Fellow PFT members:
Don’t let your salary losses accumulate more than they have to (see this chart compiled by the Caucus of Working Educators). You can move up a lane IMMEDIATELY to Masters +30 and, once you hit your 10-year anniversary, submit your paperwork for Senior Career Teacher.
This will significantly help minimize the amount of money you may have lost during the status quo contract freeze from 2013-17 and help you recoup much of that salary. There is a loophole in our newest Collective Bargaining Agreement - so make sure to take advantage!
You can examine the current Salary Schedule here.
(If you are not sure what salary schedule you are at, you can either multiply BASE pay on your paycheck by 21.7 or click here to go to the District's Open Data and search for your name under Employee Information. All of our salaries are public information.)
You can examine the District's requirements and protocol (both Masters + 30 and Senior Career) for Salary Upgrades here.
Once you have completed enough graduate credits (90 credits above your Bachelors, after having obtained a Masters) for Senior Career then make sure you have dual certification. You can view Teaching Certificates offered in PA here (Note: K-12 Certificates already pre-qualify as dual cert.)
You can register for your Praxis Exam here.
Finally, the following is just a short list of online courses priced under $400 for 3 credits. If you find more, please leave them in the comments section for others to see and so that I can edit this list as time goes on.
MAKE SURE TO VERIFY THAT A UNIVERSITY IS ACCREDITED BY CLICKING HERE AND SEARCHING FOR THE INSTITUTION PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT!
- Shepherd University (3 Graduate credits for $282) Advertised through SDP website here and direct website: http://virtualeduc.com/shepherd/
- Andrews, Greenville, and Loyola Marymount through Advancement Courses (3 Graduate credits for $449) Up to 15% discount until July 14th using promo code SUM10 (10% for 1 or 2 courses) or SUM15 (15% for 3+ courses) https://www.advancementcourses.com/
- University of La Verne (3 Graduate credits for $345) https://www.pdcourses.net/index.php
- University of California – San Diego (3 Graduate credits ranging from $271 to $374) https://webteaching.com/
- PBS TeacherLine – numerous universities participate (3 Graduate credits ranging from $300-$400) http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/earn-credit/
- Augustana, Colorado St. Pueblo, Lourdes, Marygrove, Pacific Lutheran through Learners Edge (3 Graduate credits for $425) Get $70 off each course until July 30th using promo PHLSDSU1707 (ordering one course) or PHLSDSU1754 (order two or more) http://www.learnersedgeinc.com/
What the heck is the loophole? Getting advancement credit to go from Masters to +30 or whatnot isn't a loophole.
ReplyDeleteYou can apply for SCT after 10 years of SERVICE in the district. Traditionally, this meant hitting step 10 or higher - but because of the frozen contract, it is possible to be on only step 6, but still have 10 years of SERVICE in the district. If you are in that situation (and many are) this is a way to get an over $20,000 raise in one year and recoup many of your losses without having to wait until 2020 in order to reach the top salary through simple step increases.
DeleteThanks George for this post! I am considering becoming a teacher but didn't realize that teachers are also subject to pay freezes in addition to the low pay they receive for their work. On top of having to fund their own (extensive) professional development. It seems like teachers don't get a break. I wonder how many are in massive debt from the cost of their education.
DeleteThank you for this great post! And, thank you for your contributions pre- contract that I firmly believe helped lead to these events!
ReplyDeleteCan I use graduate credits earned during AP summer institute towards Senior Career Teacher's credits?
ReplyDeleteIf they are from an accredited university and printed as credits on an official transcript, then yes.
DeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteCan I take any courses that are graduate level ?
ReplyDeleteAfter a conferred masters degree, they can be of any level as long as credit is offered by a 4-yr degree granting accredited institution, with exceptions: "We do not accept courses in real estate, law, medicine or religion because they cannot be used in the classroom. We will, however, accept medical courses for nurses and “school” law courses."
DeleteWait, based on what I'm reading by Maggie, I could realistically take undergraduate courses again and it would count so long I already have a Masters? Is this true?
Deletehttps://www.teacherstep.com/product-category/graduate-credit/
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ReplyDeleteConcierge Bonita Springs
I have been working as a dual certified Chemistry/Gen. Science teacher with the Philadelphia district since 2004.I have Masters +30 credits. Was wondering if I would be able to apply for the senior career teacher? appreciate your help
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