At a crossroads & seeking advice. Job-related

[aristocatz]

Hi all,

Seeking some job related advice.....

I currently work for a large urban school district. I"m not a classroom teacher. I'm been in the district for 8 years. For the past year, our district has been under control of the state's department of education, due to underperforming schools. It's a complicated situation, staff are all under a lot of pressure, will need to work longer hours next year (though most of us do anyways, we will just actually get paid for them next year!). My job has had its ups & downs. Caseload is way too high, resources are limited, its been stressful & I've wanted to quit on several occasions. But I LOVE the population I serve, I love the families, & the staff, and I've basically built the program, so its become kind of my baby. & I'm comfortable there. I've also recently been encouraged to apply for a higher position, which would allow me to oversee the program (without juggling a caseload at the same time), have more autonomy to make decisions, & have a significant raise. The higher position would most likely take away my school vacations & summers that I spend with my my small children. Its not like I wouldn't ever be able to spend time with them, but those "teacher perks" would likely no longer apply to me. But the pay increase would be significant. The new superintendent likes me, & there is a pretty good chance that I would get this high level job.

My husband recently had to take a second job at night, because we've been struggling to make ends meet since I had my second baby-due to daycare costs. It would be amazing to be able to make enough money to allow my DH to quit his second job.

Anyways, my former boss contacted me this evening. I worked under this person for 7 years & they left this year. Amazing boss & I loved working with them. Anyways, former boss is in a new district & contacted me to see if I was interested in working in the new district. New district is total opposite of my current one. Small rural area, very small caseload. It would not be an upper position like the one I was encouraged to apply for in current district, it would be the same position I do now. Unsure about pay at this point, but I'm going to guess it would be higher than I make now, but not as high as the coordinator position.

Do I stay or do I go? What would you do?

 

[Disneylover99]

Find out and be clear about pay with your former boss before you decide. If it's close in pay, that may be the route to go. It sounds less stressful.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Just out of curiosity, what's your position?

I would probably stay, personally, because once I feel comfortable somewhere I don't like to leave. But it sounds like under your current situation, an increase in pay without all the stress might be an amazing change for you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What, exactly, is your role?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What sort of vacation is available to the year-round position? DW is the school clerk - position that has "Summers off", but it's only 6 weeks off (kids are out 10 weeks). She also has Christmas break off, holidays, and snow days off. None of her "off" days are paid.

The secretary is a "year-round" job. But, she has 5 weeks paid vacation, Christmas break paid off, and paid holidays. In the end, she only works about 5 days more than DW, but gets several additional weeks worth of pay. And she has the option of taking vacation whenever she wants, not just on school breaks. Maybe your promotion will have similar perks???

 

[aristocatz]

Just out of curiosity, what's your position?

I would probably stay, personally, because once I feel comfortable somewhere I don't like to leave. But it sounds like under your current situation, an increase in pay without all the stress might be an amazing change for you.

That's the thing-I'm very comfortable where I am & I know this place in & out. & I love the urban population. There have been alot of changes in the past year & I expect alot of unknowns, but alot of things will stay the same as well. If I got the promotion in my current district, I do expect the pay to be significant, which is very enticing, given our current financial situation. I hate that my DH has to work at night. I'm a behavior specialist, by the way (some asked about my job), but currently on a teacher's contract.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

That's the thing-I'm very comfortable where I am & I know this place in & out. & I love the urban population. There have been alot of changes in the past year & I expect alot of unknowns, but alot of things will stay the same as well. If I got the promotion in my current district, I do expect the pay to be significant, which is very enticing, given our current financial situation. I hate that my DH has to work at night. I'm a behavior specialist, by the way (some asked about my job), but currently on a teacher's contract.

Just curious because I'm currently studying school psychology and my career trajectory will probably be similar. Anyway, I'm not a parent. But I know that kids grow up super quickly; I think you might be grateful for the extra time with them if you take the new position.

 

[aristocatz]

What sort of vacation is available to the year-round position? DW is the school clerk - position that has "Summers off", but it's only 6 weeks off (kids are out 10 weeks). She also has Christmas break off, holidays, and snow days off. None of her "off" days are paid.

