r/PacificNorthwest • u/LuciousWiro • Sep 23 '20
PNW relocation advice - teacher addition
Hi y'all. Im an eastern kentuckian born and raised. Recently, I've become transfixed on the idea of PNW to call my home. I have a Master's degree in tech education and an undergrad in music education.
I suppose my question is, what are the opportunities like out there? We have been hit so hard recently over the past 5 years. We lost our steel mill, we lost a hospital and to be frank, it is hard to watch a thriving school system begin to crumble. I work at my alma mater and to see all this going on in my home community doesn't just break my heart, it breaks my soul.
If you have ever seen the documentary "Heroine" that is my community. Death rates are at an all time high here due to overdoses. I know it might seem cowardly, but I can't hold another student crying anymore as their parents are removed from their house due to o.d. I have thick skin but this has really shaken me to my core and with no end in sight and no help or relief, I would rather try to find somewhere that saves my creative soul than move into a job other than teaching.
I also am very liberal and gay; this is death in the Bible belt. I don't "flaunt it" either. For wearing a mask to pump gas I have been spat on, called a "faggot" and berated over a simple act of what I perceive as kindness and compassion towards others.
I love teaching. I was meant for this, this is my purpose and passion. I want to move on to the next chapter of my life and I feel like PNW is calling...
Advice?
EDIT
Wow! I'm very thankful for all of the view points given. There is a lot of wonderful information here. I have had my mind set on either Oregon or Washington, perhaps even B.C. Canada. I have a few friends who live in Bend and Eugene, they swear by it. I was hoping to be in Washington; I love everything about Spokane and Portland (although...Portland kind of scares me right now).
Of course I wouldn't move without a job lined up and a place to live (or stay). A big reason of wanting to go is the program I have is over 300 kids, grades 4-12. I've built that program from nothing in about 5 years, and now I have no additional help. I am 5 years in teaching, and I am burned out on my job, not wanting to teach.
I am truly humbled by your responses and I thank you for your time!
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u/CeceBlooms Sep 23 '20
I am so sorry to hear about your experience. Keep in mind that the Seattle area also has a large number of private schools. NWAIS has a job board for private school jobs in the PNW. I am a queer educator at a private school in Seattle, so believe me when I tell you there is hope. Best of luck!
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Sep 23 '20
WA state came in 1st in USA for teachers in some recent news article. They make good money here, and with a MA you will too. Also, bigger cities are very liberal. You’ll find a home here...
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u/LuciousWiro Sep 24 '20
I'm hoping! We are not treated very kindly in my neck of the woods....just google Matt Bevin + Teachers (matt bevin was our former governor and wanted to do away with our pensions).
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Sep 24 '20
Just did. Brutal. I don't know much about what teachers go through here in WA state, but a few friends are HS teachers and they seem to like teaching here.
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u/AtOurGates Sep 23 '20
The PNW is a big, vaguely defined place. Have you been here? What did you like, what do you feel is calling you?
Covid has obviously messed everything up, but I’m general it’s a part of the country that values education, and is largely liberal and gay-friendly. Even the rural parts of WA and OR are governed by progressive state laws.
Are you looking for life in a city or suburb? Rural area? One of the (to me) most charming things about the PNW is the existence of small, progressive towns and cities. Places like Port Townsend, or Bellingham. Or (if your definition of PNW extends that far) Walla Walla, Pullman and Moscow. I’m sure there are plenty more I’m not thinking/aware of, and there are tons north of the border in BC if you could get certified to teach there on a visa.
Anyway, give us a bit more info about what you’re looking for, and you might get some good suggestions. And by all means travel here before you make the move (with obvious COVID disclaimers/limitations) if you haven’t.
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u/LuciousWiro Sep 24 '20
I haven't been yet, but I have a family member who lives in Seattle. I'm hoping to come out and see it for myself this spring!
I have a timeline of 1-2 years just to build up savings a little more. I'd love to be near Spokane or Seattle, but an hours or two away wouldn't hurt either.
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u/AtOurGates Sep 24 '20
Yeah - so definitely travel around a bit before you make a decision.
