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Anne, using Race to the Top money, my district hired back 2 of our
retired teachers as "consultants"(no benefits) in our two
underperforming schools They provide small group reading
intervention, as well as mentoring for teachers still working under
initial certification. I heard another was hired part-time at one of
the middle schools to coordinate the Scholastic Read 180 program.
Maybe there are part-time opportunities available in your district
or those nearby.

On 11/28/13, Anne wrote:

> Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Yes, I did check with my

> retirement system and I am able to work full time in a public

> school without any restrictions. I just want to clarify a few

> things for one of the posters who responded. I don't necessarily

> want to work in a special ed classroom but feel that having the

> certification would be another tool in my toolbox. My preference

> would be to go back to teaching reading or to work in a resource

> room. I retired only because my family needed me at that

> particular time. My family has and always will come first. I

> should have taken a leave of absence but hindsight is 20-20.

> Also, I had a frank discussion with my superintendent regarding

> rescinding my retirement and she told me that although I was one

> of the districts best teachers she had to weigh the budgetary

> needs of the district with my own needs..... I was simply too

> expensive. Ironically, the teacher that replaced me left after 2

> years, which proves that younger teachers provide no more

> guarantee of staying with the district than an older teacher.

> Finally, although I have a pension I also have a mortgage and the

> same expenses as everyone else. Most people know when they are

> going to retire and pay off their mortgage accordingly....as I

> said, my decision to retire was sudden and unexpected. I want to

> work because I enjoy it but also for financial reasons.

>

>

>

> On 11/27/13, well... wrote:

>

>> Being a special education teacher is NOT easy. You'd

> have to

>

>> learn all the paperwork, etc. It's a tough job. Personally I

>

>> wouldn't hire an older lady like yourself to take on that job.

>

>> You need a lot of energy to keep up with the dynamics of a

>

>> special ed. classroom and the paperwork. Lots of special ed.

>

>> teachers burn out after a couple years and go to regular

>

>> education. Plus there's the fact that you aren't exactly a

>

>> sure thing. You changed your mind right after you made the

>

>> decision to retire. Who is to say you wouldn't immediately

>

>> leave after stepping foot one day in a special education

>

>> teachers' shoes? No offense, but I would see an older lady

>

>> interviewing and think "I can get someone younger with a

>

>> fresher perspective who is really hungry for this job and

>

>> will have the energy to thrive at this position." You don't

>

>> really need the job (or you wouldn't have retired in the

>

>> first place). You've had your moment in the sun, now

> let the

>

>> younger generation have their opportunity. Also, were you

>

>> really well-liked in your last district? I'm guessing "no"

>

>> or they would have rescinded your retirement request

>

>> instantly. They didn't. They really didn't want you back.

>

>> So..think about it...you've had your best years in teaching,

>

>> let it go. You don't have what it takes anymore to be the

>

>> best, and that's what principals want. You're not the bargain

>

>> and bang for the buck you think you are. (No offense, it's

>

>> just that your prime has passed in the teaching world, a

> fact

>

>> you yourself acknowledged by retiring in the first place.) Go

>

>> travel! Volunteer! Garden! Join a ladies card club!

> Or

>

>> knitting club! Or cooking club! ENJOY your life. On

>

>> 11/24/13, Anne wrote:

>

>>> Any opinions from administrators are much appreciated. I

>

>>> retired and found that I made a huge mistake. I earned

>

>>> additional certification in special education to make

>

>>> myself more marketable to employers. (I already have

>

>>> elementary education and reading certification). Now I'm

>

>>> finding that I'm not even getting responses to my

>

>>> applications...not even rejection letters! I'm a good

>

>>> teacher and any school would be getting more bang for their

>

>>> buck by hiring me. I have experience, knowledge (multiple

>

>>> certifications), wisdom and most of all ...passion for my

>

>>> profession. I'm 65 but by today's standards that is not

>

>>> old, in fact people are working well into their 70's

>

>>> today. As far as salary I would not expect top of the

>

>>> scale pay since I receive a pension. (I considered that my

>

>>> pension may be a reason for not hiring me but what about

>

>>> other applicants who have husbands bringing in an

>

>>> additional income as well? I also considered that employers

>

>>> want an employee who will work for them at least 15-20

>

>>> years....fine, but there's no guarantee that younger

>

>>> employees will work that long....marriage, divorce, moving,

>

>>> pregnancy, raising a family, etc.). I'm energetic and

>

>>> have no physical limitations. Personally I can't understand

>

>>> why a school district would not want to at least interview

>

>>> me. Did I waste my time and money earning this additional

>

>>> certification? Do I have a chance of being hired anywhere?

>

>>> Any input or suggestions are welcomed!

>

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