Q: I’m trying to figure out if I should apply for one of the online teaching positions that will be advertised through my district soon for the next school year. I don’t know too much about how it will be run, or even what kind of person they’ll prioritize hiring — and I suspect my district is still ironing out all of those details anyway — but I’m thinking I may need to act without all the information on hand.
Here’s a little bit about me that may help you advise me. I am relatively new to the area and don’t have family nearby to help with my two kids, who are not yet school age, so there’s something appealing about working from home. Also, I was pretty adept at making the shift to online teaching. I think I had a lot less angst than many of my colleagues, perhaps because I’m extremely tech savvy. I also teach math, which I think made for an easier transition than if I had taught, say, PE.
Now for my reservations. Again, I’m fairly new to the area and worry I’ll feel isolated if I’m not engaging with coworkers on a daily basis. I like kids and enjoy seeing them in lots of different contexts — in the halls, in the cafeteria, etc. One of the things I disliked about online learning was how much harder it was to form a relationship with students. And whenever kids kept their screens off, teaching them kind of sucked the energy out of me. I do need eye contact and give and take and a sense of connection. I also worry that because I’m a new-ish teacher, I’ll be put in the online box for the rest of my days and will have trouble getting an in-person job later if I decide to switch back. What do you think I should do?
A: If there’s one thing the past year has taught us, it’s that it’s impossible to predict the future. You only can decide what’s best for you right now — it’s impossible to know what you’ll want down the road. That said, I think you’re asking the right questions. I’d add a few more considerations to your list, though.
For starters, you mention that your children are not yet school-age, and that one of the most appealing aspects of online teaching is the ability to work from home. I’d clarify expectations around workspace and childcare. When schools had to make an overnight shift to online learning, they offered flexibility, but that was out of necessity. Going forward, they quite likely will require that you secure childcare so you can focus fully on your students. For what it’s worth, that would be less stressful for you anyway. I’d also ask whether the program will be fully virtual, or if you’d be expected to report in person periodically. Whether or not you have to hire someone to care for your kids, I suspect you’d still have more time with them, if only because you wouldn’t have to commute.
You also assume you’ll be able to work from home. I’d confirm that that’s the case, as some virtual academies operate out of office or school building space. And if you are able to work from home, I’d find out whether there are any requirements about your “classroom” space. Beyond that, I’d ask the usual questions about salary, professional development, and mentoring and supervision.
What I’d worry about less is the potential difficulty of switching gears if this doesn’t work out. You’ve already taught both in-person and virtually, and you could easily return to an in-person setting. For right now, I’d focus on finding out as much as you can about the position and ensure it would work with your life and align with your expectations. And remember, even if you apply and get offered a position, there’s no rule that says you must accept it.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phyllis L. Fagell
Phyllis L. Fagell is the school counselor at Landon School in Washington, D.C., a therapist at the Chrysalis Group in Bethesda, Md., and the author of the Career Confidential blog. She is also the author of Middle School Matters and Middle School Superpowers, available at https://amzn.to/3Pw0pcu.
