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within the next year or two we want to migrate towards central NJ/jersey shore area
my gf wants to teach either K or first grade
she currently has her undergrad from Montclair, a Masters from a school in NY, and about 6 years of experience with stellar reviews and an excellent portfolio of work
i am sure she's going to still have a difficult time as last i heard the state of teaching in general, and esp. in NJ, is poor but on the positive side she has a great job here in NY currently so she has a bit of leisure
my questions:
1. she currently makes ~$85K - we are in a super high COL area so i am sure this number is inflated, but she wouldn't be comfortable taking a massive hit
2. what is the best approach in searching? i am thinking to start sending resumes directly to the districts in which she's interested
within the next year or two we want to migrate towards central NJ/jersey shore area
my gf wants to teach either K or first grade
she currently has her undergrad from Montclair, a Masters from a school in NY, and about 6 years of experience with stellar reviews and an excellent portfolio of work
i am sure she's going to still have a difficult time as last i heard the state of teaching in general, and esp. in NJ, is poor but on the positive side she has a great job here in NY currently so she has a bit of leisure
my questions:
1. she currently makes ~$85K - we are in a super high COL area so i am sure this number is inflated, but she wouldn't be comfortable taking a massive hit
2. what is the best approach in searching? i am thinking to start sending resumes directly to the districts in which she's interested
3. any other advice?
thank you!
Answers:
1. 85K WITH SIX YEARS' EXPERIENCE?!? TEACHING?!? That sounds pretty darn high, even for high COL areas and advanced degrees. Are you on Long Island or in Westchester County? Those areas do tend to pay a bit better than Northern NJ, but 85K sounds pretty high for those stats even in those areas. Salaries are going to be less down by the shore. If she has just a master's degree, I'd guess she'd be looking at salaries in the 60K - 65K range. Maybe 70K - 75K on an MA +30 scale, and those are best case scenarios.
2. Apply everywhere. Teaching in NJ is brutally competitive, and grade K - 1 jobs are among the most difficult to get.
3. Tell her don't do it. Tell her to go to law school. Become a race car driver. Join the circus as a clown. It's miserable and getting worse by the day.
1. 85K WITH SIX YEARS' EXPERIENCE?!? TEACHING?!? That sounds pretty darn high, even for high COL areas and advanced degrees. Are you on Long Island or in Westchester County? Those areas do tend to pay a bit better than Northern NJ, but 85K sounds pretty high for those stats even in those areas. Salaries are going to be less down by the shore. If she has just a master's degree, I'd guess she'd be looking at salaries in the 60K - 65K range. Maybe 70K - 75K on an MA +30 scale, and those are best case scenarios.
2. Apply everywhere. Teaching in NJ is brutally competitive, and grade K - 1 jobs are among the most difficult to get.
3. Tell her don't do it. Tell her to go to law school. Become a race car driver. Join the circus as a clown. It's miserable and getting worse by the day.
Not a teacher, but know a few. If you have to ask (as you're doing in this post), you won't get a job. I had a coworker who was a former teacher. She told me she gave it up, because she was getting passed over for people with connections.
Not a teacher, but know a few. If you have to ask (as you're doing in this post), you won't get a job. I had a coworker who was a former teacher. She told me she gave it up, because she was getting passed over for people with connections.
+1
If you have the misfortune to be employed in a district like Woodbridge Township, the onlyqualifications that will be considered are whether you are aligned with the...correct...political factions, and/or whether you are providing...favors...to the Superintendent of Schools, and/or members of the elected Board of Ed.
First, with a MA, to start you are looking at about low 70'sK. A K-1 teacher could make a little less
But you may be getting ahead of yourself.
Is your friend certified in NJ? or qualifies for Reciprocity
Does your friend have any cert's ? especially Spec Ed?
that helps, big time
As many cert's as possible is a good thing.
She has to bring something extra to the table. She will be competing with entry level college grads for a job, who get paid less. Experience is a plus, if she will accept less pay than what she is use to.
Depending on school district, should have tech skills, know PowerPoint, electronic blackboard
Be able to do a class using PowerPoint presentation. Good PC skills
Find out what software district she applies to is using and become expert in it. (Big plus, be able to hit ground running)
A real possibility is she will have to sub in several districts. Districts use subs as a sort of trial and see what you got.
Same time you can watch from inside what jobs might be coming down the pipe.
In that vein, depending on district, find out if they use electronic sub software and learn it. Like E-sub, some sub's have alerts on their phone and as soon as a job comes up, they grab it in seconds. But, some districts still use the "Call you in the morning" method.
Also, all school district salaries are public record in NJ.
There are several web sites where you can find out the salary of anyone in the district.
and their level, training.
That way you can get an idea what the district is paying who,
Districts will not know what their hiring needs will be until June/July
So you have to send out resumes Jan -April, to get on the pile
Maybe some interviews May/June, to get some good candidates for "potential openings"
2nd interviews / Hiring, July/Aug
She'll be making less than 85k in shore towns in NJ. The low 60's probably for her base salary. Of course, if she starts taking on extra curricular activities/clubs/extra tutoring programs/lunch duty/sports coaching, etc she can make her salary higher.
As long as gf is aggressive seeking out jobs online, filling out the online paperwork and emailing resumes directly to principals, she should find something.
does it make sense to "cold mail" resumes directly to principals?
No it doesn't.
While a principal will be involved in the interview process after an applicant clears the first hurdle with the folks in Central Administration, the entire process must begin at the Central Administration level. If she is to do any "cold mail" resume forwarding, it should be directed to either the Superintendent of Schools, or the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel.
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