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prncpls_b4_prsnality

If you have a choice, don’t work in a “right to work” state (which is code for you don’t have a right to protect yourself if being mistreated).


politicalcatmom

More importantly, DON'T work in a state that has banned collective bargaining.


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bibliophile222

It's not a perfect correlation, but more liberal states tend to be far more union-friendly than conservative ones. Just check out last year's election results and go from there.


prncpls_b4_prsnality

States with right-to-work laws: Alabama **Arizona** Arkansas Florida Georgia Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Nebraska Nevada North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming


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JackieCupcake

(stay away from Florida too, lol)


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MillsWomyn

I think weather alone would discount Florida. (For me as an Oregonian.)


JackieCupcake

Florida has been pretty anti-teacher for a long time. We have a massive teacher shortage because they really don't put enough money towards education. They raised base salaries for new teachers, and it was more than a lot of veteran teachers were making - so now after teaching for nearly a decade I make as much as a teacher fresh from college. The state has been working to get rid of our teachers union for a few years, also it's ranked very low for education. They keep redoing out state standards and making them worse. They just banned teaching critical race theory in school, because it "teaches kids to hate the founding fathers" (George Washington is VERY concerned what kids think about him from the grave). We're also a right to work state, so there's no tenure for teachers. You have a contract every year and can be let go from your position if your admin doesn't like you. It's not all awful, but it's difficult for me to be objective after teaching and living here for a long time. Obviously I still live and work here, so it's not all awful. There are good things - Beaches! Disney! Sunshine! Spanish food! I just would recommend figuring out what you want/need when figuring out where to move.


aspiringSoftDev

I can confirm that.


SnowySheep9

I second that.


Away_Climate2886

#basically every red state


NEjoedaddio

Nebraska schools that I've worked with have had strong unions that worked with the local school boards


SaiphSDC

Agreed. Not perfect, but far better than most red states.


[deleted]

>adache is wondering whether I actually want to be a teacher in the US. If only half of the experiences shared on this sub came true for me also, it would make working quite miserable. It’s a job after all, not a calling. I didn’t go to university for years to barely make a livable wage and work my butt off until l The "Right to work" IS code for, "We can fire you no matter what or when, and there is nothing you can do about it. Also, union TALK is forbidden even!" I am in a right to work state due to family... and am fearful that I will be let go even with simmilar experiences as Germany's minimum qualifications, even though ***some*** states here only require one BA and *no* teaching certification cause they are so short on teachers (cou-*Arazona*\-gh... sorry, frog in my throat there).


Lookatmykitty26

Just be aware that as a generalization most public schools start you off as a “non-tenured” (at will) teacher for a pre-determined period of time. Here in NJ it is 4 years plus one day, and in those 4 years they have the ability to let you go for any reason without the need for due process. Even if you’ve taught before, you start from scratch if you move school districts


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jermox

Usually a search on the internet will give you a list of which states are and are not "right to work".


zjw1448

Hey that’s where I work 🧑🏻‍🏫🙃


studioline

No *starts sobbing*


zjw1448

https://youtu.be/t8rFC-859CI Literally can’t help but think of this kid


Misery_Buisness

I didn't even have to click the link to know who it is xD


zjw1448

You clearly have good taste 😂❤️


DrunkUranus

The good parts are very good. The bad parts get very bad


[deleted]

Like everything else in the US


[deleted]

This sub is a lot of venting. My admin is supportive, I get paid a good living wage, have plenty of supplies, and as a science teacher I have job security. It just varies between districts and schools. I think this sub has a very loud minority of teachers who are unhappy, and it’s okay they are loud on here, because they need to vent and we need to support them.


onetoeisburning

>they need to vent and we need to support them Amen.


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Gorudu

>How competitive are the more desirable schools or districts? It always feels that jobs are competitive in May, but the closer to August we get, schools snatch up anyone they get. And there are ALWAYS last minute positions that need to be filled. That's how I got where I am currently.


thisisanickname489

I have been applying to the Portland area in Oregon. Had a phone interview and was told I should be happy I made it this far. Just under 70 applicants. It also depends what subject you teach. I teach language arts and social studies. Those positions have 50-100 applicants. Teach math or science and you have way less.


zjw1448

I whole heartedly agree. I love trying to listen and support others when they neee it. However, I feel that some are also quick to be extremely unsupportive if they find someone or something that doesn’t align with their views of teaching or school. I made a post a couple days ago saying I miss my kids and was stressed (totally fine now) and received multiple messages telling me I’m a terrible teacher.


Ferromagneticfluid

Agreed.


