Special Ed Teacher - Chicago Public Schools (2015, job outlook)

[allisontastic]

Hello,

I am currently a special education teacher in St. Louis. Previously I completed an urban teacher residency in CPS, obtained my master's degree in special education, and have endorsements in Elementary Ed (K-9), LBSI and LBSII (the two main types of Illinois special ed endorsements). I would like to move back to Chicago and teach special education in CPS for next school year. It seems like CPS generally hires extremely late in the game and I know there have been a ton of school closings, thus displaced teachers. I'm wondering if someone with knowledge of the special ed job outlook in CPS could speak to the following questions:

1. When is the best time to apply for the 2014-2015 school year?
2. Will listing an out of state address hurt me? Should I list a Chicago friend's address instead?
3. Are there a shortage of special ed teacher in CPS right now?
4. Should I try to make a trip off to drop off resumes in person, or does it not matter?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[chet everett]

In general principals in CPS do not have any idea of what kinds of staffing changes they can make until very late spring -- a whole chain of semi-secret decisions starts with the period for students to apply for selective enrollment schools-- that typically ends right before the schools close for Christmass and that is the biggest driver in who is needed at various schools.

Each principal is mosty free to select any qualified teacher for new openings but most naturally have a bias against wasting their time with people from outside the area; prudence says if you can use a friend's address it will be a wise edge.

CPS runs an "hrportal" site that ought to provide information about areas of need for certified staff. It is responding very erratically. My friends that still work for CPS tell me a large mismatch exists between the kinds of people that make successful SpecEd teachers in CPS and the hoops that there are to get hired...

If you can locate a school that you know you would like to work at that posts openings for teachers with your qualifications it may be worth trying to send the principal a note asking them if they would appreciate you dropping off an resume. Of course you still need to fill out everything for the district office and some principals actually prefer the electronic system but since the site does not always work correctly it might be smart to drop off your resume or even have a friend stop by the schools you most want to work at...

Originally Posted by allisontastic

Hello,

I am currently a special education teacher in St. Louis. Previously I completed an urban teacher residency in CPS, obtained my master's degree in special education, and have endorsements in Elementary Ed (K-9), LBSI and LBSII (the two main types of Illinois special ed endorsements). I would like to move back to Chicago and teach special education in CPS for next school year. It seems like CPS generally hires extremely late in the game and I know there have been a ton of school closings, thus displaced teachers. I'm wondering if someone with knowledge of the special ed job outlook in CPS could speak to the following questions:

1. When is the best time to apply for the 2014-2015 school year?
2. Will listing an out of state address hurt me? Should I list a Chicago friend's address instead?
3. Are there a shortage of special ed teacher in CPS right now?
4. Should I try to make a trip off to drop off resumes in person, or does it not matter?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[allisontastic]

Thanks for the advice, Chet!

[nearnorth]

Originally Posted by allisontastic

Thanks for the advice, Chet!

You'll figure this out if you hang out around here long enough, but there is a mammoth gap between what Chet claims to know and what he actually knows, on a very wide range of topics. I would take all of that with a grain of salt and talk to some actual CPS teachers (hopefully some will respond to this thread), or at the very least some city of Chicago residents.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by allisontastic

Hello,

I am currently a special education teacher in St. Louis. Previously I completed an urban teacher residency in CPS, obtained my master's degree in special education, and have endorsements in Elementary Ed (K-9), LBSI and LBSII (the two main types of Illinois special ed endorsements). I would like to move back to Chicago and teach special education in CPS for next school year. It seems like CPS generally hires extremely late in the game and I know there have been a ton of school closings, thus displaced teachers. I'm wondering if someone with knowledge of the special ed job outlook in CPS could speak to the following questions:

1. When is the best time to apply for the 2014-2015 school year?
2. Will listing an out of state address hurt me? Should I list a Chicago friend's address instead?
3. Are there a shortage of special ed teacher in CPS right now?
4. Should I try to make a trip off to drop off resumes in person, or does it not matter?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

The system has changed a lot since I was teaching, but I'm guessing the general rule still applies, in that CPS tends to have high turnover in the special ed ranks.

Can't hurt to drop off resumes, ask to meet the principals in person, etc. It shows initiative, and I do think Chet is correct that at the end of the day it is the principals who have the hiring power.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by nearnorth

You'll figure this out if you hang out around here long enough, but there is a mammoth gap between what Chet claims to know and what he actually knows, on a very wide range of topics. I would take all of that with a grain of salt and talk to some actual CPS teachers (hopefully some will respond to this thread), or at the very least some city of Chicago residents.

The above post is typical of the kind of unwelcome visitor that some online forums take pains to ban.

I would suggest that the OP weigh all advice received from all sources including the CPS offical channels.