Jobs in North Centrl WV

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West Virginia Teachers Chatboard

Jobs in North Centrl WV

by Deb

Jun 11, 2010

My husband was just offered a job in Clarksburg. We live in California. I have been teaching over 20 years, mostly kindergarten and first grade. What are the job prospects like? I hate to give up my seniority and tenure, but it is a great job for him. Also, our youngest son will be starting high school this fall. He has high functioning autism. How are the special Ed programs in the area? We may consider a home school program for him if the public program is not good.

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Deb Hmmm, thanks for the advice. And I thought things were bad in California! Sadly, I do not think anywhere is good in education these days... I am very lucky to be at a great school with very supportive families and nice kids. Unfortunately, they keep cutting funding like crazy. My biggest concern about moving is getting in a situation where I would ...See More

Jun 12, 2010

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the truth After reading your comments, my wife and I totally agree with you (she is a 6th grade English teacher) . The problem is that you would be considered a new teacher in this area and it would depend on the principal of that school. Unfortunately, the quality of principals are declining. If you are a good, confident teacher you will be ok... As long as...See More

Jun 13, 2010

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K teacher On 6/12/10, Deb wrote: > Hmmm, thanks for the advice. And I thought things were bad in > California! Sadly, I do not think anywhere is good in education > these days... I am very lucky to be at a great school with very > supportive families and nice kids. Unfortunately, they keep > cutting funding like crazy. My biggest concern about...See MoreOn 6/12/10, Deb wrote: > Hmmm, thanks for the advice. And I thought things were bad in > California! Sadly, I do not think anywhere is good in education > these days... I am very lucky to be at a great school with very > supportive families and nice kids. Unfortunately, they keep > cutting funding like crazy. My biggest concern about moving is > getting in a situation where I would not be allowed to teach the > way I know is best for kids. We are lucky that we have good > test scores, so the state just leaves us alone. But I know > other schools are not so lucky and have to follow very > prescribed programs and the teachers do not have a lot of > autonomy to teach the way they want. Do WV teachers get the > freedom to teach the way they want, as long as their students > make standards? So many programs today are so heavily phonics > based. But after teaching kids to read for 20 years, I have > learned that there is so much more to being a good reader than > just learning to decode. I have heard such horror stories about > tests like dibels that only focus on phonics and not the more > important aspect of making meaning. As a veteran teacher with a > strong reputation for sending kids on to the next grade very well > prepared, know I can close my classroom door and teach the way I > know is best. But if I was a new teacher in a new district, I > probably would not have that kind of freedom..... Hmm, big > decisions to make

Hi Deb - Well, two years ago, I would say yes, you can teach the way you feel is best as long as you're following our grade level content standards and objectives. If you've been doing it successfully for 20 years, you know what works. The proof is in how well your students are prepared for the next grade level. That's my biggest concern and I've been teaching kindergarten in WV for 25 years. I've seen alot of changes, some have been great and then...Unfortunately, WV has jumped on the DIBELS wagon and too much emphasis is put on this waste of a test and our precious time to teach. This has been the biggest thorn in my side since I began teaching in the early 80's! Many teachers across the state are complaining that we are required to test too much! And it's not useful testing! Our elementary reading program (and now math,too) is based on the Response to Intervention (RtI) model which has good and bad parts to it. The emphasis on small groups, differentiated learning, and literacy centers is much needed but many good teachers were already doing this. But it is what we are expected to do if a child doesn't meet the benchmark that is so time consuming and unrealistic. And in many schools, it is based on the infamous DIBELS score..aahhhh!!!!! We are expected to be reading interventionists with no specific training or guidance and if you expect a child is in need of special ed services, it will take over 100 instructional days to even get him considered for testing. There's more paperwork and less time for "teachable moments". So many teachers are saying, "They've taken the fun out of teaching!" And in the primary grades, that's just not right. I teach in the eastern part of the state so I can't give you any specifics for the Clarksburg area but it's all true about our illustrious governor. I am active in WVEA and we've been fighting his ideas and dealing with his attitude towards teachers and education in WV for years. You sound like an experienced teacher and I'm sure you'll do fine but be prepared for low pay and possibly alot more changes coming our way in how we can teach. I love teaching kindergarten but the demands on us that to me are mostly useless are draining me - 8 more years though. Thank God I love those kindergarteners! Good Luck!

Jun 13, 2010

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WVteach Deb -

I hate to add even more "rain" on this parade, but the previous posts are absolutely correct. Though I love my home state of West Virginia, public education in this state has ALWAYS faced a degree of resistance, skepticism and negativity. Sadly, it has only gotten worse the last decade or so!

Though the Clarksburg area is fa...See More

Jun 13, 2010

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Sheila On 6/11/10, Deb wrote: > My husband was just offered a job in Clarksburg. We live in > California. I have been teaching over 20 years, mostly > kindergarten and first grade. What are the job prospects > like? I hate to give up my seniority and tenure, but it is > a great job for him. Also, our youngest son will be > starting high ...See More

Jun 14, 2010

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