|
|
Post by corinne11 on Sept 21, 2014 2:05:46 GMT
A close friend has the opportunity to move from Australia to Detroit as her husband has been offered a great job there. She is an Early Years teacher- Reception to Year 2 mainly. She has found limited information on the Internet concerning availability of jobs, pay etc.
She is concerned that she may not get work as she is coming from a very different teaching system. She is originally from the UK and taught there before coming to Australia. So, if you are a teacher in Detroit, any advice or information would be much appreciated. OR, are you a teacher that has moved over from Australia? If so, have you found it difficult to find work.
She needs to make a decision within the week, so as you can imagine, she is desperate for any information that may help her make what will be a momentous decision for her family. (it is a dream job for her husband, but ultimately he wants her to be happy so is happy to accept her decision)
Thanks! Corinne
|
|
|
|
Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Sept 21, 2014 2:35:26 GMT
Would this help? Michigan DOEIt's the michigan department of education site regarding certification. I'm not sure what the status of jobs is, but the City of Detroit proper is, to my knowledge, still in bankruptcy, so she's probably going to want to check suburbs and nearby areas. |
|
|
|
Post by magentapea on Sept 21, 2014 2:40:00 GMT
Good luck finding a teaching job in the metro Detroit area. The school year just started and they tend to be pretty well staffed until the next school year. Plus, it isn't easy. In our district there are usually a few hundred applicants for a handful of openings. She might have luck in the City itself but they tend to layoff teachers and close schools every year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Megan on Sept 21, 2014 2:45:30 GMT
I just read an article about a school still filling vacancies in a suburb of Detroit, I can't remember where it was. One resource to start with: www.resa.net/services/humanresources/ (this doesn't include all suburbs) |
|
|
|
Post by *sprout* on Sept 21, 2014 2:49:28 GMT
First things first...she needs to get her teaching certificate for Michigan. Then she can think about teaching in the classroom. Getting a teaching job in MI is very much a game of who knows who (I'm sure it's that way everywhere).
|
|
|
|
Post by Dixie Lou on Sept 21, 2014 3:18:11 GMT
I am a teacher but I live in Texas not Michigan. I had a few questions and general comments.
Is reception year the same as kindergarten? Age 5? Is year two the same as our second grade?
She would have to get her teaching certificate for Michigan and that could require some classes and I would guess there is a test to pass also. At this time of the year she could possibly sub but wonder if there would be a full time position available. I don't know why she couldn't find a job there if she jumps through all of the hoops.
I know I'm no help but just some things to think about!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 1:45:40 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2014 3:25:06 GMT
Will HER visa allow her to work? Her visa status will be a starting point on whether or not she will be allowed to work in the first place.
In the US if a teacher earns a teaching certificate in one state they have to convert it when teaching in another state. This can involve additional college work, testing and surrendering the original certification.
I don't think this is a decision she can make in a week because there are way to many unknowns.. all of which could trip her up even if jobs postings are open they may not be open for her.
|
|
luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,421 
|
Post by luvnlifelady on Sept 21, 2014 4:23:58 GMT
My DS' 9th grade biology teacher is from Australia. Message me if you'd like for me to try and get her info. for your friend.
|
|
AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on Sept 21, 2014 11:48:04 GMT
I'm from a different state, but agree that certification can be a long and drawn-out process in some states. Some states have provisional certificates for people moving from state to state, which gives them the opportunity to work for a given time while pursuing the extra requirements, but a move from a different country (and university system) might be more fraught. Sub certificates are usually easy to get. Also, working as an aide often buys time and opens up doors (it did for me), although it's low-paying. voltagain, I'm intrigued by this idea of surrendering one state's certificate when you get another. States are wackily different about teacher certification, but in my limited experience, you get to keep both, like law licenses in different states. Do you know a state that does this? (If you do, I'd like to pass on this information to young'n teachers who contemplate moving.) |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 1:45:40 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2014 12:11:13 GMT
I'm originally from the UK and have my teaching qualifications and experience from there. I moved to Michigan in 2003. I couldn't get a job teaching in a public school as they didn't recognize my degree or my 8 years as a classroom teacher. I was told I had to submit all my transcripts from university (I graduated in 1992) for assessment. Even then it was unlikely I would be able to get a teaching license without going back to school to start again. I decided it wasn't worth my time or money.
Eventually I got a job in private school which didn't require a Michigan teaching certificate. Your friend may have better luck teaching in a private pre-school or private school. She will have to jump through countless hoops to work as a teacher in a public school. Subbing is a possibility though.
|
|
|
|
Post by gonewalkabout on Sept 21, 2014 12:23:02 GMT
I have no idea really if this is something that can be done with a teaching degree (but possibly, as you can do it with other degrees) but I know degrees in one country have to go through some government dept to get recognised in the US. It's the same when you go to Australia. I had to have my US degree recognised there.
