English Teacher considering moving to RVA (Richmond, Chester: job market, neighborhoods, school districts)

[EclecticWire]

Richmond!!

My girlfriend is considering moving to Richmond this summer in order to enroll at VCU for a one-year graduate program. If she goes, I will almost definitely be moving with her.

BASICS:

A. I am currently in my second year of teaching and possess a BS in Secondary Education: English. I have my certification from a state in the Southeast and I've already researched all the steps I'll need to complete in order to get my one-year teaching certificate here for Virginia. I'll have to settle for the preliminary certificate because there is no way I'd be able to take the required exams before August.

B. I do NOT have endorsement in Bilingual or ESL instruction.

C. We will most likely live in the Fan/Museum District so that my girlfriend can walk or bike to class. We visited the city recently and fell in love with those neighborhoods. If I could find a full-time teaching position, I would be willing to commute a maximum of 30-40 minutes.

D. I desperately need a job. I am willing to teach in an area that might not be as desirable as others. I have taught in a Title I school before... I know what to expect. I can't afford to be picky.

E. Staying here in my state would not be too much easier than moving. I was informed upon my hiring last summer that I should NOT expect my contract to be renewed. My principal told me that the funding would most likely NOT be available. I would not be "leaving my position" to come to RVA.

QUESTIONS:

1. Can anyone describe the current education job market in Richmond? I suspect that you guys are going through some degree of layoffs/budget cuts. My state just cut another 3%. Austin, Texas (another potential locale) is about to fire 750 teachers and they're freezing hires for next year.

2. Do you think I would stand of chance of finding some kind of full-time English position within 30-40 minutes commute from the Fan/Museum District? Anything will do. For a second-year teacher, I have an excellent resume and recommendations. I am confident that I would stand a good chance of being hired (IF they're even looking for people...).

3. What school districts would fall within my 40-minute-drive range? Any recommendations? I'll take whatever I can get, but your advice would still be much appreciated.

4. Would schools be reluctant to hire me if I were on the provisionary one-year certificate? I'm pretty sure I have to take a test or two in order to get my VA certification. I almost definitely wouldn't be able to take those exams before hiring season.

5. If all else fails, I would try to be a full-time substitute. What does that job market currently look like? In Austin (our other possibility), even substitute jobs are hard to come by.

Thanks for any and all advice!!!

[vman650]

I would contact the local school board of the city of Richmond and the surrounding counties (Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover). I would fill out applications and ask for information on their hiring needs. You can also make inquiries about getting on a sub list and what the pay is. With a car, you can probably commute to any schools in those counties within a half hour from where you want to live. There were quite a few layoffs last year, but things appear to have stabilized recently. There are also quite a few private schools who hire but they usually pay considerably less than the public schools. You can google a listing of these schools and it would not hurt to contact some of them and make inquiries about their hiring plans and salaries. Good luck and welcome to Richmond.

[Jenny Saunders]

County of Henrico is hiring you should try it.

[EclecticWire]

I'm hoping my job prospects in Richmond aren't as bleak as those in Austin, TX. 750 teachers are being laid off in the central school district, and many more in the surrounding ones.

@Jenny Saunders, forgive me for asking, but how do you know that Henrico is hiring? I hope you were being serious.

I should mention that I just need a teaching job. Period. I've taught remedial reading in one good school and one not-so-good school. I've done the Title I thing before. Yes, it was incredibly stressful, but I've got to put some food on the table! I'll take what I can get!!

[VA Yankee]

Many districts in Virgina will advertise available positions on the states web site VDOE :: Job Opportunities in Virginia Education . This is a good link to locate jobs state wide additional links on the page will outline licensing requirements within the sate.

Good Luck...

[Charlesaf3]

can't speak to the hiring thing, but you'll find the commute from the fan/museum district to just about anywhere to be very easy. 40 minutes gets you to anywhere that can be called Richmond vicinity with half a straight face generally

(And you are right - they are great neighborhoods to live in!)