Teaching/Living in Tulsa...

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by Dr. Foosball

My main concern is getting stuck in some dirty, underfunded inner-city school with kids that will be more concerned with where they will get their next meal than the curriculum.  That is not a slight against the city.  Fort Smith is much smaller and still has schools that I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to have to teach at.  I know how the politics work; The young/new teachers usually get the hardest classes/schools that nobody else wants to do.

I've seen it go both ways. As I said, I went to East Central H.S., which is not considered a "good school". However, as with any school, there were good kids and bad kids. Additionally, we had the teachers who didn't really care and those who really took an interest in their students.

My sister, who goes to Edison H.S. (a "good school") has a teacher who looks like he is in his mid-to-late twenties. She has a few others close to retirement age.

It would appear to me that TPS places teachers based on need.

[waterboy]

I would agree with TUroby on that. One of my sons is currently in BTW, a magnet school high school. His teachers range in age and experience from one year out of college to near retirement with masters degrees. They look for a personality match for the school more than anything else. Enthusiasm for teaching is very important to them.

I am afraid you'll find that every organization tends to put the fresh employees in the pressure cooker positions though. It gives you...perspective.

[Hometown]

When I hear you say, "dirty, underfunded inner-city school with kids" it makes me think you might not be a good candidate for a city school system.  Maybe a private school or a suburban school system would be a better fit for you.  Cities tend to have a diversity of students and they deserve a teacher that is up to the challenge.

[cannon_fodder]

My son goes to TPS and the teachers have great facilities, parental support, and generally good kids (except mine of course).  It all depends on which school.  TPS is a larger school district that any other in Oklahoma, any in Arkansas, Mississippi, or Kansas for that matter.  So it varies widely.

See what school they want you to teach at, then check it out.

[sauerkraut]

Tulsa is a all around  nice place to live. Schools are important as the job market- but there other things that make a city too. Low taxes, great housing, clean city with fairly low crime and great recreation the city boasts many jogging trails and is known as a "runners city". Tulsa is one of the nations lowest cost of living cities. Tulsa has it all. The winters are kind of cold, there is snow and ice, but Tulsa can have great summers with crystal clear blue skys and mild temps. Tulsa rockz![]

[carltonplace]

My sister moved to Rogers Arkansas to teach when she graduated from TU. She only made it a few years before she came back home to teach in TPS. She loves it.

[Dr. Foosball]

quote:Originally posted by carltonplace

My sister moved to Rogers Arkansas to teach when she graduated from TU. She only made it a few years before she came back home to teach in TPS. She loves it.

Rogers, and NW Arkansas school districts in general, is one of the highest paying schools in the area.  If she prefers Tulsa, with the lower wages, it is saying a lot for the Tulsa schools.  

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

[godboko71]

In my experience, any teacher with drive can make any school work for them, if you work closely with parents, counselors, administrators and, most importantly the children, you will thrive. That said, if poorer children worry you, then maybe Union, Broken Arrow, or Jenks would be better for you.

That said I have an Aunt who has worked for TPS as a teacher (15 years) and as a counselor for 10 years now and she loves working for TPS. As a little background she grew up in Tulsa and Went to Central (back when it was downtown) and thought TPS was not good enough for her children and moved to the Union school district. In the end once she finished her Master's degree and her kids were finishing High school, they were back in TPS and that's where she ended up working. She now works in a "underfunded" school, but with her and others work more parents are involved than ever.

As a student I went to Kendal (Great Elementary School, Fairly new building) , Cleveland (Ok Middle school), Wilson (Great Middle school), Nathan Hale (Large, but good Highschool) and Central (Great high school has a "tough" image, but is the Fine Arts Magnate.)

Tulsa has several specialty schools which set it apart from other districts, and it is run very smoothly.

What are you looking for in a school, and what are you looking for as a teacher.

As a future parent I look forward to my kids going to TPS.

[buck]

I work at a TPS school and things have worked out well so far. I think it is just about what you are interested in teaching and what school you are at. Where I am at we have a good administration and have high expectations for our students. So far with Dr. Ballard as Superintendent it seems like the upper leadership has stabilized also.