Alleged teacher shortage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has this changed: you have to major in Math to teach Math? DD looked into it. Back then, there were many courses required *beyond* Calculus, no matter what level HS Math you teach. She ended up going a different direction, getting a STEM doctorate.

No this hasn’t changed. VDOE requires certain classes to be certified in certain subject areas. I say that because you may major in Math but not have the required classes to be certified in certain areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many years do you have to work in the schools to have access to the healthcare when you retire? Is it the same as when you can access retirement or different?

Access healthcare? They still have to pay for it. In my district we have to pay close to 100% of the premiums. As I’m getting closer to retirement we are talking to our financial advisor to see it makes more sense to go with a private plan. Our school insurance isn’t great and costs a lot. This isn’t really a retirement benefit.

Yes. The example above has the retiree paying all but $100 of the monthly premium in Fairfax. So there is access, you just pay the premium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many years do you have to work in the schools to have access to the healthcare when you retire? Is it the same as when you can access retirement or different?

Access healthcare? They still have to pay for it. In my district we have to pay close to 100% of the premiums. As I’m getting closer to retirement we are talking to our financial advisor to see it makes more sense to go with a private plan. Our school insurance isn’t great and costs a lot. This isn’t really a retirement benefit.

Yes. The example above has the retiree paying all but $100 of the monthly premium in Fairfax. So there is access, you just pay the premium.

Compared to private insurance or the exchange, it’s a bargain. You two are hopelessly out of touch. You don’t even appreciate the good deal you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a school administrator in FCPS, I’ll agree with many who say that it’s not necessarily difficult to staff the schools (unless maybe you’re a poorly run Title I with a teacher exodus), but I will say that the QUALITY of candidate is declining. Whereas 5 years ago we were still pulling from B+ and A- candidates in July and August, waiting to hire now until that time is getting you Cs and Ds. I’d encourage folks to re-center part of this discussion on teacher quality rather than quantity. My worry is that some of the best and brightest that once saw K12 as a calling to a fulfilling career and good retirement and no longer doing so... this unfortunately leads to negative outcomes for our students.

Maybe poor school administration has something to do with it

I’m not sure whether you’re referring to school-based or district leadership, but I find it hard to believe that principals are responsibility for which major kids are choosing in college

Its probably just the low salaries and the high cost of living. I would not encourage my child to become a teacher.

Not to mention the MASSIVE amount of bureaucracy, crap from parents, and inability to discipline horrible classroom behavior that teachers have to deal with. Who in the world would want to deal with that during their entire carrier, barraged from all sides. Yet parents howl over and over about how they can't get "decent" teachers for their kids. You do it to yourselves.

Yup. I’m constantly wondering why I put myself through this. Administration comes at you with a list of new demands and responsibilities. If you ask questions, they have no answers. You’re told time and time again that “some from above” or “the state” is looking closely at what you’re doing and treated like a criminal trying to cover something up. It’s really a bizarre culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many years do you have to work in the schools to have access to the healthcare when you retire? Is it the same as when you can access retirement or different?

Access healthcare? They still have to pay for it. In my district we have to pay close to 100% of the premiums. As I’m getting closer to retirement we are talking to our financial advisor to see it makes more sense to go with a private plan. Our school insurance isn’t great and costs a lot. This isn’t really a retirement benefit.

Yes. The example above has the retiree paying all but $100 of the monthly premium in Fairfax. So there is access, you just pay the premium.

Compared to private insurance or the exchange, it’s a bargain. You two are hopelessly out of touch. You don’t even appreciate the good deal you have.

Was there really a complaint in there, or just the dollar amounts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a school administrator in FCPS, I’ll agree with many who say that it’s not necessarily difficult to staff the schools (unless maybe you’re a poorly run Title I with a teacher exodus), but I will say that the QUALITY of candidate is declining. Whereas 5 years ago we were still pulling from B+ and A- candidates in July and August, waiting to hire now until that time is getting you Cs and Ds. I’d encourage folks to re-center part of this discussion on teacher quality rather than quantity. My worry is that some of the best and brightest that once saw K12 as a calling to a fulfilling career and good retirement and no longer doing so... this unfortunately leads to negative outcomes for our students.

Maybe poor school administration has something to do with it

I’m not sure whether you’re referring to school-based or district leadership, but I find it hard to believe that principals are responsibility for which major kids are choosing in college

Its probably just the low salaries and the high cost of living. I would not encourage my child to become a teacher.

Not to mention the MASSIVE amount of bureaucracy, crap from parents, and inability to discipline horrible classroom behavior that teachers have to deal with. Who in the world would want to deal with that during their entire carrier, barraged from all sides. Yet parents howl over and over about how they can't get "decent" teachers for their kids. You do it to yourselves.

Yup. I’m constantly wondering why I put myself through this. Administration comes at you with a list of new demands and responsibilities. If you ask questions, they have no answers. You’re told time and time again that “some from above” or “the state” is looking closely at what you’re doing and treated like a criminal trying to cover something up. It’s really a bizarre culture.

While I definitely agree with you I do feel compelled to say: it is not a bizarre culture, it is US culture.

[Anonymous]

I wonder at what point it becomes equally beneficial financially for a district to offer buyouts to the teachers at the top of the pay scale.

[Anonymous]

FCPS just sent out an email soliciting substitutes, IAs, PHTAs, and PHAs to take an online class this summer and become certified to work in Special Ed, specifically in the severe disabilities classrooms. I've never seen such a thing before, and they've always had trouble filling these spots. They must be scrambling.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I wonder what the impetus for that was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just sent out an email soliciting substitutes, IAs, PHTAs, and PHAs to take an online class this summer and become certified to work in Special Ed, specifically in the severe disabilities classrooms. I've never seen such a thing before, and they've always had trouble filling these spots. They must be scrambling.

Will they pay more than $18/hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just sent out an email soliciting substitutes, IAs, PHTAs, and PHAs to take an online class this summer and become certified to work in Special Ed, specifically in the severe disabilities classrooms. I've never seen such a thing before, and they've always had trouble filling these spots. They must be scrambling.

I’m considering going for a provisional license after a few years as an IA. Who did they send this to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just sent out an email soliciting substitutes, IAs, PHTAs, and PHAs to take an online class this summer and become certified to work in Special Ed, specifically in the severe disabilities classrooms. I've never seen such a thing before, and they've always had trouble filling these spots. They must be scrambling.

Who will want these jobs? They pay nothing and these people are often the victims of abuse by students with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

I personally know of five who are not returning next year. They are a mix from FCPS, LCPS, and APS.

Only one is related to COVID.

One is related to her husband getting a huge promotion and her not wanting to work after she gives birth later this summer.

The other 3 are just fed up with parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally know of five who are not returning next year. They are a mix from FCPS, LCPS, and APS.

Only one is related to COVID.

One is related to her husband getting a huge promotion and her not wanting to work after she gives birth later this summer.

The other 3 are just fed up with parents.

That’s normal attrition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS just sent out an email soliciting substitutes, IAs, PHTAs, and PHAs to take an online class this summer and become certified to work in Special Ed, specifically in the severe disabilities classrooms. I've never seen such a thing before, and they've always had trouble filling these spots. They must be scrambling.

Who will want these jobs? They pay nothing and these people are often the victims of abuse by students with disabilities.

If you get certified you get the teacher salary. It’s still hard work but paid better than a sub