MCPS Teaching position - help!

[Anonymous]

Can't seem to get in the system. Not sure what I am doing wrong but MCPS keeps kicking back my application. Tenured in PGCPS (PE, Health, Team Lead, coaching), worked for HCPSS last school year, and check all the requirement boxes. Interviews with specific schools who have advertised positions always go well, I know all the key terminology, am patient and skilled teacher, I'm confident (if not modest) that I'm reading the room correctly and they all say they'll be in touch, that it's a good fit, then positions go elsewhere. Down to the wire here.

What am I doing wrong?

[Anonymous]

Are you emailing the admin of the schools you applied to your cover letter? Are you sending thank you emails with the schools you interviewed with? Are you dressing professionally at these interviews (I interviewed with MCPS this summer for a new position/school and saw lots of seasoned teachers underdressed).
It’s the little things that help you stand out in a crowded field.

[Anonymous]

Hiring preference goes to current MCPS staff, so I expect there are just a lot of people who technically outrank you.

[Anonymous]

Happened to me for 6 years! They often hired folks right out of college on the cheap versus an experienced teacher.

I think it also depends on your content area.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I'm surprised. I thought there was a teacher shortage and they were desperate to hire people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I'm surprised. I thought there was a teacher shortage and they were desperate to hire people.

+1

[Anonymous]

It's too late, after July 20th can't take teachers from other Maryland counties.

[Anonymous]

I thought the July 20 rule only applied to internal mcps? OP, did you get cleared by the county before applying with individual schools?

[Anonymous]

Is it possible you have a reference that isn't panning out? That's the only reason I could think you wouldn't be getting some "yes" answers. Most places are terrifyingly desperate.

[Anonymous]

If I was hiring for a position, would I pay a college student 50k and be able to work with them to teach properly or would I hire you, about 100k? Sorry but you aren’t in the budget. Yes it’s a teacher shortage but it’s a money shortage too.

[Anonymous]

There are no college students applying, most hires are people coming with experience, I think it's a process issue most likely, my school has hired 5 people all with experience outside of MCPS this summer

[Anonymous]

Maybe they’re not willing to pay $$$ for experienced PE / health teachers? What MCPS needs are sped teachers, and I’m not sure what else.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on your content area. If you are in PE/Health, finding a placement might be a bit harder. Are you in the sub-pool? Because if you can find a long-term sub position (any content area), that is an excellent foot in the system for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the July 20 rule only applied to internal mcps? OP, did you get cleared by the county before applying with individual schools?

Nope not just MCPS. July 20th is set by COMAR which applies to all systems in the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happened to me for 6 years! They often hired folks right out of college on the cheap versus an experienced teacher.

I think it also depends on your content area.

Often those are hired through partnerships that MCPS has with universities like UND and Towson. Those kiddos did their practicums in MCPS school and already know how things work in this district. They aren’t just cheaper. They’re also less likely to have culture shock than an experienced teacher from another district.

I mentor new teachers in MCPS. This includes both young new grads and older veteran teachers who move here. The latter have a harder time adjusting because their survival kit is based on the way they’re done things the last decade in another district. We broke a couple Chicago Public School teachers. The exception are the veterans who’ve taught in three or more districts. They roll with the punches.