The PA Job Market is BRUTAL!!!Unless you're the Mayors Daughter

I live in Western PA--and I have to tell you that the market here for teachers is terrible. The one school I was trying to get a job at has over 50 applicants a day sending in resumes--just because. They have so many applicants--300 for every 1 elem. ed position open!! I've been a SAHM for 9 years and just starting looking this year for a teaching job---I might as well forget it. I called the one school (less desirable) that I applied at and they told me that since they had so many applicants they are only interviewing teachers with 6 OR MORE YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE!!!! This blows my mind!! Good luck to all of you out there--if it's anything like here you better be the mayor's daughter or something if you expect to get into a school district full time. That's the truth---who cares if you can teach--but more like--I know or I am related to so and so.
I am happy to say that I did accept a position at a local private school in special education. I will be making less than half of what I would be making in a public school. I really feel this is where God wants me to start, although some days I ask-"will I make enough to even cover the gas expense to get me there"
Good luck to you all--I hope things are better where you live.

 

I live in Delaware, and I heard this about Western PA. My mentor this year at school is from Western PA and she had to move to DE to get a job back when she first started. She said the colleges are spitting out education majors like crazy and then no one can find a job. Something I am sure that they don't tell those kids when they pick their major! Anyway, she said there are a ton of teachers in my district alone that are from Western PA. So it seems if you want a job, you have to relocate!

Congrats on the private school job! Good luck!

 

Yes, the job market is horrible in New York as well. However, I haven't heard that schools here only interview teachers with 6+ years of experience. That's just crazy! I've heard in some states, it's the complete opposite. They want the brand new teachers so they don't have to pay them more for their experience. Some teachers just can't win either way! Congrats on finding a job even though you may not have wanted a private school. It could turn out to be the best thing for you - at least this point in your life!

 

I also live in Western PA - I agree, it's a terrible market and has been for the 6 years I've been out of school. I've been a teaching assistant, academic advisor, and last, I taught at a charter school. THere was not enough money in the world to keep me at that school. I would rather be unemployed than teach there ever again. I've been a SAHM for this past school year and trying to go back for the fall. I've interviewed at 6 different places and am waiting to hear back about a job at a cyber charter school. It is so political around here and I, for one, am tired of all of the politics. Congrats to you for finding a job!

 

I'm in North East PA and while the competetion is the same (50-100 resume/apps to HR everyday), I think it is a little easier to get a job here because all of our districts are so huge and a LOT of hiring goes on every year and throughout the year. My county's population rises significantly every year and the districts can't even build new schools fast enough--everyone is moving from NY and NJ for their kids. We are bursting at the seams!

 

Rookie,

You just described NJ-it is exactly like that here. You almost always have to know the right people. I keep seeing people get jobs without having interviews, their relatives get them right in. I had no idea how bad this was. And here, too, hundreds upon hundreds of resumes (sometimes 1000) for each opening. I do not think they have a rule about your years of experience, but on the other hand, they demand it most of the time. That was supposedly the reason I did not get a job I interviewed for a couple of weeks ago. They said the others had a lot more experience...why bring me in then? Believe me, I can relate. I hope your new job works out for you. Good luck to you!!!!!!

 

six years experience????????

Maybe they should tell that to the poor kids who are expecting to graduate college and hope to find a job.

 

I also live in Western, PA and somehow by the luck of the draw I was picked to interview. Every other place I have applied to has not even sent me any type of notice or called.

Anyway, I want to ask you all for some advice. I am going to a round 3 interview (out of 4) for a school today. Yesterday, I was offered a job at a charter school in Washington D.C. The principal of the charter school wants to know by Friday (2 days!). After the interview I am going to pull aside the Principal and let her know my situation. I'm also going to let her know that her school district is my top choice and ask if there is any way, if she and the other two principals are willing, to let me meet the superintendent tomorrow or Friday morning. Do you think this is a good move?

I don't want to lose this opportunity but I also don't want to deny the other job just so I can pursue the one at my dream school (since it isn't certain for sure). I'm hoping that she can give me a definite answer today so I know whether or not to accept the offer.

Also, I've heard a lot about charter schools paying significantly less than public schools. This charter school that I got a job offer at is paying more than the public school. However is located in the D.C area. The public school is paying about 4,000 less but is located on the outskirts of Philly. Is this normal or does it sound fishy to you?

 

juc

Yes, do it. Be aggressive. It may get you the job.

 

Thank you Miss Frizzle. As few as those words are, it is really giving me a confidence boost!

 

Mission accomplished

 

Wow! it is so different here in NC. I teach in a large city in NC and they are begging people to come work down here. We have like 10 openings for every 1 applicant. It is sad. They even allow students that are working towards their education diploma to teach down here. They are trying to only hire certified teachers but with such a shortage of teachers it is impossible to fill all of the positions. Now when you go to the smaller systems in NC the teaching jobs are more difficult to get because those are schools that teachers retire from but there are still less applicants per position.

