question for teachers - being reassigned to a new grade

[Anonymous]

I just got my teaching assignment for next year (new school) and found out that I have only been assigned middle school. I have never actually taught middle school, only subbed, and did not enjoy it at all. As a teacher I have always taught high school (particularly juniors and seniors). I am not happy about this change. When I interviewed I made it clear that high school was my preference (school is 6-12). Has anyone made the switch from high school to middle school? I am freaking out.

[Anonymous]

I should mentioned the position I interviewed for was 11-12th grade ELA

[Anonymous]

Did you know there was a MS vacancy? I assume you are certified for both MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Have you called to double-check that they sent you the right hire letter? When I was hired, my school system sent me a hire letter assigning me to teach PE at an elementary school. My primary certification is secondary math. I was sweating bullets until they confirmed that I received the wrong letter. The HR person did not respond to phone calls and messages but did finally respond to a nicely worded email.

Other than that, if they have no other position available, is this a school system in which you want a foot in the door. Meaning, is it Arlington (best pay and best work environments)? If so, take it. If not, then keep looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you know there was a MS vacancy? I assume you are certified for both MS and HS.

I did not know there was a middle school vacancy. I interviewed at the beginning of May for 11-12th grade English, no mention of MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you called to double-check that they sent you the right hire letter? When I was hired, my school system sent me a hire letter assigning me to teach PE at an elementary school. My primary certification is secondary math. I was sweating bullets until they confirmed that I received the wrong letter. The HR person did not respond to phone calls and messages but did finally respond to a nicely worded email.

Other than that, if they have no other position available, is this a school system in which you want a foot in the door. Meaning, is it Arlington (best pay and best work environments)? If so, take it. If not, then keep looking.

Unfortunately this was an email from the principal sent directly to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know there was a MS vacancy? I assume you are certified for both MS and HS.

I did not know there was a middle school vacancy. I interviewed at the beginning of May for 11-12th grade English, no mention of MS.

Do you have the right certification or is that going to trip you up? Or is it private school and you're not certified at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know there was a MS vacancy? I assume you are certified for both MS and HS.

I did not know there was a middle school vacancy. I interviewed at the beginning of May for 11-12th grade English, no mention of MS.

Do you have the right certification or is that going to trip you up? Or is it private school and you're not certified at all?

I am licensed but the license does cover MS as well. School is private though

[Anonymous]

If you don't want to teach MS, I'd reply to the email with something about how you are confused, as the position you interviewed and were hired for was 11th/12th grade, with no mention of middle school.

Then I'd start looking for a new job. Hang onto this one as a backup until you have something else lined up.

[Anonymous]

OP, I've taught in three different private schools, in varying geographic locations. This sort of thing has been common in each one: it is an independent school thing to be expected to "wear many hats." I'm fully certified, but many teachers at privates are not, and heads tend to treat area of certification/interest as less important than do public principals.

For one horrible year, I had to teach my subject to FIRST GRADE in addition to my regular high school classes. The head had some crazy idea that his Math, English, and History high school teachers should be also teaching these things to the lower school kids. Horrible idea (parents loved it, though).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you called to double-check that they sent you the right hire letter? When I was hired, my school system sent me a hire letter assigning me to teach PE at an elementary school. My primary certification is secondary math. I was sweating bullets until they confirmed that I received the wrong letter. The HR person did not respond to phone calls and messages but did finally respond to a nicely worded email.

Other than that, if they have no other position available, is this a school system in which you want a foot in the door. Meaning, is it Arlington (best pay and best work environments)? If so, take it. If not, then keep looking.

Unfortunately this was an email from the principal sent directly to me

Oh, too bad. Well, keep this one in your back pocket and keep looking. You may prefer private, I used to teach private and I know it is a very good gig but, since you're certified, you should apply to the big public systems. The big movement starts July 1 so be sure you're available for interviews that week and maybe you should start calling the Principals at the school that you're interested in to remind them that you're in the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you called to double-check that they sent you the right hire letter? When I was hired, my school system sent me a hire letter assigning me to teach PE at an elementary school. My primary certification is secondary math. I was sweating bullets until they confirmed that I received the wrong letter. The HR person did not respond to phone calls and messages but did finally respond to a nicely worded email.

Other than that, if they have no other position available, is this a school system in which you want a foot in the door. Meaning, is it Arlington (best pay and best work environments)? If so, take it. If not, then keep looking.

Unfortunately this was an email from the principal sent directly to me

Oh, too bad. Well, keep this one in your back pocket and keep looking. You may prefer private, I used to teach private and I know it is a very good gig but, since you're certified, you should apply to the big public systems. The big movement starts July 1 so be sure you're available for interviews that week and maybe you should start calling the Principals at the school that you're interested in to remind them that you're in the system.

np: what is the big movement? I'm also looking for a teaching job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you called to double-check that they sent you the right hire letter? When I was hired, my school system sent me a hire letter assigning me to teach PE at an elementary school. My primary certification is secondary math. I was sweating bullets until they confirmed that I received the wrong letter. The HR person did not respond to phone calls and messages but did finally respond to a nicely worded email.

Other than that, if they have no other position available, is this a school system in which you want a foot in the door. Meaning, is it Arlington (best pay and best work environments)? If so, take it. If not, then keep looking.

Unfortunately this was an email from the principal sent directly to me

Oh, too bad. Well, keep this one in your back pocket and keep looking. You may prefer private, I used to teach private and I know it is a very good gig but, since you're certified, you should apply to the big public systems. The big movement starts July 1 so be sure you're available for interviews that week and maybe you should start calling the Principals at the school that you're interested in to remind them that you're in the system.

np: what is the big movement? I'm also looking for a teaching job

For most of the public school systems in this area, the school systems keep searches internal until July 1. On July 1, the Principals are free to go outside. So now is the time to make sure you're in the HR system and that you've dotted all your I's and crossed all your T's so that HR opens your resume to be viewed by all the Principals. Additionally, you will want to call and email Principals directly to remind them that you're in the system, etc. If you've subbed in the building then swing by and drop off a resume and put a face to a name again for them. Don't take a family vacation the first or second week of July since that is when calls will (hopefully) start and interviews.

[Anonymous]

For most of the public school systems in this area, the school systems keep searches internal until July 1

This. Years ago, when I had accepted another position in a different geographical location, I turned in my resignation in April. I thought it was the considerate thing to do. My principal asked me to hold it for some time. This gave her the flexibility to interview lots of people without having to accept an internal reassignment. (She could also say that she did not have any openings "at this time". )

Another thing, OP, although you cannot count on it, is that a number of positions will open after school starts. After a move, I applied in the summer to a number of schools in the same system. This was after I was a quite experienced teacher. Three principals told me that they were almost positive they would have positions available the week before schools started. They called me the week before and apologized--they had no positions. Then, the day after school started, two of them (from desirable schools) called and said they were over enrolled and could have a position immediately. I guess the system decided to pony up the slots.

[Anonymous]

The July 1st date is old info from years ago. My school has been interviewing for positions for a while and FCPS and Arlington have had jobs listed for outside candidates for weeks. Apply now.