OT: Teachers of Boneyard...Back to School Time

[tzznandrew]

Honestly, from the sound of it, I wouldn't be surprised if my kids matriculate to your high school after they graduate from eighth grade.

Unlikely simply because I work in the Boston area. But seems like similar demographcs then.

 

[tzznandrew]

I really don't know much about the girls game, but for the boys, it's SUCH a disservice to run the 2-3 zone constantly the way they do. By varsity basketball, you have at least 3 guys most years who can penetrate and shoot over a zone. It's helpful in stints, but the teams who use a 2-3 zone as their base defense are getting their asses kicked most nights and just using it to not get blown out.

Yeah, my position was that owe were training them to be the best basketball players they could be—the wins would come later. If you chase the cheap wins with gimmicks, you lose the bigger games. Took a little buy in, but they figured it out.

I haven't coached in a few years (last year was pre-Covid). Our league was pretty bad, so other coaches could get away with some of this stuff. Our best 3pt shooter was shooting like 25%. Most of our perimeter players were hovering around 15-20%. Most didn't have the arm strength to reach the rim without their form breaking down.

But, yeah, I think relying on the zone because you want wins is a huge detriment to the players.

 

[husky429]

Yeah, my position was that owe were training them to be the best basketball players they could be—the wins would come later. If you chase the cheap wins with gimmicks, you lose the bigger games. Took a little buy in, but they figured it out.

I haven't coached in a few years (last year was pre-Covid). Our league was pretty bad, so other coaches could get away with some of this stuff. Our best 3pt shooter was shooting like 25%. Most of our perimeter players were hovering around 15-20%. Most didn't have the arm strength to reach the rim without their form breaking down.

But, yeah, I think relying on the zone because you want wins is a huge detriment to the players.

Love it. I'm sure your old players and their coaches appreciate the investment you made.

 

[M.S.G.]

Coaching this winter has been an unmitigated disaster...

In MA, if numbers are low at the high school, they are allowed to take 8th graders.

So, my 2 best 8th graders were taken (one of which is 6'2" / 6'3"ish and dunks with ease)... Leaving me with... Not much....

Now, my 2 best 8th graders are about as good as everyone else's 5th or 6th best...

We have lost 2 games by 50, including last night when the coach put his starters back out on the floor with 2 minutes to go and they proceeded to hit a 3 with about 10 seconds left to get it to 50... We can't run an offense, I put in the simplest motion that I used to use like 15 years ago - mess it up every time. Defense is a bit better, but no matter how long we do shell drill, kids still turn their backs on the ball, no help side, no pinching lanes closed.

...all I can do is sit there and take it...

A younger me would have refused to shake the guy's hand last night, or given him the ol' hard handshake and lean in, "never do that to my again my man...." I'm older and wiser, but god this is brutal.

The parents don't complain at all, the 7th grade group is quite talented, but they're just so little. Every team we play is faster, bigger, and stronger. All I can really do is treat it like rec, run hockey shifts and just make sure everyone gets fair time out there.

My basketball ego is nearly completely deflated at this point. I've won conference championships in CT, coached a game at Mohegan Sun, coached D-1s, 2s, and 3s..

This was supposed to be my chance to make my resume current again, then go for HS varsity jobs this summer - but god, I don't even enjoy coaching that much anymore after this.

 

[twiceahusky]

Teachers, just doing some research on our contractual salary vs. inflation. Our purchasing power is sure eroding recently. I'd guess most teachers have similar experiences. As we watch our purchasing power decrease, what are teachers experiencing? Acceptance, lack of awareness, anger? Are new contracts making up for this loss? ... certainly not the two recent ones that I have followed, where anticipated mid 2% raises were celebrated and will likely match future inflation, but will not help gain back lost ground.

For one specific example, the chart below compares the contractual salary in my district vs applying the actual Social Security Administration COLA percent increases over the last decade (they try to account for inflation). I happened to choose top step (13), 6th year, as the information was readily available, and this is a step where a teacher likely could spend the last 20 years or so of their career. I'm not arguing whether or not teachers make too little or too much ... rather my position is that our raises should keep pace with inflation. Surely a defensible position.

By the way, I also compared our pay increases to inflation (the Consumer Price Index) and both the Private and Government Employees Cost Indexes (shows percent growth in pay) ... they show very similar results.

Any shared concern out there? I'm interest in others' views here. I certainly respect a lot of the opinions that I've seen from Boneyard teachers.

