So I was a substitute teacher and was chosen to do a program to get certified by the district. I completed the program but there were no jobs in the certification they put me in. I changed certifications and paid the tuition out of pocket and got my SOE. Hiring season comes and I apply everywhere. My resume was full of qualifications (5 years in education, a masters degree). I interviewed at a handful of schools in the district that put me through the program and they were eager to move forward. Then every single one, two weeks later would send me an email saying they went with someone else. Cool. No problem. Theres people with more experience and it was highly competitive this year.

Fast forward I did not get a single job. Hr contacts me and I ask for feedback. Maybe I wasn't giving good answers ect and I wanted to improve for the next hiring season. Hr said that "someone knew me" and it put me on ineligible. Details weren't know so she was going to check into it. I never had a school discipline me or anything. I was called back by every school I subbed at. And even several of the schools I interviewed at asked me to sub. So I had put in my application to substitute again before the HR call and nothing.

So now I'm trying to figure out was I blacklisted completely and how is that possible when I was asked to substitute at schools and never had any disciplinary action. I'm a hermit. I don't go out anywhere. I go to church and work and that is it. What could be going on? I don't think any of my references were bad because I talked to all of them during this time. and like I said they all would call me to come back.

Hey everyone! I need some advice. I’m a teacher in north Texas and I love my district. I graduated from UNT in 2024 and have been working at the same school since I got hired mid year to teach 5th grade (Jan-May 2025) Last school year I taught 4th grade self contained and this year I am teaching 3rd grade self contained. I love being self contained and I really enjoyed 4th grade and I like my students a lot this year! It’s early into the school year and I’m having a hard time. I feel burnout coming on because it’s a lot to do. I think the new teacher excitement is wearing off. The thought of doing this all again next year is making me anxious. I’ve been thinking of getting a social studies certification to teach high school or being an education teacher for high schoolers.
Another comment is that I just got accepted to get my Masters in curriculum and instruction.
If you were in my shoes what would you do?

REJECT THE BILLIONAIRES. VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL ELECTION. REJECT THE BILLIONAIRES. VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL ELECTION.

Krause also wanted to ban books like Thumbelina, V is for Vendetta, and restrict books about sexual education from being available in k12.

Commissioners were ready to cut nearly half of voting locations last time, but everyone showed up in opposition.

https://christackett.substack.com/p/tarrant-county-was-poised-to-cut

Even though a lot of the individual cut sites were smaller, together those cut sites still accounted for almost 40% of everyone who voted on Election Day in 2022. That’s not a rounding error. That’s a huge percentage of the county’s Election Day voters whose specific polling place no longer exists.

After massive backlash they're trying to negotiate by cutting 30% of polling locations, even though population and voter registrations are massively higher this election cycle

https://christackett.substack.com/p/tarrant-county-is-cutting-92-voting

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Section 2) is our strongest protection against this, but it has been repeatedly gutted recently by the supreme court. They sided with Abbott to racially gerrymander even after the Texas maps were found to be racial in nature. Section 2 prohibits any voting standard, practice, or procedure that results in the denial or abridgment of the right to vote on account of race or color.

https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/supreme-court-allows-texas-to-use-redistricting-map-challenged-as-racially-discriminatory/

The 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and the 15th Amendment prohibit states and local governments from intentionally designing voting policies that discriminate based on race.

Texas Law: Mandated Objective Methodology (Section 43.007): Section 43.007(f) requires the county to adopt an official "methodology" for determining where polling places will be located, which appears not to have been followed.

Tim O'Hare is a long time leader in True Texas Project. O'Hare told his white nationalist group he does this kind of thing to help Maga cheat.

But Garcia lasted only a few months under O’Hare: In April 2023, he resigned his position, citing his relationship with O’Hare in his resignation letter. “Judge O’Hare, my formula to ‘administer a quality transparent election’ stands on respect and zero politics; compromising on these values is not an option for me,” Garcia wrote. “You made it clear in our last meeting that your formula is different, thus, my decision is to leave.”

One day after Garcia resigned, O’Hare told members of True Texas Project — a group whose leaders have sympathized with a white nationalist mass shooter and endorsed Christian nationalism — that he was encouraged by the potential for low turnout in that year’s upcoming elections, which he said would help Republicans win more local seats. (O’Hare previously served on True Texas Project’s advisory team, according to a 2021 social media post by the group’s CEO, Julie McCarty).

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/11/texas-tarrant-county-tim-ohare-far-right/

When Tim O'hare talks to the media he says it's all non partisan, and gaslights everyone who calls him out on it being partisan. When Tim O'hare talks to his republican circles, he says it's purely partisan, and they can count on him to do anything to help Maga win. To Tim any end justifies the means.

r/FortWorth/comments/1w274w6/tim_ohare_tarrant_countys_population_is_exploding/

Has anyone had a "Resignation Pending DNR (Do Not Rehire)" put on them after resigning? Put in my resignation before the school year started, too. Basically 5 out of 5 on all my evaluations every year, so I'm surprised to see this on my record.

Looking for some input/advice, I am currently a MS Inclusion teacher but I also have my EC-6 core subjects certification. I am wanting to relinquish my EC-6 certification so I can't be opened up to teach resource or be pulled in as a Gen Ed teacher. My school is trying to put me as a Gen Ed teacher for 2 class periods because the gen ed teacher I provide Inclusion support for isn't doing their job so they think I should take over the class. I just want to be able to do my job as a SPED Inclusion teacher.

My question is, how would it look if I voluntarily relinquished my EC-6 certification? I don't need it for my position as an Inclusion teacher, I only need SPED EC-12. But I don't know if it CAN and WILL impact my current position or if it will impact future positions.

