LGP Education thread

[Pavel Bure]

Sadly I'm getting out of the education game. I have multiple friends in the schools I sub in and they've all approached me and told me the schools are not hiring from their sub lists because they are hurting so badly for subs. I have an interview with EDMC tomorrow and have put multiple applications into other avenues. If I get the job I'm interviewing for tomorrow it starts me out making more money than I would if I was teaching. There's just no winning in the teaching profession in Western PA right now. Unless you have the right last name it's not possible right now in Western PA.

[count2infinity]

Sadly I'm getting out of the education game. I have multiple friends in the schools I sub in and they've all approached me and told me the schools are not hiring from their sub lists because they are hurting so badly for subs. I have an interview with EDMC tomorrow and have put multiple applications into other avenues. If I get the job I'm interviewing for tomorrow it starts me out making more money than I would if I was teaching. There's just no winning in the teaching profession in Western PA right now. Unless you have the right last name it's not possible right now in Western PA.

Do you still have a passion to be a teacher? If so I would keep up with certifications (act 80 and whatnot) and keep trying for teacher positions as you move into your career.

[Pavel Bure]

Sadly I'm getting out of the education game. I have multiple friends in the schools I sub in and they've all approached me and told me the schools are not hiring from their sub lists because they are hurting so badly for subs. I have an interview with EDMC tomorrow and have put multiple applications into other avenues. If I get the job I'm interviewing for tomorrow it starts me out making more money than I would if I was teaching. There's just no winning in the teaching profession in Western PA right now. Unless you have the right last name it's not possible right now in Western PA.

Do you still have a passion to be a teacher? If so I would keep up with certifications (act 80 and whatnot) and keep trying for teacher positions as you move into your career.

Oh for sure, I still enjoy it but it really sucks to hear flatout that putting time in with a district you want to teach in is meaningless. That's the plan, get another job, and use that as a stop gap/stepping stone. Right now with the job I'm interviewing for it would add College Admissions Specialist to my resume which can't look bad.

[MWB]

Sorry, that really sucks. I really lucked out to get my job in western pa. In NC it's better, but the pay sucks.

[Pavel Bure]

Sorry, that really sucks. I really lucked out to get my job in western pa. In NC it's better, but the pay sucks.

Right. Because I have a family etc. staying around here is what I have to do. My wife has a good job and this job I'm interviewing for starts out with pretty good pay and nice annual raises with lots of opportunity to move up in the company. I have a couple friends that have worked there for multiple years.

[count2infinity]

My wife is convinced we're going to be moving to Cleveland to live close to her family. Living close to my family is not an option as there would never be a job for one of us there let alone both of us (both getting PhDs in chemistry). I told her over and over... I have no doubt at all that we will both be able to get jobs. The problem is location. For us both to get a job in the same city is going to be a stroke of luck, let alone thinking we're both going to get a job in a specific city.

[dodint]

I had the same problem this summer when I was job hunting. Really wanted Pittsburgh, but the chances of even getting the job at all was so remote it was really wishful thinking to hope to get to pick the city too. Hence, Wisconsin. Good luck.

[columbia]

My wife is convinced we're going to be moving to Cleveland to live close to her family. Living close to my family is not an option as there would never be a job for one of us there let alone both of us (both getting PhDs in chemistry). I told her over and over... I have no doubt at all that we will both be able to get jobs. The problem is location. For us both to get a job in the same city is going to be a stroke of luck, let alone thinking we're both going to get a job in a specific city.

My buddy has a PhD from UPS in geography (and I believe that it's a very highly regarded program). There was no way that he could ever sell his wife on moving to Western Alabama State (fictional) or wherever for a teaching job, so he works for the NY state department of health and teaches a data mapping class on the side. They're very happy in Albany.

Even with advanced degrees, you have to make compromises.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

That's a big reason why I want to move to a pwrmanext place before I get in a long term relationship. I live in Jersey City/NYC now but I'm like 95% sure I want to move someqhere between Virginia and South Carolina.

