Teaching in Austin -- Some questions about the districts, getting credentialed from out of state... (credit, transfer)

[eastwest1983]

I am a high school teacher, currently living in New York, considering a move to Austin. I'm looking for some insight on what it's like to teach in the Austin Independent School District and how many hoops I'll have to go through to transition my teaching credential. Is there anyone on here who has made a similar move?
Some background on me: I'm a second year in the New York City Teaching Fellows program. I'm a Math fellow and I just completed by Master's in Secondary Mathematics Education. I currently teach in a public high school and I'm certified under the transitional B license. To get my initial certification, I still need to complete the edTPA and take a couple CLEP exams to satisfy my credit deficiencies. But I estimate I should have fulfilled all those requirements by March/April. Knowing the bureaucracy of the NY State DOE, I estimate it will take another 6-8 weeks for my documents to be processed, meaning I anticipate having the actual credential in hand no later than June.

Luckily, I know that NY has one of the more rigorous certification programs out there and I know it has accreditation reciprocity with Texas. But unfortunately the Texas Department of Education site gives scant info on what the process of transferring certification actually entails. I have to register and submit my current documents, but how long does that take? Do I have to take additional exams like a Praxis or in-state exam? What does it cost to get certified? Also, I'm considering getting certified in another subject area (English or Social Studies). How onerous of a process would that be?

When can and should I start applying for jobs in the Austin school district? In New York, teachers often announce departure from jobs in August as that's when the open market hiring period occurs. Is Austin the same? When do the best postings get listed? Does it make sense to contact schools where I'm interested in working now?

How are the benefits packages? I have looked at the salary schedule and I see that the cut in pay will be significant, but I presume Austin does not have city taxes at the level of New York, and income taxes will not be taken out at the state level either. Lastly, how do you like your current school? Which schools do you recommend trying to get a job at?

[tibbar]

All I know about the school system here is they don't pay into social security and it somehow reduces what you have already paid in. You might want to look into that.

[zhugeliang1]

In New York, teachers often announce departure from jobs in August as that's when the open market hiring period occurs. Is Austin the same?

The really progressive proactive school districts start hiring around March peak out in May and taper off in July. Schools with poor teacher-administrative relationships start hiring in July and peak out at the beginning of school in August. I know, because I've been teaching for 10 years in Texas.

[rangergrit]

Zhu, the OP asked about AISD.
I hope you haven't been teaching reading comprehension for 10 years.

[SRGuy63]

AISD is a joke. I taught HS Bio and MS Math, for three years, and gave up. We're talking constantly shifting school administrators, horrible/non-existent parental involvement, rude, ignorant kids in 90% of the schools, and too many hoops to jump through in a terrible rating/review system. Maybe your NYC experience will help you when it comes to facing each day within the AISD system. I can't imagine you'll like what you find yourself getting into, but different strokes, right? FWIW, I left teaching about ten years ago. I've heard things are worse, now.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by SRGuy63

AISD is a joke. I taught HS Bio and MS Math, for three years, and gave up. We're talking constantly shifting school administrators, horrible/non-existent parental involvement, rude, ignorant kids in 90% of the schools, and too many hoops to jump through in a terrible rating/review system. Maybe your NYC experience will help you when it comes to facing each day within the AISD system. I can't imagine you'll like what you find yourself getting into, but different strokes, right? FWIW, I left teaching about ten years ago. I've heard things are worse, now.

LOL! AISD is a big district with many high schools, a lot has changed in 10 years, much of it for the better. The competition to teach at the better high schools can be fierce, I have a kid at McCallum and her teachers are uniformly excellent, at back to school night each one talked about how grateful they were to be at this school and several mentioned how long they had tried to get a job there.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by tibbar

All I know about the school system here is they don't pay into social security and it somehow reduces what you have already paid in. You might want to look into that.

This. It's called the Windfall Tax. Please look into it.

Also, generally speaking, teachers here are paid much less and their benefits are not as good as teachers in New York. Yes, our cost of living is significantly less, but even adjusted for cost of living, our teachers are not as well compensated.

[TXEX06]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

This. It's called the Windfall Tax. Please look into it.

Also, generally speaking, teachers here are paid much less and their benefits are not as good as teachers in New York. Yes, our cost of living is significantly less, but even adjusted for cost of living, our teachers are not as well compensated.

The benefits for teachers in Texas are some of the worst in the country.

[eastwest1983]

Originally Posted by SRGuy63

AISD is a joke. I taught HS Bio and MS Math, for three years, and gave up. We're talking constantly shifting school administrators, horrible/non-existent parental involvement, rude, ignorant kids in 90% of the schools, and too many hoops to jump through in a terrible rating/review system. Maybe your NYC experience will help you when it comes to facing each day within the AISD system. I can't imagine you'll like what you find yourself getting into, but different strokes, right? FWIW, I left teaching about ten years ago. I've heard things are worse, now.

Just curious...What are you doing now?

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by tibbar

All I know about the school system here is they don't pay into social security and it somehow reduces what you have already paid in. You might want to look into that.

I taught in AISD for 20+ years (late '60s - early '90s) and SS participation was mandatory.