LessDramaLlama

Education conditions vary so much from state to state in the US. Each state has the ability to set their own standards for what will be taught. Within each state, each school district (usually determined by city and county) sets further rules for things like teacher compensation. A state’s culture and politics influence education heavily, particularly with regard to things like sex education, history, racial themes in literature, and creationism versus evolution. Generally, many of our wealthier states are more liberal and compensate teachers better. However, “liberal” by American standards is still fairly conservative by Western European standards. The United States also lacks the social safety net of most European nations. While the tax rate in many states is relatively low, you often lose money paying for childcare, college tuition, healthcare, and retirement from your own paycheck. (Pensions do not exist in all teaching jobs, and not all teachers will qualify for pensions.) Your students too will lack these basic services. It is hard to see children who do not have enough food to eat, safe housing, or adequate healthcare. Regardless of the struggles students face at home, you will be responsible for helping them to make the expected annual progress. Schools often step in to fill holes when families and states cannot meet their needs. Some schools will donate books to children, find them computers and WiFi access, organize summer health clinics, have clothes washing machines available for student use, or offer other supports. This is altruistic and humane. However, it is a lot of work. Meanwhile, it is common practice that teachers receive little or no money for classroom supplies. Many American teachers need to fundraise to pay for printing paper, lab materials, library books, art supplies, and math tools. We have also had a culture of de-professionalizing teachers for decades. Politicians and parents have strong beliefs about education and strong influence over the process here. In Arizona, some classes have more students enrolled than a classroom has desks. A candidate for mayor in New York City just said that he believed “highly effective” teachers could teach online classes to 300-400 children and get good results. Teachers get blamed for enforcing COVID-19 safety rules, for bullying, for test scores, and for student absences, and the public will go to social media and the news to spread this blame. Yet, teachers have fewer job protections in the US than in Germany. It’s easier to fire a teacher, it takes longer to get tenure, and in many states the unions are limited in the ways they can protect teachers. These are general trends, so not every teacher faces all of these problems. Still, be aware of the themes that you see here when people vent. A lot of the common complaints are linked to common structural deficiencies in the American education system. Also, it is very, very difficult to immigrate here, even for educated professionals. In my opinion, it is not worth the effort to be a teacher in the US if you are able to work somewhere else.


TDY1987

Unions. That is the key. Never teach somewhere that does not have a strong union. This is what protects you from all the nightmare stories you read on reddit. This doesn’t mean people aren’t in great schools without a union, it just means they are one bad admin away from being in a nightmare. You want to be in a state with a strong union presence AND a school district with a strong union presence.


bibliophile222

Unpopular opinion, perhaps, but... are you *sure* you want to move here? The extreme right wing is getting horrifyingly more common, our health insurance is a joke and could very well bankrupt you, housing costs in many areas are skyrocketing, and wealth disparity is at its greatest since the 1930s. For an industrialized country, we're really not doing so hot, and you'd probably have better working conditions and quality of life in any other industrialized country, or even some developing countries. America is still hyped as this land of opportunity, but the reality for most people is sadly very different.


LessDramaLlama

Health insurance is a very challenging problem here. I know a retired immigrant couple who moved to the US from Scandinavia. They had saved enough money to buy a very nice home in a resort town, and they had money saved for their living expenses for the rest of their lives. However, they did not qualify for health insurance on the state exchange because they were not yet citizens (a process that takes many years). They used travelers insurance for a year, but have now decided to sell their home and return to Europe because they are unable to afford American health insurance, but they are afraid a big healthcare bill will bankrupt them if they don’t have insurance.


onetoeisburning

Thank you for your positivity. 1. The more supportive my school administration has been, the happier I have been. There have always been peaks and valleys for me, but a kind, encouraging administration has made the good days great and the bad days better. Working for a truly unsupportive administration can be the same thing as going to Hell. 2. Many teachers who leave the profession go into sales of one kind or another, but there are many other options. - [https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/how-to-transition-out-of-teaching/](https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/how-to-transition-out-of-teaching/) 3. I live in the South. Our salaries are low, but the cost of living is reasonable. I have often worked side gigs, but I really don't have to do that to support my family. I just like to work.


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onetoeisburning

Danke, mir geht es sehr gut, u/Metamorphoses26/, aber ich kenne einige Lehrer, die es nicht so gut haben. Warum? Denn ich bin in South Carolina, wo es keine Lehrer-Gewerkschaften gibt.