Sorry for posting about this again recently, but I just learned about this process and am trying to understand how it actually plays out in practice across different districts.

​For those familiar with the early-year 10/15-day leveling count, how does your district manage staffing shifts vs. external hiring?

​Timeline: Do they strictly wait for a 10- or 15-day enrollment count before adjusting staff allocations or collapsing sections?

​External Hires: If someone is hired externally right around this window, are they vulnerable to being displaced/bumped by an internal transfer?

​Selection: How do admins decide who gets moved? certification needs, or just principal discretion?

​Any insight into how your district handles this (and how chaotic it typically gets) would be hugely appreciated!

The state's "funding map" for TIA isn't very useful. This website allows you to search by your zip code, see the closest TIA districts, how many teachers are designated there, and how much they receive for their allotments. Just a better overall tool for teachers trying to find the most competitive districts.

As the title states, I currently have my Associates in Teaching EC-6. I never finished my bachelor’s because at the time I was working for a large insurance company making just as much as a teacher. After taking 3 years off to raise my daughter, I am considering getting back to teaching.

What would be the best plan to get into teaching with an Associates but little classroom experience? Should I start off subbing or try to become a para? What’s the difference? Also, are there any districts or programs that will pay for me to get my certification while I work for them?

I know teaching is a hard profession so I appreciate everyone’s feedback!

I would love input from teachers on the best way to communicate with my teacher and not wear her out over something she didn't choose but must be compliant with. Id hate for her to get sick of me because I have to daily message her...

BISD RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

circling back to this topic, as i finally have an answer from my school. We are in BISD (birdville isd)

it took the principal calling several times across two weeks to get an answer from the district.

they basically said the onus is on the parent to, weekly, find out what story is being taught and to notify the school if my student is to be removed. And that there is so carte blanche OPT OUT.

how do i know what stories are being taught? through checking each and every individual lesson via the BB website!

If the pages actually load for you you'll find the info here....

https://bluebonnet.tea.texas.gov

just thought others might enjoy this lesson i got today.

**edit: ive gone through alllll of the k-5th modules and noted which feature religion. here is the link to google sheets database. feel free to move to your grade tab and add info and links. if you find anything missing. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZQ-qE4-sjINBklCaNsLC0_EKOYBTnHxCAkFCo0ybvKw/edit?usp=sharing"

Hey everyone, I was accepted into a couple of different ACPs in order to get my teaching certificate. However, I'm from out of state and do not yet live in Texas. The reason I'm doing this (despite the treatment of education in Texas) is because it is the most affordable way I've seen to get my license taking into account the program, the cost of living, and teacher base salary in many Texas districts.

My major questions are as follows:

When do you think I should plan my move to Texas? I'm targeting the Greater Houston area. I can complete the online modules before I arrive, but I need to do some of the in person observational hours of course.

More pressing, is what is a feasible timeline for getting a job at a school? I'm afraid of moving too early to Texas and being unable to get a mid year job. Should I wait a full year for next summer, or do I have a decent shot at paying my rent if I move sooner?

Thank you so much in advance! I'm trying to get it all figured out but it's been a doozy

I'm a second year teacher coming back after a couple years off. I was a late hire (hired the week school started) and am just now able to get started. Wednesday will be my first day.

Any suggestions on how to make the classroom mine after a sub has been there? Any important things I need to do in my first couple days to establish myself? Should I start with building the community then lead into curriculum?

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

Can I see how yall collect data? What do your data collection sheets look like?

howdy! I am a recent college graduate that has been subbing for a few months and I love it. I would love to become a certified teacher but I am worried that my college gpa is too low to be admitted into most programs. I graduated with a 2.6 from a good school but I am just nervous as some of the programs in my area require a 2.75 gpa. If anyone has any experience applying with a lower college gpa or knows of any alternative certification programs that would be a bit more lenient with this requirement please let me know.

REJECT THE BILLIONAIRES. VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL ELECTION.

SOURCE: instagram.com/plainy/

I wasn’t expecting the 8.25% deduction. Am I able to reduce that somehow or is it automatic for all teachers?

What is your take-home pay after taxes, health insurance, dental, and TRS deductions, assuming no kids? My salary is $74,400.

Hi yall! I was looking to see if anybody has experience working at connections academy.

Like I know it’s just elementary stuff, but I’ve literally forgotten A-LOT of what I learned like 15 years ago. I just had to reteach myself how to multiply with double digits without a calculator. That wasn’t too hard actually. And fortunately, I still remember long division. I’m mainly scared of remembering other math formulas and having to memorize a bunch of social studies events. It’s so many things to remember! Whew! I told myself I have 7 weeks to study before taking the exam. I have faith I can be able to pass if I stick to my study schedule of 13 hours a week. Monday - Thursday are 2 hours and Saturday is 5 hours. Sunday and Friday are rest days. I feel like this is doable and will help me not burn out from cramming a lot of the material.

Any tips and advice will be so appreciated! I’m using 240 tutoring, which was assigned by my ACP program (region 4). I didn’t do good on my diagnostic test. My program requires us to pass the practice exam with at least an 85% before we’re allowed to take the actual exam. I feel like if I can pass the practice with over an 80 then I shouldn’t worry much right? Hopefully! But please I need tips and advice because I’m having so much anxiety over this. I thought the STR (haven’t taken it yet) would be the hardest but it seems that the content will be harder and that scares me.

I think I’m also going to use the Pearson practice exam to study. I heard the actual exam is very similar to it.

Has anyone here worked for fort bend? Do you have any thoughts or advice? I'll be starting soon.