New Teacher in NYC (New York, York: school, income, live in)

[Rachael84]

I'm an elementary teacher in the city and base just got raised to 43,300. By May it's going up, then a big raise in September. I don't know what base will be then though. I just know that by September I'll be making 48,000. It goes up a lot.

Anyway, you'd have to find a roommate most likely. You can probably get a studio for 900 or 1000 a month, but you wouldn't have much money at all to save after you pay rent.

Teaching in the city isn't as bad as everyone says. I'm a first year teacher and I teach elementary in one of the worst sections in the south Bronx. As long as you have teachers and administration who support you, you'll do fine. Kids are kids. In bad areas you get more troubled students in a class, but you get through it.

What is your certification? Even though teachers are in demand here, there is such a surplus of us elementary teachers here. I went on 9 interviews before I got a job, and I was lucky to get one after graduating. I went to the city doe's job fair in the Bronx and each table had a wait of about 30 minutes just to get a mini interview. It's pretty competitive. Just become really familiar with the NYC curriculum so you can prove you know it well on interviews. be on the lookout for job fairs in your area too. They go all over to recruit.

[Rally214]

Thank you all so much for your replies!

To Rachael84: I'm certified for English Secondary Education, so I'd be looking at the middle and high schools.

I'd like to say I know what I'm getting myself into, but as many have pointed out, it's not really possible until I actually get into it. But I am excited, and I think the roommate thing is the best way to go. I'm so used to it from all these years in college anyways haha

Besides that, I guess I'll pretty much be at the mercy of whatever district in the city I can get a job in? I'm guessing that will weigh pretty heavily on the neighborhood I end up looking for housing in.

[Dark of the Moon]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

you have balls if you're a teacher in a nyc high school....even more balls if your a special ed teacher. thats why the sped ed teachers make good money.

Unfortunately, there's no extra money (in NYC) for Special Ed teachers. I know this, because I am one.

And I teach high school.

In da South Bronx.

Pray for me .....

[Dark of the Moon]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

I don't think the person I know taught high school, but did do Special Ed. Kinda like glorified babysitting...had to make sure they took their meds, etc. She works in da Bronx.

Not all Special Ed is glorified babysitting, although some classes can be. My kids are all LD (learning disabled), which means they're enrolled in regular classes and simply receive support from me as needed.

[Elvira Black]

Yes, I think in this person's case they were more emotionally disabled, thus the meds etc.

Didn't mean to imply....etc etc....

I'm sure it's not an easy job either way.

[Elvira Black]

Originally Posted by squeezeboxgal

Unfortunately, there's no extra money (in NYC) for Special Ed teachers. I know this, because I am one.

And I teach high school.

In da South Bronx.

Pray for me .....

How is it?

[Dark of the Moon]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

How is it?

My school is pretty good but, for a number of reasons, we're not set up as a "typical" high school. Probably the worst thing is the location -- we're only a couple of blocks from the subway (which is, at that point, elevated), but the stop is right between two large housing projects, and there are two more large projects within 3-4 blocks of the school in the other direction.

We have parent-teacher conferences in a couple of weeks, which will mark the first time we'll be leaving after dark. I can guarantee we'll be walking to the train as a group .....

[Elvira Black]

Hope many of the parents attend! Would be curious as to how that goes. IMO if parents don't get involved, it makes it so much tougher for everyone concerned...parents, teachers, and students alike.

[Rachael84]

I teach Kindergarten in the south Bronx. Out of 18 kids (at that time), only 3 kids' parents came.

[NativeBronxite]

Middle school Special Ed here. My school is literally surrounded by housing projects. Thankfully my students aren't behavior problems. Other teachers in my school (like one who was injured breaking up a fight last week), not so lucky..