 

[temery]

Teachers, just doing some research on our contractual salary vs. inflation. Our purchasing power is sure eroding recently. I'd guess most teachers have similar experiences. As we watch our purchasing power decrease, what are teachers experiencing? Acceptance, lack of awareness, anger? Are new contracts making up for this loss? ... certainly not the two recent ones that I have followed, where anticipated mid 2% raises were celebrated and will likely match future inflation, but will not help gain back lost ground.

For one specific example, the chart below compares the contractual salary in my district vs applying the actual Social Security Administration COLA percent increases over the last decade (they try to account for inflation). I happened to choose top step (13), 6th year, as the information was readily available, and this is a step where a teacher likely could spend the last 20 years or so of their career. I'm not arguing whether or not teachers make too little or too much ... rather my position is that our raises should keep pace with inflation. Surely a defensible position.

View attachment 95248

By the way, I also compared our pay increases to inflation (the Consumer Price Index) and both the Private and Government Employees Cost Indexes (shows percent growth in pay) ... they show very similar results.

Any shared concern out there? I'm interest in others' views here. I certainly respect a lot of the opinions that I've seen from Boneyard teachers.

6th year is your top step?

 

[husky429]

Teachers, just doing some research on our contractual salary vs. inflation. Our purchasing power is sure eroding recently. I'd guess most teachers have similar experiences. As we watch our purchasing power decrease, what are teachers experiencing? Acceptance, lack of awareness, anger? Are new contracts making up for this loss? ... certainly not the two recent ones that I have followed, where anticipated mid 2% raises were celebrated and will likely match future inflation, but will not help gain back lost ground.

For one specific example, the chart below compares the contractual salary in my district vs applying the actual Social Security Administration COLA percent increases over the last decade (they try to account for inflation). I happened to choose top step (13), 6th year, as the information was readily available, and this is a step where a teacher likely could spend the last 20 years or so of their career. I'm not arguing whether or not teachers make too little or too much ... rather my position is that our raises should keep pace with inflation. Surely a defensible position.

View attachment 95248

By the way, I also compared our pay increases to inflation (the Consumer Price Index) and both the Private and Government Employees Cost Indexes (shows percent growth in pay) ... they show very similar results.

Any shared concern out there? I'm interest in others' views here. I certainly respect a lot of the opinions that I've seen from Boneyard teachers.

Teachers unions are negotiating pretty aggressively right now (not generally in line with inflation, but better than before). I'm 6th-year top step and IIRC our last contract is 3.5% a year increase for 3 years. Purchasing power is definitely decreasing. One of many reasons why people are leaving teaching.

109,000 for 6th year top step is pretty good. Average is around 95-100k outside of FFC.

 

[Minicoop69]

I'm in my 16th year teaching with Masters and Dual Credit credentialing from Indiana University in Indiana. I just passed $56,000 this year.

 

[HooperScooper]

I'm in my 16th year teaching with Masters and Dual Credit credentialing from Indiana University in Indiana. I just passed $56,000 this year.

Where are you teaching? Sounds like you may be in a very low cost state which doesn't prioritize education.

If that were the pay scale in Connecticut for similar credentials you'd have almost nobody willing to be a teacher.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I'm in my 16th year teaching with Masters and Dual Credit credentialing from Indiana University in Indiana. I just passed $56,000 this year.

That is wild. I was making that in year two in East Hartford and that was like 10 years ago.

 

[Jasper Husky]

Teachers are important and I keep reading about teachers shortages. I am not a teacher but I have frieands that are teachers and retired teachers. I can still remember teachers that had a positive influence on my life so many years ago.

Teachers area penalized by WEP, whereby teachers' SS benefits earned in jobs totally outside of teaching, are reduced, unlike just about for anybody else. Not an incentive to go into teaching.

Below is from an NEA (albeit, a pro teacher source) but I believe is factually accurate (it is my understanding, the mentioned law has bi-partisan support):

"The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces the Social Security benefits of people whose work history includes both jobs covered and not covered by Social Security. That would include educators in states where public employees don’t pay into Social Security who take on part-time or summer jobs to make ends meet.


WEP has done financial harm to generations of retirees. Fortunately, there are members of Congress who understand that educators should keep the retirement security they earned in jobs they held outside of education. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act to lessen the impacts of WEP and protect educators. If that bill becomes law, current retirees would receive an extra $150 a month and future retirees would gain an extra $75 a month, on average"

 

[Minicoop69]

Where are you teaching? Sounds like you may be in a very low cost state which doesn't prioritize education.

