hi all-this is going to be a big time vent, so i apologize in advance!! i'm sure some of you can empathize w/what i'm going through, though, and may be able to share similar stories. so here goes: can anyone tell me why the only people getting hired to teach in public schools (at least where i live) are those who have connections or just get incredibly lucky?? 2 of the girls i used to teach with got FIRED from my school...and now both of them have better jobs than me! how exactly does this work?? i would also like to complain about the ridiculous district that i student taught in-and that my mother was employed in for 20+ years. i have applied there every year and finally (4 years later) got my FIRST INTERVIEW. i don't know what i said that wasn't right, but they've now hired all these new people and i'm not one of them . i feel as though i've done all the right things. i've taken jobs that i was over-qualified for, taught in schools no one else (in their right mind) would teach in, etc....and have been extremely successful, at that. i have GLOWING letters of recommendation, awesome evaluations (from 2 former principals), test scores that are ridiculous (in a good way!)....yet i can't even get a freakin' interview in most schools b/c i don't know bill who knows sally who knows barbara...well, you get the picture. i am so sick of all this brew-ha-ha that it seriously just makes me want to quit teaching. i know there are many other fields i could get into, and probably not be frustrated 80% of the time. but like everyone else, i want to teach. everyday i think, "why am i doing this to myself?" and i haven't come up w/a good answer yet. i really try and be a positive person but i am so sick of getting passed up for jobs that i should at least be interviewed for. freaking ridiculuous!! p.s. if you have actually -meri read this far, bless you! please think good thoughts for me & maybe things will improve.....
Meri, I'm so sorry you are feeling this way and you are right. It isn't fair! Is relocating an option for you? Based on the threads here it seems that teachers are just more in demand in some areas than others. I know for alot this isn't an option, but for some it is. Also, please don't give up. If you truly love teaching than don't give up. You are right, there is probably another profession than you can get into much easier, but if it isn't your passion then what would be the point???
unfortunately my husband doesn't want to move. i keep telling him that based on this rationale, i should be permitted to quit my job and stay home when we have kids!! no, but seriously, i don't think i'll ever be able to really give up on teaching. i have my moments (who doesn't?), but i am so good at what i do AND i love being around the kids. i just can't imagine that not being a part of my life, you know? anyhoo, i will hopefully be out of this funk soon. thank you for your kind words & suggestions. -meri
Hi Meri, I wish I had the answers for you! From your posts, I can tell that it's definitely not your ability or communication skills that are a problem here. As yosu said, it just seems to be really unfair. If it's any consolation, there are many, many, teachers in a similar situation. In my area, there are zero openings in El. Ed. .... that's been the case for several years.... this year I am going to work part time as a perm sub, and do everything I have to do to get noticed...... I am actually releived I had 2 interviews the whole summer. Anyway, before I get way off topic, just know that those of us reading do care, and we have all been there. Just keep going Meri, it's what you are meant to do, and you will suceed.
I am feeling the same way. I have had 8 interviews so far though. Most I've gotten because I've asked for them. My interview today I went right in the human resource office and told them what I was qualified for and I got the call that afternoon. Unfortunately, having all of these interivews doesn't mean anything if they don't hire you obviously...it just leaves me wondering why I keep getting rejection letter after rejection letter--from principals who have complimented me during the interviews. I've been told I have done an excellent job and I bring a lot to the table...only for them to hire someone else with no teaching experience. I don't understand it either, but just don't give up. Keep following your dream and you will make it happen. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, right? lol
lovetoteachkids (love your name, by the way!)-thank you for sharing your story. i have gotten to the point that when i don't get the job (though this year i only had 3 inter., 2 in the same place), i ask why. w/my latest rejection i was told it was b/c i don't have kinder. exp.-and that's what the position was for. i'm sorry, but i've taught 1st grade for the last 3 yrs and am pretty sure i can handle k. anyhoo, i've already cried this morning , so i think it's time to get out of the house! i'm going to go up to my sch. and try and motivate myself to get some things done. pray for me! -meri
Hi, sorry to hear your story, and i absolutely understand you. I think the education system is a little tricky, and i am a straight forward person who does not like to play these games. but ...anyway i have written to the supervisor to ask what i should do to get a job. I had a few interviews, and they all said they would call me right away, but none of them did. see, none of those recruiters are honest person! hire me or not, at least let me know, this is something about manner, right? i am sure i can do better, at least i will teach my student to be honest, DO WHAT I SAID! that is my principal. thank you all.
