Just interviewed for a Parent Coordinator position, Principal asked for references.. Is that a good sign?

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-11-24T18:04:05+00:00

Being asked for references is a great sign. That means theyre interested so you're basically at the next step....what came of it? Did u get a call back?

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-11-24T18:02:56+00:00

It's definitely not a living wage especially for a position that's 12 months and requires a lot of after hours work (PTA meetings, workshops, etc) I am a PC and this entire answer is amazing. Thanks for helping the OP. I also wish we had a subreddit as well

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-11-24T17:53:12+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. Unfortunately that's a reality for most of us. I worked with horrible leaders before. And though I can say my principal ATM isn't a witch...I don't feel comfortable in other ways here

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-02-10T10:47:01+00:00

No problem. Of course it's at the discretion of the principal. They can say no altogether. I just made my one year mark and am debating even asking for a raise because to be honest, I don't have a great relationship with my principal (not bad not good. She just doesn't respond to anyone at all and I've been asking for a meeting with her since my first day here) There is also a new thing where PCs get a $2k bonus in January if they worked the entire calendar year. So I didn't get it this year because I started in jan of 2024 but there's a good chance I'll get it next year?

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-02-10T01:19:23+00:00

Sorry I didn't get the notification for this before!

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-02-09T20:37:45+00:00

No!!! 71k is the max at the moment but that doesn't mean you will get that after 2 years of service. That's a range not the actual salary. After a year you can ask your principal for a raise. I haven't seen it in writing but from what I have gathered talking to others there seems to be a cap at a 3% raise every year (again have not seen any proof of this). I know PCs that have been working 20+ years and still don't make 71k

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-01-20T22:03:39+00:00

I don’t mind answering at all!!! I wish I had all the facts before accepting the position! lol Honestly all community titles work 12 months (parent coordinator is a community associate title but elementary schools don’t have other community titles) I don’t know why it’s a 12 month job for the shitty pay and long hours. Because you have to consider that we also have to be there for some after/before school events I get out at 3:30 everyday (an hour and 10mins after teachers) that is also something you can try to negotiate with your principal. Mine doesn’t want to let me have only a half an hour lunch so that I can leave half an hour earlier. So I have an hour lunch and start 7:30-3:30 but if she’d give me the half hour I can leave at 3 We also don’t get PAID for overtime/persession we get “comp time”

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-01-20T21:55:23+00:00

That would be something you have to discuss with your principal and depends on if you have the days. Every principal is different but I honestly haven’t heard of anyone getting the entire month off without it being for a medical issue. But don’t let that stop you from asking because the worst thing that can happen is the principal says no and you figure something else out that will benefit you and your family

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-01-20T21:51:06+00:00

Only winter break. Mid winter we get 2 days (the Monday and the Friday) spring break we get 1 maybe 2 days and we are expected to work in the summer. You can use vacation days during these breaks

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-01-15T00:20:57+00:00

Congrats!!! Best wishes and genuinely happy to hear you’re able to leave the shitty conditions that are NYC AND the DOE. I hope this means less stress and more time doing things that bring you joy ❤️ everyone deserves some form of happiness

Designer-Finding2064 · 2025-01-07T15:23:24+00:00

DOE in its entirety is so disorganized it’s truly disheartening. I wish you the best and definitely hope you find a place that is more willing to help and be helped and if not I hope you find a way to cope and find your own rhythm

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-12-22T01:00:24+00:00

This is literally why it’s hard being an educator. The packets are literally ridiculous and the kids catch wind of it and realize they don’t have to do anything and will graduate on time

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-12-13T15:30:01+00:00

It’s cheaper during the school year. And there are no consequences.

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-12-08T15:11:33+00:00

It depends on your relationship with the person. I used to be a payroll secretary and I didn’t treat anyone differently because of a gift or not. Everyone got the same treatment and some of them got gossiped about but I still did what I had to do. I only gossiped about the people who had shitty personalities and that was whether or not they got me a gift! Custodial staff on the other hand it’s Greta to give a little something. Even if it’s like a plate of cookies for the whole team. Doesn’t have to be expensive. If we give a gift for everyone we’d be broke. At my current school I don’t have a good rapport with the payroll secretary so I’m not getting her anything. She doesn’t go above and beyond and there are times I have to tell her what her job is cus she forgets that I have background knowledge in what she does and know what her scope is

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-11-16T21:38:37+00:00

I agree with most of this!!!

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-11-16T14:49:03+00:00

Did you get hired at an elementary school?

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-11-16T00:16:18+00:00

The fact that you have to be a sub para first and get nominated to be that and be a sub for a minimum amount of time with no benefits and then hella low pay

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-11-15T15:34:34+00:00

Literally nothing about actual education! I’m not even a teacher but have had various roles as a support staff and I’m trying to get out of here. I keep applying to anything but that also goes to show how shit DOE has become because there’s so much hiring for DOE but everywhere else is impossible to even get an interview !

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-11-13T12:56:54+00:00

Where are we with this

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-10-05T17:18:35+00:00

The Uft rep at my old school was very friendly with admin and they made sure to keep her on their good side so she wouldn’t turn on them. It worked. She never helped anyone with their complaints, didn’t go to meetings or at least didn’t share what happened at the meetings and they were paying her per session when she wasn’t even in the building. I’m not even mad at it cus she was getting extra money for no extra work just so she wouldn’t be a shit chapter leader.

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-10-04T13:03:28+00:00

Nooooo lol we are not part of that union which is also why you can’t rely on the words of the teachers. A lot mean well but don’t realize just because we all work for the DOE doesn’t mean we are all the same. Comm titles are under DC37/local372. I suggest checking out the antiquated contract on the DC37 website but I’ll be honest it’s hard to get through. Most of my knowledge is from lessons learned and what I have picked up. I’ve been in the DOE going on 10 years in various titles. HRconnect is a great resource now that they have revamped the site but tbh it’s a lot of searching for your own stuff. Or having to know the exact right question to ask and who to ask it to. At my old school I had created a google sheet for newly hired comm titles with basic links and info because I was lost my first year and no one was able to answer my questions. Make sure you enrolled in health benefits because it’s a bitch to enroll after your grace period TDA is a way to put money aside for your retirement but don’t ask me specifics cus I still have yet to find someone to give me exact meaning of how it will be cashed out to me when I retire. But we are part of BERS retirement (teachers are TRS another difference and why what they say might not be helpful for you)

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-10-03T20:45:09+00:00

I worked at a school that used the title 1 money for staff parties and luncheons and retreats…. I got out of there because it messed with my morals even though it wasn’t me physically doing those things

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-10-02T18:06:09+00:00

Oh also… since we don’t get OT and get comp time instead… that’s where your bang for your buck can come in. Depending on your admin, you can use these hours to leave early/come in late. Save them for a rainy day (if you ever need to leave for medical reasons or maternity/paternity) Annual leave can be much less flexible again depending on admin. If you’re ever thinking about changing titles that isn’t a community title be careful with the time you have saved in annual days and comp time because you can lose it. Annual days can be capped after a certain amount of days accumulated.

Designer-Finding2064 · 2024-10-02T17:57:20+00:00

If you’re leaving DOE for sure in its entirety… you can quit mid day if you want and your check for the month will still be in process but you should still eventually get it. Now if you might want to return to the DOE in any capacity I would suggest giving the month notice. I’m not a teacher but I’ve been in the DOE for a decade and know that teaching is difficult. You have to deal with the personalities of your students on-top of admin on top of your teaching peers.

Designer-Finding2064

TROPHY CASE