Teacher Relocating to DC Area

[Anonymous]

Since you have no kids, OP, you have a lot of options if you're willing to live in a new 2-bedroom apartment. Try Columbia Heights or Logan Circle. Penn Quarter might stretch your budget, but is a great place for non-parents to live. Those are all well-connected places as far as transit goes. You can easily get to many places from there.

Living farther out before you have kids who require schools and space is a waste. I personally think it's a waste even after you have kids, but I can concede a certain logic to it at that point.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thanks everyone for such helpful comments!

@ 14:11 - Thanks for the list. Since the consensus is that DCPS vary dramatically, it's very helpful to have specific schools to keep in mind.

@ 21:05 - Do those neighborhoods (Columbia Heights and Logan Circle) have schools that would be appealing from a teacher's perspective, since my wife will be looking for a teaching job?

As far as DCPS are concerned, we are certainly looking into what Rhee is doing. That will be very important. From what I've read, younger teachers seem to support her while older teachers do not (in general). Is this accurate?

While we appreciate the suggestions from the MD folks, we're targeting VA or DC. She's not particularly interested in teaching in PGCo schools and the commute from MoCo to the Hill seems to be a little farther than I'd like. Since we don't have kids yet ourselves, we're willing to sacrifice space for a shorter commutes for now.

How is commuting from DC to NoVa? For example, if we were to live on the Hill or in NW and my wife were to teach in an Arlington Co. or Fairfax Co. schools, would commuting (by car) be a nightmare? I say car because it seems unlikely that many schools in the suburbs are within walking distance to the metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks everyone for such helpful comments!

@ 14:11 - Thanks for the list. Since the consensus is that DCPS vary dramatically, it's very helpful to have specific schools to keep in mind.

@ 21:05 - Do those neighborhoods (Columbia Heights and Logan Circle) have schools that would be appealing from a teacher's perspective, since my wife will be looking for a teaching job?

As far as DCPS are concerned, we are certainly looking into what Rhee is doing. That will be very important. From what I've read, younger teachers seem to support her while older teachers do not (in general). Is this accurate?

While we appreciate the suggestions from the MD folks, we're targeting VA or DC. She's not particularly interested in teaching in PGCo schools and the commute from MoCo to the Hill seems to be a little farther than I'd like. Since we don't have kids yet ourselves, we're willing to sacrifice space for a shorter commutes for now.

How is commuting from DC to NoVa? For example, if we were to live on the Hill or in NW and my wife were to teach in an Arlington Co. or Fairfax Co. schools, would commuting (by car) be a nightmare? I say car because it seems unlikely that many schools in the suburbs are within walking distance to the metro.

It really depends on where you are in those counties - Fairfax is VERY large and depending where she was, some commutes could be close to an hour or more. Keep in mind, too, there is a push to change the start time in Fairfax County schools which would make elementary school start earlier than it does now. Arlington Co. is smaller and commutes would not be as bad, but it really depends when you are driving since traffic is usually an issue. I do know that my friends who live on the Hill often shop in S. Arlington because it is pretty close to them so she might look there first.

[Anonymous]

I'm unsure if this news means Fairfax County will also be introducing a hiring freeze:

http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=1076

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Jack D. Dale is recommending to the Fairfax County School Board that the board ask permission from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to reduce the school system's request for the transfer of funds for FY 2010 by $11 million.

"On March 5 during a third quarter budget review, I will present to the School Board an additional $8 million in savings—taken from the current FY 2009 budget—as a result of a freeze on hiring and central office belt-tightening," says Dale. "Another $3 million will be realized in the elimination of positions and leases as part of a proposed administration consolidation, which includes purchasing a building and moving administrative and support personnel into that building, designated 'Gatehouse II.' This will bring the total reduction to $11 million.

Just something to keep in mind, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Arlington Public Schools Superintendent will be presenting the FY 2010 budget to the board on Feb. 26th, so you can find out more about their hiring plans then.

http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/aps/site/default.asp

[Anonymous]

http://www.apsva.us/15401081151845893/lib/15401081151845893/FY_2009_WABE_Guide.pdf

Washington Area Board of Education Guide to Public Schools

[Anonymous]

Arlington Budget minutes from January 2009

http://www.apsva.us/15401081151356423/lib/15401081151356423/2008-09/011509ws.pdf

[Anonymous]

Alexandria County:

I don't see the words "hiring freeze" here in eth FY 2010 Operating budget, just approved. But they took $2 million out of the budget compared to last year. They've eliminated 6% of central office positions, and reduced contract length from 5 to 25 days, among other steps. My sense from reading this is that they might not be hiring new teachers next year.

http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2009/nr2009020601.php

The cost of increased enrollment, the highest percentage increase in the State, and changing student needs accounts for more than five million dollars. In order to maintain small class sizes, improve instruction for English language learners, expand planning and collaboration time for elementary teachers, enhance science instruction and more, employees will share the impact of constrained revenues. There are contract length reductions of 5 to 25 days for over 70 employees, increases in co-payments for health insurance plans, and decreases in long-term disability benefits. Central office positions were reduced by over 6 percent. A step increase for eligible employees will be granted half-way through the contract year, along with a longevity increase for eligible employees who have been at the top of the scale for two years. There is no market rate adjustment (formerly known as a COLA) included in this budget. The cost per student is down almost $2,000, about 10 percent.

