[teachgaines]

I've applied to over 50 elementary positions in Alachua but haven't got a single phone call. I'm coming from Miami with over 7 years teaching experience and a MS.Ed and have never experienced this before. I've heard of the hiring freeze, but is this what's really going on? Anybody have inside info about the hiring situation there? Anything I can do to increase my chances?

[doggiebus]

I just did a search on the net for ya and found this site School budget cuts bring angst (http://www.lobbytools.com/article.cfm?12808480 - broken link) Looks like they are having budget cuts like Miami-Dade Schools are having. Hopefully someone local can give a better answer.

[BioAdoptMom3]

Its the same pretty much all over FL I am sorry to say. Budget cuts have forced hiring freezes in every single district that I know of. If there are positions, I believe they must first be filled by teachers who were already teaching in the district, but were told at the end of the year that there was currently no position for them for next year. My grade level partner (we are in Volusia County-Daytona area) is married to a minister who was just transferred to Sarasota County. That is a good four hours southwest of us, but because of the hiring situation she is making the difficult decision to stay here in an apartment and commute to see her DH on weekends.

I hope I am not discouraging you too much and I wish you lots of luck! I am sure there is a chance. It just probably won't happen until at least right before school starts.

Nancy

[DanBev]

they are laying off,cutting many position's

[teachgaines]

Update: Applied to over 80 positions that I'm qualified for and have yet to receive a SINGLE phone call. I've never experienced anything like this. On top of this, it's extremely frustrating knowing that these positions are going to teachers within the district with less experience than me with some bachelors degree (vast majority don't even have a master's degree) from some podunk school.

Any advice? School starts in roughly three weeks. I've emailed and faxed my resume, called principals, called the district, etc.

[Gatornation]

I'll take an uneducated guess that the district hires a lot of teachers right from UF maybe?

[BioAdoptMom3]

I don't think they are hiring new teachers from anywhere right now, anywhere in FL. I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I honestly do not know of any district in the entire state where you would have a chance of being hired, at least before the official after school starts, nine day count when they find out if they need more teachers. Our church has been looking for a new Pastor, finally had one accept the call and he was excited to be coming. He withdrew his name three weeks ago because....... his wife is a teacher. Things are really bad here as far as hiring goes. Even some teachers with over 30 years experience, if they had already completed five years of the deferred retirement program (DROP) were laid off. They will not be re-hired as far as I know, but first, second and third year teachers who already live here and have been laid off, as long as they have satisfactory evaluations, are supposed to be hired first. I want to say good luck, but I feel funny even saying that to you. I wish you were coming into a better situation. I really do.

Nancy

[gypsychic]

This is not a good time to be a teacher in Florida. If you have a job where you are you might best stay for awhile. I have read articles from many different areas lately that have said school enrollments are dropping, as well as budget cuts and that many local teachers are losing their jobs. It doesn't matter if you have a fancy degree and they don't, they were there first and will be placed first. Sorry, but as everyone else here has said, there just aren't any jobs. If you have applied for 80 jobs and NO phone calls, that pretty much says it all don't you think?

Good luck to you.