FL Teachers wanting to leave FL

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Georgia Teachers Chatboard

FL Teachers wanting to leave FL

by F.S.

Oct 20, 2012

My wife and I cannot get ahead in Florida. 7 years in, and every time we look at buying a house the insurance is astronomical. Add to this the fact that we do not want our children to be raised without 4 seasons (I know, we should have thought of this before, but it didn't bother us until our oldest mentioned it).

Any thoughts?

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BiggerBetterFasterMore On 10/20/12, F.S. wrote: > My wife and I cannot get ahead in Florida. 7 years in, and > every time we look at buying a house the insurance is > astronomical. Add to this the fact that we do not want our > children to be raised without 4 seasons (I know, we should > have thought of this before, but it didn't bother us until > our o...See MoreOn 10/20/12, F.S. wrote: > My wife and I cannot get ahead in Florida. 7 years in, and > every time we look at buying a house the insurance is > astronomical. Add to this the fact that we do not want our > children to be raised without 4 seasons (I know, we should > have thought of this before, but it didn't bother us until > our oldest mentioned it). > > Any thoughts?

My wife and I were teaching in S. Fla. and we to were in the red financially. We were able to sell our house at the peek of the housing market, so that was a big incentive.

In addition, Gwinnett County was offering us an increse on our base pay and a substantial increse for our graduate degrees. This landed us an extra 10k each per year. However, we have not had a pay increse in six years, and the board is telling us it may be another three. This fact is putting us back in the red.

That being said, there are a lot more aspects to consider.

First, you will experience some degree of culture shock, especially if you are Latin. My wife is Cuban, and it took her five years to adjust. She is doing well now, but those first years were difficult being away from her family and culture.

Second, there are no collective bargining rights in GA. So whatever the state, school boards, or superintendents want basicly goes off without an eyebrow being raised. I have seen my school board make decision after decision, not one of which was good for teachers.I feel that teachers are are way down the totum poll in Georgia's current power structure.

Third, be prepared to put in 60 to 65 hours a week to meet all your teaching responsibilities. Also, it took me three years to get use to the organization culture in GA schools. I thought everyone was crazy and apathetic when it came to teachers' rights. Now I know, teachers here just don't have a voice.

Finally, you can find affordable housing in GA, but not all schools are created equal here. You are really going to have to do your homework on the schools in the area you want to buy.

P.S. Seasons are overrated.

Best of luck!

Oct 21, 2012

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