Back in 2010, our beloved twinkie-eating, blowhard of a Governor cut school funding. I had been teaching nearly 30 years, and had to leave my original job, where I spent 19 years, because I filed a complaint with the EEOC (turned into a class-action lawsuit) and I was harassed to the point that I either had to find another job or I would lose my temper and have to strangle a few administrators.
I was all set to get tenure in another job that wasn't too bad for a 50-something teacher, except for the very long commute- when our Union president sold out 30 of us teachers getting the highest salaries (we got laid off and got NO NJEA help) so he could become a Vice-Principal. The Union local fired him when they found out, and he did NOT get the job (the offer was publicly rescinded and given to another applicant!).
This is exactly 2 yrs to the day I lost my job. I have a CV four pages long, heavy with awards and accomplishments. I have a MA+ in Chemistry Education. I have taught on EVERY grade level. I even volunteered at my sons' school as a visiting science teacher. No jobs, no offers. Not even a nibble.
WHY?? I live in southern NJ, the Pine Barrens, how else can I describe it? Halfway between Philly and Atlantic City. There are NO jobs here, even for young people.