Am I Making a Mistake?

[Anonymous]

I was offered a position at one of the largest middle schools (in terms of student population). I have not signed a contract, yet and I want to be sure that it would not be a big mistake to make a commitment, considering the reviews, which are overwhelmingly negative. I was wondering if anyone has anything redeeming to say about teaching in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

What’s your alternative option? Is it teaching someplace else? Leaving a different job? No job at all? What position? We can’t answer these questions without knowing your situation.

[Anonymous]

Run!

[Anonymous]

Your mistake is asking this question on an anonymous chat site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s your alternative option? Is it teaching someplace else? Leaving a different job? No job at all? What position? We can’t answer these questions without knowing your situation.

I just graduated with my MA in English from GMU. The position is for an English teacher. I have never taught before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your mistake is asking this question on an anonymous chat site

I was figuring if I asked here, on an anonymous chat site, I might get genuine feedback from folks who have already taught for FCPS..Do you have any suggestions as to where I might find that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Run!

I am seriously considering that!

[Anonymous]

Is it Glasgow? Tough school for a first year teacher. I’d hold out for another opening if there are any left.

-former Glasgow teacher now at a different FCPS middle school

[Anonymous]

You got this! You can prove yourself to be exciting and young and interesting to these middle schoolers. Who cares that the school is big? You will teach only one room at a time. Now is your time to shine! ⭐️ The kids will love 💕 you! Don’t look back. Just look forward to making it the best year! Be brave! Be bold! Don’t overthink this. Everyone has a first day on a job, a first month, a first year! Fist 👊 bump! Get prepared with your materials now in July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it Glasgow? Tough school for a first year teacher. I’d hold out for another opening if there are any left.

-former Glasgow teacher now at a different FCPS middle school

Yes, it is. I wonder if not having a teaching license yet is what is keeping other schools from hiring me. I had 21 interviews. One school, Washington-Liberty, which seems like a tamer school, interviewed me twice.

[Anonymous]

OP, your first year is going to be HARD no matter where it is. Doubly so because in FCPS your "foot in the door" schools are usually the rougher ones (I assume you are referencing sandburg since there are only a handful of english vacancies). I started my career in one of those type of middle schools, and when I eventually moved to a more middle class school it felt like a vacation. I am grateful I started in the rougher schools though--it made me a much better teacher. I am more compassionate, creative, and engaging because of my time there. My colleagues who always had "easy" schools are less so, because they never had to be.

Do you have your teaching license? Or are you being hired on a provisional certification? If the former, take the job, understand that the first 1-5 years are just really, really challenging no matter what, and then once you feel a little more solid feel free to explore other schools in the county. You'll know the content and have strategies and be ready to experience a new school culture.

If you don't have your license, then I am making the assumption that teaching is a backup plan. You got a masters in English and then didn't know what to do. If that's the case, I'd look at private schools if you pursue teaching, because all the public school stuff while requiring you to take additional licensure coursework is too much.

If you want to chat more, create a throwaway email and I'm happy to reach out with more specifics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it Glasgow? Tough school for a first year teacher. I’d hold out for another opening if there are any left.

-former Glasgow teacher now at a different FCPS middle school

Yes, it is. I wonder if not having a teaching license yet is what is keeping other schools from hiring me. I had 21 interviews. One school, Washington-Liberty, which seems like a tamer school, interviewed me twice.

Ahh. I would not go into public school teaching on a provisional. Literally the only thing that kept me sane my first year was my student teaching and the relationships I had formed there. If you want to teach, get your license and then teach. The teachers at my school hired on a provisional didn't stay long enough to get their full license.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You got this! You can prove yourself to be exciting and young and interesting to these middle schoolers. Who cares that the school is big? You will teach only one room at a time. Now is your time to shine! ⭐️ The kids will love 💕 you! Don’t look back. Just look forward to making it the best year! Be brave! Be bold! Don’t overthink this. Everyone has a first day on a job, a first month, a first year! Fist 👊 bump! Get prepared with your materials now in July.

I tried to get the textbook, at the very least, and apparently, they have a whole new curriculum and no one I have had contact with can tell me anything about it. So, I have been concentrating on all of the other things I will need to get teaching license.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You got this! You can prove yourself to be exciting and young and interesting to these middle schoolers. Who cares that the school is big? You will teach only one room at a time. Now is your time to shine! ⭐️ The kids will love 💕 you! Don’t look back. Just look forward to making it the best year! Be brave! Be bold! Don’t overthink this. Everyone has a first day on a job, a first month, a first year! Fist 👊 bump! Get prepared with your materials now in July.

I tried to get the textbook, at the very least, and apparently, they have a whole new curriculum and no one I have had contact with can tell me anything about it. So, I have been concentrating on all of the other things I will need to get teaching license.

Is it a sixth grade position? If so, you're right that there is a new basal.

K-12 has new standards this year, so there will be changes for all teachers regardless of their tenure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it Glasgow? Tough school for a first year teacher. I’d hold out for another opening if there are any left.

-former Glasgow teacher now at a different FCPS middle school

Yes, it is. I wonder if not having a teaching license yet is what is keeping other schools from hiring me. I had 21 interviews. One school, Washington-Liberty, which seems like a tamer school, interviewed me twice.

Ahh. I would not go into public school teaching on a provisional. Literally the only thing that kept me sane my first year was my student teaching and the relationships I had formed there. If you want to teach, get your license and then teach. The teachers at my school hired on a provisional didn't stay long enough to get their full license.

I have completed most of the requirements I can do myself for a full license. I just need to do the CPR/First Aid/AED certification and pass the 5038 (English Language Arts Content) Praxis, and pay the $100 fee. I am waiting on accommodations for the Praxis.