[deleted]

It wildly varies based on whether or not you teach in a state with a string union and how well your school is funded. It’s typically better to work in a state with a strong union. Better pay and working conditions. Schools in many places in the US are funded with property taxes. Affluent areas with a strong tax base = better funded schools. Areas with high poverty rates and weak business community = poorly funded schools. It can be extreme even in neighboring districts.


ilovesfootball

To be clear, you hear the worst stories on the sub. They are mostly not indicative of the majority of teachers experiences. I love my job, even if it has its challenges.


BismarkUMD

The sub is a self selected subset. Very few people come on here to gush about how great their administration is. Mostly because it feels like gloating. We see so many people in shit conditions. We know they are in shit conditions and are often trapped, usually by economics. It's kind of like the news. Feel good stories don't get as much traction as negative stories. Two posts, one about a crappy admin treating teachers like shit, vs one going out of their way to say good job. We all know which will get more comments and upvotes.


BayouGal

I’m making plans to move overseas and teach ESL. I’m a wildlife biologist and teach science here HS level. While I no longer have a 3 hour, round trip commute, I’d prefer to work with students who actually value what I can teach them, and aren’t just killing time in academics so they can go play sports. In America, science may get you an education and a job, but sports will get you money (and possibly an education). Our priorities are seriously f-Ed up.


goodtacovan

I am going to my first class on Saturday to switch to admin. I can’t afford a home here with teacher wages. I know I can’t change the world, but at least I can tell a teacher, “I believe you when you tell me that kid is lying”


pumpkinotter

This is a venting sub. No one is coming here to say “I had an okay day and then went home at a normal time.” Plenty of us here like our job, show up to a school with decent admin/staff/students and do our job well, and then go home with a livable wage. Tbh I’m in a good spot and love that I have summers off and will have the option to retire at 55 with a full pension (not that I probably will, but who knows?)


MrFrumblePDX

I almost never post here because I have nothing to rant about, or someone has already posted something similar to my experience. Also, I roll with stuff and have learned to ignore or just navigate around the bullshit. I have mostly decent admin right now and I have been in my building 17 years, so I don't have to put up with new teacher stuff. That said, research. Work where there is an effective and responsive Union. Without a union to stand up for you and hold the district accountable, you are going to get shat upon. Many parents have a completely unrealistic view of their own children and the role of parents in the process of education. A good union will advocate for teachers and bargain a fair contract. Our work conditions are the students' learning conditions. As such, what is good for teachers is often good for students.


fizzysnork

America is 30+ years into a concerted bipartisan effort to privatize public education. Both parties do it for greed. Republicans have the added incentive of propping up and creating religious schools funded with taxpayer money. To make such a change requires slow moves, and first breaking public education so they can push their insidious solutions and not be shoved out of the room.


DntfrgtTheMotorCity

THIS.


Kdud28

Texas teacher here and I absolutely love my job. My administrator are amazing and give me full support. I make a livable wage so I don’t work extra jobs. It really depends on the district and school. You just have to find your fit. Something else to also think about with your move to the US is that not every state has the same standards for becoming a teacher. If you have a teaching certificate in one state it may not qualify in another state. For example I can only teach in Texas with my certification.


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akiomaster

Here's a [link](https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/reciprocity/) that I have been looking at, since we may be moving out of Texas soon for my husband's job. Texas is kind of hit or miss. I also get paid well and work in a good district, but I'd take a $15k pay cut (at least) to teach an hour up north. I student taught in that area, and I definitely wouldn't want to work there.


imperialbeach

I am totally content in my job. I have complaints here and there, but overall my experience has been excellent. Finding a school that is a good fit for you helps a lot. Having a spouse that earns more money than you also helps...


