If you teach in NYC public school, let's talk!

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

I'm considering taking the plunge and starting to look for a public school teaching job, but I have MANY MANY MANY reservations. Would love to shmooze with people who are there, doing that, and can give me the real view from the trenches. Particularly young people with growing families (I know some public school teachers IRL but they're grandmothers... not sure if they can relate to what it would be like to start out now, in the current climate, with babies at home)

I wish you could tag people here as in facebook, I've spotted some teachers around this forum before (Nicole? Are you there?) but would love to have one big shmooze here instead of pm'ing.

TIA!

Posted: Fri, Nov 04 2011, 12:04 am Post subject:

I'm about to go to bed, but I'd love to answer any of your questions after I get some rest!

I teach in a HS so I'm not sure how my experience will relate to what you're looking for, but I'll try to help.

oh and there is definitely a handful of other teachers here.

I teach in nyc public school-kindergarten. anything specific you would like to know?

Platinum Member Joined: May 06 2007 Posts: 8515

I don't teach now, but did for several years, a couple of years ago. I taught middle school.
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Just Plain Frum!

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

I don't really have specific questions, just wondering generally what it's like... I'd be looking in the elementary/middle grades in special ed (I believe there's still a hiring freeze in general ed?)

One of my main concerns is whether/how much you have to take work home with you. Are the prep periods and materials provided enough or do you have to spend your evenings/weekends working? My current job is fewer hours than a public school job, but all preps and materials are on my own time and money.

I just can't figure out whether it's worth it... the salary and benefits are much better than what I get now, but OTOH now I work part time, make my own schedule, and have almost no pressure at work. And even with all that, I already feel like I don't spend enough time with my baby and am always falling behind on housework - never mind having a personal life.

So torn...

Posted: Fri, Nov 04 2011, 1:52 pm Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

What would the other teachers think of someone who works through all the preps? Would that make one an outcast? I know it's supposedly very political out there, that's one of the things that worries me because I'm not so good in that arena...

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

I also wonder if elementary is different. I imagine in HS you teach a subject, possibly a few periods to the same grade, so you can prepare one unit/lesson/test/project and use it four times. In elementary you're teaching the same kids all day, multiple subjects. That must change things somewhat. I'd be glad to do a subject in middle school but you can probably only do that with specific certification and I only have generalist special ed.

Posted: Mon, Nov 07 2011, 11:58 pm Post subject:

keep in mind that my school is just a tiny snapshot of what's out there, and not representative of the entire DOE...

where I work, there are a number of teachers that schmooz with administrators regularly, and a number that are cliquey. then there are a few who are at work just to work. they mainly stay to themselves and seem to unequivocally get along with everyone because they aren't part of any group.

I'm definitely a schmoozer, and this helped me become dean, data specialist, and earn plenty of per session activities. however I personally admire the people who stay to themselves the most because I think it takes a lot of discipline and dedication to the profession to ignore the politics, stay out of the drama, and just teach.

Posted: Tue, Nov 08 2011, 12:08 am Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

Is ITC like CTT? I am fairly well versed in middle school material. Any way you slice it, special ed is going to be hard work. I think I'm just a big chicken. I like my little yeshiva job, but I just don't see how I can make it work financially. It's already a stretch, but I'm thinking long term because for now it's worth it to me.

Posted: Tue, Nov 08 2011, 12:34 am Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

I'm just not sure it's worth it, that's the thing. My current job is less than half the hours of full time public school teaching and I'm barely managing; if I go for it, I'd definitely need to get some household help <visualizing> lots more babysitting - currently my hours work out that family members cover most of it <more> and less time for me to spend personally with my family, which is a big priority for me. Plus, I have almost zero pressure or liability on my job - I do a good job because it's what I do, and I'm sure I wouldn't have the job if I didn't, but if I come in one day with only half-baked plans or something I scraped together the night before, nobody knows. And definitely nobody's judging me on how my students do on state tests or anything. It's the good life. Just without money Razz

Posted: Tue, Nov 08 2011, 1:17 am Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

That's what I want: The peace of mind, steady job, rising salary, insurance, pension plan... But I am not willing to sacrifice too much if it won't raise my living standard after all. It's a really hard cost/benefit balance to make. That's why I'm trying to feel out here what the "costs" might be.

What I REALLY want is to have done this before I had a home and baby so it would be second nature by now. But life didn't happen that way.

I was thinking it would be nice to do this when DD is in nursery or school (we'd need the money for that, anyway!) but hopefully by then we'll have another baby IYH... Gosh this is a hard stage of life, where you never achieve equilibrium because everything is always changing, but BH for that...

Must get off computer, getting too philosophical here!

iIMO, better to get your foot in the door now and reach top salary as early as possible.

However if it helps, either as a positive or as a deterrant, IIRC, the take home salary of a first year teacher without a master's is around $2400 monthly, and I'm guessing around $400 more with a master's. Not too much.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

OK, here's a question that anyone can answer that will help with the math and the cost/benefit ratio: How do the benefits/retirement/union things work? Do they come free with the job or is something taken out of your paycheck to cover it?

I couldn't really figure it out from the UFT website alone. I see the salary chart but not sure exactly how that translates to real life.

Posted: Wed, Nov 09 2011, 12:15 am Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5890

Wow that's like nothing! I'm starting to think there is no way I can responsibly justify my current lifestyle... But I'm also not feeling so ready to take the plunge... Sad

Beginner Joined: Jan 26 2011 Posts: 13

I was looking for a thread on this topic and found this, so not sure if any of you are still following or interested in helping out, but I am also looking for information...

I have a M.ED and state certification for 7-12 English Language Arts and an administrative certificate (currently from out of state - in the middle of reciprocity process for that one).

I have about 5 years teaching experience, but only in private schools, so this is a big step for me.
My biggest concern is about how to go about the application process.
Everyone I speak to tells me that OLAS is basically useless. You need to do it in order to apply, but that its not really how anyone really gets a job...its all in how you know... what are your thoughts on this?

I live in Monsey, so there are not as many options as there is in the city, but there are still quite a few districts in Rockland county, so there are still quite a few middle schools and high schools...any ideas in whats a good way to try to network....find connections....?

Anyone know of someone who works as a teacher in a public school in Rockland County? I would love to try to get in touch....

THANKS!