MDCPS will ever be a 'good' school system again. Too much corruption, cronyism, nepotism, and stupidity in the administrative ranks. Too many teachers who are 'just passing through' the classroom on the way to a better job and have no real commitment to teaching children.

Government has a lot of high paying jobs that require minimal effort. Such is the rat race in Miami-Dade County. I think the centralized, "county" school system in Miami and much of Florida is a complete failure. Schools should be funded by "townships", or smaller segments of a given county. That way the poorest areas of a county don't drag the rest of the county down so much... because that's EXACTLY what happens with these big school districts.

Originally Posted by ray1945

Too many parents who do a really crappy job of parenting.

Isn't that the truth...

[Eduardo983]

Originally Posted by MJ2009

I am considering a career change. I am looking to become an english/ language arts teacher in Miami. What is it like teaching in Miami-Dade County? How are the benefits?

I dont`recommend this career to anyone....

I am a math teacher in MDCPS....this is my second year and my base salary is $38,190 a year plus the salary supplements (Basketball coach 690$ + Volleyball coach $690).

According to our salary schedule

Dadeschools.net

teachers will get a 190 yearly salary increase every year. That means that next year I will make $38.381 ...and at some point I will be making $39,943 with 11 years of experience.


I work until 2:45 pm but I have to grade papers at home. I have over 120 students in my 5 classes... it takes me about 2 minutes to grade 1 student`s paper...it`s math...it takes time. Now, imagine how many hours I spend during the evening and my weekends grading papers....

Many teachers get burned after the first years...they become "numb".

You live in the most powerful country in the world...why would you want to be a teacher?...you can make more money doing something else...

Even a police officer makes way more money than teachers....they make up to $ 50,000 in their firsts years...(base salary = $36,678.63. + overtime hours paid over $25/hour)

https://exterd.miamidade.gov/psp/GUE...AYPLAN_WEB_GBL


(I worked preparing taxes at a local CPA firm in Coral Way...I learnt a lot about jobs and salaries in miami)

I would recommend you any law enforcement job or any healthcare job that requires you to have a bachelors degree....

I made the income tax of a nurse that was brought from the Phillipines (there is shortage) and she made $54,000 that year (2005) and it was her first year working in USA. I tried to speak with her but she only knew the very basic English.

Engineers also make peanuts in Miami....and accountants are the worst paid... a Bellsouth`s customer service agent makes more money (Over $45,000) than an accountant with a bachelors degree and more than 5 years of experience.

I prepared the income tax of an engineer who graduated from UM that was making $13 per hour.

On the other hand, I prepared the tax return of a 21 year old FPL technician who only had a high school diploma (he installs the power lines and his job title said "apprentice line specialist") and according to his FPL W-2 he made $91,000 and that was in 2005.