Jobs for qualified teachers from OS (middle schools, moving to, license)

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Feybie

So has it always been this way, has Oregon never had the money to hire enough teacher? Do you think this is likely to get better as the economy gets better?

Oregon has had a school funding problem since the early 1990's when they passed Measure 5. I don't see it getting any better when the economy gets better. It was a problem before the recession.

[Feybie]

That's a real shame. I suppose its decided. I probably wont be coming to Portland, at least to begin with.

[MooseRiverView]

Originally Posted by Feybie

I have a Masters so I think that I'd be qualified to teach English Lit at a community college over there. I don't know if that opens my horizons anymore...

Although this information is very useful, its awfully depressing. I had my heart set on Portland.

Portland may be OK for you. I too have a Masters and I think that our pedigree will no longer get us the better job anymore. I think that the other have it correct. Go entry level and see how it goes. We are making a move soon and am torn between N. Idaho and the Oregon coast. In Idaho, there is an offer on the table for me. I would be willing to work in a gas station and start as a janitor or entry level to live on the coast.

I feel that a lot of teaching professionals have a lot competition out there. I think the jobs will be secured by the people that are willing to pay their dues and not be so pompous as to their credentials.

Good Luck to you.

[Feybie]

I'll be a first year teacher, so I'll take any teaching job I can get. I wont, however, do what you're prepared to do and work at a gas station kind of thing. I've been there, done that and I hated it. I'm 26 and this is my second career change. I really want to make a good go of it, so I think its probably better that I actually move somewhere that I can do that.

[albinoazian]

This is the worse time to try to be a teacher in the U.S. Budgets have been cut below the bone. I had a zero budget last year, couldn't buy pencils, paper, nothing. We are taking a pay cut this year and may shorten the school year. I teach in Southern California and wanted to move to Northern California, Oregon, or Washington. I could move, but not if I want to teach. I have two friends teaching in Oregon and they may even be in worse shape than California.

There are some places hiring teachers, but nowhere I would ever want to go. The rural areas of North Dakota, India Reservations, and parts of Texas.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by albinoazian

India Reservations

Ah. Is this where those irritating call centers are located?

(Sorry. I know this is a serious thread, but I couldn't resist)

I'm also in CA. Our year was shortened and courses cut. We haven't had supply money for years.

[Feybie]

I heard it was bad in California too.

I've been looking for jobs in WA, and it seems that there are far more going there than there are in OR. I'm thinking WA might be for us.

[albinoazian]

I am hoping for this economic mess to end soon. I, too, want to teach in WA, but I have tenure and I am not moving until I know new hires won't be cut. Plus, the stuff I teach (Web design graphic design, video production, multimedia, etc.), it is hard to find a job.

[emh]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is where you're getting your teaching credentials from. If it's Australia, then you're probably going to have a really hard time getting those transferred to the US. You're probably better off looking for a job in a private school. I spent a year teaching at a private school in California and they had a teacher on staff whose credentials were from the UK. In general, private schools are less picky about the whole credential thing.

[GeorgiaTransplant]

If your spouse is working, emh's just-posted idea of teaching at private school is a great idea. My spouse has pretty much made a career teaching private school because of our frequent moves for my work.

You will usually make significantly less than in public school, but they generally do hire and can be flexible on background, etc. for the right candidate. The parents also seem to be very involved in school life and their child's educational experience.