Re: Jobs in NE Ohio

I too moved to NE Ohio from Georgia. While the pay is less
(not too keen on the turnip greens comment) at least your
qualifications are the emphasis there. My former principal
separates the resumes into three different piles according to
degree and ALWAYS goes to the highest stack first. I have 10
years of experience and a Masters as well. In GA your degree
and experience takes top priority not who you know. I have
had principals tell me they want to know who I know and who
knows me. Luckily I have met some pretty significant people
over the past year and I was still passed over for someone
that was cheaper. Don't expect to start on the payscale with
the same years of experience. You could teach for 20 years
and still may only recieve service credit for half those
years, if you are lucky. Now I am in the sub pool and being
a teacher with an actual teaching degree doesn't give me top
priority either. The secretary's who get the paperwork in
request certain people even though they are not supposed to.
I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to a school
either as a sub or as a parent and see the same people
working there over and over. I get called in the morning of
or I have to call and ask for any available jobs and it is
clear that these subs were called in well in advance. Some
are retired teachers and others are subs who have been
subbing for years because they are people who have four year
degrees (which is a requirement for subs in OH) and are not
working in their field because they stayed home to raise kids
who are now in school. I don't get it. Why is someone more
qualified to be called in to sub just because they have been
doing it for a few years when I am a teacher with an advanced
degree and plenty of experience? I would take a para
position but there are too many people ahead of me for those
jobs as well. Those people may not even have a degree but
they have been paras for years so when a new position becomes
available they get first dibs. It is only when no one wants
the job is it opened up to external applicants who may be
more qualified. That is why I am bothered by SOME of the
union practices. What ever happened to the most qualified
having a chance to get a decent job? Just because someone
has been in a district for x number of years doesn't make
them the most qualified. BTW I would take a lower salary as
well but the union has it's hands in that too. Sorry to be
such a downer but I am going on year two without a position
and I am TICKED! At least you have the special ed and
reading to your advantage and your location is a plus. I am
west of Cleveland and my options are limited. Where in Ga
are you moving from?

On 11/19/09, you're making me nervous wrote:
> I keep reading posts about how hard it is for experienced
> teachers to get jobs in NE Ohio. I am moving to Madison,
> Ohio (east of Cleveland-near Mentor) in June. I am
> certified special ed and reading. I have a Masters and 9
> years exp. Please tell me where in NE Ohio you are talking
> about. I'm willing to take a lower pay step...I'm moving
> from Georgia where they pay us in turnup greens and gave us
> three furlough days this semester with an undisclosed
> amount of furlough days to come in the spring.