Re: relocating from Kentucky

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Florida Teachers Chatboard

relocating from Kentucky

by KY teacher

Jul 6, 2015

I've got family that live in Okeechobee county & have been offered a job to teach there. I've got 21 yrs. experience in KY. Anyone out there know what teaching in this county is like? Elementary level. Central Elementary. Curious about transferring retirement too. KY has a strong union, I hear FL does not. Concerned.....

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Debbie On 7/06/15, I would not go to Florida or North Carolina... wrote: > On 7/06/15, KY teacher wrote: >> I've got family that live in Okeechobee county & have been >> offered a job to teach there. I've got 21 yrs. experience in >> KY. Anyone out there know what teaching in this county is >> like? Elementary level. Central...See More

Jul 6, 2015

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Jul 6, 2015

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stay in KY First off: Okee is very rural and relatively poor. I see you're from Kentucky, and there are certainly parts of KY that fit that description too, so maybe you're used to it and that's what you're looking for. The one other thing I will say about Okee is that, in addition to being a typical, sparsely populated rural town and county, they get the wor...See MoreFirst off: Okee is very rural and relatively poor. I see you're from Kentucky, and there are certainly parts of KY that fit that description too, so maybe you're used to it and that's what you're looking for. The one other thing I will say about Okee is that, in addition to being a typical, sparsely populated rural town and county, they get the worst part of Florida weather. They get the same hot, humid weather most of the rest of FL gets in the Summer, without the benefit of being near the beach with any breeze to cool them off. I never lived there (honestly it's so sparse you might have trouble finding someone), and have only driven through it, but, it is what it is.

Next: Expect retirement system issues. If you're looking to move pension plans with 21 years, then you need to bring money. I imagine your state will let you cash out your contributions, but I doubt you will get a large enough refund to cover buying 21 years in FRS. You can google the equation that they go through to figure out what you would have to pay, and it goes off your first Florida salary, but it will be very expensive. So much so, that you probably will only be able to buy a fraction of your years, unless you have a very large nest egg in your KY pension and other accounts.

Lastly: Don't teach in Florida. I have never heard KY described as a strong union state, but if you've got a good union with good union/tenure protections, then do NOT come to Florida. FL did away with tenure for new teachers, and you will be a new teacher. That means that they can get rid of you at the end of the year whenever they like.

Also, it is very unlikely that a poor country school district is going to offer you anything close to your current salary. If you're in a high demand field, they might give you up to step 10 on the salary scale which will put you behind 11 years, and that county is probably going to be very low paying anyway. You're probably looking at a big pay cut.

I can't see any reason to come...

On 7/06/15, KY teacher wrote: > I've got family that live in Okeechobee county & have been > offered a job to teach there. I've got 21 yrs. experience in > KY. Anyone out there know what teaching in this county is > like? Elementary level. Central Elementary. Curious about > transferring retirement too. KY has a strong union, I hear > FL does not. Concerned.....

Jul 6, 2015

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FL Teacher I would be concerned, too. It is difficult to teach in Florida. I have an excellent principal, so I am lucky in that regard. There is not a lot of respect for teachers in Florida, unfortunately. I have taught here for 12 years, coming originally from Connecticut. I make a fraction of what I would make if I had stayed in CT. I can't advise you on yo...See More

Jul 7, 2015

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Stay away from NC I here that Florida is awful to experienced teachers. I know NC is. I would stay where you are or look west.

On 7/06/15, I would not go to Florida or North Carolina... wrote: > On 7/06/15, KY teacher wrote: >> I've got family that live in Okeechobee county & have been >> offered a job to teach there. I've got 21 yrs. ex...See More

Aug 23, 2015

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