Live in Arnold, commute to HoCo to teach? (Columbia, Ellicott City: 2014, buying a house)

[eav1221]

As anyone knows, AACPS school teachers face not getting raises...AGAIN. I'm a newlywed and have college debt and am unable to save ANYTHING with my frozen salary. I'm fed up. I might have an opportunity to teach in Howard County for---wait for it---wait for it---TEN THOUSAND more dollars because HoCo gives teachers their years of experience and steps/raises. Now, my husband and I already have a contract on a house near Arnold--close to Rt. 2--but I realize HoCo is big and I could get placed in any school they choose. Is the morning commute for a teacher (remember, we hit the roads WELL BEFORE the morning rush begins) to say, Columbia, all that bad? Us teachers also get done with our work days by 2:40ish...so my commute home would be before the afternoon rush as well.

I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of staying in AACPS with a frozen salary for the foreseeable future vs. accepting a great job as a teacher with HoCo for TEN THOUSAND MORE DOLLARS!...plus, next year, I get a step and make 2K more...then the next year, i get another step and make 2K more. They invest in their educators there...unlike here in AACPS. It's sad.

I need advice!

[J_Lurk]

I can't speak to your commute specifically, but I know there are lots of teachers in HoCo that live outside HoCo, especially in Frederick. I also know several parents at our school in HoCo who live in HoCo but teach in AA County and one who teaches in PG County. So there is nothing unusual about crossing county lines. You could move in a couple of years if the commute is too much for you.

I'm going to guess that you teach middle or high school based on your estimate of the times in the school day. If you teach elementary school, keep in mind that your day may be considerably later than you are thinking. Our elementary school runs 9:25-3:55 and teachers arrive at 8:30, so it falls pretty much exactly in rush hour.

If you are a middle school teacher, then you are probably talking about a position in the new middle school opening in 2014, which will be in Elkridge.

[eav1221]

Thanks for the info. I'd either be teaching High School or Middle...so I know I'd be hitting the roads before the major rush started--I'd be on the road well before 7:30 a.m. I'm leaning towards accepting a job should it come my way. It sucks that I am buying a house in Arnold now (didn't know HoCo would be a viable option until recently) and AACPS just loves to not give raises. Love the County Council! They do such great things for educators! (NOT).

I think the job would be worth any drive in the morning and afternoon. If anyone else reads this who makes the commute and would like to chime in, please do!

[cjmeck]

I sometimes work in Severna Park and I live in Ellicott City; in rush hour I make it in 35 minutes door to door. But that is the northeast part of EC to SP, yours could be much more since HOCO is so big. Do they not have projected openings? It seems the hiring I see posted is mostly in the Columbia area which would make your commute more doable. But Arnold to say, Glenelg/Dayton? That would be difficult for me; only you can know what's right for you.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by eav1221

It sucks that I am buying a house in Arnold now (didn't know HoCo would be a viable option until recently) and AACPS just loves to not give raises.

Are you committed to the house? I would look for a way to get out of the purchase if i would not loose a lot of money. The job prospect in Howard County sounds so much more desirable and the commute so far.

[pokeable]

:/ Also explains the increased income tax I pay when I moved from Severn