Re: Teacher's Way of Life in Colorado
Posted by Christine on 6/03/08
On 12/31/07, dog has bad ears wrote:
> Happy New Year Michele,
>
> You are in for a shock when you see the prices of houses.
> Douglas County is very expensive and you won't get a house for
> under $200,000. At 200K, it will be just a modest house at that.
> This is a nice website to use: www.recolorado.com Get some zip
> codes and search that way. There are cheaper places in the
> Denver Metro area that are just as nice and safe. Douglas seems
> to be rapidly growing at an alarming rate!!
>
> I've heard some parts of Colorado Springs are a bit cheaper.
> Quite frankly - it's so pretty there. The city is so close to
> the foothills and wow! - breathtaking views!
>
> I teach in Douglas County - which is the third largest district
> in Colorado. Unlike another poster who hates Douglas - I love it
> and I plan to retire here! I had no problems getting a job, my
> salary more than doubled from Louisiana (but the cost of living
> will shock you) and Douglas has a great support system and they
> even offer great classes which you get paid to take. There are
> pay for performance opportunities as well. Personally, I think
> we have good benefits. We get disability, health, dental,
> vision, hearing aids and life insurance. I have insurance for
> myself only as my spouse carries his own. The district pays my
> dental of $37 a month - I pay nothing. District pays $5.00 a
> month for my vision coverage and I pay nothing. My insurance
> plan that I chose allows $2250 every three years for hearing
> aids and I pay nothing for that either. The district covers my
> insurance since it's just me. In Douglas, you can add a spouse
> or you can do spouse & family and you'd pay for them. Joining
> the union is optional in Douglas County. Last year the union got
> us over a 4&37; raise as well!
>
> While searching for school districts - watch on the pay scale
> where you max out. Example: Douglas County pays up to Masters
> plus 48 hours and then jumps to Doctorate. Some other districts
> have one more step before Doctorate and that's Masters plus 60
> hours. Just so you're aware - You'll have to search out the
> websites for pay scales. Here's the link to Douglas County,
> since I'm most familiar with it:
> http://www.dcsdk12.org/portal/page/portal/DCSD/Human_Resources/Ce
> rtified_Staff/Salary&37;20Schedule0708.pdf
>
> The other thing is to look at calendars. 23 of our 44 elementary
> schools operate on a year round calendar here in Douglas County.
> This is due to population. I have worked the traditional
> calendar and now am on "track" and I really enjoy it. I work 9
> weeks, off for 3, etc. Not sure what other districts operate a
> year round calendar. Here's the link for Douglas County
> calendar:
> http://www.dcsdk12.org/portal/page/portal/DCSD/District_Informati
> on/Calendars_and_Maps/07-08&37;20DCSD&37;20Calendar.pdf
>
> Your question of "can we afford to live there if both are
> teachers?" I personally know of over 20 couples in Douglas
> County that both work for the district. I think it's do-able.
> You can get creative and buy a bank-owned home (foreclosed) and
> that will save you a good chunk. Think too that if you're both
> working for the district, one of you would get free insurance
> and the other would carry family.
>
> Good luck, ask more questions if you'd like. I'm sure you'll get
> other responses as well. You can call a few districts and see
> when and where their job fairs are. I know Douglas hires a lot
> of people out of town at job fairs and since our year starts
> July 5th, we start hire early! Best if you apply for Colorado
> certification NOW as it takes at least 12 weeks. I have listed
> some websites for you - perhaps you can copy and print:
>
> http://www.cde.state.co.us/utility/k12schls.htm
> This site lists the school districts in Colorado.
>
>
> **Colorado Springs Area
> http://www.asd20.org/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
> Academy 20 - Colorado Springs
>
> http://www.cssd11.k12.co.us/
> Colorado Springs District 11
>
> http://www.harrison.k12.co.us/
> Harrison District 2 – Colorado Springs
>
> http://hanover.ppboces.org/
> Hanover District 28 – Colorado Springs
>
> http://www.wsd3.org/
> Widefield – Colorado Springs
>
> ***Between Colorado Springs & Castle Rock (Douglas County)
> http://lewispalmer.org/
> Lewis-Palmer District 38 - Monument
>
> **East of Denver
> http://www.aps.k12.co.us/
> Aurora Public Schools
>
> http://www.ccsd.k12.co.us/index.htm
> Cherry Creek School District
>
> ***Denver
> http://www.dpsk12.org/
> Denver Public Schools
>
> ***South of Denver
> http://www.dcsdk12.org/portal/page/portal/DCSD
> Douglas County
>
> http://www.littletonpublicschools.net/
> Littleton Public Schools
>
> http://www.englewoodschools.org/
> Englewood School District
>
> ***West of Denver
>
> http://jeffco.k12.co.us/
> Jeffco Public Schools
>
> ***North of Denver
>
> http://www.adams12.org/
> Adams 12 5 Star Schools Northglenn / Thornton
>
> http://www.acsd14.k12.co.us/index.asp
> Adams 14 - Commerce City
>
> http://www.brightonps27j.k12.co.us/
> Adams 27 J - Brighton
>
> http://www.adams50.org/
> Adams 50 - Westminster
>
> http://www.acsd1.k12.co.us/
> Adams 1 - Mapleton
>
>
>
>
>
> On 12/31/07, Michele wrote:
>> Thank you so much for your response.
>> In Colorado Springs and Denver metro areas (where we would
>> like to move) do teachers pay incredible amounts per month for
>> health insurance? I went to a website for a Denver district
>> recently and it appeared that the health insurance that they
>> take out of your paycheck every month was sky-high. I may
>> have read it wrong.
>> How is the pay in these districts? What is the average salary
>> for a teacher with masters and 4-5 years experience? Also,
>> what is the average cost for a home? I really want to know if
>> my 2 boys, my husband, and I can live comfortably (not rich or
>> anything) in Colorado while both of us are teachers. Any
>> thoughts/advice?
>>
>>
>>
What are your thoughts for Gunnison County? I've heard it is really
growing...
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