questions for teachers (credit, teaching jobs, schools)

[Tuddyrex]

my wife and I are considering a move to NJ from NY in the next couple of years. She is currently a teacher in the catholic school system. its her 10th year. she has her masters in elementary ed(and i think english...bad husband, i know). currently teaching 4th grade.

we were wondering how difficult it is to get started in the NJ public(or private) school system as a teacher. Are there massive amounts of unemployed teachers like tehre are here in NY? will it be difficult to get a job?

we do realize she is not certified to teach in NJ. how difficult is the process to become certified? once certified, is it a long wait for a job?

this is just one of the ideas we are contemplating. and were curious the possibilities of doing so. she doesnt even know i am asking this here. figured it might be worth a shot

[brook2ga]

Teaching jobs are hard to come by unless you have a specialty, or if you will work in an urban area. For the most part it's "who you know" which makes it more difficult. Good luck to her!

[ocnjgirl]

I don't know about the certification process, but when my niece graduated she started as a sub in the district she wanted to work in, then became a long-term sub for a teacher who was out for the rest of the year...then the next year when the teacher didn't come back, she applied and was hired as full-time. It helped that she was a sub because they already knew her and were able to see she was a good teacher. So even if full time jobs are hard to come by, they always need subs and it pays pretty good (about $100 a day when she was doing it) and can be a back-door way into a full-time job.

[Tuddyrex]

thanks for the replies.

anyone else perhaps any more info on the matter?

[teachbeach]

Getting certified should not be a problem. There is a good chance that her undergraduate and graduate degrees will share reciprocity with NJ~and she has probably taken the PRAXIS tests in education and her area of certification, which NJ will accept. You can check for certification requirements on the NJ Education Department website. Google something like "becoming certified teacher in NJ". Should work.

That being said~she will most likely have to sub in a couple of districts to get her foot in the door. She can always apply (and perhaps have a better chance) at subbing at the many private and parochial schools in the area in which you settle. NJ, like other states, will still have a few years of education tightening of the belt. There are many teachers who are hanging on to see what will happen, and there is also the possibility that there could be a massive retirement/exodus. It's a watch and see state.

Because she has 10 years of experience, the districts will know that she is a dedicated teacher, and she could be marketable because she's older, experienced and since her years of teaching are in a non public sector, she would not have to be credited for those years. Most of the time, out of state and non-public teaching is not compensated for (in terms of step on salary guide) unless they really want your specialty.

[sas0814]

Originally Posted by tuddyrex

are there massive amounts of unemployed teachers like tehre are here in ny? Will it be difficult to get a job?

yes