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On 1/07/15, EasTexSteve wrote:
> Though I don't teach in "prison" schools, my wife works for
> Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and I have spent time in
> many of the units.
>
> To start with, you will be dealing with the worst of the
> worst. The special ed population of TJJD is about 46 percent.
> (It's no secret what we do with our mentally challenged
people
> these days. We send them to jail.) However, even though many
> of them are quite nasty, you will also find out that many of
> these are students that public school has failed miserably to
> serve, and that's why they are where they are.
>
> TJJD incarcerates only the serious offenders who have
> committed violent crimes. They stopped taking drug offenders
> and other lesser crimes about a year or so ago. These are not
> nice kids. There are very strict rules regarding how you
> conduct yourself in the units.
>
> Under the law, TJJD is itself a school district, even though
> there are 5 to 6 units scattered around the state. They are a
> year round school. Texas Education Code applies to them,
> unless the code says otherwise.
>
> The benefits are better than TRS since they are on the ERS
> state retirement and insurance system. If you decide to work
> for them, your TRS account will transfer over. The pay rate
> per day is usually in line with the highest paid local school
> district. They pay into both ERS and Social Security.
>
> You won't be taking home any work. Every unit I have seen
> does not let the education staff take any work home. They
> also don't work any overtime. They are on the job at 7:15,
> and when 4:15 comes, it's quitting time. They punch out for
> lunch. Most education employees leave the premises for lunch.
>
> There is always friction between the corrections staff, and
> the education staff in every unit I've been to. I think it
> stems from education being paid more, and also because
> corrections are hourly employees. Almost anybody can get a
> job as a corrections officer.
>
> By far, the best teachers I have ever encountered work for
> TJJD. But, they also have plenty of losers just biding time
> until they can cash in on that state retirement. They WILL
> NOT hire inexperienced teachers.

Thanks for the information, EastTxSteve. The one I am applying
for is the Windham School District, which, as you probably
know, is for adult prisons across the state.

Also, can you explain a little more about the ERS retirement
and insurance plans. On a tangent, I mentioned it earlier, but
may not have explained it very well. When I started my own
business, I withdrew my contributions from TRS to finance it.
So what I was wondering is how long would it take to be vested
in ERS so as to draw a pension upon full retirement (I don't
have the "magic 80" number yet! LOL). Thanks!

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