DODD Teachers Chatboard

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southernteach Wanderlust- I don't know about everyone but from what I have seen personally there are usually at least one set of initials. Plus on here most people seem to have had a set. Not sure when they started doing it but I have had an application since 2012.

Jun 4, 2018

southernteach Oh and thanks me too!!

Jun 4, 2018

Stateside hire timeline so far

by Gina

May 30, 2018

Placed on a referral list: February 15

Contacted via email to schedule interview: February 20

Phone interview: February 23

****Hiring hold****

Received tentative offer via email: May 17

Accepted and returned initial paperwork via email: May 17

Received email that my background check was initiate...See More

(19)

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Mrs.C I am feeling frustrated with this process as well. On May 1st I sent in the initial secuirty questions. It was definitely not an EQIP just my name, maiden name, contact and address history. HR told me it was "forwarded to the security team" and that they would contact me for further information.... still no contact. No email to initiat EQUIP and no...See More

Jun 1, 2018

Gina I'm right there with you, Mrs. C! I'm going to contact HR Monday to let her know that I have not received finger print cards, nor have in heard from them.

Jun 2, 2018

K-5 Referrals

by LolaTeach

May 18, 2018

Has anyone gotten any Gen. Ed. K-5 referrals yet?

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RJ Oh sorry, wrong Fort. Ha ha. I thought you said Ft Jackson.

May 19, 2018

LiteracyRocks I've had referrals for Ft. Jackson, Ft. Cambell, Ft. Bragg and two to Ft. Knox, but no interview requests. This is all in the past month/few weeks. I would love to know how to move from referral to interview! I need to find my zen...breathe, breathe...lol

Jun 2, 2018

Paychecks

by someday

Jun 1, 2018

Is it 21 or 22 paychecks for new hires overseas. I keep seeing both numbers in conversations and want to confirm. Thanks

IsItFriday? 21.5

Jun 1, 2018

haha Good point. The first check for new hires ends up being for only one week (or thereabouts).

Jun 1, 2018

EAS down?

by Hopeful

Jun 1, 2018

Does anyone know if the EAS system is down for maintenance?

joseybear I haven't been able to get on at all today. Twice it said it was offline due to scheduled maintenance.

Jun 1, 2018

IsItFriday? It's more than just the EAS. DoDEA has had a lot of trouble with this new fangled internet-thingee. If this continues we may have to break out some books.

Jun 1, 2018

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Salary questions?

by asigee

May 31, 2018

Would someone please explain the salary (all parts) for overseas positions?

I have been in education for 10 years as a teacher and administrator, how do I calculate (estimate) what my potential salary would be?

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HelpOthers For OVERSEAS positions, you would start on step 11. Their pay scale starts at step 1 for those with 0 years experience and you are credited up to 10 years of Non-DoDEA teaching experience. However, if you were going STATESIDE, you would start on step 5, because they start on step 0 with no experience and only credit up to 5 years of non-DoDEA exper...See More

Jun 1, 2018

asigee Thank you for the information.

Jun 1, 2018

New tax updates

by Ziggy

May 25, 2018

FYI, there is a little bit of news on the new tax on moves. not good for new hires or those leaving the DoDEA.

full text of the unions update:

We wanted to update our members about the situation involving taxes on relocation and other travel expenses.

Last week, the General Services Administration issued a memo (available...See MoreFYI, there is a little bit of news on the new tax on moves. not good for new hires or those leaving the DoDEA.

full text of the unions update:

We wanted to update our members about the situation involving taxes on relocation and other travel expenses.

Last week, the General Services Administration issued a memo (available here) offering additional information and guidance on some of the tax issues that have arisen as a result of the new tax law enacted last year.

The GSA memo authorizes agencies to pay Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) to cover "substantially all" of the increased tax liability for relocation expense reimbursements paid directly or indirectly to employees who are transferred "in the interest of the Government" from one official station or agency to another for permanent duty.

