Reply to How is FCPS teacher/staff shortage?

Forum Index » Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Reply to "How is FCPS teacher/staff shortage?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A teacher who picks up an additional class to teach will also get a significant salary increase.  Some will want to do it, especially if the teacher is near retirement.  (Retirement pay is based on the average of the last few years of teaching.)  [/quote]

No, retirement is based on the three highest years, which is why some teachers leave teaching and become an IA for a year or two. It is less responsibility, but their retirement is not affected.[/quote]

Do IAs have VRS benefits? I need to teach a few more years and it’s getting so hard. My salary doesn’t significantly increase anymore and DH makes the primary salary. This sounds like a great idea and something for me to look into. I would rather take a pay cut with less responsibility than pick up an extra class in my final teaching years. [/quote]

It is my impression there is a different retirement plan/options for IAs.[/quote]

It's the same. The IA salary is so bad and burnout is so high that most don't pay much attention to the VRS benefits. I doubt most IAs nowadays stay at the job long enough for it to be a good incentive. This is obviously different for teachers who switch to IA positions in their final years.

In previous years, I'd say switching to an IA role in the final years would be a fun way to wind down. Now? Not so sure. I would talk to a couple IAs at your specific school before you decide to do this. Our school has four leaving this year, even though they're taking reduced benefits to do so. [/quote]

Why is IA burnout a thing? IAs don’t have to do conferences or any planning or grading. Please explain. [/quote]
Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea what an IA does?[/quote]

Somewhat, but I was an FCPS teacher. So not exactly, which is why I asked. I wondered if I should come back as an IA.[/quote]

How old are you? I'm not trying to be snarky; this is a serious question. Being an IA nowadays is physically demanding. You're dealing with students who need you to crouch down and be on their level, supporting students who cannot get off the bus by themselves or tie their own shoes, situations where you're running all over the school covering different classrooms, or chasing after students who elope, helping students who need postural support, and/or need helping with feeding and toileting. Most people over 50 and definitely over 55 are not cut out for that 7 hours per day, 5 days per week.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics