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IntrepidDreams t1_jeeeyc2 wrote

For new hires.

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nitsual912 t1_jeektzh wrote

Yeah, also, to get a full $12, you have to be bilingual, work at one of four particular schools, AND move to the area from >50 miles away. That’s a big ask. But at least they’re trying. It’s more like a $6-8K bonus realistically for any one teacher.

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canquilt t1_jeego1w wrote

Retention bonus is sometimes $1k. Sometimes.

We need teachers. For real. But we also gotta keep them longer than 3 or 4 years. That revolving door harms students and impedes progress at all levels.

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eziam t1_jef4lx1 wrote

Truth. Our elementary school is filled (me included) of RPS/Petersburg/east end Henrico teachers that did 3-4 years and got burnt out. They (me included) come to a school/community that appreciates teachers and makes life more enjoyable. I did a decade in the east end, and knowing what I know now, it was to long. I wasn't appreciated by the parents or admins.

RPS is trying but 12k wouldn't convince me to switch. My mental and physical health is way more important.

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freetimerva t1_jeehpw7 wrote

RPS always a step behind.

Yeah we need new teachers... but they need current teachers to stop quitting to go to better school districts.

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airquotesNotAtWork t1_jeela2f wrote

Is there any evidence that RPS has a worse teacher retention problem than other districts? I mean intuitively yeah it makes sense but I’d like to see numbers especially given that the teaching profession is bleeding teachers right now

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freetimerva t1_jeeoti5 wrote

Truthfully, I only have anecdotal evidence.. as I know several people who have quit RPS to head to the counties. Their answer to both was - the job is chaotic and they werent paid enough to deal with the stress of it.

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ImmobilizedbyCheese t1_jeen854 wrote

I will never understand why we pay teachers so little. They are saints and we're lucky to have them.

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3FoxInATrenchcoat t1_jef8w6c wrote

Seriously, and like the vast majority of people/voters agree. It’s a small fraction of people who say shit like “Wellll ackshually you only work 10 months out of the year so you’re really getting paid [insert some salary higher than their actual take home]”.

And we don’t care what those ppl think because Teachers are criminally underpaid and have been underpaid since the beginning of time. VA is 33rd out of 50 states for teacher salaries relative to COL and the national median pay is probably already too low to begin with. It’s insane. Teachers are literally preparing people to be functional, intelligent and informed adults…why wouldn’t we be paying them like we do college educated military officers, or agency Directors and higher level staff? It’s not like they didn’t spend 6 years seeking a higher education degree along with constant certifications and adaptations to new learning methods and requirements.

Sorry, I’m just rambling…I’m not even a teacher…but they’re pretty fucking important people and I will never stop advocating.

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Diet_Coke t1_jegif2k wrote

It's stupid, outdated, and misogynistic and I don't agree with it, but the reason is that teaching was seen as women's work, and they made the pay low as a barrier to entry for unmarried women. It's not meant to be the job of a breadwinner, the teacher is supposed to have a husband with a job that pays the bills so her income is extra. Wouldn't want those unmarried harlots living independently or teaching our precious children to have loose morals.

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mallydobb t1_jeemc2d wrote

The hiring/interview process is a nightmare. Put in a lot of work for what is essentially a graduate level assignment given last minute along with no guarantee that your idea won’t be used but you won’t be given a chance to apply or try out the role. Preinterview tasks for professionals who have been in the field for decades is a bit insulting. Some of the admin/professional roles outside of teaching are certainly interesting and seem to have merit but the hoops they drag candidates for is a mess.

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Onefotccn t1_jeg443h wrote

Great and that hiring bonus will be taxed to hell where it sends up being hardly $12K. How about they just pay teachers more so they stick around and they aren't in a contact shortage? I guess that makes too much sense.

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bozatwork t1_jeflrru wrote

We have increased teacher pay significantly in the past several years (still not where it should be, but our overall funding hasn't recovered from 2008 either), and they now have a union to represent and negotiate. These headlines are lazy and make it seem like it's an everywhere problem and it's not that extreme--there are targeted positions at select schools that have proven hard to fill. The same as in other counties. I totally understand a teacher having a negative reaction to seeing these headlines but they need to ask what school and what position and how does that compare to where I am and what I want to do and my compensation, and the issues my school faces. It's not like they are throwing hiring bonuses at people to perform the same work as teachers that stay. Or that if you leave whoever replaces you will automatically get this full bonus to replace you.

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AndThenThereWasQueso t1_jegkdpa wrote

Nah. This is an absolute SLAP IN THE FACE for any RPS educator that has stuck it out through the past few years. Teachers are leaving and getting ready to leave schools that were never previously “hard to staff”. This year has been especially hard. They announce 12k sign on bonuses without even mention of a retention bonus is hurtful no matter how you try to spin it. That cute little 12% raise over time is cool and everything, but the way our healthcare cost constantly increases as well as the cost of everything else increases, it really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I assure you that many many many teachers are disheartened by this and it has swayed some folks toward the exit door who were previously on the fence.

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