If a background check determines that a candidate is non-competitive, the district can't hire that candidate. The risks to the district are too great. I don't think it's fair to suggest that the district did this just to be a bunch of jackasses or something. I suspect that there is something negative appearing on the background check. It could be an error, something very old, or something about a different person with the same name. In any event, it is probably worth it to obtain a background check on yourself and find out what's on it so that you can get the issue resolved.
I could understand the problem if one school rescinded an offer due to the referral issue, but an entire county? There is something not clicking in my head.
There is just one school district in the county I believe. If something comes up on a background check, schools should rescind offers but I think they should explain what is found to give the applicant a chance to clear their names. The secrecy is what I have a huge problem with, especially if the issue is a misunderstanding or the wrong person entirely.
In Maryland, all school districts are county-wide (except for Baltimore City PS since Baltimore City is big enough that it's like its own county so it has its own district).
Wldy -- I would maybe have a family member or friend call your references and pretend to take a reference on you. A reference could be saying everything is great to your face but might be giving you a bad reference behind your back. Part of my background check included a credit report. Do you know if this was included as part of the Clark County process? Apparently credit report is included in hiring decisions for certain places now. http://career-advice.monster.com/jo...d/bad-credit-and-your-job-search/article.aspx
I'm wondering why you are having such a hard time finding a job when you teach sped, a subject everyone struggles to fill. You shouldn't have to be applying all over the country. It just shouldn't be this hard for you to get hired. The fact that it is makes me think something else is going on. It could be your references, an online search, etc. Maybe you are just out of chances in teaching, I hate to say. It is suspicious that you can't get any good confidential letters of rec. A lot of employers know that principals can't give negative references and instead look for other evidence, like the confidential rec. A lot of employers grilled me on why I left my job, trying to figure out if there was a problem. I would honestly give it a rest for awhile and find a different kind of job and reestablish and rehabilitate my career. Then, after a few years, try to get back in to teaching. How do you know this won't just happen again when you get to the closure stage of another position?
I agree here. I just didn't want to say it. My background is science and I was crushed when med school didn't pan out for me after years and years of hard work and tutoring to make it through chemistry. I had to accept that being a doctor just wasn't for me. An alternative fell into my lap and I'm very happy and content and I feel an indescribable sense of comfort like this is where I'm suppose to be. I've been archiving your posts just to get myself up to date because I've read you saying it's taken 7 years to find a position and I did have to wonder if just maybe teaching's not for you. You've had a lot of bad experiences for one person that seem so strange. This isn't meant to be discouraging but maybe district teaching just isn't for you. Try private care, aba/autism/behavior therapy. You have a masters you can get your BCBA and be a board certified behavior analyst and after awhile maybe go back into districts as a behavior coach or something. But "teaching" though....I'd say maybe it's just not meant to be. I was happy you found something but I remember when you posted that you got the job and it just seemed strange that you said they didn't interview and sort of just said "out of 3 pick a job and you're hired" They're desperate to fill spots with 500-600 positions open that they aren't doing a full job screening. I understand not bashing the district but they should have did whatever screening they did to call you "non-competitive" done before you moved and before they said "pick one" like a puppy in a pet shop and said "you're hired" to save you grief and trouble of moving across the country. In summary, I say find an alternative and rest on district teaching for awhile. If it's meant you'll get it. After 7 some years it just hasn't been meant. It'll be okay but it's maybe time to rest for a bit on teaching after all this
I have excellent references, one from a principal I taught at. I know what they say wham called, because they always call right away to tell me that someone called them. As for not getting bored, I've only been sped since 2012, and spent most of that next school year in a long term sub position. Last summer I was restored to driving distance from me current home and there was nothing to apply for.......but all of the district's within an hour drive are highly competitive, so I am not surprised. Admittedly I also didn't try very hard last summer, banking on expanding my horizons this summer. If they did a credit report that might have been the problem, we have a foreclosure from four years ago.....it's varied other problems....just never with jobs before. I honestly don't blame the district, if they found something bad, no matter how erroneous it is, they have to err on the side of caution. My only issue is not telling me the problem so u can fix it.
I haven't posted on this forum in some time. I do sometimes read through posts. I feel so bad for you. This is a terrible situation. Obviously, you had no idea that anything would red flag you, or you wouldn't have driven from Michigan to Vegas. I believe they should have told you a ballpark reason behind it, like it was a reference issue, but not say which reference. Also, if you were blacklisted over credit issues, then they'd be ditching potential teachers left and right. This isn't a diss on teachers, but a statement about the crappy economy we just spent the last several years weathering. I doubt a foreclosure stood in your way.
Seven years looking? Remember I got my masters in that time, did another stint of student teaching, three long term sub jobs......and until 2012 I was looking for social studies in Michigan. I interviewed, but always finished two or three......once the job would have been mine if the P wasn't concerned about the commute(1 1/2hrs each way) I just wasn't on here during that time. I hear what a lot of you are saying, I thank you for the support, but to those who are counting me, I wouldn't lie, not about this. I had no reason to suspect there would be a problem with the vetting process, especially since I was originally told it was done and I had passed BEFORE I left Michigan. If I hadn't been told that, I wouldn't have left. Once again thank you for your support
You said seven years looking in your I got a job thread so I took those words. I don't know the full details of your past and job search. It'll work out if it's meant. Who knows, maybe all of that was to get you closer to your son and a new beginning there...
Has there been any updates wldywall? I'm curious if you ever heard anything more from the district or the principal. They should be sending you a big fat check in the mail for the money you wasted moving your whole life cross country for something to go wrong! I'm curious if you got anything back from that background check you said you were going to run. Like others said, I guess we can't blame the district but it would've been nice if they would've figured it all out before you left Michigan!
I got the background check done today, it only covers the county I live in, but since I have been here since 2000, it would cover everything in that time period. It came back clean, no surprises there. Nevada state licencing said I had no issues and would get a licence as long as the FBI check came back clean, as I have never had a problem with them before, I don't expect one now. My previous employers followed MI state law and only verified my employment instead of giving confidential references, both seemed pleased with having done so for me. I have no idea what caused the issue, I've looked over the emails they sent me and the one that told me I was good to go said: "good news, things are moving faster than HR indicated, you have passed the vetting process and have moved to contracting. I expect your contract to be ready in two or three days" Yep, I believed her. Stupid me. Somewhere communication was messed up......as for what else I will do, I don't know. I think I will have to talk to a lawyer, but I don't know of any in the area so for now I am just focusing on the interviews I have lined up.
Wow, that's nuts. I think it's safe to say at this point there are a few things that could have happened. Either someone in the district messed up your paperwork, someone there is intentionally lying, or you're really a serial killer who they've been looking for for 20 years and it showed up in your background check. I guess we shouldn't get on wldy's bad side LOL
Hi wldywall: I'm a newbie here, but not a newbie in life. However, learned a lesson from your unfortunate mixup (on their part) and my own recent experience. I was told I had a job, and that I would come in to sign the contract on Monday. No call or email and I decided to email the P and was told they are going in another direction. That being said, I will NEVER believe anyone again. I will not say a word until I have a signed contract in front of me. I was in the systems field before this, and got jobs by word of mouth, and never had anything like this happen to me. I am so sorry you wasted your hard-earned money on this. In my eagerness, I did a similar thing, and have to return items that I bought in anticipation of my "new job". I tell myself that it is all for the best, but its hard to swallow at the time, Best of luck and keep your head up. You did everything right. You wanted to show your ambition and be a go-getter and they let you down.
