chatboard - Teachers.Net

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

AZ Teachers

MEMBERS

7 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Arizona Teachers Chatboard

GOOD AND BAD SCHOOLS

by NED

May 12, 2011

I AM SEEKING A JOB AS A TEACHER AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE GOOD SCHOOLS ARE. IT APPEARS THE ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE ON THE WEST SIDE. I SAW A LOT OF BAD PRESS ABOUT LITTLETON AND THEIR DISTRICT. I HEARD A LOT OF BAD RUMORS ABOUT OTHER SCHOOLS BUT JUST WANT INFORMATION. THANKS!!

Comment

(10)

report post

view previous comments

Kyle Yes, any school is what you make of it.

Why are the vast majority of teachers leaving that school then?

What kind of community can be intact at a school where teachers come and go?

How can this be good for test scores?

How can effective collaboration take place when the school is reinventing the wheel every year?...See MoreYes, any school is what you make of it.

Why are the vast majority of teachers leaving that school then?

What kind of community can be intact at a school where teachers come and go?

How can this be good for test scores?

How can effective collaboration take place when the school is reinventing the wheel every year?

The reality is that the school can't keep employees and that is very damaging for the students.

All that money on instructional coaches and the teachers end up leaving at the end of the year anyway.

Get real!!!!!

On 5/26/11, AZTeach wrote: > What makes me sad is that I love teaching in Littleton and while I > do agree with the higher powers above being an issue- the really > great principals and admin make it SO worth it. Most of the > principals being "demoted" are not because of their ability to lead- > in fact, I think they are the best ones. > > Being in education in general is becoming less fun but any school > is what you make of it. If you are looking for a perfect school > district, easy job, the freedom to teach however you want with no > hoops to jump through- homeschool teaching is the way to go (aka- > not going to happen). > > Just saying- many people have their opinions and i'm either > assuming they are teachers who were "let go" from the district, > decided not to return or think they know it all about it- it is how > you want to perceive it and how you want to react to it. > > Good luck finding a job OP > > > > On 5/23/11, Sis wrote: >> I would stay away from Littleton. >> Most of the staff is leaving and one school in the district has a >> principal that is being demoted. Horrible human resource office. >> The uppers in the district need to go, but seem to hang onto their >> jobs. This district is not good!! >> >> >> >> >> On 5/17/11, retired wrote: >>> On 5/12/11, NED wrote: >>>> I AM SEEKING A JOB AS A TEACHER AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE >>>> GOOD SCHOOLS ARE. IT APPEARS THE ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE >>>> ON THE WEST SIDE. I SAW A LOT OF BAD PRESS ABOUT LITTLETON >>>> AND THEIR DISTRICT. I HEARD A LOT OF BAD RUMORS ABOUT OTHER >>>> SCHOOLS BUT JUST WANT INFORMATION. THANKS!! >>> >>> >>> Don't go to Casa Grande to teach. The high school is going >>> through a shake up, & the elementary is unethical & hard to >>> work for. They pay better to begin with but require so much >>> from you your life is not your own. Then they fire at will if >>> they decide you don't fit-- doesn't matter when it is.

May 29, 2011

report post

getting real Good idea... just go to the districts with easy to reach students, involved parents and forget the other kids. Never thought the district was even close to perfect but how can you implement change or help a district to see their flaws by being on the outside or just moving on.

Turn-overs are incredibly unhealthy for students and the schoo...See MoreGood idea... just go to the districts with easy to reach students, involved parents and forget the other kids. Never thought the district was even close to perfect but how can you implement change or help a district to see their flaws by being on the outside or just moving on.

Turn-overs are incredibly unhealthy for students and the schools. Teaching isn't easy and I am saying this as a current teacher in the difficult situation but these kids need good teachers so I guess we will just keep complaining and move onto better districts.

there are plenty of districts out there looking for tons of teachers so I guess many to choose from. Unless you are currently working with or working along side an ineffective district then there is no room for judgement in my opinion.