If that were the pay scale in Connecticut for similar credentials you'd have almost nobody willing to be a teacher.

I am in upstate Indiana. Near Notre Dame. I started teaching in 2008 for about $36,000. So in 16 years of teaching I only have received $20,000 in additional teacher pay.

Yes Indiana doesn't value education. We have vouchers for private schools and in 2012 they devalued raises for teachers. Basically bringing the whole payscale down. Unless you were top at that time, you are getting screwed every additional year you teach.

 

[husky429]

Teachers are important and I keep reading about teachers shortages. I am not a teacher but I have frieands that are teachers and retired teachers. I can still remember teachers that had a positive influence on my life so many years ago.

Teachers area penalized by WEP, whereby teachers' SS benefits earned in jobs totally outside of teaching, are reduced, unlike just about for anybody else. Not an incentive to go into teaching.

Below is from an NEA (albeit, a pro teacher source) but I believe is factually accurate (it is my understanding, the mentioned law has bi-partisan support):

"The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces the Social Security benefits of people whose work history includes both jobs covered and not covered by Social Security. That would include educators in states where public employees don’t pay into Social Security who take on part-time or summer jobs to make ends meet.


WEP has done financial harm to generations of retirees. Fortunately, there are members of Congress who understand that educators should keep the retirement security they earned in jobs they held outside of education. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act to lessen the impacts of WEP and protect educators. If that bill becomes law, current retirees would receive an extra $150 a month and future retirees would gain an extra $75 a month, on average"

Teachers in CT don't collect any social security assuming you stay for a career. Other states are a bit more generous iirc. IMO in CT it's not a disincentive though. Our retirement system for teaching is solid if you put in 30 years. If you're under 20, it's crap.

I'm not convinced SS will look very good when I retire, so I'm not really complaining. I'll collect 70% of my pay with COLA for life assuming my wife doesn't off me.

 

[husky429]

That is wild. I was making that in year two in East Hartford and that was like 10 years ago.

I make more than my in-laws in NC combined and they have 6 and 28 years experience.

Yes... he is 50 and she's 26. Yes... he was her HS physics teacher. Bit of an awkward wedding. I really should write a story like August about this one.

 

[CL82]

I'll collect 70% of my pay with COLA for life assuming my wife doesn't off me.

I think that's excellent. What's the retirement age you are basing that on? How many years in the system?

 

[EROCK CONN]

Wife is in education -- I really don't know how teachers put up with everything involved with teaching -- most notably dealing with 20-25 kids everyday for 7+ hours. Add in all the curriculum nonsense/constant changes -- e.g. all the elements that are outside of the core subjects.... education is in a bad spot -- just too many people trying to pull educators in too many directions. Good luck .

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I’m in admin now (not evil I promise!) and our contract is up this year. Interested to see how salary looks

 

[twiceahusky]

6th year is your top step?

6th year is actually a “degree”, between masters and PhD. Top step is at 13 years.

 

[husky429]

6th year is actually a “degree”, between masters and PhD. Top step is at 13 years.

Or EdD, because education just has to be like that and make more of a laughingstock of ourselves. Calling EdDs "doctor" at work gives me the skeeves. I actively avoid it.

It's like calling a chirpractor, physical therapist, nurse practitioner or lawyer a "doctor." Just knock it off ya friggen weirdos.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Checking in here as the resident private school teacher.

Independent schools don't really follow standard procedure and our school doesn't even have pay scale that is readily available. That being said, here's what my % increases have looked like since I've been keeping track.

Riding out the 2020-21 covid year, especially with no coaching and a sharp decrease in tutoring, was tough, but in my 14th year, I'm at a point where my pay (before coaching) is just a few thousand below median Fairfield county salaries.

In 2021, I was seriously considering leaving my school for much higher paying public school job, but so far, I'm happy with my decision.

That being said, my contract should come out in about six-to-eight weeks and I'm expecting a 5% increase, give or take. Everything is negotiable, so we'll see.

Retirement wise, I have no idea if I'm actually prepared, but about 12% each year is put away in a TIAA-Cref and I'll be about 54 when our mortgage is paid off.

 

[twiceahusky]

Teachers unions are negotiating pretty aggressively right now (not generally in line with inflation, but better than before). I'm 6th-year top step and IIRC our last contract is 3.5% a year increase for 3 years. Purchasing power is definitely decreasing. One of many reasons why people are leaving teaching.