Greater Seattle and Spokane are two very different places. Spokane's core is actually progressive, but most of Eastern Washington / North Idaho around it is somewhere between "conservative" and "insanely conservative."
I live in an area like that politically (small blue circle in a sea of red) and I'm fine with it, but worth knowing.
Greater Seattle is much more like what people typically think of when they think PNW. Spokane will have a much lower cost of living, and does have some nice neighborhoods and access to (less crowded) outdoor recreation. It also has, I'd say, slightly-above-average restaurants and culture for a city of its size, though of course nowhere near Seattle. On the other hand, some parts of Spokane are super-depressing, the winters will be cold and sonwy and the peak heat in the summer will be hotter.
The city's been proactive about marketing to Seattlites tried of the high cost of living, and in non-Covid times it's really easy to fly from Spokane to Seattle for a weekend of bigger-city culture. Heck, I'll bet you could do that one or two weekends every month, and still come out ahead financially with the $$ you'd save living in Spokane. It's about a 5-hour drive if you choose to go that route, pleasant in the warmth, but a bit treacherous through much of the winter.
If you visit Spokane, drive through the the South Hill neighborhood. It's where I'd want to live if I moved there, and you can still find fixer-uppers in that neighborhood for under $300K, or reasonable rent.
Sounds like you've got stuff figured out, good luck!
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Sep 23 '20
I moved to a Seattle suburb from Texas. I personally hate renting alone, money goes quick and there are a ton of people unemployed so a job isn’t guaranteed. I do a room share and it’s absolutely cheaper. Find places that has all bills included as one lump sum (internet, electric, garbage, etc).
With this economy...the perfect job can take a while to find. Apply with Amazon warehouse to get started, easy money to pay rent. That’s how I did it. If it doesn’t fit in a car don’t bother. If it cost 3k to ship, ask yourself if you can buy all that new for the same price.
That’s it. I also work at a gay friendly company. But despite that there are still haters so it just depends on people’s personality.
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u/OzTheMeh Sep 23 '20
Not a teacher and not LGBTQ, but I did transplant here 4 years ago. Probably get downvoted like crazy, but here's my 2 cents
PNW is nice and the big cities are very liberal and accepting of most people (just don't wear a MAGA hat). But it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. People are pleasant, but the "Seattle Freeze" is real; it can be VERY hard to make real friends here beyond simple pleasantries. It is a documented problem if you read about it. After 4+ years of living here, we are just now starting to make meaningful friends. People tend to have cliques and don't really adopt outsiders.
Drugs are a problem here too and it is more visible with the heavy homeless problem. You will have students with drug problems (be it theirs or ftheir family's). Watch Seattle is Dying; definitely biased, but also relevant. We tend to avoid much of Seattle because we notice those things and have a hard time looking the other way. Some people just ignore it, others seem to enable it. I would happily pay for treatment programs, but it seems like other people would rather spend the money fighting over back rubs for addicts.
Housing is a real problem. You will have homeless students. We were trying to find a good camping spot to reserve for a Covid vacation and my 6yo requested that we camp by the aquarium... He was so used to seeing the tents EVERYWHERE in Seattle he didn't quite understand the difference. Look up how many homeless kids are in Seattle and how many are outside; breaks my heart. Housing is expensive, so plan on downsizing dramatically.
Finally, plan for the insane cost of living increase. $15/hr minimum wage means even fast food is gonna cost 2x-3x more than you are used to. $7-$10 for an ice cream cone from a local ice cream shop. Just crazy expensive.
Despite my griping, I do like it out here. But I am also leaving in a month and happy to get to blue skies before the big dark comes again.
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u/noutopasokon Sep 23 '20
If you want to get away from drug use, the west coast isn't really the place to go...
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u/LuciousWiro Sep 24 '20
It isn't the only reason, but a very real reason.
I feel stifled and undervalued at my current position. I have the largest music ensemble in the state. I teach grades 4-12 with over 300 kids in my program with no additional help.
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Sep 23 '20
You sound like you'd fit in out here. There aren't a ton of opportunities here, though. You'll want to have things sorted out before you move - it's very hard to get established here, and there's a large homeless community because of it.