The secretary is a "year-round" job. But, she has 5 weeks paid vacation, Christmas break paid off, and paid holidays. In the end, she only works about 5 days more than DW, but gets several additional weeks worth of pay. And she has the option of taking vacation whenever she wants, not just on school breaks. Maybe your promotion will have similar perks???

I don't know all the details yet of the promoted position in my current district. I'm going to guess I will have major holidays off (Christmas, Thanksgiving), but will be expected to come in during school vacations & summer. Will likely have X amount of weeks of paid vacation (which my DH said would be great because we could go to WDW during the cheaper times lol). I'm going to guess I will need to come in during some snow days. Where I live they have snowdays where administration still needs to come in, unless it is a really bad snow day and city offices are closed. I live very close to the district though, so commute is not a big deal. Commute to the new district would be a little longer, but only by 10-15 minutes.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I really would have no insight into which would be the better position.
But, I think I am good at reading into posts...
When I read how you describe your current situation, I see how you mention how you love (even in all caps) where you are at, and how it is kind of your baby.
Being the boots on the ground with the heavy case-load seems to be the negative.
And, that would change if you moved up in to the coordinator position, right?

Those summers can be nice... But, the vacation time is still there. Just not as many weeks.
And, with the extended school years in some districts, summer breaks are shorter than ever.

I am not sure that it sounds like you would be happy, and motivated, and excited, and fulfilled in the other position in the other position in the smaller rural district???
I think that is the million dollar question.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't know all the details yet of the promoted position in my current district. I'm going to guess I will have major holidays off (Christmas, Thanksgiving), but will be expected to come in during school vacations & summer. Will likely have X amount of weeks of paid vacation (which my DH said would be great because we could go to WDW during the cheaper times lol). I'm going to guess I will need to come in during some snow days. Where I live they have snowdays where administration still needs to come in, unless it is a really bad snow day and city offices are closed. I live very close to the district though, so commute is not a big deal. Commute to the new district would be a little longer, but only by 10-15 minutes.

The Secretary I mentioned has to come in snow days as well. I thought the vacation was very generous though - she's only been with the district 3 years.

 

[aristocatz]

I really would have no insight into which would be the better position.
But, I think I am good at reading into posts...
When I read how you describe your current situation, I see how you mention how you love (even in all caps) where you are at, and how it is kind of your baby.
Being the boots on the ground with the heavy case-load seems to be the negative.
And, that would change if you moved up in to the coordinator position, right?

Those summers can be nice... But, the vacation time is still there. Just not as many weeks.
And, with the extended school years in some districts, summer breaks are shorter than ever.

I am not sure that it sounds like you would be happy, and motivated, and excited, and fulfilled in the other position in the other position in the smaller rural district???
I think that is the million dollar question.

Thank you-your reply was very helpful. I do love this district-in all its problems & complications, I do love it. & I built my department from ground up over all these years (acting essentially as a department head & juggling a huge caseload at the same time), so yes, it has become my baby & the majority of my coworkers currently view me as a coordinator (the higher level position that is being created next year). I wouldn't have a caseload with the higher up job, & not sure the details of the job responsibilities (they are in process of creating the position). But I also love my old boss. That person is who introduced me to urban education-something I never thought I would love as much as I do. I learned a ton from my old boss & we work very well together & in the past, accomplished really great things together. I was crushed when my old boss left-alot of us were. & I am honored that they are thinking of me for the new district. I think that is where I feel stuck. If it was just a random district, I would have no thoughts to leave. But being able to work with my old boss again is a definite perk.

 

[aristocatz]

The Secretary I mentioned has to come in snow days as well. I thought the vacation was very generous though - she's only been with the district 3 years.

That is a very generous vacation! I'm not sure what the secretaries or non-teaching contract positions get for vacation time in my current district.

 

[dja14]

What does your husband think about being able to quit the second job? It's true kids grow up fast (and I'm a stay home mom, so I don't say that lightly) but I think the second job situation can be really hard on a marriage and on the person doing the second job. Many years ago my husband had to have a second job and it was really hard missing that family time.

 

[aejammers]

Are you sure the new district would pay more than you are making now? If it's a smaller, rural district, they might actually pay less.

