possible move to Portland (teaching jobs, transfer, neighborhoods)

[debbih]

My husbands job may be moving him to Portland and I am looking for advice on best palces to live and have the best schools as well for my two sons as well as for looking for a teaching job for myself. Any suggestions or advice is appreciated

[Nell Plotts]

Welcome to Portland.

The test score results are on the inter-net, I don't have the link but others will point the way.

You didn't mention the vicinity of your husband's employment, that will impact our suggestions.

All public schools are taking budget hits and many private schools may have empty chairs as households watch their personal budgets, finding a teaching position may be tough.

[debbih]

he'll be working in Portland if he makes the move, is the Vancouver WA area doing any better?

[Nell Plotts]

NO! Vancouver is not better.

Portland is a med-size city. By "working in Portland" do you mean 'down town' or the core area?

He could be working near PDX (or needing to go in & out of PDX), or at Lewis & Clark College and still be in Portland. Many employers describe the site as Portland when in fact it is not in the City at all.

[Sarcastic_Twit]

If you have certification in any special ed areas you should have better luck. Otherwise, you will need to hunt in the more rural districts which will increase your commute time (if you're lucky to get hired). Oregon also has a Master's degree requirement, but I think that's becoming a nationwide standard.

You need to be more specific on where your husband job location is in Portland.

[debbih]

I think that it is at Daimler Headquarters on Channel Avenue. I do have a MA in teaching with specialty in early childhood but not special ed.

[daisy326]

Where do people get this idea that Vancouver might be better. Its not for sure! Teaching jobs are hard to come by with all the cuts the state is making and positions are being eliminated. Channel Avenue is near Swan Island and if I were to pick a neighbohood with good schools and nice neighborhoods I would look in the Sylvan/Forest Heights area. The your husband can cross the bridge from Hwy 30 to get to work.

[Azalea City Man]

Originally Posted by Sarcastic_Twit

Oregon also has a Master's degree requirement, but I think that's becoming a nationwide standard.

Can you elaborate further? Are you saying that you have to have a master's degree in education before you can begin teaching? Here, and I assumed this was the practice everywhere, you can teach with a bachelor's and you earn more pay if you have a master's.

I ask as we are thinking of Portland as an eventual destination and I work in education. I have a bachelor's in secondary ed, but a master's in instructional design (which gets you master's pay, but is not considered a master's when it comes to being AA-certified instead of A-certified).

[debbih]

In Michigan you need a bachelor's degree to teach, from what I have found I can transfer my certification to Oregon with paperwork, it's a matter of finding a job first. Thanks for all the suggestions

[Nell Plotts]

I would do all the paper work first (transfer certification), then go on the hunt for a job. It will not be easy but if you are willing to substitute teach it might help you when an open materializes.