Teacher Looking to Move down to SC (Richburg: for rent, area)

[cooter]

They like teachers with Master's degrees and pay them quite well in response to that

Their salary scale looks comparable to Rock Hill's scale. Compared to the northeast, the SC schools' salaries are running about $10,000/year less than comparable positions "up north." I know the cost of living is less, but that's a huge cut. I would be curious to hear from any transplants from higher-salary-areas on how/if lower cost of living offset the lower pay. Thanks!

[wlr107]

I accepted a position in Cumberland COunty Schools in March, but when I asked which school I was assigned, they "lost" my contract, and said they had NO elementary ed. openings! I am done with North carolina.

Originally Posted by Stacey M.

PLEASE COME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY!!!!
We live in Hilton Head/Bluffton Area. Our teachers here are great! But we need more.! My husband and I are from PGH, to we've been here 10 years and love it!! If I can help in any way please let me know.

If you know anyone there, please have them contact me, I looked into Beaufort, and it does seem nice there. I would love the opportunity to move back to the Low Country...the longer I'm gone, the more I burn to be backthere!

My wife works for Lowe's, and so we need to get her transferred, as he loves the company!

Folks, with me having 2 daughters (2 and 3), a wonerful ife, pride is no longer an issue. I simply want to teach and help others. With over 100,000 in student loans b/w undergrad and grad, I have to get moving FAST! ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!

Thanks for the super posts, I SINCERELY appreciate it!

Will

[wlr107]

I just posted a responce, please check it out on the forum. Please e-mail me directly if you wish: wlr107@teacher.com

[wlr107]

For IT types, look to larger cities. I would recommend spartansburg, Colombia, Greenville, Beaufort, Charleston, as they are definately growing! Good luck!

Will

[wlr107]

Originally Posted by Stacey M.

PLEASE COME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY!!!!
We live in Hilton Head/Bluffton Area. Our teachers here are great! But we need more.! My husband and I are from PGH, to we've been here 10 years and love it!! If I can help in any way please let me know.

I am moving to Beaufort! :-) My fellow teachers recommended Beaufort, and we found what seems to be a great place. Just need to raise the cash to move, and I am back in the Lowcountry! :-)

[gnvlwvr]

I am a parent who is almost finished raising two children in the Greenville county school system. One child graduated in 2006, the other will graduate in 2008. My experience has been positive, and I was active enough as a volunteer to get to know many teachers well, and their feelings about teaching here. Greenville has a few things going for it that most school systems don't have. They have a magnet school program that is outstanding. It utilizes school buildings in less that desirable areas to promote certain studies, which encourage more in the way of cultural, racial, and social integration. The program starts in Kindergarden and goes thru high school. There are the language magnet schools, where your child has a opportunity to study each of the regular studies in language emersion, studying their math, literature, arts in either French, Spanish, and others. There are science magnet schools, and our favorite experience, the arts magnet schools. Our children went to the art magnet elementary. Visual, theatre, music and dance arts are part of the curriculum and are emeshed with the three R's.

We also have the Fine Arts Center, where high school students can study dance, visual and fine arts, music, poetry and creative writing, and other areas. Their Jazz guitar program is phenominal and some kids go right into professional work. Students studies there are part of the transcript and count as part of their GPA, and many colleges say that FAC grads are immediately in junior qualifications for their degree. My child has studied dance as part of her high school curriculum for two periods a day, for three years.

We have two schools that are IB, with an IB elementary and Middle also.

We have a charter high school with Greenville Technical College that is outstanding. There are two very good career centers to prepare non-college bound students for other areas of employment.

We are also the location for the South Carolina Governors school for the Fine Arts, where students from all over SC come to immerse in their media. That school also covers their education in the regular studies (social studies, math, etc.) and seeks educators of high ability.

Eleven of our schools have been replaced with new structures in the last few years. Although they are not pretty (students equate them with prisons) they are mold free, which actually was a major issue for health. They are all built with the latest in technology, with really nice athletic and labratory areas.

We are originally from Indiana, were raised where Purdue University is located. My father was a teacher there. We had high expectations for our kids education. Greenville county has been pretty good in that respect. I wish we could say the same for South Carolina's state colleges. That is another discussion. We have also lived in Wisconsin, Maryland, Missouri, Georgia (north and South), and Florida (Palm Beach). This is our favorite location and we are so happy to have settled here. The weather is mild year round. No hurricanes (however, do not live in a mobile home because we do have tornadoes). We live on a lake and you can kayak year round, golf year round, hike year round, camp year round. There are lots of beautiful parks and lakes in the area. You are an hour from Asheville and the Blue Ridge parkway. Greenville itself has a beautiful park, Paris Mountain, right in the city. Also the city has developed the Reedy River Park into something special, with nice trails, a lovely series of waterfalls, a very unusual curved suspesion bridge, and gardens. Down town has developed into a cultural meca, with the Peace Center brining in big names in music and broadway (say Phantom, Mama Mia, Joseph and his ATRaincoat, Sweet Charity, more) and the Bi-lo center has concerts from blue grass to hip hop.

