Teachers, which job would you choose?

[Anonymous]

School A: private, 90K a year, 4% match on a retirement acct, class size capped at 18, 2 teachers per room (teaching partner is amazing), terrible, terrible student behavior, 1-1.5 hour each way commute

School B: public, 120K a year, continue contributing to pension, self contained sped room kids with significant cognitive issues but no expected major behaviors, 10-12 students, 1 teacher and 3-4 TA's, while behaviors aren't expected you can never be sure they won't still happen or a kid might transfer in with major behaviors, 25-30 minute commute each way

School C: public, 85-90K a year, continue contributing to pension, gen ed room, 20 students and 1 teacher, behavior unknown, but principal is known to try and fast track major behaviors into appropriate sped placement. I've worked with this principal before and she's amazing. 5 minute bike ride commute each way.

I'm currently at school A. I left a different public because student behavior was so awful I stopped sleeping at night and had to go on medication. Behavior is just as bad at private. I want to leave. But I don't know if I'm thinking straight. I have a few more years left, then I will retire from full time teaching. Any input?

[Anonymous]

School C, 100%. The commute alone would make it worth it to me but 20 kids in a gen ed class and a great principal sounds like heaven.

School B I would say no because a self-contained room with 10-12 students with significant cognitive issues means a ton of paperwork and probably not much planning time. You'll make more in theory but in practice you'll writing IEPs and adapting materials damn near every single evening and weekend. I would also not count on the school being able to fully staff 3-4 TAs in a room like that. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

School C for sure

[Anonymous]

School C because of the promising administration. If that doesn’t work, I’d stay at school A. The student / teacher ratio is great and you like your partner.

I wouldn’t pick B for the reasons the PP listed. The money may not be worth the stress.

[Anonymous]

School B because I don’t want to take a bike to work but if I did and could afford the lower pay, School C.

[Anonymous]

C definitely

[Anonymous]

School C.

Fwiw I am a sped teacher.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

C! A short commute and admin you know and trust? Priceless.

The only hesitation is if retirement is based on your highest 3 years salary or something and that $120k paycheck (HOLY COW!) is going to drastically change things for you for the following 30 years.

No matter what you should be leaving school A though.

[Anonymous]

School C. Over multiple years, time saved in commuting, even just a hour a day, that can be better spent with family is worth thousands IMO. Especially when in school B you don’t know what you are getting in terms of student needs year to year.

[Anonymous]

C

[Anonymous]

C of course. There are no negatives.

[Anonymous]

I also have to say C.

[Anonymous]

C sounds great and the way you worded it sounds like you think so too. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Not A. B or C. Do you like working with kids with significant cognitive needs? Will you change pants and blow noses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not A. B or C. Do you like working with kids with significant cognitive needs? Will you change pants and blow noses?

I love working with kids with significant cognitive needs. I already change pants and wipe noses in my early childhood classroom so that's nothing new. What I don't do well is dealing with kids who consistently hurt me physically.