Teachers, which job would you choose?

The commute for A would be enough to sink it, regardless of student behavior.

Either B or C would be good, depending on what student population you like working with. For the person who said B would be a lot of paperwork, if you're a special ed inclusion teacher in C, you'll have just as many IEPs, perhaps more.

What’s your financial situation, including years in pension? If the extra money is impactful I’d go with B. I like working with other teachers/aides, though 3-4 can sometimes be too many. If money isn’t much of a consideration I’d do C

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These salaries seem very high. You are lucky

I'm in a high COL area and at the end of my career.

If you are at the end of your career I say school B. Usually pension is based on last three years of service. I feel like you’ve been teaching so long three more years of the commute is worth it for the money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These salaries seem very high. You are lucky

I'm in a high COL area and at the end of my career.

This was important information to mention OP. How old are you? When will you retire? Your salary affects your retirement at the end of the year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These salaries seem very high. You are lucky

I'm in a high COL area and at the end of my career.

This was important information to mention OP. How old are you? When will you retire? Your salary affects your retirement at the end of the year.

Yes, I know this. But at this point, I'm so fried with student behaviors, THAT is my number one concern. Yes, my pension is important, but my mental health and safety is more important. My spouse will have a very large pension when he retires (likely getting at least 100K a year in pension even without putting in the full 34 years). I will get a very small percentage of the social security I put into all the non teaching jobs I've had (windfall provision preventing me from getting all of what I put in). We've also lived frugally, house will be paid off in the next year or two, kids will be done with college soon, and we've saved heavily into other retirement accounts. Plus I will continue to work part time for a few years. All that to say, we will have enough for retirement.

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.

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 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.

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

School C !
A great administrator and an easy commute!

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 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)