Teaching Jobs in Montana (job market, school districts, costs)

[ragingval2000]

I'm a special education teacher in W. TX. I'm toying w/ the idea of relocating, but due to financial reasons, I need a school district that will pay relocation costs. It used to be all the rage in the 90's, but last job fair I went to, the recruiting schools looked at me like I was crazy. I've got kids, bills, animals, and a household to move. Help!!!

[MontanaGuy]

I think that's very unlikely. My sister also taught special education for a long part of her career and she retired after teaching for many years in a small Montana town. From what she tells me the school system is hard pressed to provide the basics that are needed for the students so I can't imagine that they would consider doing that. However, I will email her and ask her that question. She now teaches in Guadalajara, Mexico but we keep in touch and I'll see if I can get her opinion.

[AQHA]

School districts all over the country are looking for sped teachers, so getting the job wont be hard.
However, I would not ask for the upfront money-- that's just going to tell the district that you are; A) Not good at managing your money, and B) Demanding. Whether these things are true or not does not matter because perception is reality in the job market.

[lesliegrace]

I am also a Texas teacher/school librarian; I wandered into the Montana forum and became fascinated by some of the discussions.

I'm not planning to move to Montana, but I have considered moving to other states in the past. This is probably stating the obvious, but educators who move from one state to another need to become certified in the new state. I think each state sets its own certification process; in some you have to pass a test, and I imagine in virtually any state you must fill out the correct paperwork and pay the certification fee even if you don't have to take a test.

I think that ladyflyfsh mentioned a website in a different thread that would be helpful to anybody who hopes to teach in Montana: http://www.opi.state.mt.us/cert/ (broken link) .

I've heard of big companies paying moving expenses, but I've never actually heard of any school districts that are willing to do that for teachers. (They might do it for a superintendent or a head football coach in a wealthy district, but I've never even heard of that!) I've heard of some wealthy school districts in Texas that pay hiring bonuses, but I don't know about Montana.

Good luck. I hope you get what you want.

[MontanaGuy]

I need a school district that will pay relocation costs.

I just got a response back from my sister. She said she's heard of certain school districts considering the idea of a bonus to get someone to move there for a hard to fill position but doesn't actually know that it's ever taken place. As far as relocation costs are concerned she said she's never heard of any school district doing that so I think it's extremely unlikely. She would know because she spent over 30 years in Montana's school system. Sorry to pass along that news. I hope things work out for you whatever you end up doing.