Rhode Island Districts hiring? (Barrington: school districts, college, retirement)

[Rally214]

Hey everyone, please be gentle but still do not hesitate to tell me the truth.

I recently graduated from college and have been flooding all of the school districts in the state with my resume for a high school English teaching position. I have made the follow-up calls to make sure they received my material, etc.

Still haven't heard a thing and we're in the beginning of August

I talked to my adviser from college and she told me not to worry yet and that interviews are probably just starting in most districts, though I find that hard to believe that the districts are waiting until so late in the summer to start interviewing. A friend of mine just got a teaching spot in Mass. and I'm starting to think I'm gonna have to try and substitute for this school year.

My resume is complete and my letters of recommendation are brilliant. I put lots of time into my cover letters, I just can't figure this out!

So basically, just looking to see if anybody knows anything more concrete on the status of the hiring process for most districts. Should I stop keeping my hopes up for an interview at this point?

[Hollytree]

I hate to have to tell you this but RI public schoolteachers are well paid and unionized. Jobs are extremely hard to get. Substitutes have been known to work for years in the system and never get hired. Have you tried the private schools?

[Rally214]

Yes I've been sending resumes to some of the private high school, as well, though perhaps I should broaden my search to private middle schools? If you have any in particular you can direct me towards it would be much appreciated, thank you!

[Hollytree]

Sorry, don't know of any in particular- I'd try all of 'em within a certain radius if I were you. Also, it will help tremendously to have a master's degree- don't think a BA or BS will get you far in this market. Sorry to be so discouraging but you might really want to think about looking in another region of the country- somewhere there must be a teacher shortage...

[traceyr13]

I think if you are willing to expand your search to middle schools, you might have more luck.

I worked for 8 years at Barrington High School, and I know (unless there was an unexpected late retirement or leave, which there almost never was) the principal did the hiring in May/June. I don't know about other districts, though.

As the pp stated, teachers tend to stay forever in Rhode Island. I also agree that it's harder without a Master's degree - most of my colleagues had them. Best of luck - I know it's stressful!