Question for teachers in New Orleans: (Jefferson: student loans, school district, college)

[san phlegmatico]

I recently interviewed for a full-time position as a teacher in a religiously-affiliated school in Greater N.O. The headmaster offered to pay me a salary of $16,000 per year for as long as I am uncredentialed. Once credentialed, I would realize a boost in pay to $20,000 per year. This figure would include compensation for teaching summer school, for coaching a sport, for overseeing extra-curricular activities, and for helping with religious services that the school offers on weekends.

When my jaw dropped to the floor during this portion of our interview, the headmaster spun the situation thusly:

This is a competitive first-year salary for private schools -- for ALL schools, for that matter in the New Orleans area. You see, New Orleans has a poor economy, especially post-Katrina. If you shop around, you'll find this to be the case. Besides, it's a livable wage. Everything in this city, compared to where you're from [Alabama] is much lower.

Me: But I have Googled around and found evidence to the contrary. For instance, I have discovered that in the Recovery School District, the pay scale for a first-year Bachelor's is $36,900 annually...

Those figures online are misleading. Should you attempt to be hired by such a school, you'll surely find my offer to be competitive with any of theirs.


I am inclined to believe that this salary figure and the entire spin job is pure crap. The position was advertised at twice that figure -- classic bait & switch. But that's yet another bone to pick.

I am asking the school teachers on this board:

What IS the average or competitive starting salary figure for a first-year teacher in a private school, in a religious-affiliated school, in a public school in New Orleans? Is $16K what I think it is: absurdly lowball for ANY full-time position? Or is the market THAT poor? -- Are the headmaster's statements regarding the plight of teacher salaries in New Orleans accurate? Have my findings on the internet been spurious?

SP

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by san phlegmatico

I recently interviewed for a full-time position as a teacher in a religiously-affiliated school in Greater N.O. The headmaster offered to pay me a salary of $16,000 per year for as long as I am uncredentialed. Once credentialed, I would realize a boost in pay to $20,000 per year. This figure would include compensation for teaching summer school, for coaching a sport, for overseeing extra-curricular activities, and for helping with religious services that the school offers on weekends.

When my jaw dropped to the floor during this portion of our interview, the headmaster spun the situation thusly:

This is a competitive first-year salary for private schools -- for ALL schools, for that matter in the New Orleans area. You see, New Orleans has a poor economy, especially post-Katrina. If you shop around, you'll find this to be the case. Besides, it's a livable wage. Everything in this city, compared to where you're from [Alabama] is much lower.

Me: But I have Googled around and found evidence to the contrary. For instance, I have discovered that in the Recovery School District, the pay scale for a first-year Bachelor's is $36,900 annually...

Those figures online are misleading. Should you attempt to be hired by such a school, you'll surely find my offer to be competitive with any of theirs.


I am inclined to believe that this salary figure and the entire spin job is pure crap. The position was advertised at twice that figure -- classic bait & switch. But that's yet another bone to pick.

I am asking the school teachers on this board:

What IS the average or competitive starting salary figure for a first-year teacher in a private school, in a religious-affiliated school, in a public school in New Orleans? Is $16K what I think it is: absurdly lowball for ANY full-time position? Or is the market THAT poor? -- Are the headmaster's statements regarding the plight of teacher salaries in New Orleans accurate? Have my findings on the internet been spurious?

SP

I lived in N.O. most of my life - you cannot possibly live on that salary! You would be, as they say, "working for God not money."

[Drouzin]

I taught in NOLA for 8 years before Katrina. Trust me; the offer is crap. Most private schools pay crap. You'd be better off working on getting your LA certification this summer and applying for a public school position.

[undertheironsea]

Originally Posted by san phlegmatico

I recently interviewed for a full-time position as a teacher in a religiously-affiliated school in Greater N.O. The headmaster offered to pay me a salary of $16,000 per year for as long as I am uncredentialed. Once credentialed, I would realize a boost in pay to $20,000 per year. This figure would include compensation for teaching summer school, for coaching a sport, for overseeing extra-curricular activities, and for helping with religious services that the school offers on weekends.

When my jaw dropped to the floor during this portion of our interview, the headmaster spun the situation thusly:

This is a competitive first-year salary for private schools -- for ALL schools, for that matter in the New Orleans area. You see, New Orleans has a poor economy, especially post-Katrina. If you shop around, you'll find this to be the case. Besides, it's a livable wage. Everything in this city, compared to where you're from [Alabama] is much lower.

Me: But I have Googled around and found evidence to the contrary. For instance, I have discovered that in the Recovery School District, the pay scale for a first-year Bachelor's is $36,900 annually...

Those figures online are misleading. Should you attempt to be hired by such a school, you'll surely find my offer to be competitive with any of theirs.


I am inclined to believe that this salary figure and the entire spin job is pure crap. The position was advertised at twice that figure -- classic bait & switch. But that's yet another bone to pick.

I am asking the school teachers on this board:

What IS the average or competitive starting salary figure for a first-year teacher in a private school, in a religious-affiliated school, in a public school in New Orleans? Is $16K what I think it is: absurdly lowball for ANY full-time position? Or is the market THAT poor? -- Are the headmaster's statements regarding the plight of teacher salaries in New Orleans accurate? Have my findings on the internet been spurious?

SP

Private school pay is universally crap. Don't let them fool you into thinking you'll make less at a Public school. You'll make more, trust me.

And that's with no summer school, coaching, or religious services.

Get your certification and get a public school job to save yourself the hassel.

[rgreenkrb]

While it is true that the public system pays more here, you could find yourself dealing with a much different student body at a N.O. public school than you would find at one of the ISAS private schools. I can’t post the link, but the local newspaper (there’s only one) has a website with an Education forum where some teachers hang out.

[coopesa]

Does anyone have an update to the Private School teacher pay? I have an interview with a private school coming next week. I was very excited about the interview until i read this post and saw that $20,000 would be my pay. As a student just leaving college with student loans to pay off, this is an unlivable wage for me.

If anyone has any insight to the pay of private school teachers in NOLA please let me know!

[ceejamon]

Here's a link to what public schools pay (2007-2008) directly from the horse's mouth:

http://www.nops.k12.la.us/uploads/File/2007/employment/2007-08%20salaries.doc (broken link)

Public school teachers are government employees, and as such are paid on a strict pay scale based on education and seniority (this isn't always a GOOD thing since bad teachers make the same as good teachers). The schoolmaster is full of crap. 20K is ridiculous for teacher pay no matter WHERE you are.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

It has always been true that private school teachers make less than public school teachers and that private sch students are, for the most part, better behaved than public sch students. But that's a huge disparity as shown in ceejamon's link.

[Angie5]

That sounds about right for private schools. I taught at a Catholic school in Jefferson parish. I had 20 years experience and was making $30,000.