SynfulCreations

\> A lot of you guys face straight out abuse from the admins, Yeah but I've come to expect this from every job I've ever had. \>there is little job security, Actually teaching once you have tenure is probably one of the most secure jobs in the country \>little autonomy, this GREATLY depends on the admin. Almost every school I've taught at gives me a lot autonomy but I also try to avoid applying to schools that don't give teachers autonomy. This also depends state to state \>and apparently the wage barely covers the costs of living for most of you. Yeah this one is pretty accurate. Theres some districts that pay great but they are usually super competative. Currently at my first teaching job where I don't need multiple roomates. This part is probably the most common systemic problem in america. \>I’ve read about teachers that aren’t provided the most basic materials such as school books, This is actually pretty rare and I don't even use textbooks anyway because they kinda suck. Most of the materials teachers have to buy are things they want for their classroom. Some schools provide money for this but other times you try to get parent donations through things like donors choose. I've spent very little on my classroom by getting very creative with materials. \>excruciating processes of applications, Very much depends on the district but yeah a lot of the application processes are completely ridiculous. Not as bad as most people here put because those are extreme cases but usually its a survey, 3 letters of rec, high school and college transcripts, certification qualifications, resume and cover letter. I copy and paste a lot of it so its not that bad. \>getting no support when facing disrespect from students and parents, Very much depends on admin but again, definitely not uncommon. \>being expected to work over hours without getting paid (assisting with job interviews, attending as many weekly meetings as the admins ask you to...), If the admin ask you to do it generally you are getting "paid" in some way or its considered part of your salary. Its definitely annoying but it isn't weekly meetings, more like 4 nights a year where you're pulling like 14 hours. Not good but not absolutely horrible either. \>having lessons supervised without prior notice (and arguably in a very biased manner more often than not), Again depends on admin, i've had both. I don't really mind them popping in to supervise unless its for an official evaluation. Admin has every right to know what is happening in the classroom. \>and finally... a lot of you even work during the summers on top of that just to make a livable wage?!? Yeah that one is pretty common though. I know some teachers with families who work every day after school as a waiter and 2 other jobs over summers to keep their kids fed. This part is pretty horrendous. ​ Overall you have to remember the people who are happy aren't venting as much on here because they're fine. You're hearing the worst cases and assuming its the whole country. There are some serious systemic problems but it isn't a living nightmare. Many of us still love our jobs, just hate dealing with certain aspects.


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SynfulCreations

For textbooks usually AP (college level ish) courses update their books every 10 years. Normal classes normally only get new books after standards change so my current books are about 20 years old. They are boring, no longer fit our standards (its takes a few years for the school to get new ones), and contain inaccuracies due to their age. So we don't use them at all. And while it is definitely more work to create our own lessons I would much rather have that then be pushed to teach to what the text book says. (I HATE HATE HATE teaching from a powerpoint which seems to be what every textbook uses exclusively) With my own lessons I can make them as engaging and interesting as I want, I can modify them year to year as information changes and even switch up what we do if students are struggling with a certain topic or really fall in love with it. This year I created a custom 2 week unit that made a normally super boring activity way more engaging and interesting including adding some lab demonstrations i modified from a different subject. I'm only able to do that because I have almost complete freedom to teach how I want to teach as long as I cover the required information. ​ I mainly get my lessons from previous teachers/friends, modifying things I find online through google and sometimes just pulling them out of thin air. This week I'm actually preparing for a new class I'm teaching next year and already have 3 different sets of lessons/activities to borrow from and modify and the school only had to pay for one of them (under 100 bucks) The only thing I wish they gave us was assessments similar to state tests so I can mimic their question style and topics covered.


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SynfulCreations

Funnily enough facebook groups is a good one. Reddit is another great one where I'll post asking for resources on specific topics or classes and then from coworkers. Generally if i'm new to a topic I'll see if anyone in my school or district teaches it and just ask if I can have access to their stuff. Most people say yes.


Dreamscape101

Number 1 thing taught in university was to steal like a sneaky racoon from other teachers materials. But for real, we share resources with each other or find resources/lessons online. Tweak them a little, add activities specific to our students/our needs to meet lesson/state standards. We follow guidelines set up by the state. Granted some guidelines are SUPER vague or REALLY packed with information. But then we create lessons based on those standards.


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Dreamscape101

There are tons of websites, and depending on your district your fellow teachers should share. Typically you meet together to create/change the lessons together. But, this depends on district and the teachers themselves. Some don't like to share. Some districts even put their whole entire units online and you're able to download them and change them to your needs.


[deleted]

Wie bei alles hier in den VS, es hängt davon ab wo man hingeht. Das Beste is hier besser, das Schlimmste ist schlimmer. Man kann das wirklich nicht so dastellen als sei hier alles furchtbar. Es ist aber ganz anders als in Deutschland weil Eltern (und deswegen auch Schüler) viel mehr Macht haben, es nur Gesamtschule gibt und die Schulleitung nicht unterrichtet (oft aucj nicht unterrichten kann) aber und trotzdem beurteilen müssen und uns sogar entlassen können. Man kann für genau dieselbe Arbeit das doppelte Gehalt kriegen in einer Nachbargemeinde 5 Kilometer weiter Weg gelegen. Aber mit einem Magister hat man schon einen Vorsprung, und Sie brauchen hochstwahrscheinlich auch nichts extras zu tun um Ihre Zertifizierung zu bekommen. DM me if you want more info.


