A Little Help From the Natives (Arlington, Alexandria: middle-class, unemployment rate, transfer)

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by marie5v

I have worked in Fairfax, but not Montgomery county. Fairfax teachers often complain about how much better everything is in Montgomery County. I think in terms of pay it might require a little more research - Fairfax will usually give you credit for as many teaching years as possible and put you as high on the salary scale as they can (at least that's been my experience and that of the other teachers I know who came in from other places). Some of us were actually surprised at how high they placed us, so it's possible Ffx could beat out Montgomery in the pay area if Montgomery puts you at a lower level than Ffx. On the other hand, Fairfax requires a significant contribution for retirement benefits, which some other counties (like Prince William - not sure about Montgomery) don't. So what I'm saying is, the posted salary scale may not be completely reflected in your eventual paycheck. I would decide based on other factors.

Fairfax has no teacher's union. I think Montgomery does. That alone for me would be a big plus. I worked in Fairfax and really didn't like it much.

The maximum entry step in Fairfax County is step 16 with 15 years experience, so there is a limit to the credit they will give. Also, Fairfax County has the Fairfax Education Association (local for NEA) and Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (local for AFT, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO). VA is a Right to Work state, but it is not accurate to say that they don't have unions.

[brooklynborndad]

Are they hiring teachers now in Fairfax? thats news to me. I suppose they cut enough the last couple of years, and openings are happening. I dunno.

If you have job offers in both jurisdictions, I would seriously try to talk to TEACHERS about the quality of work life in both. We as parents found FCPS to be on the bureaucratic side, but I'm not sure Montgomery is any better.

There are definitely middle class folks in Montgomery - Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, etc, etc. Heck, my DD dated a middle class kid from Gaithersburg for a year!

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

Are they hiring teachers now in Fairfax? thats news to me. I suppose they cut enough the last couple of years, and openings are happening. I dunno.

With the staff turnover rate and increases in student numbers, the County always has to hire.

[CAVA1990]

You'll probably need to go through some red tape to get a teaching credential here. I'm not sure you can just go from one state to the other. You may need to take some courses first. I believe the teacher's unions have worked to set it up that way to limit the labor pool.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

The maximum entry step in Fairfax County is step 16 with 15 years experience, so there is a limit to the credit they will give. Also, Fairfax County has the Fairfax Education Association (local for NEA) and Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (local for AFT, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO). VA is a Right to Work state, but it is not accurate to say that they don't have unions.

Actually those organizations do not act as unions in Fairfax. They cannot engage in collective bargaining and do not have any official power in the school system. They do things like write letters and stage protests, but they really can't do much of anything that teachers can't do for themselves (except collect dues).

As for the steps, a number of types of teaching experience in addition to full-time teaching in a k-12 school can be used to determine the step level.

Until recently, I did work as a teacher in Ffx schools.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

You'll probably need to go through some red tape to get a teaching credential here. I'm not sure you can just go from one state to the other. You may need to take some courses first. I believe the teacher's unions have worked to set it up that way to limit the labor pool.

Virginia doesn't have unions!

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by marie5v

Actually those organizations do not act as unions in Fairfax. They cannot engage in collective bargaining and do not have any official power in the school system. They do things like write letters and stage protests, but they really can't do much of anything that teachers can't do for themselves (except collect dues).

As for the steps, a number of types of teaching experience in addition to full-time teaching in a k-12 school can be used to determine the step level.

Until recently, I did work as a teacher in Ffx schools.

You are right that they do not engage in collective bargaining. That is why I pointed out that VA is a Right to Work state. FEA is an association, FCFT is a union affiliated with the AFT and AFL-CIO. To say they don't exist is false.

Yes, there are a number of types of experience that can be used to determine the step level, but there is a maximum that they will allow and that maximum is step 16.

[Yankeesfan]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Think of George Costanza's parents and that's who should move to Montgomery County.

LOL. And pretty accurate!

[mdcrim]

Originally Posted by marie5v

Virginia doesn't have unions!

Loudoun has the Loudoun Education Association. I'm not sure if it's a formal union but it touts itself as an "effective organization". I believe they are currently encouraging their members to "work to the rule".

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by mdcrim

Loudoun has the Loudoun Education Association. I'm not sure if it's a formal union but it touts itself as an "effective organization". I believe they are currently encouraging their members to "work to the rule".

Work to the rule was a total joke in my school. Once a year the association would encourage everyone to teach administrators a lesson by working to the rule (meaning leave on time) for one day. Teachers used to work extra hours the day before to prepare to be able to leave on time the next day, or take tons of work home with them and do it there instead.