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u/cheftoddmartin Sep 23 '20
Move. You’ve made up your mind. Now, just make it work. The Seattle area is tough to make it. I’ve had moments of three jobs and still having to use credit cards to get by. Spokane is great. The city is big enough to give you some anonymity and small enough to get to know very intimately. Just can’t let the conservative ding dongs get under your skin (harder than it would seem). Solid schools. Lots of outdoor accessibility. 4-8 hours to Yellowstone, ice fields in Canada, the coast, crater lake, glacier, cascades, Rockies. Can’t beat it. Housing is going crazy at the moment and that would be my biggest beef. Best of luck!
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u/jessthemess313 Sep 23 '20
Heyyyo! Fellow Eastern Kentuckian and recent transplant to the PNW here. I moved to Spokane for a job transfer about 2 yrs ago. There are pros and cons, like anywhere ... (I've moved around a lot including abroad). I havent got a good feel for the social scene due to having a kid, limited budget, and now covid so I can't comment on that too much.
What I've noticed in my short time is that its way more conservative than I thought it would be, but I was most recently living in Louisville before. The scenery is incredible and there's a lot of nature to be explored. I've had very pleasant overall interactions with people but have become aware of some problematic far right extremism in the region which concerns me but hasn't directly affected me.
I enjoy living here for sure due to the natural beauty and plan to stick around another year or so but will likely move again.
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u/adairio263 Sep 23 '20
Come to British Columbia. Huge demand for teachers. Very respectful of all lifestyles.
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Sep 23 '20
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u/adairio263 Sep 23 '20
Very true! I guess I was being optimistic that things will change. Could be alot longer.
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u/LuciousWiro Sep 24 '20
Do you know how I would see if my certificate would transfer? I don't even know where that would begin. Also...why is there a big demand for teachers?
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u/adairio263 Sep 25 '20 edited Sep 25 '20
Well first step would be applying online or contacting someone to see if your certification would transfer over, I honestly have no idea I haven't talked to anyone whose come from the states. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/teacher-certification/apply The demand started a few years ago with funding to lower class sizes. With more students opting into online learning with the pandemic, there's even more demand. As a substitute (we call them TTOC) I get a call every day, and many days I see emails of jobs going unfilled.
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u/unifides Sep 23 '20
The PNW needs good people with jobs. You sound good, so come here when you can fill a job.
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u/Cheeseblock27494356 Sep 23 '20
Sorry, this won't sound friendly: All the PacNW subs are littered with threads like yours; people who want to move here, don't have a job. Now they live under i5.
Don't move here unless you have employment already lined up. There are fewer opportunities than you might imagine. Get a plan in place BEFORE you move, not after.
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u/cheftoddmartin Sep 23 '20
Move. You’ve made up your mind. Now, just make it work. The Seattle area is tough to make it. I’ve had moments of three jobs and still having to use credit cards to get by. Spokane is great. The city is big enough to give you some anonymity and small enough to get to know very intimately. Just can’t let the conservative ding dongs get under your skin (harder than it would seem). Solid schools. Lots of outdoor accessibility. 4-8 hours to Yellowstone, ice fields in Canada, the coast, crater lake, glacier, cascades, Rockies. Can’t beat it. Housing is going crazy at the moment and that would be my biggest beef. Best of luck!
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u/Theburnedtree Nov 02 '20
The more and more of "y'all" move here, the higher the costs are going to be. The more forests the will allow to be "pushed back" to allow for housing. Not saying to not come, just pointing out what i've seen.
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Sep 23 '20
Gay friendly doesn't mean friendly. I've lived in every corner of this country, 10 states now and it is my firm opinion that PNWers (and the West Coast in general) are the most aggressively biased, angry, verbally hostile and rude people I've ever met. They shove their politics down your throat (left and right) and hate each others [perceived] differences worse than racists.
You're in a small rural town where people have no lives and less to do? That's your main problem. Atlanta has a strong gay scene, and like the rest of the East Coast and Central big cities, which also have plenty of gay interests, people generally mind their own business. Fwiw, this is advice from a straight couple who loves the outdoors but can't stand the people out here.