[Anonymous]

Re Fairfax County teachers - my husband is one -- the budget is yet to be finalized, but if nothing else, it's looking like a pay freeze. No talk of layoffs, but I wouldn't rule out hiring freezes. I'd do some research.

Also, I would highly recommend that in addtion to the regular process of having your wife submitt a resume through the county - she contact principals at specific schools and send her resume to that person directly. This was much more effective for my husband than just waiting for someone to call you from the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks everyone for such helpful comments!

@ 14:11 - Thanks for the list. Since the consensus is that DCPS vary dramatically, it's very helpful to have specific schools to keep in mind.

@ 21:05 - Do those neighborhoods (Columbia Heights and Logan Circle) have schools that would be appealing from a teacher's perspective, since my wife will be looking for a teaching job?

As far as DCPS are concerned, we are certainly looking into what Rhee is doing. That will be very important. From what I've read, younger teachers seem to support her while older teachers do not (in general). Is this accurate?

While we appreciate the suggestions from the MD folks, we're targeting VA or DC. She's not particularly interested in teaching in PGCo schools and the commute from MoCo to the Hill seems to be a little farther than I'd like. Since we don't have kids yet ourselves, we're willing to sacrifice space for a shorter commutes for now.

How is commuting from DC to NoVa? For example, if we were to live on the Hill or in NW and my wife were to teach in an Arlington Co. or Fairfax Co. schools, would commuting (by car) be a nightmare? I say car because it seems unlikely that many schools in the suburbs are within walking distance to the metro.

Columbia Heights has Capital City Public Charter School. I guess I'm really suggesting, though, that she consider commuting within DC to her school, which might end up being in a less interesting neighborhood. The city not very big, so there's no need to live *right* there. In general, transit is good, though many schools are in residential areas not so close to Metro stations. Commuting by car within NWDC is easy. I believe that the bridges into VA can be traffic chokepoints, though I never have to go there... so I wouldn't know first hand.

[Anonymous]

Any commute in & out of VA is treacherous, even at those areas in VA that are considered "right there near dc". You can count on grid-lock every single day on Rt. 395, which is the exchange closest, matter of fact, VERY close, to Capitol Hill in & out of VA. Unless you're working AND living in VA, to me, it's not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any commute in & out of VA is treacherous, even at those areas in VA that are considered "right there near dc". You can count on grid-lock every single day on Rt. 395, which is the exchange closest, matter of fact, VERY close, to Capitol Hill in & out of VA. Unless you're working AND living in VA, to me, it's not worth it.

However, the OP's wife would be going against traffic if she commuted from DC into VA and because she is a teacher she might be able to get home before traffic gets really bad. OP, I would not recommend your wife working far out in VA if she chooses to, but Arlington and the close in Fairfax Co. suburbs would probably be fine. I am a teacher in Fairfax County and there are many teachers who commute each day from D.C. to my school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any commute in & out of VA is treacherous, even at those areas in VA that are considered "right there near dc". You can count on grid-lock every single day on Rt. 395, which is the exchange closest, matter of fact, VERY close, to Capitol Hill in & out of VA. Unless you're working AND living in VA, to me, it's not worth it.

However, the OP's wife would be going against traffic if she commuted from DC into VA and because she is a teacher she might be able to get home before traffic gets really bad. OP, I would not recommend your wife working far out in VA if she chooses to, but Arlington and the close in Fairfax Co. suburbs would probably be fine. I am a teacher in Fairfax County and there are many teachers who commute each day from D.C. to my school.

Gotta respectfully disagree. I live off of Penn Ave in Capitol hill, & traffic on 395 into VA is ALWAYS backed up, usually starting after 7am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not live on Capitol Hill and look for a teaching position there (Capitol Hill Day School is a private PK-8, 2 Rivers is a charter school, there are some good DC public elementary schools). Capitol Hill is a great neighborhood and very walkable, community minded, etc.

I totally agree with this suggestion. Capitol Hill is a great neighborhood for young couples (and for young parents, if and when that time comes). You could sell your car, both walk to work, spend a tad more on housing, and really enjoy a quality urban life. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'm thinking DC schools have the best chance of hiring for next year of all the area school districts.