Question for Teachers who switched from DCPS to MCPS

[Anonymous]

I have a (not pandemic related) question for teachers who used to teach in DCPS and then moved to MCPS. I know about the pay scale differences, but can you tell me about what else you found was different, either good or bad, between teaching in DCPS and teaching in MCPS? I'm currently in DCPS and reasonably happy, but I wish I had a shorter commute.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

What are the pay scale differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the pay scale differences?

DC pays more.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of switching from DCPS for my sanity but I would lose $30k in salary. Not only is the pay at each step less, but you can only enter at a certain step, like 8. So if you are above that it pays to switch sooner rather than later. (Maybe someone who has done the switch can confirm whether they actually follow this guidance?)

[Anonymous]

At the top of the scale, DCPS only pays 10k more than MCPS. Not worth it based on cost of living alone. Commuting time and travel expense also makes the increase not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the top of the scale, DCPS only pays 10k more than MCPS. Not worth it based on cost of living alone. Commuting time and travel expense also makes the increase not worth it.

Yes, but reaching the top scale at DCPS takes less years than in MCPS where it remains the same from years 20-25 and 25-30.
Had I stayed at DCPS my salary would have been about $15.000 per year right now.
With the upcoming salary freezes and raising insurance premiums by 10%, teaching in DCPS is definitely better deal financially speaking.

[Anonymous]

I meant to say $15.000 MORE.

[Anonymous]

I transferred from DCPS to MCPS in 2016 so maybe my info is dated?

The biggest differences I found were:

You were more likely to get hired with a master's degree especially if you have previous teaching experience
New teachers with BA only are most likely 21/22 years olds coming straight from undergrad
If you have your master's degree, you can easily get to the M+30 or M+60 category by taking MD CPD courses that cost only $90. These courses happen every fall, spring, and summer.
Principals can be either good or bad like anywhere else, but once you have a good principal, you're really good.
It's easier to find good principals here.
The parent community often is stronger and more supportive here. But also super competitive, even NW DCPS parents have nothing on MCPS parents.
Unlike in DCPS, the kids come to school prepared to learn and are often at or above the benchmark.
There's a greater work/life balance than in DCPS.
Mental health support is a big deal here
The school communities and cultures are vastly light-years apart from DCPS. I found it to be very supportive. But still like anywhere else, you never know who knows who, so be on your best behavior.
Hiring takes a bit longer than DCPS because MCPS has to send their new hires info through the state of MD dept of ED.
Planning time is seen as necessary, actually protected and helps teachers effectively plan lessons.

What you like in pay, its made up in other ways. So, yes while my salary in DCPS was better, my mental, emotional and social health was not while in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how the pensions differ? I'm in MCPS so I am familiar with that system. Curious about DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I transferred from DCPS to MCPS in 2016 so maybe my info is dated?

The biggest differences I found were:

You were more likely to get hired with a master's degree especially if you have previous teaching experience
New teachers with BA only are most likely 21/22 years olds coming straight from undergrad
If you have your master's degree, you can easily get to the M+30 or M+60 category by taking MD CPD courses that cost only $90. These courses happen every fall, spring, and summer.
Principals can be either good or bad like anywhere else, but once you have a good principal, you're really good.
It's easier to find good principals here.
The parent community often is stronger and more supportive here. But also super competitive, even NW DCPS parents have nothing on MCPS parents.
Unlike in DCPS, the kids come to school prepared to learn and are often at or above the benchmark.
There's a greater work/life balance than in DCPS.
Mental health support is a big deal here
The school communities and cultures are vastly light-years apart from DCPS. I found it to be very supportive. But still like anywhere else, you never know who knows who, so be on your best behavior.
Hiring takes a bit longer than DCPS because MCPS has to send their new hires info through the state of MD dept of ED.
Planning time is seen as necessary, actually protected and helps teachers effectively plan lessons.

What you like in pay, its made up in other ways. So, yes while my salary in DCPS was better, my mental, emotional and social health was not while in DCPS.

OP here. Thank you. This is very helpful.

Anyone else have experience to share? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I know that this thread is older, but I wanted to bump it to see if there were any additional perspectives. I'm not the OP, but have been in DCPS for about a decade and it feels especially unsustainable. I know I would be taking a 10-15k paycut if I moved to MCPS, but at the moment I really feel like I am not teaching. This is my second school in DCPS and the behavioral issues (fights, kids leaving class, cursing me out if I question them) and lack of support from admin are very disheartening.

I know many - if not most -teachers (and students) are really struggling right now- but if there are any teachers who are currently happy in MCPS, can you share why? What is working for you, your students and your school?javascript:void(0);

[Anonymous]

Also, OP, if you ended up switching to MCPS, can you share how things are going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I transferred from DCPS to MCPS in 2016 so maybe my info is dated?

The biggest differences I found were:

You were more likely to get hired with a master's degree especially if you have previous teaching experience
New teachers with BA only are most likely 21/22 years olds coming straight from undergrad
If you have your master's degree, you can easily get to the M+30 or M+60 category by taking MD CPD courses that cost only $90. These courses happen every fall, spring, and summer.
Principals can be either good or bad like anywhere else, but once you have a good principal, you're really good.
It's easier to find good principals here.
The parent community often is stronger and more supportive here. But also super competitive, even NW DCPS parents have nothing on MCPS parents.
Unlike in DCPS, the kids come to school prepared to learn and are often at or above the benchmark.
There's a greater work/life balance than in DCPS.
Mental health support is a big deal here
The school communities and cultures are vastly light-years apart from DCPS. I found it to be very supportive. But still like anywhere else, you never know who knows who, so be on your best behavior.
Hiring takes a bit longer than DCPS because MCPS has to send their new hires info through the state of MD dept of ED.
Planning time is seen as necessary, actually protected and helps teachers effectively plan lessons.

What you like in pay, its made up in other ways. So, yes while my salary in DCPS was better, my mental, emotional and social health was not while in DCPS.

OP here. Thank you. This is very helpful.

Anyone else have experience to share? Thank you!

In my experience, planning time in MCPS is NOT protected. You will get pulled to do coverage or attend IEP and 504 meetings.

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about moving to DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that this thread is older, but I wanted to bump it to see if there were any additional perspectives. I'm not the OP, but have been in DCPS for about a decade and it feels especially unsustainable. I know I would be taking a 10-15k paycut if I moved to MCPS, but at the moment I really feel like I am not teaching. This is my second school in DCPS and the behavioral issues (fights, kids leaving class, cursing me out if I question them) and lack of support from admin are very disheartening.

I know many - if not most -teachers (and students) are really struggling right now- but if there are any teachers who are currently happy in MCPS, can you share why? What is working for you, your students and your school?javascript:void(0);

I teach at an elementary school in the Germantown/Gaithersburg area and we have these behaviors too. I will say, admin is supportive but the parents/guardins are not. Teaching in general is very different now than it was five or ten years ago. We need a lot more training around trauma and more wrap around services for families. I think many of society's problems are getting played out in schools now and we are ill-equipped to address them in any meaningful way.