FEA interprets this to mean that current DoDEA employees who are reassigned/transferred from one DoDEA location to another would have to pay taxes for any government-provide moving assistance (including things like shipment of household goods, airfare or other transportation to a new location, lodging en route to the new location, etc. -- see the full list of relocation expense reimbursements now taxable in item #5 of the GSA memo). However, employees moving from one location to another in the interest of the Government (this would include DoDEA employees being relocated due to transfers and excessing) can then apply for WTA or RITA to be reimbursed for "substantially all" the taxes these employees would have to pay on moving services/reimbursements provided to them by the government.

The WTA and RITA reimbursements are NOT authorized for current employees who are separating from federal service (due to things such as retirement, resignation or termination from DoDEA). Nor are those reimbursements authorized for new employees just entering the system.

This means the tax burden on people coming into or exiting employment with DoDEA will remain in place, creating a massive financial hardship for these individuals. FEA/NEA and our partners in other agencies representing federal employees will continue pushing for a legislative fix to this incredibly unfair tax situation, in hopes that something can be passed during this tax year to eliminate this burden from separating and incoming employees. We are also calling upon DoDEA management to be forthright with new hires by informing them of this situation and the tax burden that will be placed upon them if they are relocated by the government from CONUS to another location to work in DoDEA.

FEA realizes this situation is creating a lot of stress and hardship for members, especially those who are departing DoDEA at the end of this school year. We will continue to update our members throughout the year as this situation develops.

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someday From what are they pulling the money? It makes sense if you are given a chunk of cash and they reduced the payment by 20%. Which I would happily do instead of paying taxes on government moving costs. I might get some back at tax time if they take it, hopefully.

Jun 1, 2018

Whisper I can't speak to how the new system will work, but here's how it worked when we PCSed last year: We paid our travel and lodging expenses up front and we were reimbursed a month or two later. Then when we filed our taxes in April of this year, we got a HUGE tax refund. I can only assume that the tax on our moving expenses had been withheld from my h...See More

Jun 1, 2018

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone has any experience getting hired for a 0.5 position? I'm a local hire, and I interviewed today for a half time ESL position, which is what I taught in the states for the last 5 years. My question, though, is if I get offered the position and I accept it, is it possible that I could get offered another half tim...See More

Half Time Position??

by Whisper

May 31, 2018

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LolaTeach Ha Ha is correct. Steps increased every other year. I received the standard three personal days, however sick leave was accrued at half the rate.

Jun 1, 2018

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HelpOthers Once you are employed 0.5 time, if a 0.5 position opens that you are qualified for, they can ask if you want to increase to 1.0 without interviewing others. Especially if it is an ESL position.

Jun 1, 2018

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Wait Wait Wait

by Anna

May 29, 2018

Do I have to wait and get a referral, what should I do more get a referral

any informations and concerns?

joseybear Sadly, it is a waiting game...each every step of the way. I don't believe there's anything to do to get on a referral. HR told me that once folks are deemed qualified in areas; the top 25 make it on a list. The list is computer generated; there's some type of scoring that's done. I only got one email that I went out on a referral and didn't get an ...See More

May 29, 2018

haha The only thing you can do really to increase your chances is to add additional areas of certification/qualification, thereby maximizing the number of positions you could be considered for. Other than that, it's pretty much waiting.

May 29, 2018

Dogs in Germany

by Newbie

May 24, 2018

Has anyone moved to Germany with dogs? What was the process like? Can anyone share any links or information? TIA!

haha No personal experience but have seen these links posted before:

http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Germany.cfm

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/eu/pettravel-germany

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472299942984690/?hc_location=ufi

May 25, 2018

Like (1)

joseybear We lived there for 6 years with a dog and a cat (2 different rotations). You need a vet certificate with 30 days of travel. Same on the way out. It's pretty easy. Germans allow dogs most places depending on behavior. It's common to see them going to a restaurant, etc.

May 28, 2018