Question for MCPS teachers: Hiring season for external teaching candidates?

[Anonymous]

I'm planning on moving to the area this summer, as my fiancée recently obtained a new job in DC. We are moving from further northeast, so we are hoping to settle in the Maryland area north of DC to stay closer travel wise to family in NY and PA. I am a Social Studies teacher with nearly a decade of classroom experience, and am wondering if anyone has any intel as to the hiring processes in Montgomery County and the time frame within each.

I've submitted about 15 applications thus far in MCPS (essentially for every vacancy that has been posted, and will continue to as positions are posted, but have been denied from each one so far, most without any contact (despite me emailing several schools directly). I know a good number of these were probably internal transfers. And of course, I'm not expecting instantaneous responses or feedback, and I know how competitive it can be to find work, especially in arguably the most saturated subject area. Plus, I know some districts choose to look for newer candidates, as ones with previous experience could be more "expensive" to hire.

And despite what I've read from some commenters here, MoCo seems to be one of the strongest districts in the DMV, making it even more competitive.

Should I start worrying? Or may there more vacancies lying in wait as the end of the school year comes closer?

Any and all advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Any other certs? What is your personal background?

Social study teachers don’t usually have as much of a shortage. And the hiring can favor diversity to match the student population.

A lot of the hiring often happens after July 15th when schools are looking for last minute hiring.

If you are interested in technology there are often jobs for technology electives in the high schools. You just need to pass the praxis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any other certs? What is your personal background?

Social study teachers don’t usually have as much of a shortage. And the hiring can favor diversity to match the student population.

A lot of the hiring often happens after July 15th when schools are looking for last minute hiring.

If you are interested in technology there are often jobs for technology electives in the high schools. You just need to pass the praxis.

Unfortunately, all I've got are my secondary Social Studies and Literacy/Reading certs, and am a dime a dozen generic white dude history teacher. I chose not to go for SpEd for my masters to "avoid being shoehorned" into it--a pretty dumb decision in retrospect. Here I was hoping teaching in a high needs NYC middle school would be enough to create some draw but so far, nothing.

Oof, waiting until after July 15th would instill some serious panic. Do high schools hire exclusively for these technology electives? Or do they get tied into another needed cert?

Thanks for responding. Much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

There could be more vacancies coming as teacher retirements get processed.

[Anonymous]

Usually a technology position is a full time position by itself. I have never seen someone hired for multiple departments at the same time.

You can get hired conditionally for a technology position and pass the praxis within the next two years. I honestly think it is the easiest praxis to pass. Just get a test practice book.

The nice thing about being a tech teacher is avoiding all the state testing, but be aware you can have large classes. Most of the courses are pretty much fully online and you will likely have other teachers in your department to guide you at the high school level.

Middle school can be a ton of work as a tech teacher since you are expected to do more hands on work and likely have multiple grade levels and preps. If you like that, it is awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm planning on moving to the area this summer, as my fiancée recently obtained a new job in DC. We are moving from further northeast, so we are hoping to settle in the Maryland area north of DC to stay closer travel wise to family in NY and PA. I am a Social Studies teacher with nearly a decade of classroom experience, and am wondering if anyone has any intel as to the hiring processes in Montgomery County and the time frame within each.

I've submitted about 15 applications thus far in MCPS (essentially for every vacancy that has been posted, and will continue to as positions are posted, but have been denied from each one so far, most without any contact (despite me emailing several schools directly). I know a good number of these were probably internal transfers. And of course, I'm not expecting instantaneous responses or feedback, and I know how competitive it can be to find work, especially in arguably the most saturated subject area. Plus, I know some districts choose to look for newer candidates, as ones with previous experience could be more "expensive" to hire.

And despite what I've read from some commenters here, MoCo seems to be one of the strongest districts in the DMV, making it even more competitive.

Should I start worrying? Or may there more vacancies lying in wait as the end of the school year comes closer?

Any and all advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Outside candidates can't begin to be hired in some certification areas until April 6th unless it's a Title 1 or other identified schoo.

[Anonymous]

External candidates will have their best shot in late April and early May. I wouldn't panic yet, many positions haven't been listed yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There could be more vacancies coming as teacher retirements get processed.