Other than what her visa type is, that might be something to look into.
|
|
|
|
Post by *sprout* on Sept 21, 2014 13:00:11 GMT
Just a note about subbing. When I was a sub, school districts were starting to require subs to be state certified teachers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Sept 21, 2014 13:59:10 GMT
I'm not from Michigan, but do know what goes on in teaching. If by reception, you mean what we call Kindergarten, then yes, to teach in a public school she needs to be certified. She won't be able to teach until next fall or possibly in the spring. Some private schools do not require certification and SOME public schools allow you a certain amount of time to be certified if you are certified elsewhere in the US. Do not know about UK/Australian certification.
Also, is your friend looking at metro Detroit? Or suburban Detroit. Definitely look up the DOE in MI. Of course this is all dependent on her visa
Finally, your friend should have her husband talk with his company and see what they can do for her. That actually should be her first step.
Good luck to her!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 1:45:40 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2014 14:40:41 GMT
I'm from a different state, but agree that certification can be a long and drawn-out process in some states. Some states have provisional certificates for people moving from state to state, which gives them the opportunity to work for a given time while pursuing the extra requirements, but a move from a different country (and university system) might be more fraught. Sub certificates are usually easy to get. Also, working as an aide often buys time and opens up doors (it did for me), although it's low-paying. voltagain, I'm intrigued by this idea of surrendering one state's certificate when you get another. States are wackily different about teacher certification, but in my limited experience, you get to keep both, like law licenses in different states. Do you know a state that does this? (If you do, I'd like to pass on this information to young'n teachers who contemplate moving.) My ex is certified through Texas. When we were married and he was looking to work in Hawaii after retirement from the military he would have to convert his Texas teaching certificate to a Hawaiian one and surrender his Texas one. His current wife is wanting to move to Florida but from comments she's made it looks like Florida will also require him to surrender his Texas one. eta: he was one of the last life time teaching licenses awarded in Texas. He is grandfathered in with no requirement for further testing or professional development (course work) So maybe that has something to do with it? I know he said if he surrendered it to Hawaii then went back to Texas he wouldn't have a life time certification any more. |
|
AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on Sept 21, 2014 15:25:16 GMT
My ex is certified through Texas. When we were married and he was looking to work in Hawaii after retirement from the military he would have to convert his Texas teaching certificate to a Hawaiian one and surrender his Texas one. His current wife is wanting to move to Florida but from comments she's made it looks like Florida will also require him to surrender his Texas one. eta: he was one of the last life time teaching licenses awarded in Texas. He is grandfathered in with no requirement for further testing or professional development (course work) So maybe that has something to do with it? I know he said if he surrendered it to Hawaii then went back to Texas he wouldn't have a life time certification any more. Thank you. Very interesting. I actually know a teacher considering Hawaii. I wonder how you would surrender a certificate these days. My certificate is just a number in an online database now. (Gone are the days of taking your paper certificate to the county every five years, paying a fee, and getting it stamped by some cranky clerk.) And a lifetime teaching license? I got grandfathered when the tests started, but everybody does the professional development. Like I said: states are wackily different. I have a young newly-transplanted colleague jumping though an unending series of certification hoops. So silly. |
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Sept 21, 2014 16:59:10 GMT
FYI....Here in NYS it's called Permanent Certification, not lifetime and yes we are grandfathered in as far as recording professional development hours through State Ed. That doesn't mean we don't still do PD because we do. To the OP---she has to be certified through MI as others have stated. Teaching jobs are hard to come by everywhere and especially in MI due to many issues.
|
|
|
|
Post by corinne11 on Sept 21, 2014 22:08:44 GMT
Thank you all for your helpful replies. I will pass it all on to her. I don't think she will want to do further study - she is an Advanced Skills teacher here which is the highest standard of teacher already, so perhaps private schools may be her best bet.
It is so interesting to read about the way your system works. Here, if you are a qualified teacher you can teach anywhere once you have submitted your registration. She can hold on to her permanency for 2 years so if she goes and it doesn't work out she will have a permanent job to return to. Although it's not all about the money, here AST's are on a salary of just over $90,000 a year so it is a big decision for sure.
Once again, thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will update with her final decision within the next week.
Corinne |
|
|
|
Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Sept 22, 2014 0:30:48 GMT
Thank you all for your helpful replies. I will pass it all on to her. I don't think she will want to do further study - she is an Advanced Skills teacher here which is the highest standard of teacher already, so perhaps private schools may be her best bet.
It is so interesting to read about the way your system works. Here, if you are a qualified teacher you can teach anywhere once you have submitted your registration. She can hold on to her permanency for 2 years so if she goes and it doesn't work out she will have a permanent job to return to. Although it's not all about the money, here AST's are on a salary of just over $90,000 a year so it is a big decision for sure.
Once again, thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will update with her final decision within the next week.
