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Old 02-15-2014, 11:39 AM   #1
timmy89
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Default Teaching Jobs in Calgary?

Hello, I am hoping for some local insight as to the situation regarding the labour market for teachers (elementary or high school) in Calgary. I'm originally from Ontario, and I have a number of friends there who have gone through university to become teachers, only to find there are no jobs to be had (Ontario has been graduating twice as many teachers as there are open positions for several years). They can't even get on supply lists to try and build experience through supply teaching, and the thought of a longer term position is a far off dream that is next to impossible if you don't have the right connections. Some are looking at England and South Korea as options where they can actually build some experience.

I know the labour market on the whole is much tighter here than in Ontario, but I was hoping to get some specific insight into the availability of jobs for teachers and if it is much easier to get a job here as a teacher, or if there has been too much influx from Eastern Canada already for these positions.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated!
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Old 02-15-2014, 12:18 PM   #2
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Based on last weeks events, it seems the catholic board is down one teacher.....
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Old 02-15-2014, 08:42 PM   #3
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Both boards can't hire enough teachers locally to meet demand and are very active in recruiting all over Canada.
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Old 02-15-2014, 08:45 PM   #4
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Both boards can't hire enough teachers locally to meet demand and are very active in recruiting all over Canada.
Really? A few of my friends who recently graduated are working just outside the city because they couldn't find anything within the city or closer.
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Old 02-15-2014, 08:54 PM   #5
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Yeah, it's tight right now (someone in the family is a teacher). Not bad as far as finding sub jobs, but sticking on with a school is hard right now.
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Old 02-15-2014, 09:32 PM   #6
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My wife is a teacher. It's a tough market right now.
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Old 02-15-2014, 09:50 PM   #7
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Didn't they announce the opening of 5 new schools this week.
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Old 02-16-2014, 12:42 AM   #8
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Both boards are estimating growth of 4% or more for the next 4 years. For CBE, that's over 5,000 new students per year. Add that to the fact that teachers are retiring in droves, and my guess is they would need at least 250 new teachers. I know someone who works in HR at the Catholic board, and they have been recruiting as far away as Quebec as they can't get enough teachers. Maybe the Catholic requirement makes it harder for them to fill positions though.

Maybe it's tough to find work in February though, as I assume they would do the bulk of hiring in the summer.
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Old 02-16-2014, 07:24 AM   #9
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you may want to look at the rural markets for positions.

lots of people dont want to come out to the smaller markets so there can be more opportunites there.

check here as well. Education jobs
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Old 02-16-2014, 08:32 AM   #10
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Both boards can't hire enough teachers locally to meet demand and are very active in recruiting all over Canada.
My GF didn't even get a call back from the public board when she came back to Calgary. She was teaching out of town for the last 3 years and tried to come back each year. It was only when she converted Catholic did she get hired by CSSD and only then as a sub / mat leave relief.
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Old 02-16-2014, 09:24 AM   #11
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Thanks for the insight guys. Seems to be a bit of mixed thoughts on the issue, but at least that is better than the situation in Ontario, several people I know couldn't even get on supply lists despite applying well in advance of last summers hiring period to several boards, as there are just way too many applicants. Some of my friends are able to work in the catholic boards so it sounds like that may be a big advantage as well.
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Old 02-16-2014, 09:27 AM   #12
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you may want to look at the rural markets for positions.

lots of people dont want to come out to the smaller markets so there can be more opportunites there.

check here as well. Education jobs
Yes, I have heard this as well, and it is easy to get a teaching job if willing to go far up north, or to reserves, but most of the people I know in this situation are true city types that would rather go overseas than work in a tiny little town up north.
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Old 02-16-2014, 09:32 AM   #13
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It is very difficult to land a job within one of the two large urban centers, a lot of competition. I teach in Innisfail, 20 minutes south of Red Deer, we just had a 6 week temp job open up. Our principal had over 120 applications for a 6 week job. Competition is tight everywhere right now.

In saying that, there seems to be a lot of loom and gloom every spring around having to let teachers go because of finances but the reality is, at least in my division, we always have a handful of new positions that need to be filled and that get opened and posted later in spring. It is also not uncommon for a lot of jobs to open up just after a school year starts in Sept. usually because the reality of large classes.

