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 The Union local fired him when they found out, and he did NOT get the job (the offer was publicly rescinded and given to another applicant!).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.
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 The Union local fired him when they found out, and he did NOT get the job (the offer was publicly rescinded and given to another applicant!).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.
There are no teaching jobs in southern NJ- part 2
Posted 04-14-2012 at 12:39 PM by trishthegeek
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]MY RECOMMENDATIONS TO ANYONE SEEKING WORK AS A TEACHER IN NJ:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]1. If you are over 50, like me, FORGET IT. Districts want to pay starting salaries. Can you get into consulting, or a private school?Industries need trainers. Check into County Colleges if you have MA+. NO MA, don't even waste your time; county colleges don't want you.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]2. IF YOU ARE OVER 50--I worked with two Workers Comp injuries, and have a ADA disability. I also was formally "laid off" with a letter. GO SIGN UP. 99 weeks UI at $600/wk isn't much, but it will help. If you cannot find a job that will work with your disabilities, apply for SSD. If you have your years in a pension plan, sign up for disability. It will take until your UI runs out to get your pensions, but the two in combination, if you have as many disabilities as I have acquired over 3 decades of teaching (including asthma, PTSD, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome that is aggrevated at the drop of a hat, and lasts for DAYS), will be adequate income and give you medical insurance; only do this IF there is no way anyone will hire you if they have to work with you to meet your ADA needs![/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]3. Sign up for UI and get training to get a better job. Most teachers entering teaching out of college don't last 5 yrs. anyway.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]4. Try these sites:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]monster.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]careerbuilder.com (they have a GREAT resume writing service)[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]NJHire.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]schoolspring.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]teacherjobs.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]k12jobspot.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]indeed.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]NJschooljobs.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]5. Sign up to get immediate notifications of available jobs on your email. NOTE: I would just check them everyday[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]1. If you are over 50, like me, FORGET IT. Districts want to pay starting salaries. Can you get into consulting, or a private school?Industries need trainers. Check into County Colleges if you have MA+. NO MA, don't even waste your time; county colleges don't want you.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]2. IF YOU ARE OVER 50--I worked with two Workers Comp injuries, and have a ADA disability. I also was formally "laid off" with a letter. GO SIGN UP. 99 weeks UI at $600/wk isn't much, but it will help. If you cannot find a job that will work with your disabilities, apply for SSD. If you have your years in a pension plan, sign up for disability. It will take until your UI runs out to get your pensions, but the two in combination, if you have as many disabilities as I have acquired over 3 decades of teaching (including asthma, PTSD, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome that is aggrevated at the drop of a hat, and lasts for DAYS), will be adequate income and give you medical insurance; only do this IF there is no way anyone will hire you if they have to work with you to meet your ADA needs![/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]3. Sign up for UI and get training to get a better job. Most teachers entering teaching out of college don't last 5 yrs. anyway.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]4. Try these sites:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]monster.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]careerbuilder.com (they have a GREAT resume writing service)[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]NJHire.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]schoolspring.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]teacherjobs.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]k12jobspot.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]indeed.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]NJschooljobs.com[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]5. Sign up to get immediate notifications of available jobs on your email. NOTE: I would just check them everyday[/FONT][/COLOR]
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