109,000 for 6th year top step is pretty good. Average is around 95-100k outside of FFC.

Husky429, thanks for the info on your last contract. Was the 3.5% increase allotted for the total education budget, or did your 6th-year top step wages increase 3.5% per year? I know there are different ways that this is done.

 

[uconnfan68]

Checking in here as the resident private school teacher.

Independent schools don't really follow standard procedure and our school doesn't even have pay scale that is readily available. That being said, here's what my % increases have looked like since I've been keeping track.

View attachment 95258

Riding out the 2020-21 covid year, especially with no coaching and a sharp decrease in tutoring, was tough, but in my 14th year, I'm at a point where my pay (before coaching) is just a few thousand below median Fairfield county salaries.

In 2021, I was seriously considering leaving my school for much higher paying public school job, but so far, I'm happy with my decision.

That being said, my contract should come out in about six-to-eight weeks and I'm expecting a 5% increase, give or take. Everything is negotiable, so we'll see.

Retirement wise, I have no idea if I'm actually prepared, but about 12% each year is put away in a TIAA-Cref and I'll be about 54 when our mortgage is paid off.

Your raises are much nicer than my private industry ones were. I had no idea teachers were getting those numbers. Good for you!

 

[husky429]

Husky429, thanks for the info on your last contract. Was the 3.5% increase allotted for the total education budget, or did your 6th-year top step wages increase 3.5% per year? I know there are different ways that this is done.

I wasn't on the negotiation commitee this time, so I can't remember.

 

[husky429]

Your raises are much nicer than my private industry ones were. I had no idea teachers were getting those numbers. Good for you!

Actual $ amounts may be similar though. Private school salaries suck.

You also don't have to duck punches from the starting middle linebacker in the hallway, so I guess both have their positives lol

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Actual $ amounts may be similar though. Private school salaries suck.

You also don't have to duck punches from the starting middle linebacker in the hallway, so I guess both have their positives lol

I'm not complaining, but let me add that my salary is about 20k lower than if I taught in the public school district where my school is located. That being said, my salary is around the county median for my experience, so I can't complain.

Also, from what I know about my family and friends who work in public school, especially in middle school: it's a lot less mind-numbing work and more "meaningful" work. In total, I teach about 40 students between my three classes, but obviously the work and attention needed for each kid is much higher than if I had 100 students. The connection between the students is a lot stronger too, which is a plus.

 

[twiceahusky]

Teachers are important and I keep reading about teachers shortages. I am not a teacher but I have frieands that are teachers and retired teachers. I can still remember teachers that had a positive influence on my life so many years ago.

Teachers area penalized by WEP, whereby teachers' SS benefits earned in jobs totally outside of teaching, are reduced, unlike just about for anybody else. Not an incentive to go into teaching.

Below is from an NEA (albeit, a pro teacher source) but I believe is factually accurate (it is my understanding, the mentioned law has bi-partisan support):

"The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces the Social Security benefits of people whose work history includes both jobs covered and not covered by Social Security. That would include educators in states where public employees don’t pay into Social Security who take on part-time or summer jobs to make ends meet.


WEP has done financial harm to generations of retirees. Fortunately, there are members of Congress who understand that educators should keep the retirement security they earned in jobs they held outside of education. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act to lessen the impacts of WEP and protect educators. If that bill becomes law, current retirees would receive an extra $150 a month and future retirees would gain an extra $75 a month, on average"

WEP ... my teachers union blasted that in an email, asking us to call up and complain that it is stealing earned retirement funds from retirees. I've researched it a bit as I'm that guy who is getting punished by WEP ... I had a private career for about 13 years before teaching and my SS payments will get reduced.

So I researched WEP, and in concept, it appears to be fair (I haven't been able to study the actual formula to determine if it is perfectly fair in practice). How a career like mine actually games the system without WEP ...

SS pays you for your highest 35 earning years. Essentially paying low earners a high percent of their pay back in SS benefits, and a much lower percent for folks earning more $$ ... it is a safety net for low earners I think. The formula give 90% of your first low income band of earning, 32% for the second, and 15% for the highest income band. If you only worked 10 years paying into SS, they divide your earned amount by 35 years and it appears that you were a low income earner, and you receive MUCH higher benefits per $$ earned. WEP tries to correct that.

