teaching jobs in PA (Allentown, Bethlehem: high school, teacher salaries, living)

[BPP1999]

[quote=toobusytoday;1347438]dscans,
... The reason that jobs are scarce is that the districts outside of the city are small so there may only be 8-10 teachers total leaving. ... It is uncommon for tenured teachers to leave so that means that most openings are from retirees. [quote]

Not to argue, but that doesn't explain anything to me. 10 teachers leaving each year in 10 small districts is the same as 25 leaving in 4 bigger school districts.

Perhaps teaching jobs are scarce because people want to teach in PA. The unions are (too) strong and the pay is generally (too) high. I've heard reports that PA has the 3rd or 4th highest teacher wages. Why are our teacher wages so high when our cost of living certainly is not the 3rd or 4th highest in the nation?

[toobusytoday]

Why are our teacher wages so high? Perhaps because we value our teachers more? I'm not a fan of tenure or how teachers don't pay much for healthcare but I think they need to be paid a fair wage. Many of the new teachers in our district cannot afford to buy a new home here. I don't think they are overpaid. I think teachers are underpaid in other areas.

[BPP1999]

I don't think it has anything to do with actually valuing teachers more, though that's one spin the unions put on it. Teachers have good lobbyists (i.e. the unions). I agree about healthcare and tenure, and these things are the result of politicians giving in to bullying unions. I agree with you that everyone deserves a fair wage.

[lorib49]

DSCANS, I also live in Roanoke, Virginia. I currently teach in Bedford County. I was thinking about the NJ route because I already have a license there. I'm originally from NJ and taught there for two years. My husband and I are also hoping to move to the Bethlehem area. My husband will be graduating from Medical school in June and he is hoping to do his residency there. I will let you know how my job search goes. I'm planning on applying to all jobs within an hour drive.

[dscans]

My wife actually grew up in Pa, so she has her certification in Pa but she never taught there. She teaches at Community School across from Hollins. I work in communications at a non-profit. Since I'm originally from Massachusetss, Bethlehem seems to be a good halfway point between our two families. We are staying at a Hotel Bethlehem next weekend for our first taste of the city.
By the way, do you know Gwen Terry? She's a speech therapist at Bedford County, although I"m not sure which school. Anyway, good luck with your search, maybe I'll see you there in a year.

[saortiz]

I just stumbled upon this site and had to offer my story. I am starting my third year teaching in a charter school in Coatesville. My Master's degree and reading specialist cert. are in progress, I graduated summa *** laude for my UG, had scholarships, did tons of community service...well, you get the picture. I've been patiently applying and interviewing to several suburban districts. It's very competitive, and the bar is set high. The application requirements are thorough and the interview process is lengthly. Just this past summer I had two interviews plus a demo lesson for a district, but to no avail. There was a third interview I would have needed to be called in for.

Best of luck to anyone looking for their dream job! I'm thankful to have a teaching job, yet would like to work in a traditional public school versus a charter school. By the way, if you are open to it, working in a charter school gives you great experience. I think it's more valuable to have your own classroom in a charter school rather than do per diem subbing hoping to find a permanent position.

[teachbeach]

Whoever posted the position about reading specialist will probably not have a problem getting a job. Some school districts won't pay for out of state years of service, so she may be starting at the bottom again (they will pay for the advanced degrees). If coming from another public school system, you may be able to negotiate for a couple of years up on the scale (many districts will not pay for more than 5 years) or a transfer of up to 23 sick days to the new position.

Social Studies or social sciences will probably be a more difficult job search unless you are willing to coach a major sport. These positions seem to magically open up in a district that might need to fill a coaching position.

[lolapetix]

Originally Posted by karen_s

I saw that too. I hope they are able to find great teachers willing to work in the Allentown district.

If you want to work in some of the smaller districts in this area, you had better know someone or be outstanding in your qualifications.

A good friend of mine finally got a teaching job after actively pounding the pavement and looking for a year now. He is a secondary math teacher.

Hmmm....why am I sitting here in Allentown, right now, with no teaching job!? Becasue I teach art, that's why! I don't teach special ed and I don't teach reading because those are not my passions. Since I was not willing to teach something else, such as adding a certificate in Special Ed., I chose to find another job. I work in an art museum's education department. It may not be what I thought I would be doing after nearly a decade of college, but I get to work teaching people about art, so that's fine by me. Truth is, it just may not happen for some of us, no matter how much we feel we deserve it as much as the next guy..

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by lolapetix

Hmmm....why am I sitting here in Allentown, right now, with no teaching job!? Becasue I teach art, that's why! I don't teach special ed and I don't teach reading because those are not my passions. Since I was not willing to teach something else, such as adding a certificate in Special Ed., I chose to find another job. I work in an art museum's education department. It may not be what I thought I would be doing after nearly a decade of college, but I get to work teaching people about art, so that's fine by me. Truth is, it just may not happen for some of us, no matter how much we feel we deserve it as much as the next guy..

Ugh, I feel for you. My art teachers throughout school had such incredible talent (alas I do not but I tried). Originally I had started college majoring in music ed but changed majors after all my fellow music ed majors were traveling to the Deep South to gets jobs after they graduated.

I think it's great that you are teaching at the museum though. It's a shame that much of getting a teaching job in eastern PA is more about who you know and not about what you know.

[toobusytoday]

I went to the parents meeting at our High School a couple of weeks ago. This is mostly an informational meeting, not a PTA or fundraising group. The Principal told us about the recent hires and how hard it is to get good secondary teachers. She said that it is particularly hard to find good administrators and math and science teachers. They recently re-posted the job of assistant Principal because they didn't like any of the candidates from when they first posted it. She said that elementary positions often get 500 applicants for each post in our district, but in the HS, they will get 5 for Math and Science and it's just a bit better for other subjects!!

Our school district has a good reputation, is clean as can be and very up to date as far as technology. It's located in a pretty upscale area in Lehigh county - the new homes are usually the highest avg in the valley, so definately a good place to teach. So for anyone that is still looking for a teaching job, get that secondary certification.

BTW, I don't think that everyone that graduates with an education degree should teach in the schools. I know several people that are very happy "teaching" in different fields.