Just looking for a little advice from teachers. I'm an international school teacher (for the past 6 years) and I'm planning on returning to the US this next school year. However, I'm hearing some pretty bad things about the budgets in most states (especially my home in California-- I'd like to move near my family but that seems impossible!)... I'm not sure next year is a smart move.
Anyone in Washington State-- maybe Colorado or Texas-- have any idea what the job situation will be next year? My resume is decent and I have some good experience... I'm just not sure if the jobs will be there.
oops! I tried to post a link but it wouldn't let me.
I was just trying to say that I teach the core subjects in 4th grade. We have an American style curriculum (so I'm not an ESL teacher). Although our kids are mostly second language learners, they are on par with American students.
It may be the case that it's just easier to wait it out one more year until the economy improves...
I'll try to post my website in a more subtle way mikesaltz dot com / live
Welcome to the boards! On the whole the market for teachers is pretty poor. If you're wiling to work in rural areas you probably have a much better chance of getting hired. Last year I taught for a semester at a school in rural Colorado (I'm from and have moved back to Upstate NY) and getting a job out there was significantly easier than getting one where I live. Also, if you are certified in math or science you have a better chance of getting hired.
WELCOME!
I hope you will be back here in the USA soon!
You will find out that regardless of where you decide to go, finding a teaching job will be a challenge. Start sending out your resume to where you want to teach @. Start NETWORKING! Knowing people in HIRING places is the way to go. I've seen it happen so many times where people who know people, GET the job AND the rest will follow.
Good luck, Rebel1
You may not be teaching ESL as such, thailand, but you're teaching English learners - it's the case now that the California credential REQUIRES some training in that. I don't know off the top of my head of any community of speakers of Thai in California that could use your background especially, but I wouldn't bet against it either. One finds out by applying, I suppose. And you might find a good reception in a state that's just beginning to cope with English learners and so doesn't have programs in place.
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Education isn't what you know. It's what you can do (and fake, intelligently) with what you know. http://www.testmaven.com
TeacherGroupie-- yes, you are right. And, I obviously have to use teaching practices best for English language learners. I guess that is a plus in California... I teach kids from many Asian countries, about 50% Chinese. So, I also understand the culture in East Asia fairly well.
It's a real struggle to decide what to do here. I could return to California and hope for the best... my family would be very happy to have my wife, my baby-on-the-way-this-May and me back home ASAP. But, I feel like (but maybe I'm wrong) that the situation will be much improved in 2011 in California. On the other hand, maybe the situation won't have improved enough for it to matter.
Rebel1: Thanks! Indeed, I've sent out my resume, website, etc. to some schools already and they've shown interest and wanted to see me for interviews in February. But, they have been honest that no one is sure the budget situation will be for hiring. Thanks for advice!
Congratulations on your impending parenthood! One of my favorite new-baby cards ever says, "Wishing you joy and wonder and some sleep." So true... But believe me that, provided you and your wife are comfortable with the local health care, there are many worse fates than having one's baby abroad.
My crystal ball hasn't worked for ages... but the economy's possibly creeping toward recovery, so, while I'm not about to predict that things will be hunky-dory by this time next year, I'm also not about to predict that everything will be hideous, either.
Sounds like you might want to consider targeting places with Asian populations - LA and San Francisco and Orange County, perhaps, and I seem to recall a community or two in the Central Valley but can't bring to mind which.
Do I understand correctly that you possess a valid credential?
__________________
Education isn't what you know. It's what you can do (and fake, intelligently) with what you know. http://www.testmaven.com
Yes, I have a California multiple subject license (and a single subject social studies). I also have a masters degree.
The health care system is great in Thailand, so in some ways it's more advantageous to stay here-- it's cheaper, we can afford household help and/or nannies, etc But, we'd like to be closer to my family.
We are considering just coming back to California, staying with my parents, subbing for a year and work on getting a job in Washington State the following year. It would make my parents very happy haha.
Hard decision. I do think the economy is improving but it's looking to be a slooooooow recovery
mikesaltz dot com / live
HIRING
places is the way to go. I've seen it happen so many times where people who know people, GET the job AND the rest will follow.
