Need some advice, considering changing schools

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Primary Elementary Teachers Chatboard

Need some advice, considering changing schools

by so torn

Mar 23, 2009

I need some advice please! I am currently working at a terrific school- great colleagues and grade level team, awesome principal. It is not my 'perfect match' as far as educational philosophy because we use a basal program and I prefer leveled texts for guided reading (this is first grade)but I am adapting things to my own style and learning to appreciate the basal in some ways. This job is 25 minutes from home, I leave at 6:30, so I do not see my kids before they leave for school in morning. I get home between 4 and 4:30 usually. I stay later on Fridays to prepare for the next week, but am home by about 5.

Before coming to this school, I worked half time at the school my kids attended, 2 blocks from my home. The position was only half time with no prospects for full time for a couple of years, so I moved to my current school. I loved it there and hated to leave, but needed to for $$ reasons. Now, a position is opening up at the grade level I teach now (and love!) for next yea...See MoreI need some advice please! I am currently working at a terrific school- great colleagues and grade level team, awesome principal. It is not my 'perfect match' as far as educational philosophy because we use a basal program and I prefer leveled texts for guided reading (this is first grade)but I am adapting things to my own style and learning to appreciate the basal in some ways. This job is 25 minutes from home, I leave at 6:30, so I do not see my kids before they leave for school in morning. I get home between 4 and 4:30 usually. I stay later on Fridays to prepare for the next week, but am home by about 5.

Before coming to this school, I worked half time at the school my kids attended, 2 blocks from my home. The position was only half time with no prospects for full time for a couple of years, so I moved to my current school. I loved it there and hated to leave, but needed to for $$ reasons. Now, a position is opening up at the grade level I teach now (and love!) for next year.

I was nervous this year that I might lose my current position due to BIG budget cuts, but found out last week that I will be okay here. Yesterday, the school near my home posted their opening. Budget times are very bad this year where I live, and I will finally have professional status after this year where I am. If I move, I will be at the bottom again. BUT, I'm torn because the other school is SO close to home and my youngest will be going there in a couple of years. My mom is doing well, but getting older and she lives right near there as well. I often feel so 'far away' from my family here at work, even though it is only about 25 minutes. Being closer would mean more time at home with a little one and 2 teenagers and my husband too! And some more sleep. Money would probably be about the same, but there might be the possibilty of being laid off if cuts happen again next year. There is not guarantee I would get hired at my old school, there is a new principal who I know, but not very well and she will be leaving this year already.

I need advice! My husband worries about the risk of being cut, but told me to make my own decision. All my friends work at one school or the other and want me to work with them (it's nice to be wanted at least).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO???????????

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Gracie On 3/23/09, CTJS wrote: > I teach 25 minutes from my home and I think it is perfect. > Why? I generally don't run into students or parents at the > grocery store or anywhere else in town. It helps keep my work > life separate from my home life. > > If your commute were longer I would say to try to teach closer > to home. > &...See More

Mar 23, 2009

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still torn/OP Thanks for the advice. I totally agree with it all, but still am flip-flopping within my own mind primarily because it would mean more time/availability for things at home. Thanks again :)

On 3/23/09, Gracie wrote: > On 3/23/09, CTJS wrote: >> I teach 25 minutes from my home and I think it is perfect. >> Why? I generally don...See More

Mar 24, 2009

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Kindergarten Teacher It sounds like your preference is the other school. Time is a huge factor, I don't blame you for wanting to cut back on commute time. Can you talk to the principal at the other school and voice your concerns about job security? Maybe s/he can assure you. Good luck wit your decision........

On 3/24/09, still torn/OP wrote: > Thanks for t...See More

Mar 25, 2009

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jenny Why not apply and see what happens? They may already have someone picked out for the job or there may be 100+ applicants. It never hurts to go on an interview if you get called for one.

On 3/23/09, so torn wrote: > I need some advice please! I am currently working at a > terrific school- great colleagues and grade level team, > a...See MoreWhy not apply and see what happens? They may already have someone picked out for the job or there may be 100+ applicants. It never hurts to go on an interview if you get called for one.

