Question for NC Disers

[Ibelieveinfairies]

I have a question for any of you who live in NC...I recently completed my elementary education degree and am looking for a job. I see that NC has tons of postings for positions...don't know if my family would be at all interested in relocating (although I can see sooo many pluses) to NC, but I am wondering what you all know about the educational system there and what you can tell me about life in NC.
I see Chapel Hill listings, Robeson County (hope I am spelling that right), and Wilson County needs teachers even now. While this won't be a possibility for my family this year, it might be something that we could look into for the next year....just testing the water, so to speak.
What do you all think?

P.S. I am sick....I definitely see one plus as being so much closer to WDW!!! lol

 

[cynsaun]

DON'T DO IT!!!!

We live in Raleigh, just outside of Cary. The school system is a mess, and that is putting it mildly! We are in the midst of a HUGE problem with kids being bussed all over the county, some an hour EACH way to school! Kids are shuffled from school to school every year to "balance" the numbers of the free-and-reduced-lunch kids.

It is laughable that Wake County Public Schools always receive such high honors, because it is in such dire straights. Although the test scores are coming up a bit, on the whole the school system is a JOKE!

Additionally, you will be paid a fraction of a salary you would receive up in NY.

My advice to you is stay away!!! We are actually moving to the Northeast for this very reason! Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have.

Good luck!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I taught elem. before I became a SAHM. The teachers here don't have union contracts. Some counties give supplements to attract better teachers. The largest supplements come from: Charlotte-Mecklingburg (sp), Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Guilford (Greensboro), Orange (Chapel Hill) and Wake (Raleigh). I've been away from teaching for 10 years so this may have changed. Teachers are given tenure after 3 years of service.

Good luck!

Lori

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Thanks for the information. I knew I would get opinions if I posted the question here!

cynsaun, I hate to hear that your area has such problems. Is that why they have difficulty finding teachers?

 

[cynsaun]

That is absolutely the reason they can't find teachers. The teachers are expected to work for peanuts, yet deal day in and day out with these huge amounts of "disipline" problem children.

The turnover rate for teachers here is amazing.

 

[jimmytammy]

I have to agree with others here. We arent teachers but we know the school system in NC well enough. Backwards is a good word for it. Teachers leaving in droves cause the pay is so bad.

On the other hand NC is a nice place to live. In our closest area, Chapel Hill schools may be the best as far as teachers pay. Just dont live there, cost of living. Many commute.

 

[tar heel]

The reason there is a teacher shortage in North Carolina is that we're one of the fastest growing states in the country (We're 11th largest now -- a huge change in just a decade or so.) and our universities are not turning out enough teachers to both replace retiring teachers and keep up with the additional number of students. Contrary to what was just posted, I'm going to go on record saying that schools in many areas of North Carolina are excellent, while others still have a ways to go. The Chapel Hill schools are among the best in the country, not surprisingly since they are the best funded and in a college town. (It is rare for a beginning teacher to get a job there -- the assistants have college degrees.) More surprisingly, however, are good systems out in the hinterlands such as where I live (Charlotte suburb) and where my nephews go to school in Asheville.

I live in one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina, and we get a lot of teachers from New York. My son's teacher last year was a graduate of SUNY (Buffalo, I think). We also get a lot of residents from New York -- two of the families in my cul-de-sac are from New York.

Teachers are not unionized in North Carolina. Neither are garbage collectors, telephone repairmen, factory workers, etc. -- this is a right-to-work state. Teacher salaries are much lower than in New York, but there also is a HUGE difference in cost of living. For example, where I live $250,000 will get you a 3,000-square-foot new house in a neighborhood with a pool and your city and county taxes will run about $2,500.

I should mention that there is a LOT of difference between Robeson county and Wilson and the Triangle or Charlotte area. I personally would look at areas west of Raleigh.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Thank you all for your opinions! Anyone else, feel free to add yours!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We are also getting a large hispanic population. I have friends that still teach in elem. and they are putting these non English speaking children in regular classrooms. There aren't enough ESL teachers to go around. I think it's fine for a K or 1st grader to have this immersion experience but more difficult for older students. My best friend teaches 2nd and she said those children are lost and she does the best that she can to communicate with them.

Lori

 

[Bojangles]

Can you support your family on $25K/year? Sure, the cost of living is lower here but all of the teachers I know have second jobs and a room mate, or a husband with a very good income.

Pirate is right about the growing Hispanic population. The parents of these kids usually don't read/write in English or Spanish and there are very few translators.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

We have a very large Hispanic population here, as well...so ESL learners are not new to me.

As far as the income, I am thinking that what we could sell our house for here, we could buy a very nice home outright in NC, making income less of a factor.

I certainly am glad to hear such varied opinions...otherwise I would have less to ponder!

 

[Bojangles]

I would suggest you listen very carefully to cynsaun's advice. There is a reason for the high teacher turnover here. I would strongly advise against it unless you are young, single and have no children. The lure of finding a job and cheap housing probably appeals to you, but you need to take a long look at what kind of area you would be living in. Robeson and Wilson are fairly rural counties. I doubt Chapel Hill would ever hire a first year teacher.