I am a miserable teacher

[Anonymous]

I'm a single parent living in NWDC. I have two kids, but the older one lives mostly with his father.
No alimony, no child support, but what I did get from my marriage was work permit. I was illegal for the first 12 years in US which meant no school, couldn't buy property, and my boss was working me to death for minimum wage. He didn't pay the minimum $2.13 -$2.77 required for several years.
I had my second child while finishing school, but never worked using the degree because I stayed home with the kid. I got a night time job in a restaurant again since I had always worked in restaurants.
I separated from my 2nd partner 10 years in. We were not married, so lets not assume any money here.
When I got my papers, I started to invest from 2007/8 even though I only made ca $2000 a month.
I retired at 46 because the investments have gone crazy since 2020. The experience I got from trading stocks, can't be taken from me. I could invest myself into freedom again using minimum wage if I had to. If I had made what you make, I would be doing well 2-3 years into the journey.
At some point I went back to school to get MA in ECE, but seeing reading and writing being pushed on 5-year olds, was extremely hard. This was going to be my first job after 27 years in being stuck in a restaurants, but freedom came first.
There are many other reasons why I made it and most low income workers won't, but you are no a lo income worker lacking a degree. Rumor has it that mos teacher are resourceful and frugal which is a lot of help towards financial freedom.
I never had a 401k for example, but it can be a blessing. I took my Roth, and since I was way behind and nothing to lose, I double both of my Roth this year alone. This return was available to all, but only few did it. I have many many other ways I make or save money, but again, they are available to all. Start to see the possibilities now instead of what you don't have.
My credit cards make me $10k a year for example. Again, should be available to many. I'm already setting up my kids with what I know. I would get you in financial shape in no time.
By the way, I pay taxes on $10k earned income only by design. The rest I'm hoping to take out as long term capital gains, but stay within limits as HH. I can go on and on how to make money or save money. And me no even speaky English.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

What are the pensions like being a public school teacher in the area?

[Anonymous]

If this were true...you could easily find that job, yes? So whats stopping you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am right there with you. MCPS really needs to do something to retain teachers. The salary schedule is nice to help young teachers 'get to the top' earlier, but I have been sitting at the top for years and there is no room for growth. I get a COLA but that is eaten up by inflation. I am in year 25 and it will probably be my last. It is not what I signed up for 25 years ago.

I'm in tech and have topped out as an individual contributor. I'd have to go into management to earn more, much like how teachers have to go into admin to earn more. I've also worked till 9pm many times though out my career.

DH is also in tech and got laid off at 58. At least you don't have to deal with ageism. I'm also in my mid 50s and worry about getting laid off. If I do, there goes our health insurance. We will have to buy expensive private care.

Having stated that, I realize I probably make more than most teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

Working a cushy non-profit job is not comparable to most teaching jobs.

That's going to depend on the non-profit.

But the discussion here isn't focused on the hours or workplace conditions. It has been focused on the claims made about pay. And teacher pay compares favorably to other liberal arts professions.

But you have to consider the working conditions. Teaching takes a major toll on people physically, emotionally, and mentally. You need to also consider the hours (nights and weekends), the stressful daily workload (no breaks), and the lack of resources (the long list of student supplies teachers pay for).

No, the pay isn’t enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a HS teacher in MCPS. Going into year 15. This job becomes less and less desirable every year. I can retire before age 60 is the only thing keeping me going. I have a Masters +60 and I make considerably less than just about everyone I know, and many of these people don’t have a college degree at all, and they work remote or hybrid.
Before anyone points out that I have summers off, I actually don’t. I work in the summer and the weeks I’m not working, I don’t get paid. It’s like everyone else’s annual leave but other jobs get paid year round.
I like my school and our Admin for most part, but lately I’m questioning why I spent so much time and money to become an educator. Yes, I love working with kids, but I’m also tired of struggling financially. I live in Moco and I’m a single parent.

Your problem is that you're a single parent living in MoCo. Teaching is not the problem.

I gotta say, I kind of agree. Not that teaching is without it's issues, but lots of jobs have issues. Imagine being a single mom and having to come up with summer care for 10+ years. When you add what that would cost to your salary...though you say you work in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

Working a cushy non-profit job is not comparable to most teaching jobs.

