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[quote=Anonymous]Current DCPS teacher here. The new pay increase seemed great, but morale is really low. After seeing how much my friends and family make in other fields - I still think the pay is low, especially because I know I have transferable skills that could get me a better paying job elsewhere. However, there are benefits: summers off, Thanksgiving break, Winter break, Spring break, federal holidays. Basically, all my pros are the days we don't have to go to work.

If you're someone who doesn't have to work, then really think about if you want to choose a job where you're going to spend most of your time thinking about an upcoming day off. Like any job, there are positives and negatives. I'm starting to feel the scale tip towards the negatives, especially when I see job postings for more money than I currently earn. If you do decide to go back, set clear boundaries for yourself (e.g. only work during contract hours, don't take on more responsibilities, email parents as first form of communication, etc.). The negatives include: increase workload for everyone due to the shortage, more admin roles that center around observing rather than helping or guiding, increase class sizes, decrease support staff, increase in meetings (currently have grade-level alc, content leap, sped meetings, content observation debrief, and sped observation debrief every week), decrease in planning time, increase in workload/expectations, and decrease in positive student interactions (due to behavior and lack of discipline in schools). To survive you just have to do what you can and ignore the rest.

Now, you seem to be motivated by pay. Next year I will be earning 107k with an opportunity for a 10k bonus. I'm staying for the pay and retirement benefits until at least SY24-25 so that I can vest but also so that I can watch my freshman class graduate. I love some of my students (and even the difficult ones will usually have moments that pull at my heart strings), I love my summers off, I like most of my colleagues. When everything goes great, teaching can be a lot of fun.

I still don't think the pay is worth it unless you really really really love it. Figure out what your transferable skills are and find a cushy WFH job. If you taught for several years and have a masters, you are qualified. [/quote]

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