That's the best that I can do to explain, but in my opinion, paying teachers full SS benefits (without WEP reductions) is overpaying, and therefore taking from the remaining retirees. I hope they repeal WEP so I can get more and live large ... but it might not be fair!

 

[MJKI]

Or EdD, because education just has to be like that and make more of a laughingstock of ourselves. Calling EdDs "doctor" at work gives me the skeeves. I actively avoid it.

It's like calling a chirpractor, physical therapist, nurse practitioner or lawyer a "doctor." Just knock it off ya friggen weirdos.

NPs are not doctors, they have a different degree. But the pot shot at DPT and DC's are emblematic of bigger issues. Don't disrespect other professions that go through significant schooling and debt to get their degree, just to serve the community. DPTs and DCs are considered physicians in many states and undergo a lot of schooling to do what they do, often for less pay then what teachers make. We should build up these professions, not knock them down. (Disclaimer; I am NOT a DPT or DC, but am in the medical field and hate when these professions get demeaned).

 

[husky429]

NPs are not doctors, they have a different degree. But the pot shot at DPT and DC's are emblematic of bigger issues. Don't disrespect other professions that go through significant schooling and debt to get their degree, just to serve the community. DPTs and DCs are considered physicians in many states and undergo a lot of schooling to do what they do, often for less pay then what teachers make. We should build up these professions, not knock them down. (Disclaimer; I am NOT a DPT or DC, but am in the medical field and hate when these professions get demeaned).

Nurse practitioners have a doctorate. It's a Doctor of Nursing Practice. RJ Cole's mom used to call herself a doctor with a DNP. It was weird.

Point me to a state that considers physical therapists or chiropractors physicians. Because I just searched it and found absolutely nothing other than resources specifically saying they are NOT physicians. Gonna be honest brother... that sounds like total malarkey and I'm just about positive you are wrong. I'll gladly eat a handful of crow if you can show me. No medical school, no residency, no license. I ain't buying that.

My physical therapist goes by "Mike" and I respect the bejesus out of him. Smart guy that got me walking again a couple months ago after an injury. He is highly trained and an expert at what he does. Doesn't mean he's a doctor.

IMO anyone but a DO or an MD in a medical position should be banned from going by doctor in a clinical setting. It's misleading to patients. It would be like if my wife (phd in philosophy) asked to be called doctor if she went to the walk-in clinic. They'd think she's friggen nuts.

 

[husky429]

I'm not complaining, but let me add that my salary is about 20k lower than if I taught in the public school district where my school is located. That being said, my salary is around the county median for my experience, so I can't complain.

Also, from what I know about my family and friends who work in public school, especially in middle school: it's a lot less mind-numbing work and more "meaningful" work. In total, I teach about 40 students between my three classes, but obviously the work and attention needed for each kid is much higher than if I had 100 students. The connection between the students is a lot stronger too, which is a plus.

I would s--- myself if they gave me 3 classes and 40 students... what a dream.

My job now is basically writing curriculum, adminstering assessments, cleaning up instructional and classroom management messes that teachers and APs can't fix. It's nice to not teach the same thing for 5 periods, but I do miss getting to hang out with kids all day

 

[MJKI]

Nurse practitioners have a doctorate. It's a Doctor of Nursing Practice. RJ Cole's mom used to call herself a doctor with a DNP. It was weird.

Point me to a state that considers physical therapists or chiropractors physicians. Because I just searched it and found absolutely nothing other than resources specifically saying they are NOT physicians. Gonna be honest brother... that sounds like total malarkey and I'm just about positive you are wrong. I'll gladly eat a handful of crow if you can show me. No medical school, no residency, no license. I ain't buying that.

My physical therapist goes by "Mike" and I respect the bejesus out of him. Smart guy that got me walking again a couple months ago after an injury. He is highly trained and an expert at what he does. Doesn't mean he's a doctor.

IMO anyone but a DO or an MD in a medical position should be banned from going by doctor in a clinical setting. It's misleading to patients. It would be like if my wife (phd in philosophy) asked to be called doctor if she went to the walk-in clinic. They'd think she's friggen nuts.

Totally (respectfully) disagree. Dentist isn't a doctor? Optometrist isn't a doctor? Both don't have DO or MD but go to 4 years of graduate schooling where they do 3 years of training that involves all body of medicine and then a year of rotation and likely a year of residency. Similar with pharmacists. DO and MD being the only doctor is an antiquated way to look at things. Fair on the physician portion; I was wrong on that and thought it was the other way around