NYC Teachers...

Can anyone explain to me what makes a teacher 'common branch' or not? (besides special ed- I know that is separate)

For instance, my fiance teaches music. He does all of the music instruction between two city schools. They love him. He's starting new ensembles and doing wonderful things for them. However, today he was told something along the lines of : All common branch teachers with less than 7 years are receiving pink slips/probably losing their jobs, etc.

I am so sorry to anyone else who is in this situation...I'm livid, high-strung...he just kicked butt with a few concerts and heard this before his last one- tonight...

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry, I'm in the same position as you, my FH's position got cut for next year as the school is eliminating BIOLOGY from its curriculum entirely, have you ever heard something so crazy... it's a private school so I don't have any helpful info for you but I would assume your FH would know if he is common branch or not?

Give yourself some time to digest the news and try to relax, I freaked out for a few hours when we were told he lost the job as of September but after a while you will start to see options. I would recommend he start applying to charter schools since they're some of the only schools able to hire... and there are some music positions on OLAS too I've seen. Good luck to you guys!!

ok this is from my mom who is a retired nyc teacher.

Does your FH have a separate music license? he prob does and if so he's not common branch. She thinks he's specialized.

I think that common branch is general ed teachers certified to teach k-6....

Not sure because he is a music teacher, so like someone said he might have a specialization.. although sadly, usually the first thing to go within a school (like mine), is music and drama and things like that... unless there's a separate budget for them since they only work at the school a few days a week..

I am a special ed teacher and have been working for 5 years, so I am safe, but I know that general ed teachers hired in 2007 or after might be in danger...

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Posted by FutureMcBride

I think that common branch is general ed teachers certified to teach k-6....

Not sure because he is a music teacher, so like someone said he might have a specialization.. although sadly, usually the first thing to go within a school (like mine), is music and drama and things like that... unless there's a separate budget for them since they only work at the school a few days a week..

I am a special ed teacher and have been working for 5 years, so I am safe, but I know that general ed teachers hired in 2007 or after might be in danger...

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thats what i heard as well. its not just music teachers- in my friend's school there were 14 people hired after 2007 and all of their jobs are in jeapardy. it all will come down to politics and how the city negotiates with the union. its really sad.

He is a specialized teacher. I know a principal in the city who is a very close friend of the family and yes teacher who are certified k-6 and started teaching in 2007 and on their jobs are in danger... this is absolutely horrible and I am sorry for anyone who is apart of this

With all the layoffs this also means that there is no way someone outside of the system, just coming in, like myself can get a job. :(

And I'm doing special ed!!

We are both certified music teachers (K-12). He is probationary, but his position is split between two buildings. Thanks so much to everyone for all of your help with 'common branch'. We'd never heard this term used to refer to what LI schools usually call 'core' teachers.

So many people are getting excessed and losing their jobs...it's so tough! I'm sorry to all of you and your husbands/fiances going through this.

(Random side note...for those of you familiar with WW points, I've been doing really well with them and exercising lately...I should have 20 a day...after hearing this, I had about 40...nothing too fatty..but argh...after speed walking for an hour this morning too...I'm considering going out again...but I'm so tired!)

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Posted by andreahowie2011

With all the layoffs this also means that there is no way someone outside of the system, just coming in, like myself can get a job. :(

And I'm doing special ed!!

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Special Ed is actually the best place to be in right now or to be looking for a job. District 75 has been hiring even through the hiring freeze. Send your resume to D75 schools worth a shot

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Posted by andreahowie2011

District 75 really kinda scares me. I hear its the worst of the worst with hospital ridden kids and such.

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When I finished my undergrad in December 2007, I received a job in a district where I was replacing someone who was out on worker's comp. I was split between 3 different schools, and the students in the middle school (where I only had two sections of one class) were students who had been suspended for stabbing the teacher with pens,etc. I had to put on several concerts (one just two weeks after I got there to make up for a winter concert they never had), moving up ceremonies, and take on a lot of responsibilites in a very short period of time with no mentor and no understanding about how any of the individual schools ran. I had no benefits, because I was a long-term sub (since she was out on worker's comp). I had classes of students who were non-verbal, no copies of IEPs, 504's,etc. I didn't know that I'd have self-contained classes until they showed up the first day.

Was it stressful? A bit. It was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and taught me more about teaching, thinking on my feet, and relating to human beings than anything I ever could have learned while completing my degree.

The following summer, a leave replacement was posted for one of the nicest districts on LI. I got it because of my experience and references from that first position. This past year was my second year in the same district, and I will be there next year as well. It's still a leave replacement, but I'm extremely thankful and lucky to have a job.

As for the first district I taught in? They still needed someone to replace that teacher while I moved on to the district I'm in now. I contacted a girl that graduated a semester after me, since I knew she didn't have a job. She said that she 'was told she should avoid that district'. She did, and then the district was in the paper as having a thriving music/arts program despite other cuts/bad publicity it tends to get.

Moral of the story: If there's a job, you go for it!!!!

Np

I know nothing about District 75, and that sounds really emotionally tough...but you never know exactly what something is like until you try it. You also never know what you're going to learn or who you are going to meet at any job.

Good luck!!

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Posted by smashingsiren

Np

I know nothing about District 75, and that sounds really emotionally tough...but you never know exactly what something is like until you try it. You also never know what you're going to learn or who you are going to meet at any job.

Good luck!!

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Couldn't have said it better myself! I teach in D75, I have a 6:1:1 class for children with autism. I am in the middle school so my students are 11-13 years old. Are some days tough? absolutely. But it is so rewarding and honestly they make me laugh and smile more than any typical teenage could! D75 gets a bad rap and yes there are classes that have some pretty challenging kids, but they arent all like that. If you want to do special ed and have experience i would say go for it.

i work in a D75 school. by tuesday we'll find out about cuts. just because they are hiring doesn't mean there will be a job because budgets aren't out until next week.

my uft rep and people higher in the UFT told my FH today that the pink slips will go to ALL teachers with 7 years or less. the letter will state that it is a possibility to be let go by september or into next year. they will start with those teachers that don't have tenure and then work their way into the later years (3years, then 4 years, etc).

This is what I'm hearing. I will have 8 in September and I'm still worried. FH will have 5 and teaches in D75 and its risky.

This is a sad time for our children.

NYPD is hiring now instead after the times square thing and DOE is stuck with the bulk of the cuts.

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Posted by andreahowie2011

With all the layoffs this also means that there is no way someone outside of the system, just coming in, like myself can get a job. :(

And I'm doing special ed!!

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I know exactly how you feel. I graduate with my teaching degree in December.