salaray and benefits: independent vs MCPS for experienced teacher returning to work

Anonymous
Looking for information about what the salary range might be in the independent schools in MoCo/DC. I'm a teacher considering returning to the workforce after 10 yr absence to be a sahm. Former elementary teacher in MCPS for 10 years, but seeing as how the hiring is tight, I want to know how salary and benefits compare in the independents.
Anonymous
You might want to consider private schools anyway. Teaching in MCPS has changed A TON in the 10 years you've been gone and not in a good way.
Anonymous
Teaching is SO variable from school to school, cluster to cluster and in the different grade levels. What is your certification/ area?
Anonymous
My wife used to teach at a Big Three school and left for MCPS quite awhile ago. Had she started out in MCPS, she would be making ~$13K more than she is now as she did not get credit for all of the years teaching private.

Benefits are MUCH better at MCPS. No comparison.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:You might want to consider private schools anyway. Teaching in MCPS has changed A TON in the 10 years you've been gone and not in a good way.


Can you elaborate? I was in elementary.
Anonymous
I'm pretty sure that even with your loss of 'steps in MCPS, you will still be better off working at MCPS than in the privates. Better salaries, better training, better benefits, better hours.
Anonymous
What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


Slightly less than, or comparable to public school salaries, at least relative to MCPS, and depending on the step.

Benefits are leagues better via MCPS though. So, the total compensation package is better in MCPS.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


I'm pretty sure their hours are worse than MCPS, too (I think they work more days i.e 11 mo vs 10 mo). More work for less money and few benefits. Hmm...why do people work at the big 3?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


I'm pretty sure their hours are worse than MCPS, too (I think they work more days i.e 11 mo vs 10 mo). More work for less money and few benefits. Hmm...why do people work at the big 3?


Prestige.

A Lake Woebegone environement/fewer problem children (or maybe more accurately, different problems than what they might encounter in public)

Historically, it has been a "mad money" sort of job for a secondary earner in the family (read: women). In fact, I believe Sidwell didn't even offer health insurance - at all - until around 1990.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


I'm pretty sure their hours are worse than MCPS, too (I think they work more days i.e 11 mo vs 10 mo). More work for less money and few benefits. Hmm...why do people work at the big 3?


Prestige.

A Lake Woebegone environement/fewer problem children (or maybe more accurately, different problems than what they might encounter in public)

Historically, it has been a "mad money" sort of job for a secondary earner in the family (read: women). In fact, I believe Sidwell didn't even offer health insurance - at all - until around 1990.




How is there prestige in being a teacher at a prestigious school? I understand why its prestigious to be a parent or student...these school screen and test and its competitive to get it as a student and you $$ (usually) to go. But where's the prestige in teaching there? You need fewer qualifications than you do in public and if its true that the students have fewer/different/less serious problems than the publics, they learn easier and faster and are better behaved, then apparently you need fewer actual teaching skills than you would in a public.

So what makes the best teachers choose elite privates? Or is it debatable that they have the best teachers? And if they don't, then why are those elite schools so 'elite'?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


I'm pretty sure their hours are worse than MCPS, too (I think they work more days i.e 11 mo vs 10 mo). More work for less money and few benefits. Hmm...why do people work at the big 3?


Prestige.

A Lake Woebegone environement/fewer problem children (or maybe more accurately, different problems than what they might encounter in public)

Historically, it has been a "mad money" sort of job for a secondary earner in the family (read: women). In fact, I believe Sidwell didn't even offer health insurance - at all - until around 1990.




How is there prestige in being a teacher at a prestigious school? I understand why its prestigious to be a parent or student...these school screen and test and its competitive to get it as a student and you $$ (usually) to go. But where's the prestige in teaching there? You need fewer qualifications than you do in public and if its true that the students have fewer/different/less serious problems than the publics, they learn easier and faster and are better behaved, then apparently you need fewer actual teaching skills than you would in a public.

So what makes the best teachers choose elite privates? Or is it debatable that they have the best teachers? And if they don't, then why are those elite schools so 'elite'?