On 3/23/09, so torn wrote: > I need some advice please! I am currently working at a > terrific school- great colleagues and grade level team, > awesome principal. It is not my 'perfect match' as far as > educational philosophy because we use a basal program and > I prefer leveled texts for guided reading (this is first > grade)but I am adapting things to my own style and > learning to appreciate the basal in some ways. This job > is 25 minutes from home, I leave at 6:30, so I do not see > my kids before they leave for school in morning. I get > home between 4 and 4:30 usually. I stay later on Fridays > to prepare for the next week, but am home by about 5. > > Before coming to this school, I worked half time at the > school my kids attended, 2 blocks from my home. The > position was only half time with no prospects for full > time for a couple of years, so I moved to my current > school. I loved it there and hated to leave, but needed > to for $$ reasons. Now, a position is opening up at the > grade level I teach now (and love!) for next year. > > I was nervous this year that I might lose my current > position due to BIG budget cuts, but found out last week > that I will be okay here. Yesterday, the school near my > home posted their opening. Budget times are very bad this > year where I live, and I will finally have professional > status after this year where I am. If I move, I will be > at the bottom again. BUT, I'm torn because the other > school is SO close to home and my youngest will be going > there in a couple of years. My mom is doing well, but > getting older and she lives right near there as well. I > often feel so 'far away' from my family here at work, even > though it is only about 25 minutes. Being closer would > mean more time at home with a little one and 2 teenagers > and my husband too! And some more sleep. Money would > probably be about the same, but there might be the > possibilty of being laid off if cuts happen again next > year. There is not guarantee I would get hired at my old > school, there is a new principal who I know, but not very > well and she will be leaving this year already. > > I need advice! My husband worries about the risk of being > cut, but told me to make my own decision. All my friends > work at one school or the other and want me to work with > them (it's nice to be wanted at least). > > WHAT WOULD YOU DO???????????

Mar 27, 2009

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OP That's what I have decided to do....thanks for all the advice, it really helped! :)

On 3/27/09, jenny wrote: > Why not apply and see what happens? They may already have > someone picked out for the job or there may be 100+ > applicants. It never hurts to go on an interview if you get > called for one. > > On 3/23/09, so t...See MoreThat's what I have decided to do....thanks for all the advice, it really helped! :)

On 3/27/09, jenny wrote: > Why not apply and see what happens? They may already have > someone picked out for the job or there may be 100+ > applicants. It never hurts to go on an interview if you get > called for one. > > On 3/23/09, so torn wrote: >> I need some advice please! I am currently working at a >> terrific school- great colleagues and grade level team, >> awesome principal. It is not my 'perfect match' as far as >> educational philosophy because we use a basal program and >> I prefer leveled texts for guided reading (this is first >> grade)but I am adapting things to my own style and >> learning to appreciate the basal in some ways. This job >> is 25 minutes from home, I leave at 6:30, so I do not see >> my kids before they leave for school in morning. I get >> home between 4 and 4:30 usually. I stay later on Fridays >> to prepare for the next week, but am home by about 5. >> >> Before coming to this school, I worked half time at the >> school my kids attended, 2 blocks from my home. The >> position was only half time with no prospects for full >> time for a couple of years, so I moved to my current >> school. I loved it there and hated to leave, but needed >> to for $$ reasons. Now, a position is opening up at the >> grade level I teach now (and love!) for next year. >> >> I was nervous this year that I might lose my current >> position due to BIG budget cuts, but found out last week >> that I will be okay here. Yesterday, the school near my >> home posted their opening. Budget times are very bad this >> year where I live, and I will finally have professional >> status after this year where I am. If I move, I will be >> at the bottom again. BUT, I'm torn because the other >> school is SO close to home and my youngest will be going >> there in a couple of years. My mom is doing well, but >> getting older and she lives right near there as well. I >> often feel so 'far away' from my family here at work, even >> though it is only about 25 minutes. Being closer would >> mean more time at home with a little one and 2 teenagers >> and my husband too! And some more sleep. Money would >> probably be about the same, but there might be the >> possibilty of being laid off if cuts happen again next >> year. There is not guarantee I would get hired at my old >> school, there is a new principal who I know, but not very >> well and she will be leaving this year already. >> >> I need advice! My husband worries about the risk of being >> cut, but told me to make my own decision. All my friends >> work at one school or the other and want me to work with >> them (it's nice to be wanted at least). >> >> WHAT WOULD YOU DO??????????? >

Mar 28, 2009

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