Of course, being in the south, cars are important.

I lived here for years before I met anyone who was raised in Greenville. If you live on the east side of town, most people are from the midwest and new england. There are many "half-backs" - people who retired to Florida and moved just a little back up north to get away from the Florida problems. There is a huge growth in retirement homes and neighborhoods, as parent move here from the north to be by their kids families.

As you can see, I can't say enough good things about the area. If you are interested in Elementary teaching, Heritage elementary is the place to be. My friend who is the principal was one of the leading forces in the magnet program years ago, and she has done amazing things with the school. She has also added a series of after school programs, with scholarships for the ones who can't afford them, with things like piano lessions, dance, math blasters, and more. It is rural with a broad spectrum of children's economic background - multimillionairs with gentleman farms to hillbillies who's parents had them when they were 15. Lots of kids to help, lots of grateful folks, and then those with money keep the pta well funded. And the most beautiful mountain view from the parking lot you will ever see.

I highly recommend researching the area. The administration has problems, but whose doesn't. Greenville county is huge. Don't go down by Simpsonville. The area is overdeveloped, Woodruff road is a nightmare, and the school has horrible problems. Blue Ridge Middle and High school are considered excellent. Travelers Rest High school is impossible. Wade Hampton has some good teachers, but administration is very controlling. However, it is next to the Fine Arts Center and lots of kids are transferring there because of that, so you are getting an influx of creative kids and very interested, active parents.

IMO.

[moedog]

I taught school in SC for 30 years---and I would have to agree, teachers are generally treated like dogs in SC schools. The only exception would be for female teachers whose husbands are doctors, lawyers, or successful business people---those teachers are treated like queens. If you decide to teach in SC, I highly recommend you join the SCEA, an affiliate of the National Education Association. We may not be allowed to have teacher's unions in SC, but I can tell you from experience that school districts and administrators "jump back" for NEA/SCEA.

[flamept]

Originally Posted by wlr107

I am a graduate Student at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. I am getting my Master's Degree, and getting Certified to teach Social Studies at the Middle School and High School Levels.

I taught in Hampton School District 2 (Estill) in 1999-2000, and while tough at times, it was very rewarding.

Now, I am married with two girls (1 and 2 years old...and at 43! YIKES!). My wife and I are coming down for the career fair in June so I can look at School Districts before we move, and check some out and look around at housing for a week or so too.

Anyone have recommendations or suggestions? Maybe I'm a bit idealistic, but I want to teach where I'm needed, but yet still find my wife a job that pays reasonably well.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Will

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Dear Will,

My husband was hired to teach in Hampton County, SC. this coming fall 2008-2009. We don't know if he can find a mobile home to rent in a park, a mobile home on private property, or a small house in Varnville, Hampton, or go to CIVILIZATION in Walterboro.

I found one realtor who answered with an ad for a house for $20,000 but ended up telling me it was not liveable! I wish the he had said that. We will have expenses living back here in Chester County, SC, too. We don't need to buy another home! He's going to be working alot with the teaching job with good pay and a supplemental one to help defray his costs. He hasn't been able to find a teaching job in PA., SC., GA., or NC for 4 years!....as his job is a specialty one

Have you any suggestions?

By the way, we grew up in Allegheny and Washington Counties in PA. not too far from Pittsburgh. We use to go on school picnics to certain special places plus our dads and relatives factory jobs unions paid for everything. We'd go, too, as families to Story Book Forest and Idywild Park as well as Kennywood Park! I get their e-mail to see what's going on as we should go back and visit! There's nothing left there since the steel mills and such went down as many homes are boarded up and vacant selling for such LOW ridiculous prices no one would ever believe. A nice 2 story house with or without a garage and a basement with 3-4 bedrooms and 2 or more baths in good condition goes for $15,000-30,000! BUT there are no jobs there except driving a long way to Pittsburgh on bad roads. As always all the taxpayer money always went to Harrisburg and East.

I know what a great college you went to. My husband went to "Pitt."

We are a little older than y'all

We drove around looking between Rte. 63, 321, 601, and 64 for mobile home parks, but maybe we didn't know where they were at.

I wish you chose the school district where you are needed and the best place for your family to grow up. If you chose somewhere within 50 miles of the capital city, I may be of help to you. Those areas are expensive the closer you get to that capitol city!

DEE

[msnead]

i'm looking to teach in estill and will be looking for a cheap place to rent, too. where are they?

[ced_lol]

Richland 2 defintley not 5 or 1 2 youll love it