How far is too far for a work commute? (Teachers please answer)

[Cindy B]

aren't you in the same state I'm in? Which district are you more likely to obtain tenure in? That would be an issue with me. How do the pay steps work in each district? Urban schools often accelerate pay faster so that you are less likely to leave before five years but in ten years the pays are closer to even. I am working in a very urban school and like it. But I have had nothing but support from my administration. There is zero parental involvement, however. Being a non-traditional student I am looking for the most secure position and once there I will stay put. However, my dh can relocate anywhere in our tri-state area and my kids are all in college. Are you in a position that if you took the further job and it was going well you could relocate closer?
If you are in my state, where are all of these jobs? I just started putting out the apps and am hoping. I am on the tail end of a 7 month long term sub position. There may be something permanent but not sure.
There are some administrators in my district who are very tough to work under. I would have a hard time dealing with the problems in this type of school if I had to add in a non-supportive supervisor.

I would get tenure in current district. I only have 8 months of service since I began in November full time. The rural district stated it was a full time tenure track position. Suprisingly my urban district (which starts with a C) has had no contract movement in years and my pay will be the same.

It is very difficult dealing with the everyday challenges with two very difficult supervisors.

I couldn't really move closer because my two kids are in high school. My DH works from home and can move anywhere. We tried to sell our home recently and it didn't sell, so it is cheaper to stay and do some renovating. We could cut the price after the kids graduate, but I need them to graduate first.. (one incoming 9th grade and incoming 11th grade)

As for jobs, I look everyweek. I go to our states DOE site and click on every school district website in a three county area..for me this is Burlington, Camden and Gloucester County. I also look on NJ Hire (but I don't pay for a membership), njschooljobs, and other sites. It also may have to do with certifications.. I have two (K-5 and Middle School English). My current school is in Camden County and this new school would be on the edge of Gloucester County.

 

[tvguy]

I commute 13 miles one way, the longest commute I have ever had, but I don't think I would think twice about taking a job I wanted. 31 miles doesn't seem like much of a commute to me. I found out today that one of my coworkers drives 62 miles one way to work. She got the job first, then decided where she wants to live.

 

[lajones81]

Currently I work at a school district which is only 7 miles from my home. The working conditions are poor to say the least. The pay is higher than average. The students have discipline problems and it is a pretty dangerous area. The administration is challenging. I have a contract for September. We are working without a contract and have had the same pay for approx. 5 years. This is my first year in the district and I am untenured.

I interviewed today at a lovely rural district which is 31 miles one way from my house-- all highway. It is very rural as compared to my very urban. The pay would be less, but a quick scan of pay scales for rural district show raises every year.

I would be doing the same job. Urban school is for 8th grade, rural school 5/6th grade.

I have a 2010 4 cyl Toyota so I'm not driving a huge car.

31 miles seems pretty far, especially in this state. Would you take a pay cut and drive further for much better working conditions?

My commute takes me 20 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening. Sometimes that is too much, as my commute used to take about 15 minutes both ways. lol

 

[MM27]

I teach exactly 45 miles from my house. I take the GSP North to work and it can take me anywhere from 1 hour on a good day to almost 3 hours one day when it was pouring and there were several accidents. The latter is an exception though.

I am just finishing up my 11th year and at this point, the drive is just part of my routine. It actually doesn't feel as long/bad as it did in the first year or two. I swore that I wouldn't do this more than a few years, but here I am.

 

[paintnolish]

This past winter and spring, I did several maternity leaves at a school about 30 miles away. I would drink my coffee and eat my breakfast in the car. That gave me a little extra time in the morning to get ready. I also listened to books on CD or downloaded some. I called my mom sometimes, too. It goes by pretty quickly and doesn't seem like to much to do for better working conditions. I am looking for a full-time fall position now and am limiting myself to a 45 minute drive.