 

I take it you're willing to move to DC? How about the one in Philly? I have only applied to schools in a 45 min radius of my house. How did you decide where to apply? I say talk to the principal and let them know your situation. It can't hurt.

Good luck!

 

Yes, I'm willing to relocate to both. The one around Philly is only a little over an hour away from home so I could relocate or stay at home for a while. Honestly, I just applied anywhere I could. Teachers-teachers helped me find the job in DC. I can't believe that I'm at this stage in the interviewing process. Just last week I was freaking out about not having a job in the fall.

Thank you for your advice, I'll let you all know how it goes

 

Hey for those of you in Western PA, I just got a notification in my inbox from PA reap. There is a new posting! APPLY!

District Name: Twin Valley SD
Position Type: Teaching Positions
Position Name: Classroom Teacher
Subject Name: Language Arts (English)
Preferred Category: Elementary Education Classes Pre-K-8
Description (partial): The Twin Valley School District is seeking a highly intelligent and motivated individual with a strong (...it gets cut off here in the email)

 

Central PA is horrible as well. I know people that sub forever and never get a job. I graduated last May(2006) and spent this year subbing in 5 school districts. I have gotten a job(YEAH!!) and it was in one of those that I subbed, that DEFINITELY helped.

I also had an interview with another district(which I had to turn down since I already had accepted the fall job) and that was a direct result of knowing someone who knew the superintendent. Thats the only way you can do it around here sometimes, it's who you know. That is how I got an interviewer in a district around here last year. ***BUT*** I did get two other addtional interviews(after accepting my job for fall) without knowing anyone in the districts, so it is possible.

I know last year when I was applying, I had a friend teaching at a local school. She told me the principals neice had been hired for the fall and hadn't even PASSED HER PRAXIS. That infuriated me, especially since I busted my butt to get the passed on time for hiring season last year. Must be nice.

 

Boo education politics! Anyway, I am back from my interview. This entire time I had been interviewed for a third grade position. Today at the end of the interview, the three principals told me that those full-time contract positions for third grade were already filled! Today (round 3, mind you) they were interviewing for LTS positions and short-tern subs. Way to tell me ahead of time! So I'm definitely taking the job in DC now. Good luck to everyone that is still looking. It is very brutal out there.

 

Sorry to hear that, I hope you land something soon! I am glad I am not the only one feeling this way--it seems to be everywhere.

 

Yes for basically all of the United States! Maybe we will have to go over seas next year?

 

Well, congrats are in order. You did it! Forget about those silly admins who deceive you.

 

Thank you so much njeledteacher for all your kind and encouraging words

 

Congrats on the DC job!

 

I live in Eastern Pa. and I haven't experienced that. It is brutal here as well. I have been a LTS for the same district for 5 years and I still can't get a job. I am hearing that they are hiring right out of college with a 4.0 GPA.

 

How can school districts legally do this? I get so upset sometimes I have my ECE NK-3, but no one will hire me because I am not certified in El. Ed. not even for a K position. It is so ridiculous.

 

Njeled,

That was the BEST LINE. You stated that perfectly. I am wondering if some of these admins take courses in being...um...untruthful? I have met a few who were downright nasty and blatantly lied.

Everyone else dealing with this baloney (for lack of a better word),

That is awful! I am sorry! I am not surprised at all, though. Some of the things I have seen are unbelievable as well. I do not know whether to be amazed or sad. I know I never expected it to be this bad. I will say this, I have met some incredibly nice admins in nice schools. So, they do exist. Unfortunately, people probably flock to them when they hear that. I also know a retired admin who is really surprised at some of the games being played. I think he is glad he is out of Education!

 

That's what we're here for

 

That really is sad. It's too bad that this is what education has turned into. I don't think it was like this when I went to school.

 

__________________
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." -Goethe

Miss Frizzle, I loved that quote! I am new to the forum and have had many similar problems finding a job. I am originally from Iowa, but moved to Kansas last summer to find a job. In Iowa, they "unofficially" require 2 years of experience in the elementary field. What a catch-22- how are you supposed to get that experience?? It seems like all it comes down to is finding the right "in," i.e., it's all in who you know. I got so frustrated by this- how can you know how great I'll be if you won't give me that shot? I prayed every night that I would find the principal that would see my potential and references and give me that shot, and I finally found that here two and a half years after graduating from college. I am praying for you all that are still out there looking- but if teaching is truly your calling, you will get there- don't give up!

 

Have you considered relocating? My husband and I were thinking of it and I completed a few online applications to school districts in a southern state. I received 3 calls the next day!

