Is there a hiring freeze in Montgomery County or Fairfax County public schools?

[Anonymous]

I'm a SAHM who is looking to get back into teaching after a few years off. I've looked at the jobs available on these county's websites and was wondering if they are actually hiring new people or if there is a hiring freeze. TIA!

[Anonymous]

I heard that very few new teachers were hired in MC. The ones who were hired were the cream of the crop.

[Anonymous]

There are job openings in Prince George's County if you teach special ed or ESOL.

[Anonymous]

I work for MCPS and I don't think they're hiring but I'm not 100% sure. A few months ago I knew someone who was just interested in subbing and at that time, they were only accepting applications for substitutes from people who were MD certified teachers.

Your best bet is to just go ahead and submit your information and they will surely let you know if they're not hiring. At this point in the year, your chances of getting hired are slim to none. You would have better luck if you're interested in next school year (August 2012). Have you considered subbing in the interim?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM who is looking to get back into teaching after a few years off. I've looked at the jobs available on these county's websites and was wondering if they are actually hiring new people or if there is a hiring freeze. TIA!

If you check the city-data.com northern Virginia board, several new FCPS teachers were hired over the summer (July/August) to start the new school year.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I am newly ESOL certified but I also have my elementary ed certification too. It is just so hard to know whether the job postings are for jobs that they already have people in mind for or if "outsiders" like me have a chance. I am looking for a position next fall so I guess I should wait until after the new year to submit my application.

[Anonymous]

If you're looking for the fall, I wouldn't even start looking until March at the earliest.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Don't know if you would be interested in this, but our Catholic school in Fairfax Co. has several prospective teacher information sessions coming up. The diocese is apparently hiring teachers.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP but the Catholic school salaries are way too low.

[Anonymous]

A number of teachers at my kids' FCPS elementary school are new to the system this year. I know there was some sort of recruiting fair last spring where they looked to hire teachers.

[Anonymous]

OP--for MCPS, start subbing and get your name in HR. ESOL allocations are being adjusted as we speak (I'm an ESOL teacher in MCPS). Schools may get an increase and will be looking to fill these slots--these are the jobs you see posted on MCPScareers.org. HOWEVER, the window to offer new contracts may have already expired, meaning you would be hired as a long-term substitute for a vacancy. The pay is something like $23/hr and there are no benefits. It's not awesome, but might be the best you can hope for at this point in the school year. And if you were to get that type of position, you would become known at the school, and if the school's allocation increased or maintained, they would be able to hire a contracted teacher for the position next year... and they might want to hire you. ESOL in MCPS is not the golden egg it used to be--a lot of classroom teachers thought it would be "easier" to teacher ESOL and just took the Praxis to be ESOL certified.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info PP. I have taken ESOL grad classes too so I didn't just take the Praxis to get the ESOL endorsement added. I don't mind being hired as a long term sub b/c it's better than nothing. If it helps me get into a school system, I'll do it. I am grateful that systems like MCPS even advertises their vacancies since some of them don't advertise to the "outside" at all. I'm wondering if there will be lots and lots of people applying for these jobs though. Does MCPS have ESOL assistants or anything like that in case I don't get hired. I don't mind starting at the bottom. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP, Prince George's County is definitely still hiring ESOL teachers, just FYI. Of course, MCPS pays more, but if your choice is between working as a teacher versus working as an assistant (or not being hired at all) you might want to give us a chance.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Prince George's county is one of the websites that doesn't have many jobs listed as external vacancies so it is hard to tell if they are hiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard that very few new teachers were hired in MC. The ones who were hired were the cream of the crop.

Where is this cream pray tell? It sure isn't at the schools my DC's attend.