NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Hello teachers!
Well, I have still not heard back from ANY LI school districts, is there any advice you can extend to get my resume noticed or any districts you know who are hiring elementary teachers for next school year??

How many years of experience are schools looking for...I thought with 2 years of teaching first grade and a masters I would get at least ONE interview...what's going on??

Any words of advice or wisdom would be greatly appreciated...also, when is your district interviewing?? Are they going on now or are they already over??
THANKS!!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Well 30 something districts budgets didn't pass in nassau, so i think a lot of districts are waiting until they know what is going on with their budgets. My advice to you, is send resumes out again in July/early August because a lot of woman will decide whether or not they are coming back from maternity. Also, districts are most likely to hire their leave replacements first for probationary positions, so you may have to start out as a leave replacement. It sucks, but you kind of have to pay your dues.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I am in the same boat as you. No calls, nothing. It is very depressing. Did you do online applications too? I did the BOCES online application, which is accessable to many districts.
I am really discouraged at this point. I was talking to a co-worker the other day and I said how I was even thinking of just leaving the field of teaching, because I am just so discouraged. I want soo bad to have my own class to teach. But it just seems like it will never happen. I feel like a I went to school for 6 years for nothing. I can't even find a job.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I feel the same way. I have my masters in special ed. and have been teaching in Queens for two years. What's the matter with me? And the sad thing is, if I ever decided to leave the field, I'm not qualified to do anything.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I hear ya...but don't get discouraged!! I feel like I have sent 100 resumes out as well with NOTHING, but I guess we have to send 100 more...are you looking in Nassau or Suffolk??

Do you work in NYC public schools?? I do...in the Bronx, love the kids, hate the administration!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Don't throw in the towel yet!!!

I started teaching two years ago. I got 1, maybe 2 interviews while I was finishing up my student teaching--and then NOTHING until JULY... and in mid July, I had one interview for a 1 year leave replacement (not my ideal, but it got me experience and connections with other schools). When the other teacher decided to return after the year was up, I had to find something else. Again, last year, I had almost NO interviews until the end of June, when I suddenly got 3 at the same time.

What I am trying to say is, people get these jobs at all times. My aunt started her job the second day of school as a leave replacement and by the end of the day they asked her to be permanent, and now she has been there 15 years.

The budgets have thrown a lot of districts for a loop. I would send out another résumé and use any contacts you may have from student teaching. My new principal called my old principal and I got hired in one day. Sometimes it's Who you know!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

i'm with you girls...and i'm not even subbing!!! i'm looking for anything for experience...t/a, sub, para, anything! i've heard nothing!!! and i'm ready to say why bother...at least i have time to do wedding stuff. but when the wedding is over, then what?

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Oh it could totally be who you know too!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

It definitely is who you know...but I know no one on Long Island in the teaching field!!
If anyone wants to work in the Bronx, let me know!! My school is always hiring!!!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

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Posted by Boop2704

I am in the same boat as you. No calls, nothing. It is very depressing. Did you do online applications too? I did the BOCES online application, which is accessable to many districts.
I am really discouraged at this point. I was talking to a co-worker the other day and I said how I was even thinking of just leaving the field of teaching, because I am just so discouraged. I want soo bad to have my own class to teach. But it just seems like it will never happen. I feel like a I went to school for 6 years for nothing. I can't even find a job.

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Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I really don't want it to come to me having to leave the field. I would really feel as if I let not only my family, but the kids I would and have taught down, if I left. I love what I do, but it is just breaking my heart not being able to do, what I love to do. My last hope is the catholic schools. I have put my application in to them and now I can just wait. I just have this helpless feeling. And what bothers me the most, is that there are so many teachers out there, older ones, that can't remember their students names in June, yet they have a job for next year.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

i am not in the education field but 90% of my friends are and my SIL is- she got a job a week before school started a couple of years ago. that's apparently how it happens a lot of the time. i know my one friend graduated with his MASTERS and is having a hard time--i think the problem is that if they have two candidates they are considering, one with a bachelors and one with a masters and both are qualified, they will take the one with the bachelors degree because they can pay them so much less. i'm sorry, i know it's frustrating. Don't give up!! good luck!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Boop2704--Are you currently teaching in New York City or are you not teaching yet?? If you want to stay in teaching and can't teach on LI or Westchester yet, NYC Public Schools are ALWAYS hiring...at least its a job, right??!! Good Luck!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

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Posted by julesn5

Boop2704--Are you currently teaching in New York City or are you not teaching yet?? If you want to stay in teaching and can't teach on LI or Westchester yet, NYC Public Schools are ALWAYS hiring...at least its a job, right??!! Good Luck!

