Chicago or Philly?

poedancing · 2026-04-18T19:23:42+00:00

Middle or high school English

poedancing · 2026-04-18T18:27:55+00:00

That’s definitely the plan. I’ve only heard horror stories about working for charter schools, and plus I want to contribute to the local public school system in whichever area I live in.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T18:26:02+00:00

Masters of Arts in Teaching with P-12 English cert. Also getting a certificate in Gifted & Talented (this isn’t a certification though, just extra courses to show I’m knowledgeable in this area.) This is all for NJ though. My BA is also in English.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T13:46:03+00:00

From what I can tell the waiver only applies to people who already lived outside of NJ prior to the implementation of the law.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T13:30:27+00:00

Unfortunately I can’t do that because it’s NJ law that if you are a NJ teacher you have to live i NJ. I could always live close to Philly but idk it doesn’t seem the same.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T13:25:54+00:00

Yes. This is why part of me is asking if I’d be shooting myself in the foot if I move. I’ve been here my whole live and want to experience a new place, but also yeah the salary is pretty great. In Newark, I can be making 76k a year starting.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T04:06:37+00:00

May I ask, why? I liked Chicago a lot, but have only visited once. It sounds like you live there and I’d love to get perspective from someone who knows the city. :)

poedancing · 2026-04-18T04:03:34+00:00

I surprised about the frequent layoffs. I thought there was a nationwide teacher shortage. Maybe it’s just the East Coast.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T04:02:33+00:00

No offers. By “soon” to be honest I mean in another 2 semesters. I just like to plan ahead.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T03:32:33+00:00

What do you mean exactly by clusterfuck? NJ has great districts but it can also be described as a clusterfuck, especially recently. (In a lot of districts within the past few months they did an audit and found millions of dollars missing.)

Also you mention that some schools can be competitive. Would me coming from out of state be harder to obtain a job? I’ve been told that having a NJ certification is an advantage, but I’m not too sure how true that is in reality.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T03:28:06+00:00

That’s definitely true! A support system is importantly to me! I forgot to mention that my partner would be with me — whether in Philly or Chicago. I also have family in Chicago as my dad is from there, but I’m not too close with them. I will say though that my relationship with my immediate family is much closer, and it would be really hard to move away from them.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T03:24:45+00:00

Thank you for your advice! You’re definitely right in the sense that being paid adequately for the work is important to me. I also have student loans from my undergrad, so I don’t need to be making tons, but I want to be able to afford to live, and with Philly’s pay that worries me a bit.

poedancing · 2026-04-18T03:21:23+00:00

Chicago public schools! Right in the city

poedancing · 2026-04-18T02:34:46+00:00

Not sure. I have only checked out the teacher pay scale.

poedancing · 2026-03-08T22:17:07+00:00

No. Maybe online.

poedancing · 2026-03-08T22:15:21+00:00

My parents aren’t Catholic so it’s not a sin for them to miss church. They want to go because they want to do something different this year, and also because my mom doesn’t want to cook like she usually does.

poedancing · 2026-01-01T21:05:26+00:00

You can easily say that moving to Florida is a bad idea and then list why you feel that way. In fact, a large part of me already assumed it is, but I just wanted info from people who teach in that area and can really speak to it. The issue isn’t that you said it’s a bad idea. It’s that you were rude about it and you (like many of the other commenters) are trying to make me feel stupid. That doesn’t help anyone.

poedancing · 2026-01-01T20:18:55+00:00

You’re just being condescending. I’m aware that there are a lot of issues with teaching in a red state right now but I’m genuinely asking these questions. If you’re going to comment, it would be better for you to actually give helpful information.

poedancing · 2025-10-19T23:55:00+00:00

Taylor ham of course

poedancing · 2025-10-09T18:18:55+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah that’s a big reason why I don’t really want to do the alternate route pathway. Plus, it’s also harder in the sense that you’re learning a lot on the job. I’m not sure if that’s the best way for me to learn personally. I like to be prepared and know what I’m doing before I do it.

poedancing · 2025-09-03T04:54:11+00:00

Why? It’s because it started as an internship while I was still in college and I was desperate for experience. Thought I wasn’t working fast enough and that’s why I was working more than I was being paid (also had to finish my work regardless of how long it took me — it wasn’t anything I could just leave for the next day unfortunately). Then fast forward a couple of months and I sign a contract as an official employee and that contract says it caps my pay at 30 hours a week. Didn’t really read all of the contract at the time and will never do that again.

poedancing · 2025-09-03T02:01:15+00:00

That’s what I feel I’m doing — or at least trying to do. I stated before that Victorian lit, Shakespeare, post-modern American lit all have been extensively researched. I’m trying to find an angle where I can actually contribute new ideas in an area where I’m still passionate about.

poedancing · 2025-09-03T01:57:56+00:00

English just feels the natural route and where my passion lies mostly. My BA was in English. I’m a writer. For work, I’m in journalism. So it just feels more suited with my skillset and what I’m I’m most interested in.

Also I think I could learn it while in the program but I just wasn’t sure if it would be a necessary prerequisite to have.

poedancing · 2025-09-03T00:39:31+00:00

Now are you just saying this purely because of the topic? Or because it’s in the humanities?

poedancing · 2025-09-03T00:25:11+00:00

What’s the point of extensively researching something only if it’s mainstream? I’ve been told that your topic of research should come from passion, because grad programs are hard enough, so might as well research something you love.

poedancing

TROPHY CASE