Teaching in the US public school system
Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2023 3:12 am
Hello,
This post is a bit different.
I am currently teaching secondary Math in Washington, USA. This year marks my second at a Title 1 school and my third year of teaching in the U.S. My first year was at a high school in an affluent neighborhood. The school where I work now boasts a highly diverse demographic. However, my principal has assessed my performance as "basic" and is considering placing me on a "Plan of Improvement," citing issues with classroom management. In my classes, students are often loud, and some are struggling to learn. The principal has repeatedly suggested that I might be better suited to teaching at a high school rather than a middle school, hinting that I should consider a different school for the 2023-2024 academic year. Although my performance evaluation isn't finalized, I'm feeling that this school may not be the right fit for me.
There's a notable high turnover of teachers and administrators at our school; a third of our teachers are new this year.
Regarding my background:
I hold U.S. teaching endorsements for Grades 5-12 in Math and Special Education. From my observations and discussions with colleagues, I understand that working in Special Education can be highly stressful due to the extensive paperwork involved. While SPED teacher positions are frequently available, my preference is to continue as a general education Math teacher, although high school math opportunities seem less common. My academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master's in Education. My current annual salary is $82,000 USD, but after taxes, my take-home pay is around $60,000 USD per year. I live with my parents. If I rent a studio, the average monthly rent in my area is about $1,600.
As a Chinese individual holding U.S. citizenship, I've observed that there are relatively few Asian teachers in Washington. Most of my friends are employed as software engineers. I am currently in my late-30s. I always feel lonely working in the US, and I could not find a forum similar to this website to express my thoughts.
I have a few questions regarding the teaching profession in the U.S.:
Competitiveness of High School Math Teacher Positions: I'm curious about the level of competitiveness in securing a high school math teacher job. Given my background, how challenging might this be?
Hiring Trends: Are the months of August and September less competitive for finding such positions, considering schools might have fewer qualified applicants for each math opening? Additionally, what is the hiring landscape like for mid-year positions, such as in December?
Perceptions of Age and Experience: In the context of American schools, how is age viewed, particularly for someone in their late-30s like myself? Also, how might my limited teaching experience impact my job prospects or how I'm perceived in the educational community?
This post is a bit different.
I am currently teaching secondary Math in Washington, USA. This year marks my second at a Title 1 school and my third year of teaching in the U.S. My first year was at a high school in an affluent neighborhood. The school where I work now boasts a highly diverse demographic. However, my principal has assessed my performance as "basic" and is considering placing me on a "Plan of Improvement," citing issues with classroom management. In my classes, students are often loud, and some are struggling to learn. The principal has repeatedly suggested that I might be better suited to teaching at a high school rather than a middle school, hinting that I should consider a different school for the 2023-2024 academic year. Although my performance evaluation isn't finalized, I'm feeling that this school may not be the right fit for me.
There's a notable high turnover of teachers and administrators at our school; a third of our teachers are new this year.
Regarding my background:
I hold U.S. teaching endorsements for Grades 5-12 in Math and Special Education. From my observations and discussions with colleagues, I understand that working in Special Education can be highly stressful due to the extensive paperwork involved. While SPED teacher positions are frequently available, my preference is to continue as a general education Math teacher, although high school math opportunities seem less common. My academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master's in Education. My current annual salary is $82,000 USD, but after taxes, my take-home pay is around $60,000 USD per year. I live with my parents. If I rent a studio, the average monthly rent in my area is about $1,600.
As a Chinese individual holding U.S. citizenship, I've observed that there are relatively few Asian teachers in Washington. Most of my friends are employed as software engineers. I am currently in my late-30s. I always feel lonely working in the US, and I could not find a forum similar to this website to express my thoughts.
I have a few questions regarding the teaching profession in the U.S.:
Competitiveness of High School Math Teacher Positions: I'm curious about the level of competitiveness in securing a high school math teacher job. Given my background, how challenging might this be?
Hiring Trends: Are the months of August and September less competitive for finding such positions, considering schools might have fewer qualified applicants for each math opening? Additionally, what is the hiring landscape like for mid-year positions, such as in December?
Perceptions of Age and Experience: In the context of American schools, how is age viewed, particularly for someone in their late-30s like myself? Also, how might my limited teaching experience impact my job prospects or how I'm perceived in the educational community?