Teaching Jobs In Maine (Portland, Augusta: high crime, credit, job openings)

[monica_cam]

Is there a good market for elementary teaching jobs in Maine? I am from Texas and my sister and I were considering looking into Maine. However, it seems from what I am reading on the forum that Maine does not like outsiders. Especially ones that have no connection to their state? It feels disheartening. Any advise would be welcomed. Thanks.

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by monica_cam

Is there a good market for elementary teaching jobs in Maine? I am from Texas and my sister and I were considering looking into Maine. However, it seems from what I am reading on the forum that Maine does not like outsiders. Especially ones that have no connection to their state? It feels disheartening. Any advise would be welcomed. Thanks.

That's not true, I suspect. What area of Texas are you in? We are north 59 from Houston. Everyone is skeptical and cautious of everyone in our neck of the woods. With such a high crime rate, we have to be watching our back at all times. It's not that way in Maine. Sure, the people we move in among will have to get to know us and will take a little time to get a feel for our intentions, but once they realize who we are, I'm sure they'll be most welcoming. This is the feeling we got from everyone we were in contact with when we visited last March on our town searching tour of the area. We told everyone what we were looking for, and they were all OVERLY helpful and encouraging.

I like Forest's analagy of being "mirrored". If you go in expecting to be the outsider, you will be. You will automatically be skeptical of the people and of their intentions. If you go in expecting to be welcomed and become part of the community, THAT is what will happen when you arrive. Most long time residents across the country appreciate anyone who wants to bring their talents to the party in support of the local community.

When we get moved, our first order of business will be to join the Maine Historical Society and begin volunteering our time. We'll also join any other local groups we have common interests with and begin supporting our new neighborhood and community in any way we can. It will be a great way to meet people and to show them our intentions are to JOIN them, not try and inflict change upon their territory. We want to be a part, not infiltrate as spectators.

[ljotis]

It takes time for people to warm up to you anywhere you go. Depends on where in the state, small places and small towns are a little harder to adjust to than the big city, but everywhere I've been in the towns I've lived in, people are really quick to accept...its like southern hospitality with a northern twist. I dont know about the jobs though, but there are alot of schools in the way north that are consolidating two and three into one school, so probably cuts there, but in the southern part of the state its a whole different ballgame.

[Elcarim]

I saw recently on the Belfast school pages that they are looking for several teachers at Elementary level. My mother was looking, as well, so I've been watching it for her.

MSAD #34 Job Openings

[loges]

Well, this stikes close to home... I was amazed that I could obtain a teaching certificate without having passed PRAXIS tests, but in Augusta when I went to apply I found there were "emergency conditions" that warranted an immediate placement of teachers in the Greater Portland area. The Departmnt of Education said they were having such trouble keeping or hiring teachers in certain disciplines they were relaxing the rules....( see ed. tech position nonsense in Maine schools)...
Trouble came when after I was granted a k-8 special ed certificate and went to the hiring place...(unnamed): the fellow behind the desk was rude, and quite a curmundgeon if I have ever met one- he said that IF I got the job it would be for 24,600 dollars a year (paltry) that would be first offered to a local.
GEEZ

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by loges

Well, this stikes close to home... I was amazed that I could obtain a teaching certificate without having passed PRAXIS tests, but in Augusta when I went to apply I found there were "emergency conditions" that warranted an immediate placement of teachers in the Greater Portland area. The Departmnt of Education said they were having such trouble keeping or hiring teachers in certain disciplines they were relaxing the rules....( see ed. tech position nonsense in Maine schools)...
Trouble came when after I was granted a k-8 special ed certificate and went to the hiring place...(unnamed): the fellow behind the desk was rude, and quite a curmundgeon if I have ever met one- he said that IF I got the job it would be for 24,600 dollars a year (paltry) that would be first offered to a local.
GEEZ

So you could get a teaching certificate without the 4-6 years of education and go right to work? I can't imagine they would pay a full teacher's salary at an entry level with only a certificate. You can get a similar "teacher's aid" cert in Texas and make about that much, but without spending the time officially educating yourself in the field, you probably can't expect equal pay with those who do.

[loges]

I have 5 years of school, and started my masters in CT.... The teaching wage you refer to was for a bonafide, accredited, teacher. ALL teachers get paid the same first year, and it is abysmal, provided you can obtain a job due to preferential practices.. I know, it sounds weird, why try to get teachers here, (I live in Maine) and then shun them over locals and pay them ****. Dunno. Good luck on 24,600 dollars a year though.

[Elcarim]

Wow! Scary. My mom makes $48 a year now with 15 yrs exp. She teaches special ed.

[loges]

15 years? Wow. Thats still not much. Tell me what she started at though. for real, not inflated. Bet it was something like say... 300.00 a week after taxes and benefits were taken out. That's liveable, though, right???

[loges]

You simply cannot survive on 300.00 a week. Trust me. That CANNOT be adequate compensation for teaching special ed kids. Something is wrong also, when your support teacher (ed tech) is a high school dropout, inexperienced, under-educated, and there for the benefits as a support job to a husband. Trust me, I know.