I've had to break up with two girls in the last year because they were expecting long term relationships (I'm bad at communicating, OK?)

At least I'm in software so finding a job where I want shouldn't be too hard.

[MWB]

Agreed on all counts. What I took away from the video is exactly what I've always said when it comes to education, there is no silver bullet, despite everyone looking for one. While all these things help students, and while teaching I had used video (and gifs) and static images depending on what I'm attempting to demonstrate. Sometimes it was just easier to do an in class demonstration, sometimes it's enough to just describe it. Every student is different, every subject is different, every teacher is different (in strengths and weaknesses), so the idea that one particular thing is going to "revolutionize" education is ridiculous to me. Will it enhance learning? Sure, but not revolutionize and be a cure-all.

Along the lines of this discussion, had a staff meeting today about copyright laws, which basically said don't use things off the Internet without permission. I get that, and for the most part it's understandable. However, I now have to go through all my power points and make citations for any images that I've added. I also need to go through my website and take down most of the stuff that I've posted to share with parents, as some might not be completely copyright legal. Neither is a huge deal, just makes things a bit harder. Also found out that we can't show YouTube videos to kids through sites that block the ads. Lastly, it'll be interesting to see what curriculum coordinators who have always told us in hushed tones, "It's okay to make copies of those copyrighted testing materials" say now.
The best part was when we were told that since we've now been trained on copyright laws, if anyone decides to sue the district about it, they will just point to the teacher, say they were trained, so go after them.

[Pavel Bure]

Now I have an interview this Friday for an SLA position that pays like crap but is the hiring pipeline for the district. Now if I interview well for this I have hard decisions. Get paid like crap and possibly parlay that into a full time teaching job or take the job that pays a nice starting wage with guaranteed wage increases but not in the schools.

[Pavel Bure]

Well no idea if the interview went well or not. One guy was happy, another was engaged but no emotion, another might as well have not been there. I really hate education interviews. They run through so many candidates and ask the same questions it's impossible to judge how you did. You're just a number, I sound so jaded.

[MWB]

I've been pretty fortunate with interviews. Two of them, it was just a formality and the job was mine. The other one was as you described though.

[dodint]

The job I had before this I interviewed with the guy that was trying to recruit me, so it was amazing.

The interview I had for my current job I felt like I totally wrecked, but I got it anyway.

I'm sure you fall somewhere in between.

[MWB]

This article spotlights a problem in education, which is retaining teachers. Many want to focus on how to get rid of bad teachers, but it's probably more important to keep good ones. I'd say do both, but we're pretty single-minded in regards to education.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorriso ... ping-them/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[count2infinity]

Typically, good teachers are good at other things as well. Other things that pay better. Other things that don't induce nearly as much stress. Other things that aren't looked down upon by a large portion of the population. It's no wonder they leave.

[44windmill]

Not sure if this fits in the Education thread or the stock market thread, but does anybody put money into a 529 plan? I only know the basics of the 529 like it has to be used on education unless you want to pay a hefty fine, you can roll it over to other siblings, etc. But what about different types of plans? It seems as if each state has it's own 529, but you don't have to use your home state's 529 nor does your child have to use it in the state you invest in. I guess my question is, how do I decide where to invest this money - is each state managed by a different fund manager, etc?

[MWB]

Typically, good teachers are good at other things as well. Other things that pay better. Other things that don't induce nearly as much stress. Other things that aren't looked down upon by a large portion of the population. It's no wonder they leave.

I think if more people shared this sentiment it wouldn't be as much of a problem.

[Rylan]

Typically, good teachers are good at other things as well. Other things that pay better. Other things that don't induce nearly as much stress. Other things that aren't looked down upon by a large portion of the population. It's no wonder they leave.

I think if more people shared this sentiment it wouldn't be as much of a problem.

