Contemplating a Move to VA

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Virginia Teachers Chatboard

Contemplating a Move to VA

by Need Some Input

Nov 5, 2010

Hi. I've spent a lot of time checking this board and I was wondering if I could get some input. My family and I are living in NY, but "living" is kind of a stretch. I am a certified teacher (Social Studies) and have been without a job since June 2009. I am substituting now, and my wife is working at a grocery store. We have 2 kids. Every month it is a struggle to make it. We've been keeping up with the mortgage but have been late on other payments like car payment, utilities, etc. I have been applying to every SS job that I can find, the problem is there is not a lot of them to apply to. In my area of NY (upstate, very rural) there's not alot that a Masters Degree in Education is good for, so it's not like I'm limiting myself to only a teaching job. I'm trying and trying, but NY state's budget issues are really affecting schools, and though teachers are retiring, to save $ schools are not replacing teachers.

We are looking to move to VA when this school year ends (June, here ...See MoreHi. I've spent a lot of time checking this board and I was wondering if I could get some input. My family and I are living in NY, but "living" is kind of a stretch. I am a certified teacher (Social Studies) and have been without a job since June 2009. I am substituting now, and my wife is working at a grocery store. We have 2 kids. Every month it is a struggle to make it. We've been keeping up with the mortgage but have been late on other payments like car payment, utilities, etc. I have been applying to every SS job that I can find, the problem is there is not a lot of them to apply to. In my area of NY (upstate, very rural) there's not alot that a Masters Degree in Education is good for, so it's not like I'm limiting myself to only a teaching job. I'm trying and trying, but NY state's budget issues are really affecting schools, and though teachers are retiring, to save $ schools are not replacing teachers.

We are looking to move to VA when this school year ends (June, here in NY), as we don't want to pull my daughter out of school early. This also is gives me a chance to get my VA teaching license, and start to look for and hopefully find a job before we move down.

All of this sounds great, but I'm getting nervous. We have friends and family in NC (Greenville and Charlotte) but no one in Virginia, so we have no input on where would be best to look or even if NC schools are good. From what I've read, there are some issues, but it sounds like all states are having difficulties with their education systems/departments because of state budget woes.

Would those of you living in VA help me by answering these questions.

1. Is VA a good state for teachers? 2. Is there an area of the state which is better than others? Like, are there new schools being built, that would need new teachers? 3. Will having my Masters and 10 years of experience help or hurt me in finding a job? 4. Will we have problems being from NY? I've heard that there are lots of NY transplants in Southern states, but how hard will it be to fit in? We are in our mid to late 30's, kids in preschool and early elementary, and we are church goers, so we'd like to find the best place with others with similar lifestyles and interests if possible. 5. How is the cost of living, specifically real estate? Where we are now, we have a 3BR 1BA and prices around here are in the early $70's for similar homes. If I find a teaching job, will a teaching salary be enough for us to buy a home? Or are there homes for rent, like townhouses, not mobile homes. We don't have a problem with renting for a while, till we find something to buy, but just want to know that homes are out there.

Any help you can give would be great. I posted a similar post on the NC teachers board, as VA and NC are our top choices for a move. Thanks in advance.

Comment

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Bulldog Jobs in VA are hard to come by as well. However, there are possibilities. Some districts in Northern VA are building and hiring, but not much in my neck of the woods (southside). Now to answer your Q's. 1. We are a right to work state, so I would say yes and no. Yes in that we are treated decently. No in that we have no real bargaining power for wa...See MoreJobs in VA are hard to come by as well. However, there are possibilities. Some districts in Northern VA are building and hiring, but not much in my neck of the woods (southside). Now to answer your Q's. 1. We are a right to work state, so I would say yes and no. Yes in that we are treated decently. No in that we have no real bargaining power for wages and such. 2. Northern VA is better wage-wise, but the cost of living is much higher. I'd shoot for Chesterfield or central VA - possibly Shenandoah Valley. 3. Probably a little of both. 4. It depends on where you live. Some areas are a bit...um...provincial, whereas others are a bit more cosmopolitan. 5. In northern VA way more expensive than what you're referring to. In most rural areas, about what you've indicated.

Good luck on the search.

Bulldog!

