Teaching jobs in Victoria?

[arloiginla]

Been wondering this for a bit now. I am a year and a half away from completing my Bachelor of Education degree here at U of C. Want to move to Victoria after.

I've continually been told how many job opportunities there are and will be here in Calgary, especially as a secondary music teacher. It's no secret that the city needs teachers bad and now is a great time to be gra?duating and applying.

How is the situation in Victoria? Are there a lot of kids? I hear it is generally a place with more old people. I used to go there every February for a golf vacation but haven't been recently.

Are there sufficient schools on the island as a whole? Looking for teachers? Is it easy to apply for a job there or are things scarce?

I know a lot of CPers live in Victoria so thought maybe you could supply some information, thanks in advance

[vicphoenix13]

There should be plenty of places to teach in Victoria. There are over 350,000 people in the Greater Victoria area so there's plenty of schools to choose from. I know that new housing developments are being built all the time so that means there's more students in the school system. Try researching the three major school districts in the area (Greater Victoria School District, Saanich School District and the Sooke School District). You could also look at the University of Victoria or Camosun College which are always looking for teachers.

[Sample00]

I dont know this for certain so please check but I have heard that teachers that are qualified in Alberta aren't in BC.
If you wish to teach in BC you will have to take some additional courses to complete the certification requirements of the BC Teachers Association.
The only reason I mention this is that we had a friend move to BC and she was a 20 year veteran here. She was only allowed to sub until she did her upgrade to BC qualifications.

[MelBridgeman]

Not sure if this matters, but higher cost of living and lower pay in BC metro areas than in Calgary...might be something to consider

[Antithesis]

Teaching Certificates/qualifications from Alberta are completely transferrable to BC. There is no additional course work to do in that case. I think you just have to apply for a BC teaching certificate.

I don't have first-hand knowledge of the job situation in Victoria, but a friend of mine has moved to North Vancouver and is having a heck of a time even getting on a sub list (like ... 274 applicants for a small number of postings). I think he said something about the government freezing their budget because of the economy or something.

I'd love to teach in Victoria too ... makes me wonder if its a place that would be hard to get in to because everyone wants to work there.

All that being said, good luck with the job search!

[evman150]

I'm pretty sure it's very difficult to get a position here. Also teachers get paid considerably less than in Alberta iirc.

Also, you pretty much need a PhD to teach at UVic so that's out. Not sure about Club Mo, but that place is a joke so who knows.

Tons of old people here obviously. Schools being shut down as a result of declining numbers and ######ed government. There used to be four elementary schools in my municipality, now there's one.

A friend of mine left for Calgary a couple years ago because trying to get a job here was impossible.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Teaching Certificates/qualifications from Alberta are completely transferrable to BC. There is no additional course work to do in that case. I think you just have to apply for a BC teaching certificate.

I don't have first-hand knowledge of the job situation in Victoria, but a friend of mine has moved to North Vancouver and is having a heck of a time even getting on a sub list (like ... 274 applicants for a small number of postings). I think he said something about the government freezing their budget because of the economy or something.

I'd love to teach in Victoria too ... makes me wonder if its a place that would be hard to get in to because everyone wants to work there.

All that being said, good luck with the job search!

I stand corrected.
and here's further proof.

http://education.alberta.ca/media/74...ct%20sheet.pdf

[ricoFlame]

I've heard it's tough to find a job in education there. Just talk from within the profession, so take it for what it's worth.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Teaching in Victoria? Be prepared for a very long and frustrating battle. A close friend of mine has been trying to land a full time position now for almost 9 years now and is still only 0.5 time (though it varies, she gets the joy of reapplying every year for her job). This despite the fact she's a UVic grad in the top decile of her class.

• As previously pointed out - demographics suck with the % of kids going way down. Positions are being phased out - see union comments below.
• Each of the 3+ school districts has its own seniority lists (I believe). Move from one district to another and you're at the bottom.
• With so many above you on the seniority list, and positions disappearing, be prepared to be continuously bumped. My friend has been tantalizing close to the ideal position several times, only to have the crazy dingbat who doesn't give a damn about his students come back from sick leave and claim seniority - thereby bumping my friend.
• This is of course, BC. Take Calgary Board red tape and Union BS and multiply it by 3 and you get the People's Republic of BC School Boards.
• This may have changed, but the process of subbing was archaic a couple years ago. There's no centralized system to call or that will call you. Teachers call subs they know and trust directly. Pretty tough to break into that arrangement.

From what I've seen it's an 8-12 year process to get a full time position, perhaps less if you're not picky on what you teach. My friend would have come to Calgary in a flash for a job if she didn't marry an Islander.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

I've heard it's tough to find a job in education there. Just talk from within the profession, so take it for what it's worth.

I have a few friends teaching/trying to teach here and it is very difficult to even get on the sub list let alone a full time gig. If I speak to them soon I will ask them if things have changed and what it is like, assuming I remember.

