Applying for jobs... with three strikes against me

[WNK]

I'm hoping to get a teaching position for the '08-'09 school year, and have just started doing some research into it... so far, I have a few strikes against me.

1. I'll be applying for positions in an area which is about 1000 miles from where I currently reside and will be residing in until very early August. We've been focusing on paying off my student loans and don't have much extra money to spend on plane tickets or gas to travel back and forth.

2. I graduated last year, but because of this relocation (for my husband's job) was unable to teach this year. So, not only am I a new teacher, but I'm a new teacher who's been out of the classroom (learning or teaching!) for a year.

3. My third "strike" is that we'll only be residing in that area for the '08-'09 school year, and will be moving again after that.

I'm really concerned about even being considered for a position, despite the fact that I did very well in my student teaching and my clinical experiences and classwork prior to that. So, any advice on any of these issues?

Thanks in advance!

[busbus]

I'm hoping to get a teaching position for the '08-'09 school year, and have just started doing some research into it... so far, I have a few strikes against me.

1. I'll be applying for positions in an area which is about 1000 miles from where I currently reside and will be residing in until very early August. We've been focusing on paying off my student loans and don't have much extra money to spend on plane tickets or gas to travel back and forth.

2. I graduated last year, but because of this relocation (for my husband's job) was unable to teach this year. So, not only am I a new teacher, but I'm a new teacher who's been out of the classroom (learning or teaching!) for a year.

3. My third "strike" is that we'll only be residing in that area for the '08-'09 school year, and will be moving again after that.

I'm really concerned about even being considered for a position, despite the fact that I did very well in my student teaching and my clinical experiences and classwork prior to that. So, any advice on any of these issues?

Thanks in advance!
Find out if the school district has some form of video or telephone conferencing? I think that if you are up front and honest with them, they'd find a way to work with you. Maybe there is a position coming up that is for one year. Nothing beats a try but a failure for not trying! Give it a shot!

[Chef Dave]

1. I'll be applying for positions in an area which is about 1000 miles from where I currently reside and will be residing in until very early August. We've been focusing on paying off my student loans and don't have much extra money to spend on plane tickets or gas to travel back and forth.

I don't see a problem with this. I got a job this past August that was over 2500 miles from where I lived.

Two schools interviewed me. I paid for the plane ticket and rental car but one of the schools put me up at a Best Western motel for a week.

I was told that if I had applied earlier - before the end of the fiscal year, one of the districts would have paid for my plane ticket.

It all depends upon what your area of certification is and what their needs are.

In one instance, I interviewed for a job immediately following 9-11 when all domestic flights had been grounded. I was in Oregon and interviewed for a job over the phone in Texas. I got the job, sight unseen ... but the situation was rather unusual.

In general, you really should interview in person. If you can't afford to travel to the district in question, check with the human resource officer to see if they'll be recruiting in your neck of the woods. Some districts send recruiting officers out to various states to attend regional job fairs.



2. I graduated last year, but because of this relocation (for my husband's job) was unable to teach this year. So, not only am I a new teacher, but I'm a new teacher who's been out of the classroom (learning or teaching!) for a year.

Have you done any substitute teaching or attended any workshops? Anything you could add to your resume would be positive.


3. My third "strike" is that we'll only be residing in that area for the '08-'09 school year, and will be moving again after that.

You have a couple of choices here.

1) You don't have to tell the school that you'll be relocating ... but it is generally recommended that new teachers remain at their first school for at least two years. Unless you're certified in a high needs area, you don't want to develop the reputation for not being dependable.

2) If you're thinking about moving to another state - but only plan to be there for a year, why jump through all the hoops getting your certification? Why not just substitute for a year? This will allow you to develop some excellent initial experience and unless it's a long term substitute position, you won't be responsible for grading, lesson planning, parent conferences, or report cards.

This does not mean to say that you SHOULDN'T write lesson plans as a sub. I think it's a good idea for substitutes to have back up plans and/or filler activities because you never know what you'll find when you walk into a classroom.

Some teachers are meticulous planners and have everything neatly run off and laid out for the substitute. Others have messy desks that you have to excavate to find the lesson plans. Once you find the plans, you have to decipher crabbed handwriting to figure out what the teacher actually wanted you to do.

[merrynl]

I finished student teaching last June in Wisconsin. I got married at the end of June. My husband lived and worked in Indiana, so I was looking for jobs there. It was interesting to search two states away, but not impossible. I had several phone interviews as a preliminary. After those, I was invited to interview in person. The nice thing about the phone interview was that it helped us determine whether it was worth the 7 hour + drive to do an in person interview. I only had one school flinch at the idea. The others were pretty open to the suggestion after hearing that I was student teaching at the time and would have to drive so far.

I agree with Chef Dave though... if you're only planning on being there for a year, it may be easier to sub instead of jumping through all the hoops for a new license. On the other hand, you may be eligible for a 1-year reciprocal license in your state. That's what I currently have until I take another Praxis II (WI and IN require different tests... grr) test. You could end up spending hundreds of dollars to get a license in a state where you'll only be for a year.

One thing that the schools like was that I'd set up a website. I emailed the website link to the interviewers ahead of time. The website included lesson plans, webquests, and labs that I'd written and used with students. It also included my teaching philosophy and resume I also had a page about me and my other interests (coaching, hobbies, etc). The website was sort of a portfolio that they were able to access to see more about me.

Be honest with the school. Let them know that you'd be happy to go there for an interview, but it would be easier to do a phone interview first.

Good luck with your job search.

[WNK]

Thanks for the advice. The state we're moving (back) to is actually the one in which I have my license already, so licensing isn't at all an issue.

I haven't been able to do any substitute teaching this school year; I've been working as a curriculum writer for the past six months, and have been doing some volunteer work, however.

I am very glad to hear that this isn't completely unheard of and that it is still possible to get hired from thousands of miles away! Thanks for all the advice!

By the way, merrynl, could you recommend the hosting site you use for your website? I already have an electronic portfolio which could easily be converted into a website, but haven't had any luck in finding a good site on which to host it.

[Entropy]

Look for job fairs in your current area. I got a job in CA without leaving Wyoming by going to a job fair. There were a couple dozen different states represented, so it's worth a shot.

Don't tell them you'll only be there a year. Keep it simple; you're moving there for your husband's job. That sounds permanent enough.

I'm curious, though, how did you get a job as a curriculum developer when you've never taught? You're probably very good at what you do, but still, I have to ask. I hope you don't think me rude.

-Jodi

[ktietje]

Have you considered looking into long-term subbing, or even just subbing in the schools within the community that you will be residing in for the year? Subbing will get you classroom experience, in different areas, and can be very beneficial to you. Also, you could maybe look into an instructional aide job, you would not be the main teacher in the room, but you would still be able to teach children and keep up on your skills.

Good Luck!

[MrsAtkinson]

Everyone has given you such great advice! I just wanted to wish you lots and lots of luck! I also am a firm believer that one can make anything work. You seem to have all of your ducks in a row and are prepared to make it work. Good Luck again! :)