It seems like with c2i's background in teaching that he understands this better than most ever will. Teachers have a lot of stigmas to hurdle in the US that aren't likely going to happen anytime soon. You hear phrases such as, "Those who can't, teach," or "They have summers off." I was a bad student and I recognize myself as such. It would not surprise me in the least if I had quite a few stressed teachers trying to make me reach potential instead of whatever I was at the moment.

[King Sid the Great 87]

Not sure if this fits in the Education thread or the stock market thread, but does anybody put money into a 529 plan? I only know the basics of the 529 like it has to be used on education unless you want to pay a hefty fine, you can roll it over to other siblings, etc. But what about different types of plans? It seems as if each state has it's own 529, but you don't have to use your home state's 529 nor does your child have to use it in the state you invest in. I guess my question is, how do I decide where to invest this money - is each state managed by a different fund manager, etc?

I haven't looked into it for the reasons you stated; it's limited to education. If you aren't getting the full match from your company on 401k contributions or maxing out a Roth 401k (from which you can withdraw your contributions at any point) those are two better places to start, in my opinion.

If those options are available to you, the only thing I can think of that is "better" about a 529 is that it definitively allocates the money to education. But if you have self-control, you can handle that yourself and invest in other ways.

[dodint]

It seems like with c2i's background in teaching that he understands this better than most ever will. Teachers have a lot of stigmas to hurdle in the US that aren't likely going to happen anytime soon. You hear phrases such as, "Those who can't, teach," or "They have summers off." I was a bad student and I recognize myself as such. It would not surprise me in the least if I had quite a few stressed teachers trying to make me reach potential instead of whatever I was at the moment.

On the flip side there are a lot of apathetic teachers. Anecdotal for sure, but when I matriculated through 7-12th grade at Latrobe I managed to catch a wave of retirements. One of my teachers taught my Dad. This meant a large portion of teachers were either 30+ year folks just biding time until they punched out or I had their replacements who were, what, 6 years older than me? My senior year Astronomy teacher married one of my classmates when she was a freshman in college.

I did have two or three really great teachers that I responded to and remember fondly. One of which was drummed out shortly after I graduated because he was gay.

Teachers are like any other group, some winners and losers with the majority in between. I wonder if the new-to-the-profession teachers I had almost 15 years ago are hitting their mid-career stride now.

[count2infinity]

What's "a lot"? 5%? 50%? 75%?

Edit: I think the point of discussion here is that there isn't enough focus on finding and keeping good teachers. Imagine how terrible a company would be if they don't recruit and hire the best and keep the best, but rather simply focus on trying to make bad employees better.

[dodint]

Without pulling out a yearbook I'd put it at 40%. I caught a wave, my class retired a ton of teachers and most of them were worn out. They were completely disengaged. Only one of the retirees put in effort and he was amazing, I still use him as a benchmark for professionalism in my mind.

[count2infinity]

40% of teachers are apathetic and coasting to retirement? Wow... I don't even know what to say.

[44windmill]

Not sure if this fits in the Education thread or the stock market thread, but does anybody put money into a 529 plan? I only know the basics of the 529 like it has to be used on education unless you want to pay a hefty fine, you can roll it over to other siblings, etc. But what about different types of plans? It seems as if each state has it's own 529, but you don't have to use your home state's 529 nor does your child have to use it in the state you invest in. I guess my question is, how do I decide where to invest this money - is each state managed by a different fund manager, etc?

I haven't looked into it for the reasons you stated; it's limited to education. If you aren't getting the full match from your company on 401k contributions or maxing out a Roth 401k (from which you can withdraw your contributions at any point) those are two better places to start, in my opinion.

If those options are available to you, the only thing I can think of that is "better" about a 529 is that it definitively allocates the money to education. But if you have self-control, you can handle that yourself and invest in other ways.

This is definitely for education for our kid(s) -> we only have 1 now, but will probably have at least 1 more. I believe 529's are more conservative and therefore less risky than most mutual funds. Plus the added benefit of no taxes on the capital gained and I believe a tax break if given as a "gift". I was just curious as to know how to choose the right 529.