I am a 7 year teacher! No one wants to hire me!

[Jax]

Wanttoteach, you're welcome! Best wishes to you! You're going to do great w/ your interviews!

[Wintersville]

Wanttoteach: I see from another posting that you were able to find a job in Solana Beach. That is very fortunate for you, as Solana Beach is one the highest paying districts in San Diego County. It was very brave of you to move out here without having first secured a job, as the teaching market in San Diego county for general education elementary teachers (I'm assuming you are elementary) is very tight. I am also a teacher but with a special education credential. My first year out of my credential program I was fortunate enough to receive 4 offers. I made the mistake of accepting the offer from Vista Unified, which is a notorious district for offering only temporary contracts and not renewing those contracts after two years to avoid having to grant tenure. They have many positions open each year because of this practice. There are a few other districts in San Diego county who do the same thing. I found the competition to be very stiff for elementary teaching, even in special education, the last two years in San Diego County. Declining enrollments of young families with school aged children who cannot afford to live in San Diego county account for some of the shortage of jobs, as well as the desirable weather that entices teachers from other areas in California. Last year I went to work for Murrieta Valley in Riverside county (a 45-minute drive from Vista) and will be there this year also. I had only one other offer which was another district in Riverside county. Murrieta is a district who values their teachers and gives them many freedoms and respect--not to mention the pay is exponentially higher in Riverside county. If you are happy living in Fallbrook, which is very rural, you might want to consider applying to Riverside county districts next year if Solana Beach does not renew your contract. This is where many teachers from San Diego county have fled in search of full-time contracts--not temporary contracts or substitute teaching. I hope things work out for you in Solana Beach. I don't know if you are on a temporary contract or not, but beware if you are--there is a reason for offering teachers temporary contracts, and much has to do with the amount the district has to pay the teachers and if the teachers can relate to the English learning population.