 

Try Southwestern PA

I grew up in Southwestern PA, in Washington County. Have you tried some of the school districts in that area? Many of my family members teach in the Mon Valley and my aunt just retired (3rd grade), my mom might retire (4th grade-she's not sure if she's going back in the fall) and so many others are planning on retiring. I am currently looking for a teaching job myself (I'm now in Northeastern NJ-closer to NYC) and having trouble even getting an interview. I don't have the option to relocate because my hubby's a tenured professor in the area and it would be better for me to remain as a stay-at-home mom than for him to relocate.

 

Southwestern PA is one of the WORST places to try to get a job! There's roughly 15 colleges in the area that spew education majors every May and no one retires. If they do, it's 1 or 2 people every year and those jobs are promised to people related to those that are higher ups in the school district. I've been trying for 6 years to get a public school job in the area - Butler, Beaver, Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Washington county......it's rough to say the least.....

 

Well yeah...that's true..I'm one of those SW PA grads

Yeah, you are right though. I'm a Cal U of PA graduate (got both my Master of Education and BS in Education from there) and to be honest, moved to NJ the week after I graduated (although not for employment opportunities). I guess just listening to my mom talk, it seemed as though there were alot of new people being hired in the area. I am so out of touch though-I've been in NJ for 10 years now. Have you tried Charleroi, Belle Vernon and those areas? I know it's rough...I'm feeling it here in NJ (I thought it would be easier here than PA but I think it's tough nationwide). What about Pittsburgh Public Schools? I student taught within PPS and loved it.

 

Yea, I graduated from Pitt with my MAT. I was a teaching assistant, academic advisor, and I taught in a charter school. Personally, Charleroi and BV are too far from me. A good friend of mine is a grad of BV and subs there, too, but hasn't had any luck getting a permanent job. PPS is in a state of turmoil right now. They have a new super and last summer layed off about 90 teachers, but recalled about half of them. This year, they're supposed to lay off even more, I belive. The hiring system in PPS is ridiculous, too. Oh, well!

 

Wish you the best

I am so out of touch with PA these days. I student taught at Philip Murray Elementary (which is now an Accelerated Learning Academy - I think) and this was back in 1996. I'm sure that things have changed enormously. Have you considered teaching in any of the Community Colleges? I worked as an Adjunct instructor for a couple years here in NJ and really enjoyed it. It wasn't in my field (I taught ESL) but it was excellent experience. In fact, if there was a full-time tenure track position available at that time, I would've gone for it. Right now though, I have my N-8 Elementary certificate and am Highly Qualified in Middle School Science. I just started my job search and hope to find something by fall but not sure if it will happen or not. I've been a stay-at-home mom for 5 years so re-entering the teaching field is going to be exciting and I'm sure challenging in many ways as well.

 

I graduated from edinboro univ. of pa....in dec '05. I'm from st.marys,pa.. I knew there was no way I would find a job in that area....I relocated and easily found a job in Frederick, Md...it's 4 hours from my hometown...but I knew I needed to leave the state to get experience...
It shouldn't be like that I know...but some areas just need teachers more than others.
I figured I'd get my years of experience in before I moved back.

 

What area of Eastern PA?

 

I live halfway between Reading and Lancaster, around the Ephrata area.

 

um...untruthful? Thats an understatement.
Get this.
I was doing a long term sub job the second half of this past school year. Everything went great. The prinical even came to me. Came to me mind you to tell me they werent even going to bother interviewing anyone else to fill the position next year. Claimed they even talked it over with the supt. and director of personell and the only issue to settle was where they could place me on the pay scale. I said great, I'd love to work there next year. I thought I was all set.
Next thing I know, they are interviewing someone else, the school year ends with no news, I see the job posted with the state dept. of education for all the world to see and I now read online on that districts website where they approved someone else (don't know if its who I know they interviewed or someone they got after posting the job) for the job that was "mine" and the principal didn't even have the courtesy to call me to tell me they were stringing me along and giving me the shaft the whole last couple of months of the year. I had to read it online. I have half a mind to sue the district. I really consider that they offered me the job and I accepted it. Of course nothing was in writing etc. so I probably have no case.

I'm so sick of the BS that administrators do. I'm really wondering if it's not time to abandon education. Of course I'm still paying off the loan for my masters degree that now is most likely keeping me from getting a job in Ohio (based on the fact that I've been told more than once that a district can't hire me because they are looking for people with no experience so they can pay them as little as possible).
This whole situation just has me nauseated.
For anyone that has a job or is able to get one, don't take it for granted. Administrators are NOT on your side and you can find yourself on the outside looking in, before you know it.

 

That is a heart wrenching story...I just can't believe that. It is so true that jobs do not come easy and I really feel the way you do that people who are lucky enough to get a full time position do not take it for granted. Good luck to you, I truly believe God has something better in mind for you!

 

Oh my goodness that is awful! I really don't understand why administrators do this type of thing.