I had three interviews for elementary positions before the end of the school year, but nothing now. I have had interviews in three different districts for teaching positions, but have not had any calls for interviews for my own district where I did my student teacher, substitute teach and my children attend the school. I just found out that several aid positions have been filled and I didn't even get called for an interview. I know people that work in the district that keep me informed of openings that are not posted to the public. I turned in my resume in February and call the Superintendants secretary when I hear of positions to let her know that I am interested. I have also let her know that I am interested in all positions that I am qualified to teach or any aid positions. I did a long term sub job at the beginning of the school year and then was put on bed rest due to pregnancy and did not return as a sub because my baby was sick and then I really did not want to return and leave my new baby with strangers. So, I did not return to sub the last three months of school as originally planned. I don't know if this effected my opportunities or not, I hope not. So, it looks like I will be spending another year as a sub, which is not completely bad, but it makes me nervous that I will not get a job at all especially when I can't even get an interview for an aid position. I don't understand. And what really bothers me is the fact that I worked for the district for 4 years until I resigned to complete my certification and my student teaching. I am not mad, I am just dissappointed and hope that it does not mean that I will not have an opportunity in the future. What is your opinion
I think this sounds typical of many districts that just don't hire "their own". Some districts will hire subs and paras, and to others, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. The pregnancy issue should not affect your chances, at least on a legal and professional basis. If they are holding that against you, I wouldn't want to work there! I would look elsewhere.
I don't know where in Missouri you are, but I can tell you that the part of the state I am in has an overwhelming amount of qualified candidates. I started a thread with my experience on the interviewER side of the table a few weeks ago in which I explained my shock with how many excellent candidates we had to choose from. Don't take it personally! Just keep trying! I'm betting that your pregnancy has not hurt you in the least. In my experience, subbing and student teaching in our building doesn't help you or hurt you either way. It all comes down to the interview. And, you can only get the interview if you score high enough on the Teacher Insight survey they make you take as part of the application. Principals can't even access your application if you don't make the minimum cut-off score. Sad story: We have an excellent sub in our building. She's there almost daily, often requested by teachers, and her mom works in the building. She can't even get an interview for a permanent position with us because she didn't meet the minimum cut-off score. Also, we recently posted a lot of aide/para positions, but it was misleading to applicants... The majority of those positions had to be filled internally by displaced paras. So, external applicants applied and never had the chance to interview. I know theses things probably aren't making you feel much better, but I thought it might at least help to give some some insight into why you might not be hearing anything.
It's just now getting into hiring season! Most principals take their vacations at about this time of the year. I hope your not just applying to this one district. What about private, parochial, charter? Anything within a 40 minute drive. I know its hard when you have a baby (I just had one this March.) but a job is hard to come by these days.
I don't know which part of the state the OP is from, but hiring season is over here, in my part of Missouri. It starts in mid-January/early February and usually winds up around the end of April/mid-May. Positions do open up over the summer, but it's usually when someone else has decided to resign/retire at the last minute or when enrollment has changed.
Hiring season is still strong here in New England. In fact there is likely to be a rush in a few weeks as the contract deadlines approach.
Thanks for all of the responses. I have applied at 7 other schools within 45 minutes away. I will keep applying, but I think most hiring is done for now.
If you end up doing another long term sub, I would choose another district to work in. It sounds like your old district is taking you for granted.
I feel you! The hiring is coming to a close here in my county since pre-planning begins in just a month. I've had a really crappy interview season with nothing but rejections. I wish you tons of luck and hope some interviews come your way!
