I was referring to single parents who are trying to raise their kid(s) of a teaching salary. It doesn't work out well financially. That is why I wrote "by yourself."

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to be realistic PP but if you have a child or children, good luck trying to make it on a teacher's salary in the DC area by yourself. I guess you could live in a one bedroom or maybe a cheaper basement apartment or something. You would need to find a summer job that allowed you to bring your child/children to work with you and those jobs are few and far between (and you won't make enough in a summer job to match your teaching salary). Paying for daycare/camps is very pricey too so getting a different type of summer job and affording childcare is $$$. That's great that you could support yourself as a single person on a teaching salary but add some kids to the situation and you will find it quite difficult in this expensive area.

No one said that the only alternative to relying on a husband's salary is having to make it on your own. Both partners can contribute to the finances of the family in equal or similar measures.

Sorry to be realistic PP but if you have a child or children, good luck trying to make it on a teacher's salary in the DC area by yourself. I guess you could live in a one bedroom or maybe a cheaper basement apartment or something. You would need to find a summer job that allowed you to bring your child/children to work with you and those jobs are few and far between (and you won't make enough in a summer job to match your teaching salary). Paying for daycare/camps is very pricey too so getting a different type of summer job and affording childcare is $$$. That's great that you could support yourself as a single person on a teaching salary but add some kids to the situation and you will find it quite difficult in this expensive area.

Anonymous wrote:It depends on how much you need to earn. If you have a DH who can support you financially, you may choose private over public. But for most grads who are single and have student loans to repay, public is a necessity. These days, most grads would be happy to find any teaching job.

ugh

I hate when women - teachers especially - make that comment.

It's so insulting to women and to teachers.

I supported myself as a first year teacher b/c I took on summer work. And I owned a condo at the time.

What a way to push women forward.

Thanks, PP, for making us look good.

I've taught in several states and was actually shocked by how expensive the heath care coverage was for FCPS teachers. Perhaps Mont. Co. is better. I was offered an early-hire contract by both, though, and salaries were entirely comparable, right up through the top of the scale.

High schools in FCPS that are seen as *easy* in terms of student issues (i.e. no violence, involved parents) are Langley, T.J. and McLean. But of course, involved parents are a mixed blessing. Teachers tend to feel that way about private schools too, so if given the choice between one of those schools or a private school, I'd take the better pay.

In addition to the ok salary, MCPS offers really good health, dental, and prescription med benefits (way more generous and cheaper then the plans offered to fed gov't employee's)...

Anonymous wrote:It depends on how much you need to earn. If you have a DH who can support you financially, you may choose private over public. But for most grads who are single and have student loans to repay, public is a necessity. These days, most grads would be happy to find any teaching job.

Teacher here. Totally agree with this. I teach in FCPS.

Does this mean that MoCo gets the best teachers?

Not necessarily. It means they could potentially get the most applications, but whether they end up with the best teachers has more to do with their hiring process.

Anonymous wrote:In MD, Montgomery County. It's the highest pay in the state. (Many are equal when it comes to first year teachers, but over time, MCPS is the highest pay and the gap between MCPS and other counties widens the more experience you get). I couldn't afford to teach in most private schools.

Does this mean that MoCo gets the best teachers?

It depends on how much you need to earn. If you have a DH who can support you financially, you may choose private over public. But for most grads who are single and have student loans to repay, public is a necessity. These days, most grads would be happy to find any teaching job.

In MD, Montgomery County. It's the highest pay in the state. (Many are equal when it comes to first year teachers, but over time, MCPS is the highest pay and the gap between MCPS and other counties widens the more experience you get). I couldn't afford to teach in most private schools.

Where do most new grads want to work?
Northern VA. Maryland, DC, private? If VA, which county, if MD, which county?