Poet Relocating to Montrose from Bergen County, NJ (Scranton, Stroudsburg: apartment, travel)

[JimmyLane]

Hi, I'm moving to Montrose next month and leaving New Jersey once and for all. i have a place to stay until i get on my feet. Jersey has become a sort of gentrified cess pool. super-expensive, snobby, congested, and most of all, the wages are not keeping pace with the burgeoning cost of living. i am teacher-certified and have an advanced degree, but i don't expect to land a teaching job there any time soon given the provincialism of hiring. i have my own tutoring business here that i'm folding. i was just wondering if anyone could tell me some about the job scene, the life and culture, things to do for a 30-something single male artist/poet, and what i can expect to pay for a nice studio/one-bedroom apartment.

any info is appreciated. thanks for help.

[kmondo77]

I have no suggestions or advice on where to live but I read your post and had to ask. What have you heard about the teaching positions in the area? They are not eager to hire out of state teachers? We're thinking of moving up and I'm a teacher too. Thanks!

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by kmondo77

I have no suggestions or advice on where to live but I read your post and had to ask. What have you heard about the teaching positions in the area? They are not eager to hire out of state teachers? We're thinking of moving up and I'm a teacher too. Thanks!

Unfortunately, teaching jobs in NE PA seem to be given out as political favors....usually to relatives of school board members. Your best bet for a teaching job, without political connections, in NEPA is in the Poconos...they're growing so fast they can't keep up with the need for teachers. It seems a lot of teachers in the area got their first teaching job at Pocono Mountain School District, or E. Stroudsburg, Wallenpaupack, Delaware Valley, etc.

[JimmyLane]

Originally Posted by kmondo77

I have no suggestions or advice on where to live but I read your post and had to ask. What have you heard about the teaching positions in the area? They are not eager to hire out of state teachers? We're thinking of moving up and I'm a teacher too. Thanks!

I think ConorsDad just summed up the hiring situation perfectly. My experience applying for teaching jobs in parts of PA and Vermont - many thru SchoolSpring.com - has been terrible. I can't figure it out, I feel invisible when it comes to landing a teaching job, as if they're not really interested. The interviews that I did have, the principal/chair appeared to be aloof, going thru the motions, and not very interested in my responses. Perhaps it's all part that they have to comply with the hiring laws, I don't know. You stand a much better chance applying out of state at a teaching assistant position. The pay, as you know, is often hourly and without benefits. I had such a miserable experience with the profession, I've given up.

And for all the NYC Schools run their recruitment ads looking for "qualified teachers" neither they nor the Harlem School system acknowledged my resume (twice!) in spite of the fact that I have a Masters +30 and three years of private teaching experience, public substituting, good references. Not even a "Thanks but no thanks letter."

Maybe you'll have more luck than I did. You just have to keep trying, I suppose. Yet I did for three years and it hasn't worked! Best of luck to you.

[kmondo77]

Thank you both for your replies! I am looking to move to the Pocono region so hopefully I will have some luck!

[untuchableface]

I agree about the teaching positions in Montrose (not that you still shouldn't give it a shot). But you can always look for positions in new york state. You are looking at around a 45 min drive to the new york schools bordering pennsylvania, but it may be worth a shot.

I went to Montrose high school and I've got 3 or 4 friends that graduated with teaching degrees that are now teaching in NY schools while living in Montrose & surrounding areas since it's so close to the border.

Montrose is a very small town. A lot of people know each other and run into each other at the super market. There's not a real big night life... a couple of bars in town that you can go to and a small theatre, some fast food joints but other than that you will have to head to different areas. The nice thing is that you can travel to Scranton in about 1/2 hr or Binghamton, NY in about 45 minutes so it's not like you are completely isolated.

Montrose is very beautiful. I miss it now that I am in Chicago.

[JimmyLane]

Originally Posted by untuchableface

I agree about the teaching positions in Montrose (not that you still shouldn't give it a shot). But you can always look for positions in new york state. You are looking at around a 45 min drive to the new york schools bordering pennsylvania, but it may be worth a shot.

I went to Montrose high school and I've got 3 or 4 friends that graduated with teaching degrees that are now teaching in NY schools while living in Montrose & surrounding areas since it's so close to the border.

Montrose is a very small town. A lot of people know each other and run into each other at the super market. There's not a real big night life... a couple of bars in town that you can go to and a small theatre, some fast food joints but other than that you will have to head to different areas. The nice thing is that you can travel to Scranton in about 1/2 hr or Binghamton, NY in about 45 minutes so it's not like you are completely isolated.

Montrose is very beautiful. I miss it now that I am in Chicago.

I'm not surprised about the politics of hiring, the same goes on all over, pretty much. I've hung up my discipline paddle and gold sticky stars in the name of higher pursuits...or so I hope!

The natural beauty of Montrose surpasses even the best landscapes of Vermont in autumn. The view from Bank Street is mesmerizing. I'll try to remember to take some photos the next time I'm up there and post some here. What words can't express, the photograph will.

What's most attractive about Montrose for me is the low cost of living. And like you said, its proximity to Binghamton and Scranton keeps it from becoming too out of the way or isolated as say Dinghman's Ferry. Nor have I sensed any small town stuffiness or resistance to outsiders that I have visiting other places. In fact, just the opposite. A good sign this early on, I'd say.

Thanks a bunch!

[untuchableface]

Yes, VERY low cost of living. I never realized it until I moved to Chicago.

People are very friendly there. Some of the high schoolers could be on a better path, but for the most part you won't meet very many unfriendly folks.

The fall time is my absolute favorite in Montrose. We barely have trees in Chicago let alone beautifully colored leaves. I love coming home in October to see all of the colors that I miss while I'm in the city.

You will enjoy it. Good luck and please post some pictures when you take some. I do miss it there!

[JimmyLane]

Originally Posted by untuchableface

Yes, VERY low cost of living. I never realized it until I moved to Chicago.

People are very friendly there. Some of the high schoolers could be on a better path, but for the most part you won't meet very many unfriendly folks.

The fall time is my absolute favorite in Montrose. We barely have trees in Chicago let alone beautifully colored leaves. I love coming home in October to see all of the colors that I miss while I'm in the city.

You will enjoy it. Good luck and please post some pictures when you take some. I do miss it there!

I was wondering about that, how on earth are you dealing with that windy city life?? of course, Chicago has the White Sox, but Montrose has friendly people, and beautiful mountains, and no traffic! I hope that posting my photos will persuade you to return for good to that place you still call home.

[untuchableface]

Originally Posted by JimmyLane

I was wondering about that, how on earth are you dealing with that windy city life?? of course, Chicago has the White Sox, but Montrose has friendly people, and beautiful mountains, and no traffic! I hope that posting my photos will persuade you to return for good to that place you still call home.

I'll be heading to Montrose in September to visit family. It will be nice to go back.

In all actuality, I hated Montrose growing up. Never anything to do... blah blah. You know how kids are. I couldn't wait to get into the city! I do love the city but Montrose still pulls at my heart strings. I miss a lot of things being in the city that I took for granted when I lived in Montrose (cheaper, the leaves, the mountains, grass in general, DRIVEWAYS/MAIL BOXES) I don't think I'll end up back there (only to visit family) due to low wages (I have a masters degree, and it is hard to get the money back that I put into it living there) but I will probably end up in New England, which oddly enough, is very similiar to Montrose in character.

Weird how that turns out