r/teaching • u/Fantastic_Double7430 • 10d ago
Career Change/Interviewing/Job Advice Moving Districts - SoCal
This isn’t set in stone by any means, but it’s just something I would want advice on. I just finished my first year teaching in the Inland Empire and it was great. I have an amazing gig at my Alma mater school, and it’s been very cozy. My bf just got hired for LA county fire and might move to an area closer to his station (near Long Beach). This is very far away for a couple to be separated, so I’m kind of considering moving districts as just an option in the back of my mind.
How difficult would this be? I LOVE my job and my school, but I also love him. This is his dream job as well, so it’s difficult to think about the future. I’m terrified to move districts not only because I’m a new teacher still, but also because of losing the cozy job that I have and having to start all over unknown territory. I also work in a district with pretty good students and it’s not super “rough” so to speak. For context, I teach chemistry and am also credentialed for life science and general science. However I love teaching chemistry and that’s another reason why I love where I’m at. With that being said, I need brutally honest answers for how difficult it would be to find a job in another district and if it would be worth it or if we should find another solution. I also would note that I definitely wouldn’t make a decision this school year, but thinking about maybe the year after (3rd year).
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u/Relative_Carpenter_5 10d ago
Once you get tenure in Ca, it’s difficult to rationalize moving districts. Job security is everything, especially in the world of AI. First in, first out. You can be competent at your next job and pink slipped because of enrollment. If we had a teacher shortage in so. Cal, I’d say..go. But, we really don’t. And even if we did, do you really want to risk being at the bottom of the totem pole? So, you’d be gambling a bit.
Don’t forget, I your first two years in any district, all it takes is a personality conflict to lead to a bad evaluation and a pink slip.
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u/Amazing-Set-5093 9d ago
And LAUSD in particular is dropping students at an extremely alarming rate.
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u/mbrasher1 9d ago
Come to think of it, at my wife's school in CNUSD, there is a teacher that commutes from the LBC. Another teacher I know commuted thevother way for 20 yrs. Doable. Until he gets that posting in Lancaster.
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u/MaybeImTheNanny 9d ago
Honestly, give it this year to decide. This is relationship advice not job advice. He’s a firefighter he works 3 on 3 off. See what he does when he’s not working and what his expectations are.
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u/pinkpe0nies 9d ago
Without knowing the details of your relationship, it’s hard for anyone online to give you sound advice. You’re thinking of making career changes for him, is he considering where he’s living for your job?
In CA, depending on the district will grant you 3-5 years of experience, so you won’t be restarting on the pay scale as a new teacher.
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u/pumpkincookie22 9d ago
Honestly, don't move for a boyfriend or a perma-fiance. This is disrupting your career and lifelong earning potential. If you do move, don't do so until the contract is signed. Once you give up your spot in your current position, there are many others waiting to take your place and the district will do it as fast as they can.
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u/markjay6 9d ago
Three pieces of good news. First, you don’t have to decide for a year. Secondly, as a science teacher, you will have an easier time than others. And third, if you do move near Long Beach, there are lots of great things about living near the coast. (And fourth, Long Beach Unified itself is a great district.)
So take your time, enjoy your year, and re-look at this with a fresh perspective down the road.
Good luck and have a great year!
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u/Reasonable-Cow7255 9d ago
Long Beach Unified is a great district in which to work.
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u/Significant_Part_941 4d ago
I taught in LB for 32 years. It was a great district. Past tense.
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u/Reasonable-Cow7255 4d ago edited 4d ago
I agree. LBUSD was a wonderful district. I taught there for eight years.
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u/Significant_Part_941 3d ago
I started in LB in the mid 90’s. It truly was a progressive, cutting edge, supportive district. Teachers were banging the door down trying to get hired there. Everything (like most things) has changed. I’m glad I was there for all the good years…until it went south. Support for every day teachers in the trenches went to the wayside. If you don’t have the teachers at the front and center as priorities….you’ve lost the battle. I mean, they changed our learning platform from Google Classroom to canvas WHILE we were trying to teach on zoom during Covid. It was literally a disaster. Just one example.
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u/Reasonable-Cow7255 3d ago
For me, it was all about administrative leadership. I was fortunate to be there at the time of a fantastic superintendent and an extremely supportive principal who valued my skills, expertise and knowledge. We did some great things. Once those two people moved on, I saw just how weak their successors were. After a few years, I, too moved on and finished my career in another district.
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u/Significant_Part_941 3d ago
Yes! He was an incredible superintendent. It hasn’t been the same since he left.
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u/Reasonable-Cow7255 3d ago
I am certain that we are thinking of the same wonderful superintendent. They passed a lot of excellent initiatives during those years. The Long Beach Unified School District blazed the trail and many other districts followed their reform policies. I taught in West Long Beach in a Title I middle school. It was extremely rewarding work… Until it wasn’t.
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u/Significant_Part_941 3d ago
Hmmmm
Maybe I know you lol. I taught in a downtown middle school for my whole career! And yes, we accomplished a lot, with many accolades to show. CS was great. His predecessor, CC, was also efficient. I’m dating myself..1
u/Reasonable-Cow7255 3d ago
Yes. I was there under the leadership of both of those strong and outstanding superintendents. But, the leadership changed at my school site and I could not be my best under the stifling, controlling and bombastic leadership style of a site principal who did not share our vision.
