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My husband and I are thinking about relocating to the Raleigh/Durham area from Oregon. We lived in NC previously and really miss it.
He has a masters degree in special ed and is hoping to do some substitute teaching or working as a TA to get to know the schools/districts. I've read other posts about the budget cuts in the school systems and the difficulty in getting permanent positions.
Does anybody know what the job market is like for being a substitute or a teaching assistant in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, or even surrounding areas like Pittsboro or Hillsborough?
I'm pretty sure there have been drastic cuts in teaching assistants throughout all school districts here, since local budgets are all suffering and most districts are freezing hiring if not laying off teachers. Subs would be the kind of thing there's a perpetual need for, no matter where you are, I'd imagine? Especially when the teachers have to take a day off to interview for another job
I am sure once the teacher cuts come that it will be very hard to get a substitute teaching job down here. Most of the laid off teachers will probably sign up to become subs.
I moved down in Jan to Raleigh. Wake County would not hire me(or anyone to sub) because there are/(were?) in a hiring freeze. So I work in Durham. I can get a job most days but I sub in all schools and all grade levels. They only pay 60-something a day. Their pay scales suck. I have a BA and even people with a Masters or PHD are all grouped in the same level as those with a HS diploma only. It is either you have a teaching license or you don't. I would not recommend coming down here and expecting to live off subbing.
Wow, thanks for the info everybody. Is there any indication that things are going to get better in any of those districts, or does it look like it's staying the same/getting worse?
Also, B-rad69, you said you've been doing some subbing in Durham. Other than the low pay, how has your experience been?
Things are a bit tense, and the outcome is still not cast in stone over the deficit in budget. Days/hours are being cut for TAs with a hiring freeze, a freeze on subs as there are no funds is the latest we have been told - all subject to change - job prospects may go down as well as up
Wow, thanks for the info everybody. Is there any indication that things are going to get better in any of those districts, or does it look like it's staying the same/getting worse?
Budgets for next year are being set now, so it seems likely that things won't get better for at least another budgeting cycle in 2010 or beyond.
My husband and I are thinking about relocating to the Raleigh/Durham area from Oregon. We lived in NC previously and really miss it.
He has a masters degree in special ed and is hoping to do some substitute teaching or working as a TA to get to know the schools/districts. I've read other posts about the budget cuts in the school systems and the difficulty in getting permanent positions.
Does anybody know what the job market is like for being a substitute or a teaching assistant in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, or even surrounding areas like Pittsboro or Hillsborough?
Thanks!
We moved 2 years ago from Portland to Durham. While I do think posters are painting an accurate picture of education in the area, keep in mind the economy is not nearly as bad here as it is in Oregon. Historically the economy in NC recovers much quicker than it does in Oregon. Also, your husband has a special ed degree... I think this might give him an edge.
Have you considered looking in smaller school districts? My SIL is an AP at an elementary in Eastern NC (near the coast). She has a background in special ed. PM me if you are interested in looking for jobs in her district.
NC is having an education budget crisis now, but in proportion to things happening in Oregon it's not on the same scale. NC will probably see classroom sizes go up here, but we won't see 30 kids in a Kindergarten Class like our old Portland school had this year. Even in towns like Cary & Chapel Hill you don't see parents holding auctions that raise 195K at one event like some public schools in Portland.... because it's just not needed.
I wouldn't necessarily leave a good teaching job in Oregon to move to NC right now. But if he doesn't have a permenate job then, I would look at moving closely. Do keep in mind teaching jobs are not unionized here..... so pay is lower and benefits for spouses are not that great. But also the school districts do not (and legally can not) threaten to end school weeks early because they are out of money and while the teachers here had to take .5% pay cut the last few months in lieu of 10 hours off, the districts have not asked teachers to work for basically free the last 10 days of school like what happened in PPS schools a few years back.
Good luck with your decision. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions. My retired neighbor is able to get more than she wants in terms of subing at a Raleigh Charter School. It's often who you know to get in and then if they like you, your set.
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