Good area for 2 teachers? (Dover, Londonderry: rentals, health insurance, condo)

[fallof09]

Hi all,

My husband and I will be relocating in the fall. He is an elementary music teacher and will have his master's by the time we move. I am also a certified music teacher, but will be staying home with my son and completing my master's once we are relocated. We currently live in Austin, TX and are drowning b/c of horribly low teacher pay with terrible benefits (health insurance for the family is 1/3 of my husbands take home pay). We have no future here. I am tired of the heat and the sprawl!

So far the Durham, Exeter, Portsmouth area seem to get me close enough to UNH.

So here are our criteria:

1.) Decent teacher pay. We will be on one income for one year until our son starts elementary.

2.) Fair amount of schools since we are both music teachers and will both need positions.

3.) College with graduate music program.

4.) Good schools in the area. Our son will be entering pre-kindergarten.

5.) Affordable housing. We will need to rent a 2 or 3 BR for around 1500 (depends on how much husband gets paid) until I go back to work, then we will probably look to buy.

6.) Around an hour's drive to professional music, such as the symphony (I play horn) and opera.

[Valerie C]

Please check MapQuest.Com: Maps, Directions and More to see if Londonderry might be a consideration for you. We're not *too* far from UNH, and the schools are excellent, and our music program is wonderful! A good friend of mine is a music teacher in Londonderry, and runs the string program at the elementary level (we start our 3rd graders in string, so by the time they get to middle school, the orchestra/symphonic band is taking shape). Check out Londonderry NH Friends of Music - FOM - Home of the Londonderry High School Marching Lancers for more information.

I wish I had direct information for you on the Oyster River school music program. I do know that they are highly rated. For what it's worth, Dover has an EXCELLENT marching band but not sure how/if that translates to good $$ for the music program teachers...

I'll PM you after I speak w/ my friend to get recommendations on areas with the best music programs. If Londonderry is a consideration for you, I can also tell you that we do have public kindergarden: Moose Hill School | Welcome

If you're truly tired of heat, then c'mon up to New Hampshire. We only have heat for 3 months of the year

[fallof09]

Thanks Valerie C.

Londonderry looks like a nice place and I LOVE that they start strings in elementary. I think it is just a little too far from UNH. I really want to study with the horn prof. there, but I am still looking for other schools that offer graduate music coursework.

DH and I have both lived the marching band life and that is why we switched to teaching elementary. That schedule is so grueling! We actually like seeing one another, so unless that changes, we will both be looking for elementary gigs

[GregW]

Almost all the school systems in south east NH below Rt 101 are very good. This is the wealthiest region of teh state and can afford really good schools. Good luck and congratulations on your escape from Texas.

BTW - I live in a very nice condo in Londonderry. There may be some units for rent at that price or less. PM me.

[Valerie C]

Fall of 09
Some of the best school systems (if Londonderry is too far ) would be:
Oyster River (Madbury/Lee/Durham)
Sau 16 (Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, Kensington, Newfields, Stratham)
North Hampton or Portsmouth

If I can help in any way, please feel free to contact me. If it would be helpful, I can post links for rentals so you can see what is available within your budget.



You're right about the marching band life being grueling... The Lancer kids have been practicing all summer, done 2 performances so far, another one this weekend. Oh yeah, and Band Camp is this week. 300+ kids learning their halftime show in 4 days... It's amazing!!