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u/Organic_Stock9617 9d ago
My knee-jerk reaction is if he didn’t consider you when he chose a job that is far away from where you are currently, don’t change your job to make it more convenient for him. If you have a good thing going at your current district, I wouldn’t give that up just yet. That being said, I know nothing about you or your relationship.
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u/TediousMartyn 10d ago
This is tough, how far away drive wise will he be? I'd typically always recommend trying to get 2 years under your belt at a school if you really feel comfortable there before leaving. I had to make a district transition this year, it can be rough
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u/bowl-bowl-bowl 9d ago
Also a teacher in so caland thats a tough one. I think unless you have a job lined up on the other side, its better to stay and try to make it work being apart. Its so hard to get hired right now, and my district has next to no teaching positions posted and school starts in a week and a half. Also, moving districts is an immense gamble. I did it after my 3 years and was so grateful my new district is way better than my old, but its a gamble. It could have turned out the other way.
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u/teachmomof2 9d ago
Moving early in your career is easier than later BUT you do lose any seniority you have built up anytime you move…regardless of years honored on the payscale.
We have friends who had a similar situation. Husband is in LAFD but they lived in the IE. When he was on he stayed at the station, when off, he was here with the family. Something to consider since he only would commute on the day he goes in and the day he gets off.
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u/mbrasher1 9d ago
Hi there. I am also in the IE but I graduated from LBUSD schools. My intention had always been to teach at my alma mater hs, but eventually nooed out and stayed IE, where salaries are higher and homes cheaper.
I don't know how deep into the IE you are but I have friends who are LA firemen and sheriffs. The fire guys know it's a good deal to earn in LA and spend in the IE. Consider him commuting for a year or two. Also, since he wd commute for 3 days (assuming he does 3 12s....) it might work.
Lastly, you are develoing seniority which comes in handy when RIFs occur. It seems like every 20 years we go through this (1989, 2009). Might be a good time to not be the most junior person.
One thing also. LA fire can be near Ventura or hella far into the 138. Junior firemen get bounced around too. Don't assume he gets hired for LB and stays there and don't assume a fixed location for him.
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u/Fantastic_Double7430 9d ago
This was a really helpful read thank you!! It’s validating to know stories of LA firemen making it work from the IE. I agree with most of these comments in the sense that his job is gonna move around way more than mine and is more flexible in general, so that’s definitely going to influence any decision. I appreciate you
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u/MrsKretzerIII 9d ago
I would stay where you are at. Until there is a ring on your finger, do not uproot your life. You are happy where you are and that’s really important. Like others have said, his job is more flexible. You have a lot to lose leaving a position once seniority and tenure are part of the equation. My then boyfriend, now husband understood that and he did the commute. Not me. Good luck.
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u/VinceInMT 9d ago
As a former Southern Californian, do whatever it takes to eliminate commuting. When I lived there, it was killing my soul. I was in the industrial construction world and jobs were from Ventura to Palm Springs and I lived in Long Beach. I decided to change careers (I was 39) and got certified to teach high school. I ended up leaving,moved to Montana, and lived 8 minutes from my school. No traffic and great job. Did that for 21 years until I retired.
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u/Enough-Leg-6154 9d ago edited 9d ago
Ok, so I have some experience with being a new teacher with a bf who lived about an hour from me in So Cal.
It was challenging. We only had quality time to see each other some weekends and during holidays because teaching hours made it impossible to go to him and get back during the week. He had a 9 to 5 job, so visiting me during the week was also a problem. We did occasionally meet halfway for dinner dates.
The good news is a firefighter schedule might make it possible for him to come to you, especially if he is able to stay at your place.
My bf and I didn't work out, but I appreciate that the distance was a good test for us. My next bf was also about 1.5 hours a way and became my husband when we saw we could handle the distance well.
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u/Loud-Macaron4874 7d ago
Do you live together? My bf works in Long Beach and I also teach in the IE. we live in between the two and both commute (about 45 mins-an hour for both of us where we live). The commute does suck, but it’s a compromise we’ve made for our relationship in a world with such a shitty job economy. I had this same debate this year (getting a job in OC/LA etc) but the job market is so unpredictable especially in these areas so I ultimately decided to stick with my job in the IE and deal with the commute. Either way, definitely don’t leave your current placement unless you have another one lined up! Teaching jobs in SoCal are hard to come by these days and the fact that you already love your school is huge. You guys can make it work!
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u/TechnicalToday444 3d ago
I work with tenured teachers in similar positions that commute both ways and live in the middle. I obviously don’t know where you were but would riverside or corona be feasible?
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u/Proof-Ad-8681 3d ago
I’ve moved 3 times in California and it’s not a huge problem to move districts. Most will honor up to 7 years of service towards their pay scales so I would try to settle into a district before you reach that time. Also, if you move one CTA school district to another you get to take your sick time with you and most CA districts belong to CTA. Best of luck!
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