On 5/29/11, Kyle wrote: > Yes, any school is what you make of it. > > Why are the vast majority of teachers leaving that school then? > > What kind of community can be intact at a school where teachers come and go? > > How can this be good for test scores? > > How can effective collaboration take place when the school is > reinventing the wheel every year? > > The reality is that the school can't keep employees and that is very > damaging for the students. > > All that money on instructional coaches and the teachers end up leaving > at the end of the year anyway. > > Get real!!!!! > > > > > > > On 5/26/11, AZTeach wrote: >> What makes me sad is that I love teaching in Littleton and while I >> do agree with the higher powers above being an issue- the really >> great principals and admin make it SO worth it. Most of the >> principals being "demoted" are not because of their ability to lead- >> in fact, I think they are the best ones. >> >> Being in education in general is becoming less fun but any school >> is what you make of it. If you are looking for a perfect school >> district, easy job, the freedom to teach however you want with no >> hoops to jump through- homeschool teaching is the way to go (aka- >> not going to happen). >> >> Just saying- many people have their opinions and i'm either >> assuming they are teachers who were "let go" from the district, >> decided not to return or think they know it all about it- it is how >> you want to perceive it and how you want to react to it. >> >> Good luck finding a job OP >> >> >> >> On 5/23/11, Sis wrote: >>> I would stay away from Littleton. >>> Most of the staff is leaving and one school in the district has a >>> principal that is being demoted. Horrible human resource office. >>> The uppers in the district need to go, but seem to hang onto their >>> jobs. This district is not good!! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 5/17/11, retired wrote: >>>> On 5/12/11, NED wrote: >>>>> I AM SEEKING A JOB AS A TEACHER AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE >>>>> GOOD SCHOOLS ARE. IT APPEARS THE ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE >>>>> ON THE WEST SIDE. I SAW A LOT OF BAD PRESS ABOUT LITTLETON >>>>> AND THEIR DISTRICT. I HEARD A LOT OF BAD RUMORS ABOUT OTHER >>>>> SCHOOLS BUT JUST WANT INFORMATION. THANKS!! >>>> >>>> >>>> Don't go to Casa Grande to teach. The high school is going >>>> through a shake up, & the elementary is unethical & hard to >>>> work for. They pay better to begin with but require so much >>>> from you your life is not your own. Then they fire at will if >>>> they decide you don't fit-- doesn't matter when it is.

May 31, 2011

report post

someteacher On 5/12/11, NED wrote: > I AM SEEKING A JOB AS A TEACHER AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE > GOOD SCHOOLS ARE. IT APPEARS THE ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE > ON THE WEST SIDE. I SAW A LOT OF BAD PRESS ABOUT LITTLETON > AND THEIR DISTRICT. I HEARD A LOT OF BAD RUMORS ABOUT OTHER > SCHOOLS BUT JUST WANT INFORMATION. THANKS!! Stay far far away fr...See More

Jun 4, 2011

report post

ac On 5/12/11, NED wrote: > I AM SEEKING A JOB AS A TEACHER AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE > GOOD SCHOOLS ARE. IT APPEARS THE ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE > ON THE WEST SIDE. I SAW A LOT OF BAD PRESS ABOUT LITTLETON > AND THEIR DISTRICT. I HEARD A LOT OF BAD RUMORS ABOUT OTHER > SCHOOLS BUT JUST WANT INFORMATION. THANKS!!

The sad tru...See MoreOn 5/12/11, NED wrote: > I AM SEEKING A JOB AS A TEACHER AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE > GOOD SCHOOLS ARE. IT APPEARS THE ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE > ON THE WEST SIDE. I SAW A LOT OF BAD PRESS ABOUT LITTLETON > AND THEIR DISTRICT. I HEARD A LOT OF BAD RUMORS ABOUT OTHER > SCHOOLS BUT JUST WANT INFORMATION. THANKS!!

The sad truth is that all districts are cutting costs to the bone, so no district or school will be ideal. Expect large class sizes, shortage of supplies in some cases, extra duties, etc. I also have to wonder where jobs are available, since there were a lot of layoffs this year due to budget cuts. However, if you have a choice in where to teach, you should base your decision on what YOU want most from a school/district. Is it freedom to teach what and how you want to? I heard from a retired MS teacher in Peoria that each dept. is lock-step, and he had to teach prescribed lesson plans. (That was a few years ago, though.) I never taught there, so I can't speak from experience. Do you want more time to yourself? I heard from former teachers in Deer Valley that the district requires extra duties, even at the HS level. (I also know from having almost accepted a job there that the pay scale is pretty low...speaking of salaries, hope you didn't get into this profession for the money-- salary increases will be few and far between next year, unless you get a gig at a nice private school.) Do you want to be treated fairly and have the supplies you need? I've heard from two former Dysart teachers (one an excellent math teacher who's won several awards) that that district has neither. Again, though, I'm going by what I heard, not personal experience. Do you want a supportive admin, and a teacher-friendly environment? I really liked PV district when I was there (They have a strong teachers' union, and the schools seemed to be very teacher-centered. This was nine years ago, though, so don't know how much has changed.)

ALL districts will have some strong, and some weak points. As much as I complain about the top-heavy admin. structure and trend-hopping my current district (Scottsdale) seems to do, I have grown to appreciate it. I do have freedom in the classroom, and admin has come to listen a bit more to the teachers' needs, and saved some jobs this year (this could be 'cause of all the complaining we've done :-)). It's certainly not perfect, but I've learned to adapt and appreciate what I've got.

Best of luck to you in your search! My recommendation: know what you want going into the interview, and ask direct questions about the work environment, or whatever you're most concerned with. You can tell a lot about a school by how the interview (admin) answers you.

Jul 1, 2011

report post

West side teacher It really varies from district to district, but things are pretty tight overall. One thing to take into consideration (and I would strongly recommend researching and inquiring about in your job interview) is how much emphasis the district places on retaining teachers. Some districts routinely RIF teachers, but they have new buildings, plenty of tec...See More

Jul 6, 2011

report post