What are the teaching opportunities in the East and the South like?

Question

I am in Indiana and I worked my tail off to go to school full time for 4 1/2 years and get my teaching license. I maintained a 3.33 GPA because I cared about what I was doing and set out to accomplish my goal. I have been a licensed social studies teacher since March 2006 and have found in the fall of 2006, 2007, and 2008 that it is not unusual for 100 people to apply for one social studies opening. The jobs are going to the people that already have family working in the district or to someone who is able to substitute as a full time job. I don't fit either category, I have a family and need the secure income and insurance that comes with a regular full-time job. I know someone that actually got a teaching job in Arizona from a phone interview! So, on to my question, I have seen the postings on all the education job websites for jobs in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, etc..All places I would be interested in going to, but can someone please honestly tell me, is it the same as here in Indiana? Are there 100 applicants for one job? Is there anywhere that there really is a shortage of teachers and they need quality people now? I am also willing to add endorsements to my license if it is something I can do while employed as a teacher in that subject. I taught Earth Space Science and Biology at an alternative school for a few months while I was filling in for a teacher that was on military duty. I don't feel like anyone owes me anything or something like that, I just want the opportunity to apply my education and my skills in a profession that I have loved my involvement in. I have heard too many stories of teacher education graduates that gave up because they faced the same thing. Thanks for any help that anyone can give, if you don't know the answers but can pass this on to somebody that might please understand that I highly appreciate it!!

Answer 1

I teach in MD.  Last year a first year teacher in my school moved from Indiana because she couldn't get a job in Indiana, so I understand where you are coming from.

In MD you would be likely to get a job.  Each county is very different and I can't speak to all of them.  MD is divided into 4 regions.  Western MD (Garret, Alleghany, Washington, and Frederick Counties), Southern MD (Charles County, Calvert County, St. Mary's County) and The Eastern Shore (on the East side of the Chesapeake Bay) are very rural in comparison to the rest of the state.  As such the student populations are lower than that of Central MD.  Therefore there are less teaching jobs.  Central MD is the largest part of the state and student populations are growing.  You are almost guaranteed to be able to get a job in Baltimore City.  But it is an inner city and I have heard that administration can be disorganized.  However, I also know of teachers who are in good schools and love their jobs.  Howard and Montgomery Counties are two of the best school districts and are the highest paying.  They are very competitive to get into though.  I have heard good things about Carroll, Harford, and Baltimore Counties.  I teach in Anne Arundel County and am very pleased with it.  It is very diverse.  There are very well to do areas, some Title I schools, and areas in between.  I have been pleased with the administration and curriculum.  Prince George's County is the other county in Central MD.  It can also be diverse.  Part of the county borders Washington, DC and are similar to those schools.  Other parts of the county border more upscale counties and reflect that.  

Here is a link to the MD department of education, a link to everything you need to know about certification in MD, and a link to all the counties (and Baltimore City) websites.  I hope this helps!

MD Dept of Education

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSD...

District Links http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSD...

Certification

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSD...

    

Answer 2

I'm a North carolina native, and have lived & taught here most of my life.  Guilford County has 3 current openings for  9-12 grade Social Studies teachers.https://schooljobs.dpi.state.nc.us/hrms/...

Other openings for SS teachers are in Craven Co., Edgecombe County, & Onslow County.

https://schooljobs.dpi.state.nc.us/hrms/...

Of those listings, it is my opinion that you would be happiest in Guiford County.  Greensboro, N.C. is in Guiford County.  Greensboro is a city of 223,891.  It's also near the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area & The Research Triangle.  In N.C., we have 3 universities in the top 30, nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Reports-Duke University-#8, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-#28, & Wake Forest University-#30.

.http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...

It is somewhat less likely that a hiring decision would be based on "who you know" in a larger city, although that is not always true.  Sometimes the smaller towns will also hire because they need the openings filled. As you can see, N.C. takes education seriously, & we are always happy to have quality applicants such as yourself.

North Carolina is a lovely state.  We have it all-mountains, beaches, & super universities!..  We also have a great site for your use.  LEARN NC gives you what you need for K–12 teaching and learning, when and where you need it — lesson plans and teaching strategies, classroom text & multimedia, and online courses for teachers and students.

http://www.learnnc.org/

if you interview for a teaching postion in N.C., it would impress them if they discover thst you are aware of this site.  :)  If you choose another state, the information on this site is invaluable for any teacher, anywhere.

Another good option is metropolitan Atlanta.

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/pea_hr_jobsearc...

I hope this is a little helpful.  Good luck to you.  I hope your family settles here in beautiful N.C.!

Answer 3

Like the other post, I taught in Maryland my first year out of college.  You are virtually guaranteed a job in Prince George County if you can breathe on your own.  PG county is not a bad place.  There are some VERY urban areas.  That is where I worked.  My roommate at the time, taught in the northern part of PG county and her school was very nice.  My school was beautiful, but did not necessarily have the support I would have expected.  I have many friends that moved to NC for teaching jobs right out of college.  I would highly suggest Maryland and North Carolina and South Carolina.  There are alot of jobs in Georgia and Alabama(where I live now), but you must be willing to live in the southern points of the state.  That is where the easy job field is located.  Lucky me to be living in Northern Alabama without a teaching job this year.  :O(