My DD was offered a teaching job! Update and a question on page 2

[daughtersrus]

The only problem is that it's about an hour away.

She graduated in Dec with a SpEd degree and has been a long-term sub since Jan. She's applied at over 75 school districts in the Chicago area and had interviews with 3 so far. Now, she's agonizing over the decision on whether or not she should accept the position or wait and see if she is offered one of the positions that she's interviewed for in the district that she's currently subbing in (she also spent a semester there for her "field base"). She loves the school (High School setting) and the staff. The staff seem to really like her as well. She's built great working relationships with the GenEd teachers and the students.

I think that DD knows that she can't turn this down but she wanting some reassurance. At stake is not only the salary but she was awarded a tuition waiver and has to teach 2 years in a full-time permanent SpEd position starting within a year of graduating. Otherwise, the tuition becomes a student loan.

The good part is that once she gets to the highway (which will take about 20 min to go that short distance with traffic) she'll be going against rush-hour traffic.

We're so proud of her!

 

[Tinijocaro]

In this day and age, with it being sooo hard to get teaching jobs, I think dd should take the job.

I had to drive an hour each way for one of my teaching jobs many years ago. I did it because there were no other jobs. She really should take the sure thing and not gamble on not having any job at all. I left my house before 6 AM every day for two years to be in the building by 7AM. No, I didn't love it but it was a job.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I would consider an hour each way to be a pretty typical commute, actually. I think, as the PP said, she should take the job since teaching jobs aren't that easy to come by these days. Once she is established and bringing in a decent income she can always rent an apartment a little closer.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Awesome news!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

It sounds like a really good job--a nice fit for her. Is there a reason she can't move closer to work? Maybe not right away, but in a few months, before winter sets in?

I hope everything works out for her.

 

[daughtersrus]

It sounds like a really good job--a nice fit for her. Is there a reason she can't move closer to work? Maybe not right away, but in a few months, before winter sets in?

I hope everything works out for her.

She's thinking about it but it's in a college town and the nice apartments are pretty expensive. She really doesn't want to live in the cheaper apartments that cater to students and have to deal with all that goes with that. As a matter of fact, her cousin goes to school there but he's only going to be there 1 more semester. They're talking about renting together but once he graduates in Dec and moves out, she doesn't want to be stuck paying for a 2 bedroom all by herself.

I'm sure that it will work out one way or another.

She's going to talk to her SpEd director on Monday and see if she can give her any idea if she will be offered a job at that school or maybe one of the many others that are open in the district. If she doesn't get a concrete answer, she will officially commit to the one in DeKalb.

Thanks to everyone for your input!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I didn't notice you were in IL. My commute was from Champaign to Bloomington!

 

[daughtersrus]

I didn't notice you were in IL. My commute was from Champaign to Bloomington!

Small world!

DD graduated from ISU. We're in the western suburbs of Chicago and the job offer is in DeKalb, near NIU.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

She's going to talk to her SpEd director on Monday and see if she can give her any idea if she will be offered a job at that school or maybe one of the many others that are open in the district. If she doesn't get a concrete answer, she will officially commit to the one in DeKalb.

That's what I was going to suggest. She should let the Director know she has a firm offer and must have a firm date where she will be told yes or no.

 

[PatsGirl]

My first thought was "if she's graduated from college and will be accepting a teaching job, shouldn't her next step be looking for an apartment near that job"? Sure, she shouldn't have to sign a lease and move in before her job starts but the logical next step is certainly forging out on her own

 

[minkydog]

Here in the metro Atlanta area it is very typical to have an hour-long commute to work. I would expect it to be similar in Chicago. Tell her congrats on the job offer. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[agnes!]

Congratulations! That's great news, especially in today's economy. Hope whatever decision she finally makes (This job? Hmmmm...maybe that job? Wait for another offer?...) gives her peace.

agnes!

 

[pigletgirl]

She should take it! It'll be good for her to move from mom and dad.

 

[Wonders10]

Hi there!

I'm thinking your DD should definitely take the job! Unless she is very positive she will be offered something in the very near future that she would like more, this sounds pretty great.

