Advice Please (Atlanta, Douglas, Clayton: apartment, home owners insurance, homes)

[cmv1212]

Hello everyone,
I am getting ready to graduate with my BA in Political Science from a University in Florida. I am currently looking for a change of location and am looking for jobs in teaching. I would like to teach a high school government class and coach volleyball. I am aware of the Florida requirements to become a teacher but I am unaware of any other state's requirements. Can anyone help me with state requirements? Job openings? housing/apartment rates? I am looking forward to a change from florida and I am looking forward to any help and advice you can give me. Thank you!

cmv1212

[sprtsluvr8]

Georgia currently requires teachers to have passed the Praxis, and different grade levels/subjects require different sections of the test. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission is the agency that handles certification, and I'm sure there is a website where you can find the exact requirements.

There are normally openings in all of the school systems around Atlanta...Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, Atlanta City, Gwinnett County, Douglas County, Clayton County, Henry County, Paulding County, Cherokee County, Rockdale County, Fayette County, and other systems further outside Atlanta. Most, if not all, of them have an online application process and I'm sure all of them have a website.

The best volleyball programs are in the private schools - Woodward, Westminster, and Pace are some of the strong programs. There are some good public schools too I just don't know which ones. There is lots of amateur volleyball in Atlanta, all the way up to AA and lots of tournaments have an Open bracket. Volleyball Atlanta and Hotlanta Volleyball are two organizations I'm familiar with, and there are sand courts that attract big crowds on Virginia Ave. I don't know if you wanted all of that, but I'm guessing if you coach volleyball you probably know how to play and will want to know where.

[sprtsluvr8]

Georgia also allows you to teach for a certain period of time with provisional certification. I think it's one year, and you have to pass the Praxis in that time period.

Georgia Tech has a pretty good volleyball program too, though not on the level of the Gators. They did make it thru to the elite eight in the NCAA tourney before losing in 5 to Hawaii, I think it was 3 years ago...

[lastminutemom]

In high needs fields like math and science and special ed., the school systems are generally willing to work with interested parties to help them through a program called TAPP
http://www.gapsc.com/GATAPP/home.asp

I am not hearing great things about tAPP in terms of how prepared the teachers are to actually teach and I believe a huge number of them quit within a year or two. Principals at strong schools are less likely to need to hire TAPP teachers with the exception of math and science.

Social studies is not a high need area -- but with a teaching certificate you would surely be able to find a job -- maybe just not where you want. There is so much growth in the public schools in Metro ATlanta and in Georgia that teaching jobs are fairly easy to find, especially if you are very flexible. You might want to consider investing the time and energy to actually earn your teaching certificate. You might also consider some subbing to make sure that this what you really want to do.

Also, private schools often don't require certification, so you might consider that path.

Many public schools, especially those on the Northern Metro area and probably southern as well, are large enough to offer volleyball.

[ajandjj2000]

I am a former Social Studies teacher. I have not taught in 2 years (since I had a child). Though I can understand your situation very well, because I basically did the exact opposite of what you are doing. I graduated from the University of Georgia then moved to N. Fla (where I taught high school for 3 years). I am very familiar with many of school systems around Atlanta because I have several friends and family members that teach up there and I did my student teaching there. I don't think that you will have any trouble finding a job in the Atlanta area. However, I would recommend that you really do your research and find the schools or counties that you would like to work in. In my experience the best way to land a job is to go to the job fair for the county that you want to work in. That way you can meet that principal face to face and have a chance to make a great and memorable impression. You are much more likely to get the job in person than by just submitting a resume. Most county's will hold a job fair around June or so, but check out the websites for the counties you are interested in for the exact dates.

As far as your certification goes, Georgia is somewhat more difficult to get certified in than Florida. I would recommend that you call the Professional Standards Commission at 800-869-7775 or go to their website at www.gapsc.com and find out exactly what you need to do to get certified. Obviously it is best if you are certified before looking for a job (because most of your competition will be certified), but I know that may not be possible.

I think you are very smart to look for a job in Georgia rather than Florida. You will get paid more in GA. In general the schools are better in GA. And best of all the cost of living is MUCH less in GA. I have been in FL. for the past 5 years and am now moving back to ATL. next week (one of the main reasons being because it is too expensive here in FL.). In GA. the utilities, property taxes, home owners insurance, and the homes are much cheaper. By moving to GA. from FL. my family will be saving over $1000 a month with the same size home in a very comparable kind of neighborhood.

I don't know where you want to live so it's very difficult to give you an idea of apartment/house rates, but I can tell you that I have a cousin (who is 25) and lives in a very hip area near downtown ATL. She has a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment and pays $950 a month in rent. She is able to walk to restaurants/bars etc. She loves it. If you move out in suburbs you may be able to find something a little cheaper.

If you have any questions about specific schools or school systems post them here and I will do what I can to answer your questions.

[liz0012]

I too am looking to relocate to Atlanta to teach. I am finishing up Grad school so I will not be moving until summer 08. Would you recommend going this March to the job fair, or next March??

[ajandjj2000]

There is really no need to go this year, because the principals there will be looking for people to start in August. So I would wait to go until next year. Though it's probably a good idea to start doing some research now to find out what area you would like to teach in next year. Since you have a whole year before you will be looking for a job up there I would suggust that you work on getting certified in GA this year. That way you will have a much easier time finding a job next year. Being certified you will probably have more options and may be able to get a job at a better school. Because it is more difficult to get certified in GA. your teaching license will transfer easily to most other states if you decide not to teach in GA.

[sprtsluvr8]

Be sure to check into certification several months prior to the date you need to be certified. You'll have to register for a specific test date and site, and they are only scheduled for certain times of the year.