It is very, very debatable that they have the best teachers.

I do think that if money and benefits are not big drivers/issues for a teacher, a prestigious private school is a comfy place to work.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


I'm pretty sure their hours are worse than MCPS, too (I think they work more days i.e 11 mo vs 10 mo). More work for less money and few benefits. Hmm...why do people work at the big 3?


Prestige.

A Lake Woebegone environement/fewer problem children (or maybe more accurately, different problems than what they might encounter in public)

Historically, it has been a "mad money" sort of job for a secondary earner in the family (read: women). In fact, I believe Sidwell didn't even offer health insurance - at all - until around 1990.




How is there prestige in being a teacher at a prestigious school? I understand why its prestigious to be a parent or student...these school screen and test and its competitive to get it as a student and you $$ (usually) to go. But where's the prestige in teaching there? You need fewer qualifications than you do in public and if its true that the students have fewer/different/less serious problems than the publics, they learn easier and faster and are better behaved, then apparently you need fewer actual teaching skills than you would in a public.

So what makes the best teachers choose elite privates? Or is it debatable that they have the best teachers? And if they don't, then why are those elite schools so 'elite'?


It is very, very debatable that they have the best teachers.

I do think that if money and benefits are not big drivers/issues for a teacher, a prestigious private school is a comfy place to work.



But aren't great teachers the very foundation of a great school? How can these private schools be so great if they have only average teachers who enjoy a "comfy place to work"...whatever that means.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the average salary for teachers at Big 3 schools?


I'm pretty sure their hours are worse than MCPS, too (I think they work more days i.e 11 mo vs 10 mo). More work for less money and few benefits. Hmm...why do people work at the big 3?


Prestige.

A Lake Woebegone environement/fewer problem children (or maybe more accurately, different problems than what they might encounter in public)

Historically, it has been a "mad money" sort of job for a secondary earner in the family (read: women). In fact, I believe Sidwell didn't even offer health insurance - at all - until around 1990.




How is there prestige in being a teacher at a prestigious school? I understand why its prestigious to be a parent or student...these school screen and test and its competitive to get it as a student and you $$ (usually) to go. But where's the prestige in teaching there? You need fewer qualifications than you do in public and if its true that the students have fewer/different/less serious problems than the publics, they learn easier and faster and are better behaved, then apparently you need fewer actual teaching skills than you would in a public.

So what makes the best teachers choose elite privates? Or is it debatable that they have the best teachers? And if they don't, then why are those elite schools so 'elite'?


It is very, very debatable that they have the best teachers.

I do think that if money and benefits are not big drivers/issues for a teacher, a prestigious private school is a comfy place to work.



But aren't great teachers the very foundation of a great school? How can these private schools be so great if they have only average teachers who enjoy a "comfy place to work"...whatever that means.


I don't think they do have average teachers. I think they have many above-average teachers - it is easier to get rid of a teacher in a private school than in public as there is no union, for example. OTOH there are indeed so-so teachers at private schools, too.



Anonymous
My kids went to MCPS for elementary and then to a DC independent school, and in our experience the teachers in both were , for the most part, very good. So no need to turn this into a typical DCUM public school v. private school flame-off. While I'm sure that compensation and benefits are better in MCPS, the independent schools can offer reduced tuition, which is a great benefit if your kids go to the school where you teach. (Years ago I heard that some independent schools offered tuition discounts to teachers at other independents as a professional courtest, but I doubt that today's tight finances would allow that.)

So, why else would you teach at an independent v. MCPS? 1) smaller class sizes -- every teacher I know salivates over that; 2) more time built into the day for planning; 3) kids tend to be more focused and motivated to learn, so there's more teaching and less classroom management -- before you flame, please note that I didn't say "all kids at privates" or "kids at privates are smarter"; 4) independent schools encourage innovation by teachers, while MCPS has moved to a more scripted curriculum over the past 10 years; and 5) many independent schools offer grants for teachers to travel or do summer study. These all seem like good reasons to make the choice for an independent if you can afford it.
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