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Virginia Teachers Chatboard

Need to make a better living... Fairfax county???

by Broke FL teacher

Aug 19, 2012

I just looked at the salary scales at FCPS, and the money looks really good (I'm from FL where the pay/retirement is terrible). I'm wondering how expensive the cost of living is there? I wonder if it will be worth it for the extra $15,000 a year I could make, or if it would just be eaten up. Thanks!

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Former NoVA Teacher In NoVA, look at Fairfax and PW counties. These seem to be the best in that area, and many seem to be happy to teach in these places! Best of luck!

On 8/31/12, Other Options wrote: > > Virginia has a lot to offer in terms of great quality of life, > very strong state university system for children's higher > education in the fu...See MoreIn NoVA, look at Fairfax and PW counties. These seem to be the best in that area, and many seem to be happy to teach in these places! Best of luck!

On 8/31/12, Other Options wrote: > > Virginia has a lot to offer in terms of great quality of life, > very strong state university system for children's higher > education in the future as well as possibly higher pay and > benefits than Florida. If you are open, I would also look at > Central Virginia area of Albemarle County and Charlottesville > City Schools (with UVA as the largest employer) as well as the > Shenandoah Valley area (which includes Harrisonburg and James > Madison University) for next fall as you could easily live in a > somewhat lower priced surrounding county for a time. If you > are married, often a spouse may find a job between the two > locations and one lives halfway. > > The other area to investigate is are the counties around > Richmond, the Capital, such as Henrico and Chesterfield to see > what their pay bands are. Again it is a metro city with > several colleges of U of Richmond, VCU. > > If you are willing to come north to that area, you might also > want to investigate Montgomery County, MD to see what its pay > scale is. Generally, a homeowner will find more for one's > money, though still expensive, on the Maryland side. > > On the NOVA or DC area side, we have two young adult (early > 30s) daughters who are married, working and have children under > age 3. (1) I can tell you quite confidently whether you are on > the Maryland or the Virginia side if you are or plan to marry > and have children that added to an easily $2,000 housing > mortgage, you can plan on $1,200 for child care either for > person coming in (if you can find a reliable, safe and > competent person coming into your home) or a safe and licensed > day care. (2) Day care for children under age 3 is just very > difficult the closer to DC it seems you live. So with two > children and a mortgage with utilities etc., you can easily > assume close to $5,000 a month. > > Of course, as our daughters have found the plus factors are > that the area in or near DC is a very vibrant place to live and > to work - just pricey. Also, if you are single, would like a > change, and would like to get ahead, you would probably find it > very easy to network and find a roommate to share the costs of > an apartment rental for a year or two to build up funds to buy > a place. AND a very easy way to add to your income is to be > willing to do some sitting - again the going rate for an > educated, young teacher could easily be $15 - $20 in the monied > areas of NOVA or DC and there are many free boards to put your > information out on. > > All this said, one of our daughter's loves it up there, but she > is the major breadwinner with her husband in the teaching field > and having a flexible job for a few years with twin 3 year olds > to care for. Our other daughter is a pediaric physical > therapist who can work less than full-time and can't wait for > her husband a lawyer to find a job out of the area as too > expensive, competitive on all levels and congested for them. > First poster is right as they are in a rented, townhouse in > South Arlington for $1650 a month without utilities and it is > undepriced - I call it "the hovel". > > > n 8/19/12, Broke FL teacher wrote: >> I just looked at the salary scales at FCPS, and the money >> looks really good (I'm from FL where the pay/retirement is >> terrible). I'm wondering how expensive the cost of living >> is there? I wonder if it will be worth it for the extra >> $15,000 a year I could make, or if it would just be eaten >> up. Thanks!

Sep 3, 2012

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Broke FL Teacher On 8/31/12, Other Options wrote:

Wow, thanks for all the good info. I've actually applied to Mont. County MD, but have not heard anything. I'm not from the area, so I can't network. Should I try mailing resumes to principals? Calling? I've been watching the MD board for a few years with an eye on MD. It doesn't seem like they hate teacher...See More

Sep 21, 2012

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PeteL Each school system has an online application process that takes up to an hour to complete. Have a resume, license and area Praxis ready! Once reviewed a principle or assistant will/may call you for an interview. Here in Fairfax County there is an average of 60 candidates. The principle will send heir recommendation to HR. HR will phone you to come ...See More

Oct 27, 2012

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Jess On 10/27/12, PeteL wrote: > Each school system has an online application process that takes up to > an hour to complete. Have a resume, license and area Praxis ready! > Once reviewed a principle or assistant will/may call you for an > interview. Here in Fairfax County there is an average of 60 > candidates. The principle will send he...See More

Feb 10, 2013

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Jess I teach ESL and I was offered a job one week after applying. This is what I did: I emailed all the principals. I attached a short note that I changed out the name for in each one, attached a CV, references, and VA Teaching license.

There is also a critical shortage of teachers in Loudoun County west of Fairfax.

Good luck.

Feb 10, 2013

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