 

[woodkins]

Just to put it in perspective $2000 divided by 52 weeks of paychecks comes out to a whopping difference of $38.46 per week.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

I had a great reply and then my internet went kapput...but in sum...
TAKE THE JOB! I think you'll feel so much better when you do. Re: your husband's comment about the commute...I've always commuted, and I've thought about moving closer...and I keep coming to the same conclusion: I like my commute. The car is quiet and relaxing after the noise and demands of kids. It gives me time to reflect on what I did that day and think about any modifications I need to make to tomorrow's plans. It also helps me separate school from home. Plus, it's awfully nice not to run into kids EVERYWHERE I go. Living a half hour (or more) away helps with that!

 

[englishteacha]

I would do it. I currently work 25 miles from home, always have. Under our old administrator I was very unhappy, and was looking for another job, any other job. I almost quit teaching to take a job as a copy editor at a newspaper, working nights. So...had our regime not changed, I would have left. I wouldn't have taken a drastic pay cut because I am the main breadwinner for our family, but $2000 for my happiness, sanity and safety? Yeah.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

So you look every week for a new job, and have been offered one in one of the counties you have been applying at weekly. I think you answered your own question. If you weren't so desperate to leave your current situation, you wouldn't be applying weekly. No school will be perfect, but I can tell you from experience that working conditions and morale vary WIDELY from school to school - even within the same neighborhood.

What would you regret more? Turning down the job to stay with what you know, or taking the job and leaving your comfort zone (even though it's not comfortable).

I do agree that the administration makes a huge difference in job satisfaction, especially when you are working in an inner-city environment. I've worked at several different inner-city schools, and the administration and the school culture they created made a world of difference.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[DVCJones]

Hmm, I have been traveling 45 minutes each way for the past 16 years. I teach in beautiful seaside community. I would have to say it is every bit worth the drive.

I actually enjoy the ride in and out of town. It gives me time to think about my plan for the day. On the way home, I enjoy the relaxing ride home. By the time I get home, I am relaxed and ready to enjoy the rest of the day.

I even school choiced my kids into the district. Now we all commute together.

You could always move closer to your job if you like it there. I plan on doing this soon. Not too close though...I like my privacy.

 

[ccstrickler]

Is the rural school in the same county that you are in now? If not, and you are ina "snow" area, you could end up being expected to travel to your new school during bad weather in your county. I turned down a job in another county even though it was more money for just this reason. Now I am retired and I don't worry about it

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Is the rural school in the same county that you are in now? If not, and you are ina "snow" area, you could end up being expected to travel to your new school during bad weather in your county. I turned down a job in another county even though it was more money for just this reason. Now I am retired and I don't worry about it

I didn't even think about driving in the snow! It's not something I tend to consider.

Good point for the OP to include in her decision!

 

[ilovefh]

I say go for it. I am in the process of doing something similar, but the other way around.

Like all counties my county was facing cuts and no one knew who would have a job in the fall. I applied in the neighboring county to cover myself in case I was cut.

My current school is 40 miles away and it takes about an hour to get there. I love the administration and my team.

I lucked out and was offered a job 14 minutes from my house.

With picking my son up at daycare I was looking at being gone from the house from 6:45am-6:00pm and driving 100 miles round trip at my current school to being gone from 8-4:15 and driving 24 miles roundtrip.

I don't know much about the new school and I'm nervous to change schools because I really love my old school, but the extra time at home is so worth it. I think the extra time at home will make me happy.

So if you think that even with the extra drive and cut in pay it will be a better environment....go for it!

 

[StitchBuddy]

I commmuted almost 40 miles to a rural district. The pay was less, but I loved it and would do it again. You can't puta price on your sanity.

 

[Minnie]

Me again...

It is the same exact teaching position. One is 5th/6th. I will be an 8th grade teacher next year. I already have the priviledge of knowing my students for next school year.. and it isn't pretty! (Most of them are problem students-- I probably have only about 10 students that would want to learn, the other 50 would just do the "gangster" thing they have always done.)

I pulled up to the rural school today.. I heard birds chirping, saw green grass and and a corn field. In my current school, I pull up to an extremely urban area, deal with people yelling obscenities and bass turned up extremely loud.

