what could I do?
I'm sure to be jumping the gun on this one, but if DH's new salary is what we think it is, I would like to not go back to my current position next fall. That said, I also don't think I could stay at home full time and be completely happy.
We haven't had a raise in 2 years and I don't really see one coming next school year either...and they're going to start having us pay our insurance premium - which is approx. $120/month just for single coverage. I've been there 5 years and if I want any chance of ever getting into a public school, I can't keep working at a Catholic one.
I know I could be a substitute - but really, I didn't like subbing before, and probably won't like it still. I would love to do something part time. An aid or teacher assistant of sorts??
I'm just tired of how much work I bring home at night and on the weekends. It hasn't gotten better over time even though I am more productive during my planning times that I was in my first couple of years. I just feel like I can't be "mom" and "wife" because I'm always being "teacher." My poor house is a complete disaster.
We've already figured that I can at least stay off for the rest of the school year after I have this baby. I only have about 3 weeks of sick time saved up, so I was planning to take a few weeks unpaid and then finish out the school year for the last 3-4 weeks. DH said that I shouldn't even think about it anymore and should just tell them that that's how it is. Part of me wants to go back, only so DH can see how miserable I would be (this class is AWFUL) and then he would tell me to not go back the next year. Hahaha.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just in need of Christmas vacation like my kids have been and I'm just tired since I"m pregnant, have a 2 year old at home, and have 900 things on my mind since it is Christmas and I have a new baby to prepare for (with a 2 year old that still sleeps in his crib and isn't potty trained)
Vent-ish over.
Re: if I wasn't a teacher...
Could you stay at home full time for a few months and see how you like it? or you could stay at home part time, finish school, maybe sub part time too???
You could always try to have the best of both worlds if his salary is going ot be that much more. Part time stay at home and part time substitute teacher for a while.
Hound - I have thought about that for a while actually. I can be finished with my masters by next summer - well, possibly sooner if I really wanted to be.
I was thinking of subbing a few days per week if nothing else comes up.
I think it may be hard to get an aid position for a few reasons: those are the first to go when budgets get cut, I may have too much experience and they may need to pay me more (not sure how that works since we don't exactly have an experienced-based pay scale at my school).
And Jill - I'll PM you
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If I wasn't in the position I'm in now...
I'll always have to work probably. SAHM isn't for me, but I do love doing it during the summer. I plan to get into our community college(s) when the LO's are in grade school. I have toyed with the idea of going back to get more schooling and perhaps getting my guidance counselor license, but I'm not ready to leave my own classroom yet.
If DH had a kick-butt salary and I was unhappy at my job, I'd personally probably do a 180 degree turn and try to go to Phys. Asst. school like I really wanted to do once upon a time. Teaching is pretty much in my blood and I'm about 2 yrs away from it being a big mistake leaving my district paywise. I won't hesitate to leave though if I start to hate my job.
I'd probably go to subbing if I was in your position.
Lindsey are you sure you are going to be paying $120 a month for insurance premiums? I work for the diocese as well, as teachers here have to pay 10% of the premium which is $60 a month. The only reason I'm saying this is because I do all the payroll and things. But I will say it's crazy to even consider putting your family on the insurance because it's so expensive.
There is going to be an opening here next year for 4th grade...I know it's a Catholic school but our teachers get raises every year until they reach the cutoff point.
Perhaps I was mistaken - I couldn't remember last night if it was $60/month or $60/paycheck! Oops.
I only carry the insurance on myself because it is SO insanely expensive to carry the family.
We did get raises up until 2 years ago - not always anything huge, but something. We've just been frozen for 2 years. We're hoping that we get something this upcoming school year, but nothing has been talked about yet.
I can't teach 4th....and you're at Sylvania, right? (and you're teacher salaries are very similar to ours, so it wouldn't exactly be an upward move for me) From my understanding, I'd be dealing with the same crowd of over-bearing parents/know-it-alls that I have here! Thanks though!
Agreed! I work in a public high school and have some of my students for three out of the four years they are here and never once see or hear from a parent, even if I try to make contact! And I am in a good district!!
As for subbing, was your only subbing experience before you had a full time job? I didn't like subbing before I got my teaching job, but I think it would be better if I had to go back to it now. I have a couple tricks up my sleeve I didn't have right out of college. Also, maybe if you can become a regular at a smaller district, it will be easier. This allows you to get to know the faculty and kids better. I teach in a small district and we know a lot of our subs really well and they know the a lot of the kids names which makes their job easier.
Trish - Maumee actually pays less than we do
Like by several thousand (at least that's what it was like when I applied for a few positions there before I received my current one)
I was thinking that I may be a "better" sub now that I have experience, especially with classroom discipline and thinking on my feet - I just had several days when the teacher didn't leave plans or I couldn't find anything that I needed...it made for a really long day in 8th grade!
We'll see what happens. I think DH is doing some paperwork of sorts today, so we'll see.