Interesting -- in my mind, I thought retirement vacancies would be the first ones posted since it typically is known and projected out earlier than someone resigning. But hopefully you're right -- thanks for the tip!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm planning on moving to the area this summer, as my fiancée recently obtained a new job in DC. We are moving from further northeast, so we are hoping to settle in the Maryland area north of DC to stay closer travel wise to family in NY and PA. I am a Social Studies teacher with nearly a decade of classroom experience, and am wondering if anyone has any intel as to the hiring processes in Montgomery County and the time frame within each.

I've submitted about 15 applications thus far in MCPS (essentially for every vacancy that has been posted, and will continue to as positions are posted, but have been denied from each one so far, most without any contact (despite me emailing several schools directly). I know a good number of these were probably internal transfers. And of course, I'm not expecting instantaneous responses or feedback, and I know how competitive it can be to find work, especially in arguably the most saturated subject area. Plus, I know some districts choose to look for newer candidates, as ones with previous experience could be more "expensive" to hire.

And despite what I've read from some commenters here, MoCo seems to be one of the strongest districts in the DMV, making it even more competitive.

Should I start worrying? Or may there more vacancies lying in wait as the end of the school year comes closer?

Any and all advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Outside candidates can't begin to be hired in some certification areas until April 6th unless it's a Title 1 or other identified schoo.

Thanks for that intel, I was not aware of this. I imagine SS could fall into that since it's such a low-need area. So it really may be possible that a lot of these postings were just filled by internal transfers.

[Anonymous]

I'm a parent, not a teacher, but I'm surprised given the teacher shortage that you'd have difficulty getting a position in MCPS. Didn't realize we were overindexed on SS teachers, although given how common history/psych/sociology graduates from undergrad are out there, I can see how there might be an oversupply in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent, not a teacher, but I'm surprised given the teacher shortage that you'd have difficulty getting a position in MCPS. Didn't realize we were overindexed on SS teachers, although given how common history/psych/sociology graduates from undergrad are out there, I can see how there might be an oversupply in that area.

Must say I am quite surprised that an experienced, credentialed candidate wouldn't get snapped up quickly. Teachers on this board are constantly saying that teachers are quitting by the truckload and there is a shortage. Perhaps the shortage is primarily at the elementary level or special education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent, not a teacher, but I'm surprised given the teacher shortage that you'd have difficulty getting a position in MCPS. Didn't realize we were overindexed on SS teachers, although given how common history/psych/sociology graduates from undergrad are out there, I can see how there might be an oversupply in that area.

Must say I am quite surprised that an experienced, credentialed candidate wouldn't get snapped up quickly. Teachers on this board are constantly saying that teachers are quitting by the truckload and there is a shortage. Perhaps the shortage is primarily at the elementary level or special education?

Teachers say that but the reality is different. Only niche positions are in high-demand like STEM or SpEd.

[Anonymous]

It's involuntary transfer season right now so the positions that are open are going to people where there were cuts. As mentioned, you should be in soon. I think if you can say more about your experience in the high needs NYC in a cover letter will go a long way. We have middle schools in SS and Gburg that are in need of experienced teachers seeving that demographic. Do you speak another language?

I also don't see anything wrong with being a white male applicant. If you know how to reach kids, you know how to reach kids regardless of your background. Then again, I don't do the hiring. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent, not a teacher, but I'm surprised given the teacher shortage that you'd have difficulty getting a position in MCPS. Didn't realize we were overindexed on SS teachers, although given how common history/psych/sociology graduates from undergrad are out there, I can see how there might be an oversupply in that area.

Must say I am quite surprised that an experienced, credentialed candidate wouldn't get snapped up quickly. Teachers on this board are constantly saying that teachers are quitting by the truckload and there is a shortage. Perhaps the shortage is primarily at the elementary level or special education?

Teachers say that but the reality is different. Only niche positions are in high-demand like STEM or SpEd.

Bingo. This is where the high needs and high demands are.

For jobs like Social Studies, English, and even worse -- PE -- there can be hundreds of applicants for each position. There are vacancies, of course, but far from enough for every person who is looking for one.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t get hired until late July/early August when I was an external candidate and I am an STEM teacher. Internal candidates go first and then they look at external. More positions will open after this week but you might see most openings are for special education or science/tech.