However, you also have to evaluate the additional child care costs if you take the supervisor position, since you say you will be losing the traditional teacher times off. You may be working just to pay the extra costs.

I think you need to make a pro/con list and then go with the position that makes the most sense for your family--and will make you happiest.

Good luck!

 

[pocomom]

I know giving up summers off is huge, but it sounds like that would be the next progression whenever you would move up. It also sounds like moving up from the other school might be harder in the future? I also think being able to ditch dh's second job is huge-for me that would be a main factor in my decision.

 

[brockash]

Hi all,

Seeking some job related advice.....

I currently work for a large urban school district. I"m not a classroom teacher. I'm been in the district for 8 years. For the past year, our district has been under control of the state's department of education, due to underperforming schools. It's a complicated situation, staff are all under a lot of pressure, will need to work longer hours next year (though most of us do anyways, we will just actually get paid for them next year!). My job has had its ups & downs. Caseload is way too high, resources are limited, its been stressful & I've wanted to quit on several occasions. But I LOVE the population I serve, I love the families, & the staff, and I've basically built the program, so its become kind of my baby. & I'm comfortable there. I've also recently been encouraged to apply for a higher position, which would allow me to oversee the program (without juggling a caseload at the same time), have more autonomy to make decisions, & have a significant raise. The higher position would most likely take away my school vacations & summers that I spend with my my small children. Its not like I wouldn't ever be able to spend time with them, but those "teacher perks" would likely no longer apply to me. But the pay increase would be significant. The new superintendent likes me, & there is a pretty good chance that I would get this high level job.

My husband recently had to take a second job at night, because we've been struggling to make ends meet since I had my second baby-due to daycare costs. It would be amazing to be able to make enough money to allow my DH to quit his second job.

Anyways, my former boss contacted me this evening. I worked under this person for 7 years & they left this year. Amazing boss & I loved working with them. Anyways, former boss is in a new district & contacted me to see if I was interested in working in the new district. New district is total opposite of my current one. Small rural area, very small caseload. It would not be an upper position like the one I was encouraged to apply for in current district, it would be the same position I do now. Unsure about pay at this point, but I'm going to guess it would be higher than I make now, but not as high as the coordinator position.

Do I stay or do I go? What would you do?

I'd take the higher position/pay job. You'll still get to take vacation days with your kiddos, just not quite as many, but more of your choosing. Sounds like finances are pretty tight and you really like and are respected where you're at, so I'd try to grow with the new position. If you absolutely hated it, you could always go back to doing what you used to do (not necessarily in the same school etc., but you're still qualified), but this way you'll get some more experience as well and you may end up really liking it and it may lead to more things.

 

[Colleen27]

Two things: Be absolutely sure on the pay from the rural district before you put any serious consieration into it. You might be surprised how much less such districts can get away with paying. I live in a small rural/small town district and I know teachers who took 5-figure pay cuts to come here from the Detroit and Flint school districts. The better working conditions, smaller classes, and less challenging population mean our district just doesn't have to pay as much to get and retain staff, and because the cost of living here is quite low compared to suburban areas, that lower pay is especially challenging for teachers who commute in from the Detroit area.

The other thing to take into account is the commute. How far do you drive to your current job, and how long would you spend getting to/from the rural district? How would that effect your childcare costs, if at all? Your transportation costs, your ability to be home in the evenings when your kids need you, all of that? We've had a lot of teachers in our district work here for a few years and then move on because what they thought was going to be an okay commute turned out to be too much in the long run. And I don't blame them. I have over an hour commute right now and it sucks the joy out of a job I otherwise enjoy - no matter how good my day was, 50 miles in heavy traffic cures my good mood long before I get home.

 

[Bren's Mom]

If your husband is working a 2nd job to make ends meet, you'll REALLY need to get specifics of actual paid time off, when it's earned, etc and drill down how much summer daycare/camps will cost to cover the loss of time in the summers.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am assuming that you know who would be your supervisor if you were promoted in your current district.
Are there any negatives there?

Would your former boss be able to give you more insight into how it is working in this other, very different, district?
Would you be able to actually meet and have a good conversation with them?

 

[mom2rtk]

Being able to match up your time off with your girls' time off as they enter school is a pretty big deal. I'm not sure I would be able to let that go.