Moving from Victoria to Calgary to Victoria I can tell you the cost of living is noticeable. You also would be surprised how quickly that PST adds up. It rains a lot but the temperatures are much higher obviously. Even tonight I have my patio door open while watching the juniors. Golf all year round! Weed is better! No real hockey Canucks fans everywhere Some good and some bad with both cities for sure.

[arloiginla]

Much appreciated, I was afraid this was the case. I would love to live on the island but there probably isn't a better place to be applying for teaching jobs right now than Calgary - there seems to be a huge shortage and the pay is very good.

Guess I might have to stay here

[FlamesAddiction]

I know a few people who are teachers and it is hard to get jobs in prime locations (Victoria, Lower Mainland, Kelowna) because that is where everyone wants to work. In fact, one that I know has been floating around as a subsitute for years in the LM. I also know 2 from Vancouver who had to take jobs in Houston until they can get some tenure.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

It's no secret that the city needs teachers bad and now is a great time to be graduating and applying.

Man, I wish somebody would tell that to the Alberta provincial government. There's been a spending freeze in the public school board.

My girlfriend has been subbing sparsely this whole year. The only time she got a lot of work was during the H1N1 scare. Most of her work comes from her old High school that she was at through the connections she made there.

She was on her probationary contract last year, looking for a continuous contract this year but was surplused instead.

The other subs at her school are in the same boat in terms of sub calls, very few this year.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Man, I wish somebody would tell that to the Alberta provincial government. There's been a spending freeze in the public school board.

My girlfriend has been subbing sparsely this whole year. The only time she got a lot of work was during the H1N1 scare. Most of her work comes from her old High school that she was at through the connections she made there.

She was on her probationary contract last year, looking for a continuous contract this year but was surplused instead.

The other subs at her school are in the same boat in terms of sub calls, very few this year.

Well I'm only going on what I've been told; clearly I don't have a lot of personal knowledge on the situation.

I've been hoping to get a part-time position if possible, because I own two other businesses and don't think I'd have time to teach Monday-Friday and keep all that other stuff going.

But if there's a spending freeze and not many spots are available, I may have to take whatever is offered, regardless of location or full time/part time.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Man, I wish somebody would tell that to the Alberta provincial government. There's been a spending freeze in the public school board.

My girlfriend has been subbing sparsely this whole year. The only time she got a lot of work was during the H1N1 scare. Most of her work comes from her old High school that she was at through the connections she made there.

She was on her probationary contract last year, looking for a continuous contract this year but was surplused instead.

The other subs at her school are in the same boat in terms of sub calls, very few this year.

Man, there's been a ton of subs in at our school all year, and for the most part, they're saying that they're getting tons of work, I guess it depends on the situation.

She got surplused and the board didn't find her a spot...that's brutal, she must have been friggen pi$$ed.

[bcb]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Man, I wish somebody would tell that to the Alberta provincial government. There's been a spending freeze in the public school board.

My girlfriend has been subbing sparsely this whole year. The only time she got a lot of work was during the H1N1 scare. Most of her work comes from her old High school that she was at through the connections she made there.

She was on her probationary contract last year, looking for a continuous contract this year but was surplused instead.

The other subs at her school are in the same boat in terms of sub calls, very few this year.

Yikes, that's nasty. Usually if you are on a probationary, and you've received a recommendation for a continuous contract, they'll do their best to place you.

To add to the OP's post, If you want to head to BC, although Victoria and Vancouver may seem natural, try rural. For that matter, rural Alberta and Ontario also have a fair number of positions.

I'm not sure of the exact salary of BC teachers, but AB, BC and ON lead the pack, I think.

As for jobs in the CBE, IIRC, they hired extra subs this year to deal with H1N1. There will probably be some hiring this year, but it may not be 600-800 new teachers, like in past years. You've probably already had your CBE interview. You might have gotten an indication from them as to their hiring for next year.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

Man, there's been a ton of subs in at our school all year, and for the most part, they're saying that they're getting tons of work, I guess it depends on the situation.

She got surplused and the board didn't find her a spot...that's brutal, she must have been friggen pi$$ed.

Hmmm, well she did mention some teachers had priority on subbing jobs, I can't remember what they were called again.

She's in the science department, so maybe there are a lot of science teachers available right now? One of them at her old High school is going on mat leave next term and they're not filling that position. So I guess bigger class sizes in that department.

arloiginla, it could be a totally different scenario for you since you're aiming for secondary and in the music department. As bcb mentioned, CBE would know best for what you can't and can get.

bcb, she was not recommended for continuous last year.

It was very strange, in her first year she was on a temp contract and passed her evaluations with flying colors. Moves on to probationary, gets a different evaluator, and she missed 2 categories (taking students on a field trip and something else I can't remember).

So they asked her if she wanted to be a temp or probationary, she picks probationary and now has nothing. Earlier this year it looked like she would have been hired back at her old school but then the spending freeze kicked in.