Need Opinions on Job Offer Situation

[Marseeya]

Seems like I'm asking for a lot of opinions lately! Geez! Anyway, I just think it helps to get different opinions and maybe get a point of view I hadn't considered.

Anyway, DH has a chance at a job that would be a really huge step up for him. It's a vice-president position for the company he already works for, but we'd have to move to Charleston, WV, which is 2 1/2-3 hours away from where we live now. If he campaigns for this job and gets it, he'll start in March, and if he pushes for it and gets it, he can't very well turn it down.

Here are the cons. I'm in my last semester of school before student teaching, which will start next Fall. In talking with my advisor, there is no way I can student teach that far away. One option is to just get my masters degree this May with no teaching certification and worry about getting certified down there. Or I could transfer to a school down there, but to me that's no option. I want my degree to be from my school and that's not really negotiable. It's just important to me. I can only teach private school with the masters, not public, and I'm sure jobs in private schools aren't leaping out to get us!

Another option is for DH to commute down there a few days a week while the kids and I would stay up here, but that would have to be until December and very rough on the family, not to mention hugely expensive. Then the kids would have to leave in the middle of a school year, plus DH wouldn't be here much, which would strain our already troubled relationship with my DS.

Another worry is my DS. He's already got a ton of problems and a move like this could go two ways. It could be a fresh start and a wonderful new beginning, getting him away from the people around here. Or it could just send him over the edge and make him even worse than he is now. He's in the 9th grade and he has a difficult enough time adjusting to change, let alone leaving now.

The plusses are -- it's a wonderful opportunity for DH! He'd get a considerable pay raise, earning a bit more than I would in my first year of teaching, so it's not even like I'd have to work right away (I just want to). [ETA: the RAISE would be more than my income, not his entire income. Just wanted to clarify] Also, I've been wanting to move out of this town for a very long time now. I've lived here my whole life and I just want to GO. It's not that far away. I love West Virginia. We'd be nearly 200 miles closer to WDW!

Thanks in advance! I can't tell you how much I appreciate having the objective and wonderful variety of opinions from this board.

 

[Microcell]

My first priority would be to keep my family together. Especially if your DS is having problems.

I moved half way through tenth grade, and was better off for it. He may welcome the change more than you think. I had a month off between schools ( my mom passed away so they didn't make me come back until second semester started) and I thought about the problems I had and how I could dress and act differently to avoid negative opinions about me.

Get your Masters and then get the certificate where you would be teaching anyway. It might be a little more work, but if it is not a financial hardship to put off actually getting paid to work, I would do it that way.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

One option is to just get my masters degree this May with no teaching certification and worry about getting certified down there.

I vote for this option.

 

[golfgal]

We are doing the DH long distance commuting thing and quite frankly it sucks. We have been doing this since Sept and will continue for at least another month but most likely until June when we will then move to where DH's new job is--complicated story.

I don't understand why you can't take your last few courses at a school in WV and transfer them up to where ever you go now? You could then graduate from that school. Being so close to graduation and a non-traditional student, they will most likely work something out. I also don't understand why you can't teach in a public school with a masters? What is the deal with that?

I can see if he starts in March doing the commute for a couple months. It will take that long to get your house sold, find a new one, etc., etc. Chances are the company will pick up the tab for some of this commuting expense, too.

As for the student teaching, you might want to see if you can work something out for that where ever you are going to live. That will give you an in for teaching jobs when you are done, and you might be able to get your certification in WV by doing that. You may have to take some additional classes anyway since each state has different licensing requirements.

 

[tkd lisa]

I'd go with what everyone else says and go ahead and move. WV has a hard time keeping teachers from what I understand, so I wouldn't assume that you couldn't go ahead and teach while getting certified. You might make less money, but you've already said that isn't an issue.

One of our holiday DISers is an ER doc in that area. If you're interested, I can pm him to pm you (convoluted enough?) with info about the area.

 

[ahutton]

One option is to just get my masters degree this May with no teaching certification and worry about getting certified down there.

That is what I would do. I speculate that since it is for the same company that even if DH got the job in March that they would allow him until May to get things in order at your current home, and then start transitioning in May, get moved over the summer and be ready for the new school year in August/September so the kids can start at the beginning of the year.

You might check into the certification/teaching requirements in WV. I know in Texas you can work for your first year with just the degree, and the district will help you get certified in the state while you are working. While it may not be the best way, it is an option if available in WV. Also, private schools (much like public schools) will be sending renewal contracts soon, and will then have a bank of jobs available. You might look into a few that you would be interested in, as many times they offer a great benefit to employees and your kids can attend there for reduce tuition. It might help the transition.

I also am someone who moved during the Jr High and High School years, in fact I went to 2 new schools in 6th grade, 1 for 7th, another for 8th, new again for 9th, new for 10th (stayed for 11th) and a new school senior year. While I may not move that much as my kids grow, I can tell you it was fine, and I turned out okay. I learned many skills in making new friends that have helped me as an adult. If he is having difficult times it may be good to have a new start, just see if there is a way to guide it and help him find a good niche in the new school.

Sounds like a great opportunity, one that could be too good to pass up.

 

[golfgal]

Ok, I misread part of your post about no certification with the masters. I would check with the district where you are going to live and see if they have a program like we do where teachers with a masters degree can get teaching jobs and then have 3 years to complete their teaching certification. We have attracted quite a few great teachers this way, many of them were instructors at the local university (a couple even have PhD's). A good friend of mine did that, took one class/semester and a few over the summers. She was able to get her certification done in 2 years doing that.

 

[golfgal]

I should add that this is for middle and high school teachers, not elementary teachers. In MN you have to have a degree in your subject area to teach and for elementary education, your degree is Elementary Education, for middle school/high school your degree is in your subject area, math, English etc, with a minor in secondary education.

 

[horseshowmom]

As others have said, I'd check into what it would take to get certified in WV. In our state we call it alternate route certification. You can probably go on the WV Department of Education website and find that information (I know it's on ours).