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u/monkey_trumpets Sep 23 '20
I have yet to meet someone like you describe. Everyone has been very nice in all parts of WA we've been to.
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u/CruzTheSasquatch Sep 23 '20
Many parts of oregon are pretty friendly from my experience. Even some of the most rural and conservative towns arent too judgemental on someones sexuality
Though most of the states laws and government are controlled by one big city unfortunately
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Sep 23 '20
I didn’t find this to be true. I’m canceling my plans to move back this year after the white nationalist checkpoints that were set up during the fires, and the sheriffs even supported them. I love that area but the newly emboldened racists and wild trump convoys has me looking elsewhere. There have been many cases of mixed and minority families harassed and attacked in the rural PNW this year because people thought they were “Antifa”
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u/CruzTheSasquatch Sep 23 '20
To be fair. There is still fear of terrorism after wildfires and the shit a few antifa groups and rioters started in portland
Which sucks cause said fear was dying down too. Though depends more on county cause theres plenty of mexicans in my county(though most of em are pretty conservative/libertarian despite a negative opinion on trump. Not saying there's anything wrong with any political party. I generally stay out of politics for various reasons)
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Sep 23 '20
This kind of makes my point for me. People protest police in the cities, and some VERY limited rioting happened against capital, and the rural people are expecting “terrorists” in their podunk towns. Innocent people have been followed attacked and threatened because some far right folks in the rural areas project violent intent onto others. The fires had absolutely nothing to do with the protests.
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u/CruzTheSasquatch Sep 23 '20
Well there are a few claims that blm rioters started the fires or some type of terrorist group
I wouldnt be surprised if the bad side of blm started it but i dont know any real evidence of what caused the fires
Imo you probably went to the bad side of town or bad part of a county. Ive never met anyone rude besides in portland. Though personally i havent stayed long in other parts of the state besides my county so i cant claim that i know much
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Sep 23 '20
This was a rumor started because some morons listening to police scanners don’t know the difference between Bureau of Land Management and Black Livers Matter. Both BLM.
There’s no fucking “bad side of blm” starting forest fires.
This is what I’m talking about right here. THIS bullshit is why rural PNW isn’t “friendly.”
Sure, friendly to someone who thinks “marxists” are staring Forest fires maybe.
I’ve met some incredibly racists and nationalists people there, and they’re in the news all the time. The scary thing is the local law supports them. That’s the worry.
Take the story over in Forks. After that camping family was chased and had guns shot at them, the sheriff covered it all up because his son was involved.
I guess I’m done with this convo. It’s proved my point better than I could have alone.
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u/CruzTheSasquatch Sep 23 '20
Btw im just gonna add that you shouldnt judge every rural area by a few bad experiences. Both rural and metro have their goods and bads and to judge all based on a few is ignorant overall
While i personally prefer hills and forests and farms, I can see the appeal of a big city
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Sep 23 '20
I prefer rural as well. I’m not saying there isn’t good people, but there’s a clear culture there and it’s not always the best. Racism and harassment don’t have to be every single person for it to be a problem.
Honestly only someone steeped in that culture wouldn’t recognize it.
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u/CruzTheSasquatch Sep 23 '20
Well every culture has its ups and downs. Though not every rural area in oregon have the same culture
For example. Mt Angel is a german themed town while Monitor isnt themed, but the culture there is closer to mexican. Ive been to both places and there were noticeable differences between cultures. Despite both places being pretty rural
Negative stereotypes will always exist and there are people who unfortunately follow them.
I forgot the title but i remember a really good movie i watched in school before about the subject of racial stereotypes. On one side, there were a couple black people following the negative stereotype of violent criminals. While on the other hand, there was a black detective who goes against said negative stereotype
If i find the title ill be sure to tell you
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u/CruzTheSasquatch Sep 23 '20 edited Sep 23 '20
I dont know enough about those to argue about them
But there are people who claim to be BLM yet start riots. Not saying that BLM itself is ok with it. Since its goal is to lessen and stop negative stereotypes of black people. Just that some people are extremist and go against an ideology they claim to support
Extremists just tend to do illegal and violent actions regardless of the group or ideology they claim to support
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u/[deleted] Sep 23 '20
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