I have little to no parent involvement now. My administration is awful. I love my coworkers..I joke and say we are like "war veterans". I break up fights daily and deal with strong racism from the students/some teachers. (I am not the same race as most individuals in this urban area) Most of my students now have been retained two or even three times.. so I have some 16 or 17 year old 8th graders. This is a high poverty area.

This rural school.. everyone seemed polite and kind. There are more students in the school. This rural school only goes to 6th grade. Rural school takes a few small rural towns in so enrollment is high. It isn't a high poverty area, but looks like an average rural area.

I grew up in a rural area and it reminds me of that. I don't want to take it just so I can get out of the city. I'm an older person so I want to make one move and stick with it.

You answered your own questions above... time to make the change

 

[Cindy B]

Is the rural school in the same county that you are in now? If not, and you are ina "snow" area, you could end up being expected to travel to your new school during bad weather in your county. I turned down a job in another county even though it was more money for just this reason. Now I am retired and I don't worry about it

No, the rural school is one county over. My current school had a lot of snow days as well though. Think narrow urban streets with cars parked on each side.. no room for snow plows. We had 3 feet of snow and the streets in town never got plowed the entire time. (It's also an awful area, so private snow companies or individuals wouldn't come out there)

Thanks so much everyone. You have given me a lot to think about.

 

[Cindy B]

Here's another answer: Both my husband and I work, but he makes more money. It is important that I work, but I am not tied down to a specific salary per se. I am concerned about the drive.

Thanks again for everyones perspective.

 

[golfgal]

The fact that you don't feel safe staying in your current school past 3:30 would be it for me. A 30 mile commute on the interstate would be nothing for most people. Is the interstate busy? Why did it take so long to get there?

Also, if you haven't had a raise in 5 years, you will recoup your lost wages/added fuel costs in short order-a year or two-with getting a raise. Also, how are the benefits? Are they better than your current school?

I think you will find that you will get used to the commute pretty quickly.

We lived in a rural area for many years and the teachers that didn't live in town (and the kids for that matter) had a town "home" to use if they couldn't get home because of the weather. In the 15+ years we lived there, there was ONE time that the kids had to use those "homes" and they actually kept all the kids overnight at the high school. This is rural MN, blowing, drifting snow with HIGH winds area. Find a friend at your new school, leave a change of clothing or two at that friend's house in the winter and weather becomes a non-issue.

 

[Cindy B]

The fact that you don't feel safe staying in your current school past 3:30 would be it for me. A 30 mile commute on the interstate would be nothing for most people. Is the interstate busy? Why did it take so long to get there?

Also, if you haven't had a raise in 5 years, you will recoup your lost wages/added fuel costs in short order-a year or two-with getting a raise. Also, how are the benefits? Are they better than your current school?

I think you will find that you will get used to the commute pretty quickly.

We lived in a rural area for many years and the teachers that didn't live in town (and the kids for that matter) had a town "home" to use if they couldn't get home because of the weather. In the 15+ years we lived there, there was ONE time that the kids had to use those "homes" and they actually kept all the kids overnight at the high school. This is rural MN, blowing, drifting snow with HIGH winds area. Find a friend at your new school, leave a change of clothing or two at that friend's house in the winter and weather becomes a non-issue.

To answer questions, the commute is actually four highways. One highway in front of my house to the interstate #1,(which I am on for about 5 exits south) Interstate #1 merges onto #2.. I am on #2 for one exit and merge onto the third highway for the most amount of time. (I have about 8 exits to go on that one) Once I got off the exit, the school was 3 1/2 miles from that last exit. The one good thing is that there are no tolls.. and my state is notorious for those.
This area is high traffic area near Philadelphia.. one accident on any one of these highways could prove a nightmare. There is one nasty merge that is pretty dangerous as well.

I've only been with urban school for (almost) a school year. The district itself has not gotten a raise in 5 years due to contract negiotiation.

 

[Swan4Me]

Figure the difference in the gas-you drive a small car so the 24 extra miles per day equal about a gallon-$4- one way -so $8 a day or $40 a week..

That equals $320 extra gas money per month-or $2900 per school year

So you really are making almost $5000 less per year with the switch