I am currently finishing my first year teaching. I am looking to apply to other districts however, I do not wish to quit my current position until I have an offer from another district. How do I go about doing this? I understand that the district I am applying to cannot contact my current employer (for risk of losing the job I do have). I am looking to work in a district that pays more and makes it worth it to actually have a masters degree. Thank you!
As I understand it . . . as long as you do not have a current contract (SY12-13) in hand you are free to look for work for SY12-13. But, since you are under contract for SY11-12 you are not free to look for work for SY11-12. Please, remember it works both ways between you and the school. Though you should have been told by now. UPDATE: What I say here applies with any year, just swap out years. You will need to have people that you trust. The best bet is to tell the P you may be looking. Assuming you have trust. and I would think that by mid July (or earlier) you will know if you have a job and tell P that you will be back. The earlier the better. Have good reason to leave.
I think my original post was confusing. At some point in the near future, probably my third year of teaching (this is my first), I would like to hopefully be working in another school district that pays better. On the applications, the districts ask if and when they can contact my current employer. I am under the impression, that this probably isn't a good idea since my current employer wouldn't know I am looking to move to another district. If another district should contact my principal inquiring about me, my current principal might just look to not renew my contract. I do not wish to leave the district I am currently in unless I have another job with a different school. How do I go about applying to other districts without word getting back to my current school?
Definitely tricky, I guess it depends on what state you are in. In NY and this economy, that wouldn't really be an option bc you're not going to get hired without references. Though, we don't have the issues with non-renew since we have tenure-so once you receive tenure, it is not up to the principal weather you have a job each yehar.
You would have to list other people in your school as references and trust that they wouldn't say anything. Like PCdiva mentioned though, in this economy trying to get a job without one of your admin as a reference is going to be tough if not impossible. I'm actually doing that right now- I'm applying elsewhere but will stay at my current school if I can't find something else. I ended up just telling my admin my situation and they were very supportive. They're both being references for me and both have already written me a letter. My P basically said I had until the beginning of next school year to tell them whether or not I was staying, but of course she wants me to tell her asap. Of course I did not say anything negative about the school and basically explained that while I love the school I want to relocate to an area that's a better fit for me. Even if the school is your main reason, I highly suggest you make up something else. I am giving myself a cut off date of July 30th for finding something new, because at that point I'd need to start preparing for the school year at this school. Yes, things may be a bit awkward if I end up having to return to my current school, but I wanted to give myself the best shot possible in finding a new job, and I knew that included adding admins as references. Even if your admin are not quite so generous, they or your district should have a date where you must sign a new contract by- you could at least look until that date. If I were you, I'd weigh the chances of actually getting a new job vs. the potential upset you might create (for your school or for yourself) if you don't get one. In my case, although there are budget cuts and lay offs here just like anywhere else, my state's job market is a lot better than most other states. I also have a better chance as a sped teacher because many undergraduate college programs here are not accredited to license candidates for sped. So for me the likelihood of finding a position outweighed the consequences of possibly not finding one.
When I was looking, I had a fairly decent relationship with my P. Around Jan. or Feb. I scheduled a meeting with him and let him know that although I enjoyed my position, I'd be applying elsewhere due to location and job security. He was very understanding and actually got a call not long after that meeting from a district. Not all of the applications I've filled out have had that nice little checkbox and while it may not be "right" for your current employer to be called, you'd be surprised at how these things get out. The education world is a tight-knit community. While I told my P and asked for him as a reference, I also told a few colleagues whom I knew I could trust because I also wished to have them serve as references. Hopefully in a couple of years when you're ready to start looking, you'll have built those relationships.
If you are applying in a area near your school now, I would definitely sit down and talk with your administration soon. You never know who your administration knows personally. The conversation will be a lot better received if it comes from you.
I would still suggest being honest with your principal. Let her know that you want to come back but you are looking for a new position. To lighten the blow, you might let her know that you will give her a decision about next year by the end of July so that she has time to hire if need be.
I moved last year and I needed to have an administrator listed as a reference on every application. Have you filled out any applications?
