On 7/27/10, sam wrote:
> I am going to be transferred to Raleigh NC and have to
> start no later than end of August. My wife is a math
> teacher at a middle school in Miami Florida. She applied
> and received a NC Professional teaching certificate
> (Mathematics grades 6-12). My wife speaks with a moderate
> accent, what never was a problem in Miami. The population
> in Miami is very diverse.
> A NC teacher told me, that teachers who speak with a accent
> generally are not offered jobs at NC regardless of their
> qualifications, especially now in this tough job market,
> when teaching jobs are scares and teachers are laid off.
> I need to make a decision no later than next week, move or
> decline the opportunity and stay in Miami. Family is very
> important to me as I believe to most of us.
> Thank you in advance for your help.
> If you are a principal would you please comment on my
> posting. Please, lets not start a political discussion.

I can't speak for what is common practice in NC, but I can
tell you that as long as the person is proficient in English
it is illegal to use accent as a reason for not hiring - in
any state. It sounds to me like that teacher was
either unaware of that and/or trying to discourage you.
However, I would take seriously the comments about the tough
job market, jobs being scarce and teachers being laid off.
I'm not sure about NC specifically (maybe someone from NC
will see this and respond), but in most cases, districts
can't hire a new teacher from outside the district without
first offering the position to anyone from their district who
has been laid off. In other words - it may indeed be
difficult for your wife to find a position, NOT because of
her accent but because of the economy which is making it
difficult for all candidates. Good luck!

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