Teachers, which job would you choose?

[Anonymous]

Take the job you think will help you make it to the finish line.

I’ve seen a lot of teachers tapping out really close to retirement because it’s just too hard.

[Anonymous]

School B or C. I commute 25-30 minutes each way to my school, and it’s not a big deal. It’s 100x better than my much closer previous school because the principal and student behavior are both so much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Why would you even consider anything except School C? An "amazing" principal is a unicorn, and when you add the short commute, it seems crazy to go anywhere else. Unless that 30K at school B is life-changing, and won't result in higher childcare costs, School C would be my choice.

[Anonymous]

OP, I switched schools for a great principal who then left .. the following year. Be careful choosing a school based on the principal.

[Anonymous]

School C !
A great administrator and an easy commute!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I am so utterly sad a teacher has to write (much less deal with) this. What have our schools come to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 absolutely and get that retirement (long-time special educator a d school psychologist here)