Meri - as a fellow Ohioian I hear your pain! I had a friend who heard about a job opening in her local sd. She called and they bluntly asked her who do you know? I applied to our local sd for a pt tutor position. Back in January when I turned in my app, I was told we always need the pt person. When the posting appeared and I turned in my letter, again I was told the pt is the hardest spot to fill. It's one week to school and I didn't even get called for an interview. Luckily I landed a pt job at a catholic school. The pay is low but the experience will be great. Vent away and keep showing up to schools, a friend got a job in mid-September last year!
It would be nice to think that one earns a job on merit alone but those days are gone. From what I've read on this entire message board, hiring in the teaching profession is low right now (same up here in Ontario), making it more competitive. The first ingredient for getting hired is all about who you know. If there are limited spaces out there, principals are likely going to find someone through word of mouth first. Only when there are none of those left, is it truly based on what you show on paper and in the interview. Sad, but true. Then, your C.V. has to shine among hundreds or thousands of others. I wish I could tell you how to get your foot in the door but my only suggestion is to network with as many "connected people" as you can and make sure that cover letter makes you glow.
The problem lies with the universities pumping out too many teachers! I remember 20 years ago when I graduated, their closing remarks were----"remember, insurance companies and places like that are DYING to hire teachers!!" I wondered WHY they were saying that....then I found out! MOST OF US COULD NOT FIND A JOB!!! It will probably be the same with nursing soon. They have advertised this big shortage so everyone is becoming a nurse. I don't think they mention the PLACES where the shortages will be-nursing homes....not hospitals and dr's offices!
I understand exactly what you're saying. I am actually going to be teaching in a district that I said I would NEVER teach in. Not because the schools are bad because the schools are great. But because growing up, they were always our rivals and I always thought the people there were horrible. Well they gave me more of a chance than my own county did. In the county that I live in, I had been contacting the assis. super. for 2 years and he KNEW that I wanted a job. Yet, it seemed like he always recommended me for jobs that were beneath me like being an aide or even an LTS. Not that anything is wrong with those jobs, BUT I have my teaching license I don't want to do those things. Hell even knowing tons of people in the county didn't help me. Anyway, I just said to hell with them. I won't say that I will never teach there because I know things happen, but I hope that I don't have to teach there because I think they treated me like crap. I mean I subbed at the school that I went to as a kid. I was one of the best subs there. I had already known like 95% of the staff because a lot of them were there when I attended. They all worked with my aunt, they knew me, they liked me, and THAT didn't even help my chances. The education field is a bunch of BS really.
You are absolutely right. I'm so sick of the political garbage that occurs in so many districts! I thought for sure that I would have a great chance at getting hired (tenure track) for September, but all I have is a LTS position. I'm happy for that at least, but I need security! I need benefits! And it is extremely frustrating so watch people not nearly as good as I am get contracts because they are the daughter/son of someone who knows someone that plays golf with the superintendent!!! I've been trying to get into the district that I student taught in, and I swear, the Superintendent gives jobs out like gifts... to his friends and family. He gets to make the final decision! I was the one of the final two for a position back in June. The principal told me he wanted me, and that he would push the superintendent. Well, guess what? That wasn't good enough. The superintendent didn't even bother to meet me!!! He just hired the other girls right off the bat. It's ridiculous!!!