Good luck to you. If you would like to ask any further questions, shoot me a private message, I'd be happy to help.
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Old 02-16-2014, 06:18 PM   #14
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Thanks for the insight guys. Seems to be a bit of mixed thoughts on the issue, but at least that is better than the situation in Ontario, several people I know couldn't even get on supply lists despite applying well in advance of last summers hiring period to several boards, as there are just way too many applicants. Some of my friends are able to work in the catholic boards so it sounds like that may be a big advantage as well.
I had a sub in for me last week and she told me that she got a Master's in Education from U of T and still had no luck finding a job in Ontario so she came out here to Calgary. She has been hired as a contract sub for CBE where she makes scale by subbing every day.
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Old 02-16-2014, 08:56 PM   #15
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Keep an eye on applytoeducation.com as well.
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Old 02-16-2014, 09:04 PM   #16
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It is very difficult to land a job within one of the two large urban centers, a lot of competition. I teach in Innisfail, 20 minutes south of Red Deer, we just had a 6 week temp job open up. Our principal had over 120 applications for a 6 week job. Competition is tight everywhere right now.
Just curious what "competition" means in the teaching field. I'm assuming they would hire those with experience first (i.e. working in a different province, or else outside of Calgary/Edmonton). However, amongst new grads (or recent grads that haven't landed their first teaching job), how do they pick? Grades? Interviews? Academic experience? Good looks?
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Old 02-16-2014, 10:33 PM   #17
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Yes, I have heard this as well, and it is easy to get a teaching job if willing to go far up north, or to reserves, but most of the people I know in this situation are true city types that would rather go overseas than work in a tiny little town up north.
then those people might be waiting a while.
my wife's first teachings assignment was on a reserve in Tall Cree. From there she went to Fort Mac and for the last 28 years she's been in Edson.
Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet. It short term pain for long term gain.
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Old 02-16-2014, 11:27 PM   #18
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As a teacher in Calgary I have to agree with those who say the market is tight. About six to seven years ago there was desperation and the CBE was recruiting from everywhere. However, recently with massive cuts to the high schools and junior highs it is becoming increasingly difficult to get in the door. I have heard it is tough in Ontario but those that are applying out here are finding the situation to be similar. There are some openings in the rural boards but really right now it is temp contract to temp contract for a number of people.
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Old 02-16-2014, 11:56 PM   #19
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Just curious what "competition" means in the teaching field. I'm assuming they would hire those with experience first (i.e. working in a different province, or else outside of Calgary/Edmonton). However, amongst new grads (or recent grads that haven't landed their first teaching job), how do they pick? Grades? Interviews? Academic experience? Good looks?
Competition in the teaching field means many different things. I'm in my last practicum at the U of L right now and I don't even have a desire to apply to teach full time any time soon because it is so difficult to find a job. I would rather get on a sub list and continue coaching sports. School boards are actually hiring more young teachers, rather than ones with experience, because we are cheaper. There isn't a lot of money in Education right now and with all the cuts that have been happening, school boards are more likely to hire the cheapest, best teachers they can find. The U of L had a job fair two weeks ago and many school districts told me that. We've also been told that over and over throughout the 2 year program.

It is difficult to get a teaching job in Calgary, however not impossible. I have had a lot of friends graduate over the pass two to three years and many of them have found jobs. Although, most are one year terms, and are outside of the city. If you are willing to live in northern Alberta, I'm sure you will have no problem finding a job up there. Northern Alberta school boards come down to Lethbridge to try and recruit teachers and they offer some very good deals to try and entice people to move up north. If you live up in the NWT, you can become a teacher straight out of high school, with no university education, because they are that desperate for teachers.
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Old 02-17-2014, 01:06 PM   #20
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The numbers of people looking for a regular teaching position has created major competition alone. Then take in skill set, depending on what type of position a person is applying for or where the job is located, the skills of a candidate creates competition. For example, phys. ed majors are a dime a dozen so typically for phys. ed openings, there are a pile of applications. In our division, we are very aggressive with educational technology, almost all success candidates must have tech skills in their skill set.

Another aspect that is really changing is the interview process. It use to be, apply for the job, get an interview, arrive at the school and get interviewed. Now a lot of principals are turning away from the formal interview process and are actually requiring candidates to come in for half day interviews. The interview is actually going in and teaching several lessons to a class of students. Principals are looking for how well the candidate can actually deliver lessons and make connections to students rather than listen to the same old rehearsed interview answers.
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