> On 11/05/10, Need Some Input wrote: > 1. Is VA a good state for teachers? > 2. Is there an area of the state which is better than > others? Like, are there new schools being built, that > would need new teachers? > 3. Will having my Masters and 10 years of experience help > or hurt me in finding a job? > 4. Will we have problems being from NY? I've heard that > there are lots of NY transplants in Southern states, but > how hard will it be to fit in? We are in our mid to late > 30's, kids in preschool and early elementary, and we are > church goers, so we'd like to find the best place with > others with similar lifestyles and interests if possible. > 5. How is the cost of living, specifically real estate? > Where we are now, we have a 3BR 1BA and prices around here > are in the early $70's for similar homes. If I find a > teaching job, will a teaching salary be enough for us to > buy a home? Or are there homes for rent, like townhouses, > not mobile homes. We don't have a problem with renting for > a while, till we find something to buy, but just want to > know that homes are out there. > > Any help you can give would be great. I posted a similar > post on the NC teachers board, as VA and NC are our top > choices for a move. Thanks in advance.

Nov 5, 2010

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Cost of living and fitting in & so forth. They do love transplants in urban parts of VA, and yes church is very accepted and very good in education, especially for role models as educators. New Yorkers fitting in, yep, lots of military all over so notherners are more the rule than the exception.

Cost of living, be prepared to pay more for a nice house in a nice neighgorhood. For ...See MoreThey do love transplants in urban parts of VA, and yes church is very accepted and very good in education, especially for role models as educators. New Yorkers fitting in, yep, lots of military all over so notherners are more the rule than the exception.

Cost of living, be prepared to pay more for a nice house in a nice neighgorhood. For 3 bedroom, 2 bath house with 1700 to 1800 sq. feet starting at with low interest 1500 to 1700 a month. That is normal neigbor hood, not upper middle. Upper middle can cost you 1800 to 2000 a month. Rentals not much cheaper, but the advantage is you have 2 incomes and as you are established teachers, will have good income and they will love it that you are from NY.

In NC though, less teacher jobs, cost of living very low, can have a beautiful home with land for very cheap in a lot of NC. Downside is unless in Raleigh or Durham, Charlotte ect, social life on weekends is Waltmart and eating out, not much water like in VA. Hve heard and read about Wilmington, NC near Wrightsville Beach? lots of good schools, cost of living fairly low and great place for water if you have a boat and growing fast. Also, a tourist town with lots of money and great places to go for those who live there.

On 11/05/10, Bulldog wrote: > Jobs in VA are hard to come by as well. However, there are > possibilities. Some districts in Northern VA are building > and hiring, but not much in my neck of the woods (southside). > Now to answer your Q's. > 1. We are a right to work state, so I would say yes and no. > Yes in that we are treated decently. No in that we have no > real bargaining power for wages and such. > 2. Northern VA is better wage-wise, but the cost of living > is much higher. I'd shoot for Chesterfield or central VA - > possibly Shenandoah Valley. > 3. Probably a little of both. > 4. It depends on where you live. Some areas are a > bit...um...provincial, whereas others are a bit more > cosmopolitan. > 5. In northern VA way more expensive than what you're > referring to. In most rural areas, about what you've > indicated. > > Good luck on the search. > > Bulldog! > >> On 11/05/10, Need Some Input wrote: >> 1. Is VA a good state for teachers? >> 2. Is there an area of the state which is better than >> others? Like, are there new schools being built, that >> would need new teachers? >> 3. Will having my Masters and 10 years of experience help >> or hurt me in finding a job? >> 4. Will we have problems being from NY? I've heard that >> there are lots of NY transplants in Southern states, but >> how hard will it be to fit in? We are in our mid to late >> 30's, kids in preschool and early elementary, and we are >> church goers, so we'd like to find the best place with >> others with similar lifestyles and interests if possible. >> 5. How is the cost of living, specifically real estate? >> Where we are now, we have a 3BR 1BA and prices around here >> are in the early $70's for similar homes. If I find a >> teaching job, will a teaching salary be enough for us to >> buy a home? Or are there homes for rent, like townhouses, >> not mobile homes. We don't have a problem with renting for >> a while, till we find something to buy, but just want to >> know that homes are out there. >> >> Any help you can give would be great. I posted a similar >> post on the NC teachers board, as VA and NC are our top >> choices for a move. Thanks in advance.

Nov 9, 2010

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Powhatan Teacher I love my job and I love working in Powhatan County. We are just west of Richmond/Chesterfield. There are not many teaching jobs available but the schools are excellent and the community is still somewhat rural. There are New Yorkers too...even have a retired NY teacher teaching part time! After listening to what others are faced with each day, I c...See More

Dec 21, 2010

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