Teacher Hiring 2011-12 in NOVA (Arlington, Fairfax: how much, transfer, middle school)

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

It's really going to depend on the individual school as much as the district. FFX county is huge, and the economic/racial diversity from one school to the next varies greatly. A school in an area surrounded by low income, immigrant friendly apartments is going to have a very different feel from an elementary school in a wealthy area of mini-mansions. When you apply to FFX, either of those ends of the spectrum and everything in between is a possibility.

It is so important that the mentality/philosophy of the principal matches her own, in my opinion. Someone can hopefully chime in on the process of being assigned to a specific school (since I'm not completely familiar with it), but from personal experience, working for a principal you like and respect who you feel is in your corner is night and day from a principal who has a different view of discipline measures, teacher solidarity, etc. My middle school has 3 different grade level administrators and a principal over the whole school. I would work for 1 of the grades in a heart beat--I love the vice principal's involvement with the kids and the teachers. I don't think I could handle working for the other two. Their styles don't mesh with mine at all.

I think this is a benefit of Ffx county - it is SO big and diverse, that if you don't like one place you can always try to transfer to someplace else.

[bsheehy]

That's a good point, thanks Marie. She student taught in one of the most economically "diverse" parts of Indianapolis last Fall, and found it very rewarding actually.

[stpickrell]

Where do you work?

If I were 100% new to the area, I'd try my luck with PWC and Loudoun, since there's a lower cost of living there and the salaries are maybe 90% of what they are in Fairfax/Arlington/Alexandria.

But if you work in DC and have lived in Alexandria for a while (or you guys would prefer there), then Fairfax is your best bet.

[bsheehy]

I work in Mark Center (Alexandria). My "commute" is a 15 minute walk to work In a few years, we'd like to move up to a townhouse, so we'd probably be looking in the Reston/Herndon/Sterling/Ashburn area. Do you think PWC or Loudoun may be best for the long term then?

[bsheehy]

Also, I wouldn't say we necessarily prefer here. We really like it, and proximity to my job can't be beat, but I think at most we'll be here another 5 years. Unless salaries in my field unexpectedly double overnight, I don't ever plan on being able to afford a townhouse or SFH anywhere near here.

[mpascal]

May not work out scheduling-wise, but Arlington County Schools is having its job fair this Saturday. No appointments necessary, just walk-in. Arlington will be hiring for this fall, maybe not to the degree in past years, but we are experiencing enrollment growth at the moment.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by mpascal

May not work out scheduling-wise, but Arlington County Schools is having its job fair this Saturday. No appointments necessary, just walk-in. Arlington will be hiring for this fall, maybe not to the degree in past years, but we are experiencing enrollment growth at the moment.

They do ask that you have already completed the online application though--so that would be a good thing to accomplish this week if at all possible.

[Yankeesfan]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

My middle school has 3 different grade level administrators and a principal over the whole school. I would work for 1 of the grades in a heart beat--I love the vice principal's involvement with the kids and the teachers. I don't think I could handle working for the other two. Their styles don't mesh with mine at all.

Next time you hear that there's nowhere to cut school budgets ... three vice-principals for a single middle school ...

[bsheehy]

Originally Posted by mpascal

May not work out scheduling-wise, but Arlington County Schools is having its job fair this Saturday. No appointments necessary, just walk-in. Arlington will be hiring for this fall, maybe not to the degree in past years, but we are experiencing enrollment growth at the moment.

Thanks for the heads up! Unfortunately, she's currently in Indiana. However, if going to the job fair significantly increases the chances of getting hired, we would be willing to pay for a last minute airfare. In your opinion, would it be a big leg up in getting offered a job if she attends the job fair?

[bsheehy]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

They do ask that you have already completed the online application though--so that would be a good thing to accomplish this week if at all possible.

Thanks, I'll tell her to do it tonight!

You've all been very helpful, thank you so much!