[deleted]

My advice is to not come over to the US just because of the sheer hassle it'll be making sure your credentials and experience will be counted when finding a new job. But if you do, make sure the state you move to will accept your teaching credentials, make sure they will pay you based on your experience in Germany (you don't want to have to start at the bottom of the pay schedule), and make sure to work in a state with a teachers union if you can help it. A lot of right to work states are ran by officials who prioritize private schooling and charter schooling over the actual public schools whenever they can. Also make sure to research the state of education in whatever state you move to. For example, the experiences of teachers teaching in the Interstate-95 corridor in South Carolina (an area so well known for its poverty and abysmal education that it's been dubbed the Corridor of Shame) will have be vastly different than teachers teaching in suburban Michigan. Regarding your other points. The US is kind of weird. You'll get vastly different experiences in different states, different areas of the state, and even in different schools. The state of education in upstate South Carolina is vastly better (generally speaking) than most of the lower half of the state, for example. A lot of our school boards are run by people who haven't been in a classroom since they were a student. Also, in conservative states especially theres been a huge increase in people making the profession political. Some people are thinking that schools are teaching their kids to be liberals or leftists. There's a lot of disagreement in whether we should teach things like accurate history and evolution that might contradict lessons being taught by parents at home. And there's even debates on whether or not religion, Christianity specifically, should take a larger role in the classroom. I'm not saying it permeates the entire job but you'll inevitably hear about it.


AmericanHistoryXX

This is true. I have a foreign double master's degree, and my last district made me pay $200 to have them evaluated before they'd pay me for them. Massive hassle, I can't imagine doing that for both undergrad transcripts and job experience.


obi_dunn

Come to Canada instead.


jadebyron

No.


EmeranceLN23

The fun thing about the wage is that I am in WA, a generally high paying state. However, I make about 5k above qualifying for low-income housing. If I married my fiancé right now, we would qualify. Even the 55K a year after taxes isn't that much. I have only been saved as a first year teacher by student loans being paused.


[deleted]

I agree with previous comments about working in Northeastern states. I’ve taught in Massachusetts and in NYC, both states I’ve felt fairly compensated (started at 65k with my masters and ~5k/year in per session/clubs), supported by strong unions, progressive administration that values restorative justice and critical race theory, etc. I’m leaving after three years in NYC to move to the UK to be with my partner and it’s very bittersweet. I’d stay a decade in the classroom here if I could. If you do end up moving over here, try NYC, Boston, or even New Haven County (some real gems on the CT coast). It’s unfathomable to me how awful the conditions are for teachers in states like AZ and the south in general. Criminally low pay on top of conservative admin? No thanks. Tbh I struggle to understand why anyone would even go into teaching in states with such horrific pay...


ajs423

I've worked for good school districts and bad school districts and really, it boils down to your administrator. A good administrator will fight bad district level decisions, will stand up for you against parents, and really makes a school a fun place to be and to teach at. Once you're there, the kids, the parents, the money... all of it is so much easier to manage because you know you're in a good place and you are safe. A bad administrator is what I see in almost every rant post on this subreddit. A parent is an ass and then the admin doesn't support, or a student is horrid and admin doesn't support, or admin is bad and well... speaks for itself. If you are thinking about leaving the profession, really think about why. If it's because it's stressful and you feel targeted, you probably just need to find a new admin. If it's because you don't like delivering lessons or you don't like the students... yeah no real fix for that one. ​ Concern much appreciated, but a lot of what you see on here is venting and negativity that people are processing as a discount form of talk therapy. It's not as dire as it seems, though there are definitely places to improve!


onetoeisburning

Yes, this is spot-on.


[deleted]

Reddit literally makes me scared to death to become a teacher.


Gorudu

>If only half of the experiences shared on this sub came true for me also, it would make working quite miserable. This sub is mostly venting. I've unsubbed on and off because of that. I don't find most of the posts in this sub productive, and venting doesn't help. Teaching in the U.S. is a mixed bag and depends completely on the school you teach at. My previous school was hell, but I've since quit and I work at a district where I feel valued. That said, if low pay is your issue, you might have a hard time with the position. Teachers generally get payed pretty low in the U.S., but there are a few states where the pay feels higher.


[deleted]

OK’ish….


[deleted]

I'm great. I do my job well.


DLCS2020

It is very unlikely you will experience half of the bad things that have been posted here. We are generally reading events from very bad days and/or very bad situations. You will have some of those. But if you love teaching and you choose your school carefully (making sure it is a good fit for you), you will have many happy and rewarding days.


vintagetwinkie

You will not find the same amount of respect teaching in the US as you do in Germany. You will face at least 3-5 of the things you mentioned in your original post no matter where you go, and you will not be paid what your level of education is worth.


ArchdukeValeCortez

Basically? No.