Meri, I think you know my story. It's the same every year. I wonder how many teachers have actually given up and are doing something else. The only problem is I can't think of anything better I want to do. BTW, you say you are going up to your school to get some things done. What kind of job do you have?
teach123-i do remember your story. are you still looking for a position? i currently teach 1st grade at a charter. my job is alright (not bad, not good) but i could definitely do better-thus my reason for continuing to look! i am seriously thinking, though, of just quitting my job and starting to sub. the district where i live hired 40 new teachers for this school year...but most of the positions were never posted. i called the hr dept. and got a lady to admit to the fact that they mostly hire from "within" (student teachers, subs, etc.). so i'm thinking maybe i should just turn the car (so to speak ) in a different direction, and see if that gets me closer to where i want to be. i just don't know! anyhoo, best of luck to everyone still looking. hopefully we will all have our dream jobs soon!! -meri
Merigold...I definitely feel for you. I've been a sub for about 1.5 years and it's getting old. I get compliments non-stop from the teachers I sub for...yet that's all I seem to be.."The go-to great substitute." I'm qualified for a full-time position...and yet NOTHING.
Meri- I've been there and I feel your pain Where about in Ohio are you? I'm near Akron. The market in this area is beyond flooded with teachers. In this area there are Charter schools and Catholic schools that are good options. I finally landed a job in a public school after 5 years in non public schools and 2 years off from teaching. I was beginning to think it would never happen. That was why I stopped teaching a couple years ago. I missed it so much that I came back to it and landed a dream job. Keep your chin up and good luck!
Meri-I know what your going through. I hate the way districts play games in hiring teachers. If you'll recall my posting awhile back, it looked like I was going to get this fifth grade position, I had two great interviews and then I was supposed to meet with superintendent, well after waiting and waiting I finally called them up and they told me it was filled, it was a complete joke. Now, it looks like I'm going to be subbing again, after graduating 3.5 years ago. And yet, one of the teachers who did get hired just graduated last year. I don't think its right and apparently its because the school they graduated from places its soon to be teachers. Its terrible. I can't change where I graduated from and I hate being as someone else mentioned on here the go to sub because it seems like a stigma that you can't escape from. I want my own class. Like someone else mentioned, I need the security and benefits. I'm so fustrated and aggrivated with this whole system and I can completely relate to your situation. Know that I'm thinking of you and hope things turn around for you soon. Good luck to you.
Niseixtenshi, I'm on the same boat as you. That's why I decided to take a step back and look at the big picture. I've been out of the credential program for 4 years now and the job market is not as great as it was back then. I've subbed and know what it's like to be the "Go-to sub." Don't get me wrong, I liked subbing, got to know some really good teachers, and thought that I was doing everything all right since I was networking, but I really got no where. I've been told several times by people working as teachers that it's "who you know" to get you the job. I know it sucks! I know very few people, so I'm starting from scratch. Where in CA do you live? I live in Southern CA and job market does not look good here.
WOW, I just looked at the surrounding districts and there are about 88 certificated job postings right now. My district has about 5 and we're going to be posting a new one soon. My children's district has 33 openings and the small districts to the south of us have about 49 openings!! A lot of them aren't full time though. Too bad you can't move. I know that even though my children's district has 33 openings, my friend didn't even get a call for an interview.
ChristinaK6: That is EXACTLY how I feel! I live in the San Gabriel Valley..and you? I've applied all over the place...even San Diego...but only got ONE interview so far. What a cruddy time to be a fresh-meat teacher! They'll hire the "experienced" one over us any day!
I live in Riverside County where a lot of people are moving to since you can get a brand new house (more bang for the buck). Yes, there seems to be a population boom here, lots of pregnant women, and lots and lots of kids. So, that must mean that there is a need for more teachers to take care of those kids and reduce overcrowding at some schools? We'll it sure doesn't seem like it. I thought that by me moving out here from LA County area that I would have a better chance on finding a job. I still feel like the job prospects out here are just as slim as where you live. Right now does feel like such a cruddy time for a fresh meat teacher to find a job. I'm qualified to teach, but I don't have that much experience besides subbing, student teaching 4 years ago, and volunteering in my childs' classroom. I know that districts want teachers with experience, but someone has got to give me chance. You might want to look on Edjoin.org and see if there are any new postings. I know, you probably did that already. On the other hand, don't give up. You worked too hard to get where you're at.
Christina do NOT underestimating HAVING a child and helping out in her room. That IS experience too! Play it up on the resume. Having a child is WONDERFUL experience. Lots of principals like to know that you know what you are getting into with this line of "work". Good luck!!!!