Corinne So, according to my currency converter, AUD$90,000 is about US$80,000. Very few teachers, at least in the public schools, make that kind of salary. |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 1:45:40 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2014 1:08:33 GMT
Thank you all for your helpful replies. I will pass it all on to her. I don't think she will want to do further study - she is an Advanced Skills teacher here which is the highest standard of teacher already, so perhaps private schools may be her best bet.
It is so interesting to read about the way your system works. Here, if you are a qualified teacher you can teach anywhere once you have submitted your registration. She can hold on to her permanency for 2 years so if she goes and it doesn't work out she will have a permanent job to return to. Although it's not all about the money, here AST's are on a salary of just over $90,000 a year so it is a big decision for sure.
Once again, thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will update with her final decision within the next week.
Corinne So, according to my currency converter, AUD$90,000 is about US$80,000. Very few teachers, at least in the public schools, make that kind of salary. I'd hazard a guess that even fewer private school teachers make that kind of money in most states. There is an expectation private school teachers will work for less because they support the educational philosophy of the school and get a tuition waiver for their kids. She'd need an administrators job to get close to what she is earning there.. |
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Sept 22, 2014 10:15:20 GMT
Private schools pay way less than a public school..PLUS if there is a state retirement system, they don't pay into that either. I make $80,000...been teaching for 32 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by corinne11 on Sept 22, 2014 10:35:14 GMT
I spoke to her today and will be forwarding all this information to her. She said she is looking at a place called Warren? near Michigan that looks nice. Her husbands' employers will provide a green card for her to work. They are making a decision within the next day or so. They were brave to make the leap to move to Australia from Ireland, so know they could do it again - although of course this time around they have two small children to consider as well.
She was expecting lower salaries for teachers, but the cost of living in the US is also a lot lower than here so they are taking that into account.
Corinne
|
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Sept 22, 2014 10:49:30 GMT
I'm from a different state, but agree that certification can be a long and drawn-out process in some states. Some states have provisional certificates for people moving from state to state, which gives them the opportunity to work for a given time while pursuing the extra requirements, but a move from a different country (and university system) might be more fraught. Sub certificates are usually easy to get. Also, working as an aide often buys time and opens up doors (it did for me), although it's low-paying. voltagain, I'm intrigued by this idea of surrendering one state's certificate when you get another. States are wackily different about teacher certification, but in my limited experience, you get to keep both, like law licenses in different states. Do you know a state that does this? (If you do, I'd like to pass on this information to young'n teachers who contemplate moving.) My ex is certified through Texas. When we were married and he was looking to work in Hawaii after retirement from the military he would have to convert his Texas teaching certificate to a Hawaiian one and surrender his Texas one. His current wife is wanting to move to Florida but from comments she's made it looks like Florida will also require him to surrender his Texas one. eta: he was one of the last life time teaching licenses awarded in Texas. He is grandfathered in with no requirement for further testing or professional development (course work) So maybe that has something to do with it? I know he said if he surrendered it to Hawaii then went back to Texas he wouldn't have a life time certification any more. Sorry, OP, I can't offer much help here, but I just wanted to put paid to the notion that ANY teacher in Texas are exempt from professional development. The state requirements for PD for license renewal are a bare minimum and most districts set a higher yearly standard as a condition of continued employment. I know a few who have been teaching long enough to have the permanent license, and they're still attending PD per our district requirements. |
|
|
|
Post by Scrapbrat on Sept 22, 2014 13:28:33 GMT
I spoke to her today and will be forwarding all this information to her. She said she is looking at a place called Warren? near Michigan that looks nice. Her husbands' employers will provide a green card for her to work. Corinne Warren is a very large sub of Detroit. I'm sorry, but your friend needs to ask a LOT more questions about that supposed green card. I used to practice immigration law. An employer sponsored green card is sponsored by the employer that is employing the immigrant, and it is very expensive and NOT an easy thing to get. His employer could sponsor HIM for a green card, but not her (unless they actually intend to employ her). This is just all sorts of "off." It seems much more likely to me that he would be coming here on some other kind of a work visa, at least in the beginning. Those types of work visas typically allow the spouse to have a visa to be here, but do NOT permit the spouse to work. |
|
|
|
Post by corinne11 on Sept 23, 2014 12:31:36 GMT
Just thought I would update. First, she says to thank you all for taking the time to comment and give suggestions for a stranger. 
After much consideration they have decided to stay on here for now. It certainly seemed that getting a job for her was going to be quite complicated and she really didn't want to start from scratch all over again or not work at all. But most importantly, they felt that their lifestyle here was great and they were very happy, so they will take their chances on him gaining a new job in the next 2 years. (He currently works for a major car manufacturer who are closing down then)
I'm secretly happy with their choice- our school would miss her too much and so would we- her friends! Thanks again.
Corinne |
|
