Working for Wake County School district...advice? Good idea? Bad idea? (Cary: school districts, relocation)

[Campbell21]

I only ask b/c school districts vary SO much from state to state. Usually people can tell you if it's a pleasant work environment or a hostile/political environment etc. I've worked in both kinds. I love the school atmosphere for the most part. I'm a social worker and I also have my teachers certificate. I've worked with behavioral issues as well as taught classes. I've heard great things about the Wake County schools for the most part and I'm eager to learn more.

I'm really just trying to get an idea of where I will work...do I want to go the school route or not...we will most likely be settling in Cary...maybe Holly Springs...somewhere thereabouts.

all in the name of fact finding!

thanks in advance!!!

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Isn't there still a hiring freeze at WCPSS?

[3DogNight]

Speaking for state government employment, I note in my division there is a *selective* hiring freeze. Read: We just hired another chief, even though all Indian positions are eliminated or frozen.

[Campbell21]

interesting to hear about the hiring freeze...there are a ton of jobs advertised on their website...and they are newly posted.

maybe it's a hiring from within situation.

good to know either way.

[3DogNight]

I notice that too but it's by division. My division "has no money" (for raises or in-range adjustments). We *do* however have money for...a junior chief, right below the chief. Cuz 2 chiefs are better than one, so they say.

[MI-Roger]

The number of positions on the WCPSS job board is reduced significantly from only a year ago, and not even recognizable from two years ago!

It appears WCPSS is only hiring replacement positions, filling the most critical openings created by attrition. Classroom Teachers, Building Principals, and not much else. I would imagine the work environment varies form building to building like all other schools.

[3DogNight]

I forgot to mention, if hiring teachers is anything like how WCPSS hires everyone else such as secretaries, lunch ladies (" "), cashiers....my mom had a horrendous time wading through that nonsense and couldn't get anyone to respond to anything she sent in - not an acknowledgment, a letter declining her app...nada.

[Campbell21]

I'm sure that a lot of these positions will be filled by internal applicants. I was just surprised to see a ton of assistant positions (class room, guidance, special ed, 1-to-1 etc), and coaching positions...thought *maybe* things were changing.

darn economy.

Interestingly, jobs for positions like Occupational Therapists are in high demand all over. (although I don't know if school systems are hiring OT's). Companies are paying relocation costs, sign on bonuses...the whole thing.

I guess I went into the wrong field.

oh well. I guess we'll see what the coming months have to bring.

[capt chill]

I had an interview for a teaching position yesterday at a school in wake county. IF I would be offered a job it will be on a terminating contract that will end on the last day of school in June. There is no guarantee that the job will be available come august when school starts again. If the district will not give me at least a 1 year contract that would go through the end of the school year and next school year I will turn the job down. Better to work at Trader Joes and work at a bartending job. Will make way more money.

[kbb34]

If you start in the middle of the year you will always be on a terminating contract... that is going to happen at every school that you apply to. Even when you are at the school for a few years there is a chance that you could be let go because numbers at the school change and you are the newest person in a dept. It really is a bit stressful right now.