I also was offered a job a little over an hour away from where I was living after grad school - with my mom. I was itching to move out, but I also had no interest in driving an hour on the highway every day - and back again. I think that drive may get old really fast for DD. In grad school, I had to drive 45 minutes one way to my externship placement. The only thing that didn't make me go completely crazy was knowing it was only for 1 semester. Plus has your daughter realized that having an hour commute, means getting up an hour earlier? Right now my school is 15 minutes away and I am up at 5:45. If I had DD's commute, I'd have to get up by 5am! Maybe she doesn't have to live right in the exact city of her school? Are there some surrounding cities or towns within say 20-30 minutes that she could live in? Has she thought of renting a house from someone? Down here anyway, renting a smaller home is often the same price as a 1 or 2 bdrm apartment.

Good luck and congrats on the job!

 

[dispor]

I absolutely think she should take it. Having her grant convert to student loans in six months is more than enough reason!

Who knows - maybe she'll meet another teacher at the new school who might want to share an apartment...

Congratulations to your daughter!!

 

[daughtersrus]

My first thought was "if she's graduated from college and will be accepting a teaching job, shouldn't her next step be looking for an apartment near that job"? Sure, she shouldn't have to sign a lease and move in before her job starts but the logical next step is certainly forging out on her own

I don't think that she would be able to afford to move out. We researched some apartment rates and being a college town (in the middle of corn fields), the affordable ones are all pretty much rented by college students. She does not want to live in a complex like that. The ones that are not, are out of her price range.

Even before this offer, she talked about living at home and paying rent while she could save some money. To be honest, DH and I like that idea. I know that this will sound selfish but we really want her to be home for a year or so to help us. Our middle DD just got her AA from our local CC and transferring to ISU in Aug. Our youngest DD is disabled so it would be nice to have DD here to watch her when DH and I are not home. She doesn't mind. She loves spending time with her little sister and it's not often. Sometimes I just need to run an errand and DH isn't home yet. We don't get respite services for our youngest (long story) and really don't have anyone, friends or family, that are comfortable watching her, even for just an hour or so.

For now, her plan is to stay home, pay rent, help around the house as much as she can and save some money.

 

[katybugsmom]

Tell your DD that's wonderful news!!!!! As a 21 year veteran teacher she should definitely take the job and commute for the first year at least, just so she can save some money. I had to drive an hour my first year-the ride to work gives you plenty of time to think about the upcoming day and the ride home lets you unwind!
She's very fortunate to have found a job in these tough economic times! We have about five positions that will not be filled due to budget issues!!!! Sad thing is it's hurting the kids!!!!
Tell you DD I wish her all the luck in the world and I hope she enjoys her teaching career as much as I have!!!!!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Just a thought--she might want to consider seeing if she could rent a room, somewhere close to this school (assuming she takes this job). I understand your reasons for preferring her to stay at home, but I'm looking at an hour's commute, each way, through the Illinois winter. If you're all not ready for her to completely fly the nest, she could consider a room or shared apartment, where she's really only there M-Th. She could be home on weekends, still give you some respite, be very involved with her family, etc. That drive in bad weather would just kill me, as a mom. And if she were looking for just a "during the week" place, it could be smaller/cheaper.

In any event, I hope this all works out for all of you.

 

[daughtersrus]

OP here posting an update.

It doesn't look like the job closer to home is going to pan out in time so DD will take the one offered.

Besides calling DD on Friday, so far the only other communication from the principal at the school has been a few emails. Just asking for basic info (name, address, birthdate, marital status, military status, SS#...) Most of this, but not all, was on the on-line application along with copies of her teaching license. She already has a current TB test and recent physical but they haven't set up time to do the fingerprinting and criminal background check. For the teachers out there, when do most districts have you sign a contract? Should DD be expecting to do that soon or is it closer to the start of school in August? I think that she's getting a little nervous since the jobs (she interviewed for one of three SpEd openings in that school) are still on-line.

Thanks!

 

[Wonders10]

OP here posting an update.

It doesn't look like the job closer to home is going to pan out in time so DD will take the one offered.

Besides calling DD on Friday, so far the only other communication from the principal at the school has been a few emails. Just asking for basic info (name, address, birthdate, marital status, military status, SS#...) Most of this, but not all, was on the on-line application along with copies of her teaching license. She already has a current TB test and recent physical but they haven't set up time to do the fingerprinting and criminal background check. For the teachers out there, when do most districts have you sign a contract? Should DD be expecting to do that soon or is it closer to the start of school in August? I think that she's getting a little nervous since the jobs (she interviewed for one of three SpEd openings in that school) are still on-line.

Thanks!

I'm a speech path in the schools. I signed my contract in August, even though I knew in May that I would be working there. But I'm sure that may not be the case everywhere. She could probably ask for a written statement of hire or something so she has some 'proof" that the job is hers.