I have a son who just graduated college and hopes to be a High School history teacher this fall. He wants to relocate from Chicago area to the Carolinas. If anybody can suggest a school district or area that you would reccommend he apply to, it would be greatly appreciated. You can send a reply to my email [email protected] if you would rather or just answer here. Thanks for the help. He is a great kid but a move back home wouldn't be the best for all of us.

Well, we're in NC and hubby teaches for Wake County, which is one of the bigger districts, and consequently better paying. Thing is, they're going through a situation where they're trying to retain current teachers, and not fire but not refill empty positions (in non-teaching areas).

We've been here 4 years (maybe 5?) and hubby is on the tail-end of folks that never got pink slipped over the years. There has also been a pay freeze for 3 years, including raises AND cost of living. One year they even TOOK AWAY the raise after it was given, in two paychecks.

Soooo...not to sound like negative nancy, the economy is tough everywhere, don't think it's all sunshine and sandy beaches here!

If he has school loans, he should check out the jobs in needy areas. There is a program that helps pay back student loans. Dont have info, but google search should be helpful.

Welcome to QB, from western Nevada!

Yup, that's true too. Hubby didn't have much of a student loan at the end, but we got a couple thou paid off that way, in California.

Also in Wake County. State budget discussions right now are not making any of the counties feel comfortable. Mecklenburg, Guilford, Wake, Orange are the highest paying, but it depends on what the need is. Most of the counties have websites with openings listed. Tell him to check all 100.

Welcome from New York.

Oops duplicate post.

We live in Granville County, which is next to Wake County I'm not sure about a teaching position, but it is a lovely place to live---rural and really nice folks. They also have a high school that is just 1 year old. Good luck with the job search.

I worked for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools until I retired (early); like was said earlier, they are going through budget cuts (as are most school systems). I just read in yesterday's paper how some SC school districts are in danger of going under - YIKES! That being said, with your son being a newbie, he won't be expensive to employ, so he may have a better chance than others. It's tough out there for so many folks and especially for those just graduating -- best wishes to him!

welcome from se TX

It will be difficult for him since his major is history and that degree is quite common. Can he get an additional certification in math, science or special education without too much trouble? Men are desired in elementary education as well. That would improve his chances. Also coaching and sports medicine experience/certifications would help. The very best advice I can give to anyone trying to secure a teaching position anywhere is to get bus driver certified in the state you are applying in. On paper, he's just another name but principals always need a handy fill in bus driver so that would be the candidate he/she calls ahead of others applying.
I loved working in the small county system of Lincoln (PO Box 400, Lincolnton, NC 28093) and it's a great little system but, if he doesn't LOVE kids, they don't want him. We didn't pull in the big bucks like Charlotte-Meck but COL wasn't as high there either. It's located on the western shores of Lake Norman, northeast and easily accessible to metro Charlotte, Gastonia and Hickory.

Welcome from WV. Hope your son has good luck and finds a great position, but he may not be finding it where he wants to go.

I am from SC and live here. Getting a teaching position is like most places not always easy. I would suggest for your son to start out sub-teaching at schools or doing some volunteer work. This way the faculty will get to know him and he will have a better chance of a job.

It is called crictial needs areas. Try the SC or NC dep of education on the WEB. He may have to go to a very rural area to start with for a few years, then move up. My oldest did that and now 11 yrs later he teachs at the Academic Magnet High School in Charleston,SC. tell him to do it now, not in the fall. Teaching jobs are hard to find in some areas.

I wouldn't suggest Mecklenburg county. They are making severe cuts to teachers and staff. They are $100 Million short on their budget.

I have family in Rock Hill, SC and they have just built another new HS. Very beautiful area! Good Luck!

welcome!

I have a daughter who is teaching history in Charlotte. Her school is a Title 9 school and she has been there 4 years. She is quitting this year because there is no discipline in the schools and the administration is so bad. She said the state has passed a law that there can be 40 kids in a classroom. Way to many in her situation.

Welcome. Would he consider coming to Virginia. Danville is on the border as well as some other counties. Wish him the best in finding the right position for him.

I'd say it's a tough call between inner city schools and rural areas. Both need teachers and both have problems getting and keeping good teachers. I wish I had better news for you, but NC and SC are both experiencing severe budget shortages. Teachers in both states are really worried about keeping their jobs from year to year. My sister teaches art in an inner city school in Raleigh. As far as we know, she still has a job in the fall. My husband teaches in the community college system and they are experiencing problems as well. I really don't think it's much better in VA, TN, or GA either. You can go to the website for the state of NC and see if they have information on teaching in the public schools (I think they do). They should have a link with job openings listed by county. If you have any questions about a particular county, you can PM me. I don't claim to have all the answers but I might be able to answer some questions. There are also private schools all over NC. I do wish your son well in his job search. Please keep us posted and let us know how things turn out. I do love living in NC and there are a lot of benefits to living here. Unfortunately, education is not a high priority with the legislature right now. There are several military bases in the state. Your son might be able to get a job at a high school in one of those areas. Teachers are not generally in the military even if they teach in schools that cater to military families. If I can answer any questions or help in any way, please get in touch! I've lived in NC most of my life. I grew up here, married here, mostly raised my children here. We lived in SC for a few years for my husband to finish college.

I lived in Craven county for a while and still have GKs in schools there. I like it because it is not huge but very good teaching./

Good luck to your son. I hope he can find a job - they are precious and few.

Welcome from WI.

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !! :-D
Wish your son luck !! :-D

You may want to remove your email address!

Karen,
How would I do that?

I am from Hickory, NC. Ditto on everything that has been said about North Carolina schools. I teach in a rural school and have been told I will have a position next year. I'm not getting my hopes up. October 2012 will make 20 years for me. I hope I will be able to get there. Tell your son good luck.

My daughter just graduated from UNC Chlt with a teaching degree and had been hired for a position in Cherry Point before graduation :) She was on a teaching fellowship scholarship so I don't know if that helped!

This is a bad time to be looking for a teaching job in public schools because state legislatures are cutting state support for public schools. Excuse: the recession. And it is always hard to get a job teaching history or any other social studies subject unless you are a coach.

How do I know? I am a retired teacher of government and economics and after I graduated from college it was six years before I got a job in my field.

Your son needs to spread the net wide. Most states have a statewide Website where school districts post openings. In Texas it is called TASANET. He can Google it for each state in which he is interested. He needs to take whatever job he can get and get a little experience, but not too much. School districts do not like to hire people with much experience and with advanced degrees because they are too costly.

How do I know this? After I retired from teaching after 37 years (where I learned all this), I became the education reporter for a regional newspaper and school administrators confirmed what I already knew.

Good luck to your son. I wish I could be more hopeful, but he may have to be satisfied substitute teaching in his hometown or wherever you live until a job opens. It is better than nothing and it is a chance to earn his spurs. froggyintexas

Hi Gail and welcome from NE Ohio.

Hello and welcome from Minnesota!

I am from Moore County and it has great schools.He could try here.

Welcome from Idaho. Good luck in the job search. He might have better luck in the private sector, training new hires for example, or working in adminstration of group homes, etc.

Welcome to the board and good luck to your son. My son has 2 masters a 3.95 gpa a history degree from UC and has been looking for a history teaching job in any state. So far he has had no luck.

Welcome from MN and happy quilting :)

Welcome from North Carolina! I hope your son gets a teaching job