How did you get your first job teaching or get a job teaching in a new state/district if you've moved.
Also, have you ever committed to a job early in the summer and then had to back out of plans change before the start of the school year?
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I completed my alternative certification program and took my certification tests last winter. Once I was eligible for hire (February) I went to every district job fair and watched all the district websites like a hawk for new job postings.
I talked to every single person I knew who was a teacher or in the school system in some capacity and implemented their suggestions. I also started substitute teaching one day per week so I could get more experience and boost my resume.
I picked an in-demand certification (composite science 7-12) and that got my foot in the door at a ton of schools. I went on 12 interviews this spring and accepted my job last week.
I really wanted to get a job lined up ASAP, so I could spend the summer preparing and getting ready. I was warned I might not be hired until late July and was worried I'd be scrambling last minute and not be fully prepared.
I don't anticipate changing/backing out any time in the next 3 months, but I made sure to accept a job I was very interested in and passionate about the subject matter. That helps me resolve any issues that I may not have "held out" long enough or something of that nature.
Let me know if you have any further questions! Good luck!
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I do this a lot since my husband is in the military and we move every few years. Once I find out where we are moving, I spend a few weeks researching the license requirements, different districts and schools. Getting a teaching license for the new state has always been easy, but i've also been teaching for a while. Once I have my new license, I start applying. All of my interviews are either phone or Skype.
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@DillonLion: Thanks! What would you do if a "dream job" or a "dream school" did call you for a position say August 1st?
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@T.H.O.U.: I would tell them I signed a contract for the school year already and make a note to follow up with them next year if I decide I want to move.
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I got lucky in that my student teaching supervisor was very well-connected, so she had heard that the school was hiring and connected me with the principal. I did start in a low-income, low-performing school in my district, a job fewer people want, and stayed for a year and half. In addition to subbing, starting at a less desirable school can be a good way to get started in a district.
In terms of a dream job, I think when I was younger, I would have been more likely to turn down the job and stay at the school I had committed to. Now I feel like dream jobs don't come along very often and I look out for myself more, even if it's not really the nicest thing to do. I would try to give as much notice to the original school as possible, and, if the school year was very close to starting, do as much prep in the classroom as possible to get a new teacher off to a good start. But I would probably do the "wrong" thing and take my dream job.
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@DillonLion: Another question, where your interviews set up for a position they knew they would have an opening for or were they more just meet and greet type interviews so they knew you when they found an opening?
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@T.H.O.U.: specific positions they were looking to fill
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My first teaching job was at a terribly mismanaged, unscrupulous and, at times, unnerving place to work. Once the school year was over, I put in my resignation after saying I would work there the next year. I was too afraid to quit while working there...it was that bad. I also didn't have another job lined up yet but figured I would rather live with my parents than work there for another year.
In California, we use a site called Edjoin which is like monster.com (does that even still exist?) for teachers and lists nearly all vacancies for the state. I applied for a lot and actually got an interview near my hometown, was offered the job and, as a consequence, met my DH. While my site isn't perfect (none are, of course,) I do like it and have been here for 6 years.
If my "dream school" came along, I would have to seriously consider giving up tenure if it meant leaving my district. My husband left his tenured position and, a few months before he would have been tenured again, he was not reelected because some teachers returned from a special reassignment. Now he's looking for another job before the school year begins again. At this point in my life, I am content to stay where I am because of job security.
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I had already relocated when I was job searching, so I just checked websites of local districts once or twice a week. I was hired for my position (I teach English, and those jobs are a little harder to come by) because I had specific extracurricular experience that the district was looking for (journalism).
I have not personally changed plans or jobs at the last minute. I was a last minute hire though, so I had no opportunity anyway. I will say that it is not uncommon to do. I'm certainly not able to speak for everyone, but I wouldn't judge someone who did this. It happens. You have to do what's right for you.
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I say take a job anytime it comes up because it may not ever again!
I've been teaching for 11 years. My first job I practically cold-called principals, by with a rec from a VP. I didn't hear until the very last minute. Then I switched schools the second year when a job at my high school came up. I would absolutely switch to a dream school if the position was something I was looking for! -
NY State has an awesome website called OLAS with job listings by county. I looked there and applied through that website. Districts directly contacted me for interviews. It is custom(if you progress to the 2nd stage) that you do a demo lesson as well as a panel interview (there were @ 7 people interviewing me at once).
I think it is a bit shady to accept a job and take another one last minute. You can really screw that other district. I've seen it happen, especially for leave replacement openings. I get that you have to do what is right for you professionally, but know that you most likely have burned a bridge with that district that was counting on you.
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My first teaching job, I was also moving across country. I researched districts and then applied online and called districts to set up interviews y for when I would be in town. Then I interviewed with 2 districts (had 3 set up) who did a first round HR interview and then sent me to a specific school to interview with the principal. I got a job at one school on the spot.
My second teaching job was at a new charter school in a successful "chain" of charter schools and that was a bit more rigorous. I applied online and also had sent a resume to a mutual acquaintance that worked for the organization. They called me and set up a phone interview, then observation me teach a lesson, then an in person interview.
My current teaching job I applied to directly (also had an acquaintance give a resume) and called to follow up. They scheduled an in person interview.No I wouldn't sign a contract and then break it for a better job. That's really screwing over kids and putting the school in a terrible position.
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My first job was doing a job-share with a veteran kindergarten teacher who partnered with the preschool I was working for. I got that job last minute because the teacher who was supposed to job-share got offered a full-time position at another school. I remember people being stressed, but not mad at the other girl, because c'est la vie.
When I moved states several years later, I checked district websites, applied online, and got a few phone interviews. I sent one school a video of me teaching and was offered a position before I moved. (That school ended up being awful, so I quit after a year and just applied to other schools in the area).
For the private school I'm at now, the director at my son's preschool kept asking me to come work for her. I asked her one day what the salary was and it turned out we could afford it. So I did a working interview with them and got the job.
I can't say I wouldn't back out of a position I had already accepted. I feel like I wouldnt on principal, but I can see how circumstances could convince me otherwise. -
I was super young when I started teaching. When I interviewed with the district office, I told them I would be happy teaching anywhere and would love to put me in one of the hardest schools they had. Well, they took me up on that offer and sent me to interview at THE toughest school in the district. I only taught there a year because I was a surplus teacher, but the experience I gained was invaluable.
Keep an open mind if you REALLY are passionate about teaching. Try not to be too picky. When I am hiring teachers, I don't ask them about content usually, I want to see that they are passionate about kids. Content can be learned, but passion is something that just has to be there!
If you're really wanting a job (I think you are in Texas too...) high demand is math/science/special education at the MS and HS level. EC is usually an oversaturated market but of course jobs are always existing.
Get your foot in the door by subbing. It blows my mind how many awful subs we get and when we do get a good one, if they can handle the kids I usually leave my card and tell them to check back with me April through July to see if we have openings.
If you are in Texas--if you commit to a job, as in actually sign the contract, you have up until 45 days before the 1st day of instruction to resign without penalty. If you back out before then, the school board doesn't have to let you out of your contract. Although they usually do--you would really put a school in a bind by doing so and burn any bridges you might have. Hiring is hard last minute and you don't really have a good choice of candidates because all the good ones are usually taken.
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