I like all of these options...thanks so much. I'm going to inquire
about the Race to the Top funds - that's something that definitely
appeals to me. I thought about the parochial schools but in my area
the local public school district provides services to them. Thanks
again to all who were kind enough to weigh in.....I'm feeling positive
about the situation.
On 11/30/13, another possible option wrote:
> 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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