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Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

MASTERS!!!!! that is the key word.... no one will hire with a masters most likely
I am having a difficult time with a BA + 36

i stopped in the middle of my masters for this reason... i had superintendents of districts telling me not to get my masters until I got a job

You will get a job but be patient it is tough with a masters

also some one mention... it is who you know and also they hire many people right before school starts

I am also about to GET OUT OF THE FIELD
it is soooooo discouraging

Message edited 6/2/2004 8:46:05 PM.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I am so confused, I thought you had to have a masters to teach?? Isn't that part of becoming certified (besides taking the tests)??

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

i am in the same boat as you girls , however this week i got a lot of bites. i think now is the time that retirees are telling the schools.

i dont know if its necessarily wise not to have a masters- most schools want dual certified people and if they really like you but dont have the money in the budget they will ask you to have a pay cut your first year.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Congrats on the bites this week...I'm jealous!!
Were they from Nassau or Suffolk county districts?? Has anyone applied to Nassau county school districts and heard back from them?? Everyone who has mentioned hearing back from a district has mentioned Suffolk County districts...

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

So, I am not alone in this I guess! I've applied for a bunch of districts, all using the online application system. Has anyone had luck with these applications? I find them so tedious and repetitive..... and have heard nothing back. Its so much easier to send in a paper resume and they all want online only now! What a pain!

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I know it is discouraging but, if teaching is something that you really want to do, then you will! That will show through in your interviews and believe it or not in your resumes, (because of other activities that you have on there)

Also, please remember most districts are coming off of MAJOR hiring spurts. In the last 8 years I would say that my district had hired well more than 200 teachers. I know the year I came in there were 86 new teachers. But this year there are only 9 retirements and I think that they are only hiring 6 additional teachers on top of that.

Fields like elementary education are completely saturated. You need to make yourself stand out and more marketable by having dual certs; like elementary and reading.

Remember that when the economy gets bad, education is also effect after. The effects are not felt as immediate because budgets are approved in advance. Many districts did not have their budgets approved and will not hire additional teachers until that is done.

One hint that my friend's father who is a principal once told me make sure that you send your resumees in a yellow envelope, not a plain white envelope that you have to fold your resumee. Not folding it shows your care about the job.

Good luck all

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I'm secondary ed certified for social studies and I haven't even gotten a whiff of an interview...it's like I send out my applications into a black hole...it's so depressing
I'm going for my masters now in library science, school media specialist and working as a public librarian, maybe I can get into the teaching profession as a librarian, we'll see...I'm so frustrated!

Message edited 6/3/2004 6:31:33 PM.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

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Posted by julesn5

I am so confused, I thought you had to have a masters to teach?? Isn't that part of becoming certified (besides taking the tests)??

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Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

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Posted by dbcrosby

i am in the same boat as you girls , however this week i got a lot of bites. i think now is the time that retirees are telling the schools.

i dont know if its necessarily wise not to have a masters- most schools want dual certified people and if they really like you but dont have the money in the budget they will ask you to have a pay cut your first year.

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Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

Ladies - Don't get discouraged. I have worked in education for the last 6 years, plus 4 years at the college level. It is a combination of who you know, having patience, and timing.

Many schools have only been to screen and interview very recently. I only started calling candidates myself the end of last week. We had to wait for the budget and then get organized. Plus many districts are still determining staffing needs for next year based on anticipated enrollment, etc.

My suggestions:

Apply on-line and followup by mailing your resume and cover letter.

Get the sunday NY Times and check for adds.

Touch base with anyone who you student taught for, etc and give them a copy of your resume.

Give your high school that you went to your resume and ask to meet with the prinicpal.

Consider getting experience by looking for summer programs, night school programs (secondary level) or subbing.


Good luck to all.... and don't give up...many districts do hire throughout the summer.

Re: NWR: STILL have not heard back from school districts??!!

I literally sent out resumes to every school in suffolk. I heard back from only one. I've been through 2 demo lessons, one interview and am now biting my nails to hear about a final interview. My fear is that I don't get this and where does that leave me? Staying in the city...in one of the worst schools to teach for. UGH! On top of it, many schools are making cuts due to the budgets not being passed. Those district definitely won't hire anyone!
Good luck...we all need it I think!