Special Ed. Teaching jobs in South Jersey? (apartments, rent)

[mediumrare]

Would I stand a chance at getting hired in a school in South Jersey as a special education teacher? Currently, I live and work in NY, have 10 years of experience as a spec. ed. teacher, and would like to relocate back to South Jersey (which is where I'm originally from.)

I'm completely out of the loop when it comes to whats going on with South Jersey schools other than what I've read about the NJEA and Christie in the media. I can only say that teachers living and working in NY are slowly being bankrupted by the rapidly rising cost of living there, which is nowhere close to being affordable on the salaries earned there. I can tell you that the majority of teachers in NY cannot even afford to purchase a home, but must rent apartments instead. I'm having a very hard time dealing with such a poor quality of life. At least teachers in Jersey can buy a house, and live somewhat more decently.

Which brings me back to my original question: do any of you think I will be able to get a teaching position in South Jersey? I'm really desperate to go back home.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by mediumrare

Would I stand a chance at getting hired in a school in South Jersey as a special education teacher? Currently, I live and work in NY, have 10 years of experience as a spec. ed. teacher, and would like to relocate back to South Jersey (which is where I'm originally from.)

I'm completely out of the loop when it comes to whats going on with South Jersey schools other than what I've read about the NJEA and Christie in the media. I can only say that teachers living and working in NY are slowly being bankrupted by the rapidly rising cost of living there, which is nowhere close to being affordable on the salaries earned there. I can tell you that the majority of teachers in NY cannot even afford to purchase a home, but must rent apartments instead. I'm having a very hard time dealing with such a poor quality of life. At least teachers in Jersey can buy a house, and live somewhat more decently.

Which brings me back to my original question: do any of you think I will be able to get a teaching position in South Jersey? I'm really desperate to go back home.

As teacher contracts run out, the older teachers will be leaving, in droves. Just keep trying for the next couple of years.

[hrjersey]

There are already a lot of certified teachers looking for jobs and with the new school budgets a lot of teachers may find themselves out of a job.

I suggest you get your NJ Certifications and then just keep looking, but Special Education isn't as in demand as it used to be.

Btw, I don't know many people that can buy a house on a teacher's salary, even in NJ. Although some believe we can all afford BMW's and McMansions, I'm struggling to pay my mortgage on a house purchased 10 years ago, before the housing boom and when my car dies, I have no idea how I'm going to afford a new one. My single friends that are teachers live in apartments. Only my married friends seem to be able to afford homes.

Don't get me wrong, teacher's salaries are decent, but NJ's cost of living is pretty high.

[ocnjgirl]

Special Ed gives you a HUGE advantage over general teachers. When I worked for Galloway Twp schools (5 years ago) they were laying off regular ed teachers but still desperately searching for Special Ed. When our Preschool Disabled class lost its' teacher due to an emergency, they could not find a replacement and put a non-Special Ed teacher temporarily in the class, until the parents complained to the state. I believe there is a website for NJ teaching jobs, but I can't remember the name. The cost of living in south Jersey is less than north, and the farther south you go the cheaper it gets (not counting the beach towns).

[livelaughlove85]

I am a Special Education teacher and just lost my job due to the budget cuts. I hope that this retirement incentive goes through so that there will be openings, however until that happens I can not forsee there being job openings for a long time.