That's going to depend on the non-profit.

But the discussion here isn't focused on the hours or workplace conditions. It has been focused on the claims made about pay. And teacher pay compares favorably to other liberal arts professions.

But you have to consider the working conditions. Teaching takes a major toll on people physically, emotionally, and mentally. You need to also consider the hours (nights and weekends), the stressful daily workload (no breaks), and the lack of resources (the long list of student supplies teachers pay for).

No, the pay isn’t enough.

A miserable teacher is still going to be miserable even if they make an extra $10-20k a year. The pay isn't the problem, so increasing pay isn't going to fix the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

Working a cushy non-profit job is not comparable to most teaching jobs.

That's going to depend on the non-profit.

But the discussion here isn't focused on the hours or workplace conditions. It has been focused on the claims made about pay. And teacher pay compares favorably to other liberal arts professions.

But you have to consider the working conditions. Teaching takes a major toll on people physically, emotionally, and mentally. You need to also consider the hours (nights and weekends), the stressful daily workload (no breaks), and the lack of resources (the long list of student supplies teachers pay for).

No, the pay isn’t enough.

Stop paying for supplies. No other profession does. If people change the budgets, we either do more with less, change how we did things to accommodate the new budget or stop doing certain things. I don’t know teachers keep complaining about this when it’s completely within their control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

Working a cushy non-profit job is not comparable to most teaching jobs.

That's going to depend on the non-profit.

But the discussion here isn't focused on the hours or workplace conditions. It has been focused on the claims made about pay. And teacher pay compares favorably to other liberal arts professions.

But you have to consider the working conditions. Teaching takes a major toll on people physically, emotionally, and mentally. You need to also consider the hours (nights and weekends), the stressful daily workload (no breaks), and the lack of resources (the long list of student supplies teachers pay for).

No, the pay isn’t enough.

Stop paying for supplies. No other profession does. If people change the budgets, we either do more with less, change how we did things to accommodate the new budget or stop doing certain things. I don’t know teachers keep complaining about this when it’s completely within their control.

I don't think it's ok to expect teachers to pay for supplies, but don't pretend they're the only profession that does this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

Working a cushy non-profit job is not comparable to most teaching jobs.

That's going to depend on the non-profit.

But the discussion here isn't focused on the hours or workplace conditions. It has been focused on the claims made about pay. And teacher pay compares favorably to other liberal arts professions.

But you have to consider the working conditions. Teaching takes a major toll on people physically, emotionally, and mentally. You need to also consider the hours (nights and weekends), the stressful daily workload (no breaks), and the lack of resources (the long list of student supplies teachers pay for).

No, the pay isn’t enough.

A miserable teacher is still going to be miserable even if they make an extra $10-20k a year. The pay isn't the problem, so increasing pay isn't going to fix the problem.

+1 Based on the OP, the 10 month salary for a person with that education and experience is $111,000. That is well in line with the median (12 month) earnings for people with master's degrees in Montgomery County per the American Community Survey ( https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2022.B20004?t=Earnings (Individuals):Educational Attainment&g=050XX00US24031 ), and that doesn't account for the pension benefits that OP has that most workers do not have (I truly don't care if you think the pension "sucks," that just makes you sound ignorant and entitled).

Knowing some outliers who make more than you do does not entitle you to higher pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

No one cares about STEM MS. That's just a fundraiser for schools.

[Anonymous]

My current college senior just got a post-graduation offer at $100k. But she's been told to expect about 70 hours per week, and not much job security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people with Master's degree only make $80-90k after 15 yrs?

Are you kidding me? A large number of government employees and people at non-profits.

Also, don't compare a MEd to a MS in a STEM program.

No one cares about STEM MS. That's just a fundraiser for schools.

Understood, but it sounded like the OP was comparing her pay with a MEd degree with non-teachers with MS degrees in STEM areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My current college senior just got a post-graduation offer at $100k. But she's been told to expect about 70 hours per week, and not much job security.

Cool story bro

[Anonymous]

As many here have noted the grass is not as greener than you think op, especially wrt to salary and benefits that said burnout after that long is understandable. Can you do something slightly different like a part time admin role for a couple years?