Teacher looking to work in a great school system (Raleigh: chapel, employment)

[Bryon]

I was wondering if anyone knew where the decent paying school systems are? I currently work in Connecticut and naturally the payscale will be higher with the crazy cost of living here. But does anyone know around what teachers might be paid for around STEP 9 on the teachers scale, Master's Degree? Thanks for your help.

Special Ed Teacher....

[sandycat]

All of the local school districts have their pay scales posted on their web sites. With a Special Ed degree, you shouldn't have much of a problem getting a job. Try Wake, Durham, or Chapel Hill-Carrboro school districts.

[RDSLOTS]

Check out each County's website, Bryon. The NC teachers' pay scale is the same from system to sytem, but different counties have different supplements, and offer a variety of perks, like incentive programs and the like. A lot of young teachers like working in the schools down on the Coast -- New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender counties -- but the cost of living in New Hanover (Wilmington) is one of the highest in the state, naturally.

I retired two years ago, with 25+ years. I would still be teaching if not for health reasons.

Good luck in your search.

[ZoeMaui]

The state pays teacher's salaries so every teacher gets paid the same and the districts have their own local supplement. According to DPI 9 years with Masters is 42,030. For instance, if you teach in Wake Co, including the supplement, the pay is $46,465.50.

Check out the DPI website that has the salary guide and each counties supplement.

I just moved from NJ. There is no comparison in salaries from the north.

[chemteacher]

As you can guess I too am a teacher who worked in Durham and currently in Boston but I will be returning to the triangle next year as my husband will be taking a new job. I love teaching but the job situation isn't as nice as I have it in Boston. Let me highlight a few of the big differences so you aren't surprised if you relocate here. I don't want to sound negative, I just want you to know.
*Teachers are paid on a state scale with local supplements. The supplements come in two paychecks per year.
*There are no lane changes (ie Masters +15, Master's +30etc) except Bachelor's, Masters, and National Board Certification and of course years of experience. Teachers do have to do PD to renew their license but it doesn't have to be college courses.
*There are no teacher's unions in NC so there really isn't a contract. Your time isn't really protected at all. There didn't seem to be clear (or enforced) guidelines for duties, and PD. After school meetings may run longer.
*NC doesn't offer personal days either. Technically you can take a personal day but you have to PAY for the substitute teacher.

Of course once you get past logistics, teaching is teaching. I would suggest trying to get into a school with a reasonable administrator because you won't be able to file a grievance.

[RDSLOTS]

Still, I think there are worse places to teach than in NC.

Most teachers do not have to worry about having a job from year to year -- my experience was that many who worried about keeping a job needed to worry about keeping a job in the school system. Some schools are better than others, no doubt, for whatever reason -- principals, staff, student body, parents. . . Teachers here, however, do not have to have a supervisor's permission to put in for a transfer or look at moving to another school, after they are 'tenured.' Nor are they penalized -- real or imagined -- for having made a request to transfer. They do have to interview with the Principal at the new school, and positions at some schools are highly competitive (for whatever reasons).

[theloggg]

My wife and I are looking at Raleigh in the next year or two. She's a high school science teacher with 10 years. Any opinions on the benefits and retirement offered to NC teachers?

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by RDSLOTS

Still, I think there are worse places to teach than in NC.

True, NC ranks about average in teacher compensation nationwide. Nothing unusual going on here.

[RDSLOTS]

I am faring OK, retired from the NC Schools system. I retired early -- for health reasons -- and have been penalized a bit for retiring with only 25 years of service and being 50, but I was mainly concerned with keeping the Health INS for my family and myself. I am fortunate -- moreso than most, I realize.

Teachers on full retirement seem to be doing OK. Of my older friends, they haven't had to take second jobs or seek additional employment for benefits, but I could just as easily be 'clueless' about others' situations, too.

I wish I could think of something I could do, retired, as I am b-o-r-e-d, I will admit. I couldn't teach full-time because I could not stay off the floor (autonomic nervous system disorder), and while substitute teaching lets me work on my 'good days,' it just isn't enough stimulation.