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After having seen Open Market postings pop up for vacancies that principals had told me were filled, and getting interviews for vacancies that weren’t listed, I began getting skeptical about the system, to put it mildly. I did, however, get at least one or two interviews from it, so it wasn’t totally useless.

Knowing people still matters. Two teachers I know got interviews (that ultimately led to jobs) through connections. This is still about humans working together in employment relationships, and human connections can still count for more than an online application. I started as a Teaching Fellow, and got my first teaching position through my own devices, not via the Fellows’ routes.

As for my own excessing story, I secured a new position last week, but I remain unsure of how much the Open Market had to do with it. I did apply to the school online, but my resume was also routed to the principal through someone who knew someone. I suspect the latter connection was why the principal took a good look at my resume in the first place, though I didn’t ask so I don’t know for sure.

In the end, I applied to maybe 20 schools, had about a dozen interviews, did 4 demo lessons, and got 2 offers. I have about 6 years’ experience, so I wasn’t the cheapest, but wasn’t the most expensive either.

Like Jonathan (hey, I just realized he’s the JD2718 guy), I am concerned about more senior teachers getting placements. My anecdotal evidence likewise indicates it’s a real problem. And why pay for experience, when you can get cheaper younger teachers, who are more scared and malleable, and may be able to work longer hours because they are less likely to have outside commitments? Just sayin’.

I tremble at the thought of what may wind up in the new contract, but still figure I can spend my retirement years as a Walmart greeter.

Our union gave up seniority transfers a couple of contracts ago and hailed it as the best thing since sliced bread. It is unheard of that a union would allow and advocate a system that is inherently age discriminatory. Unions were founded on equality. When differences need to be made the only fair method of distributing scarce resources is by length of service. Seniority also protects our students by ensuring that they get the most experienced teachers available. I am happy for Reuben and hope his choice works out but there are a number of us from closing schools who are treated like incompetent fools. Shame on the UFT for allowing this to happen. We need a change.

I hear you. I’ve been able to transfer through connections – personal and professional. If you just send your resume to the Open Market you’ll never hear back unless you are a very new teacher. The first thing Michael Mulgrew needs to do is gain some control back over the transfer system. As usual the kids lose because many of them are left without experienced teachers because principals only want to hire newbies.

AMC,

the open market is the current system in place for transfers. Prior to the open market there were two other systems running concurrently: Seniority Transfers, and School Based Option Transfers. You certainly would have been able to transfer under either of these.

I’m glad you were able to find a more convenient work site, but there should be no thanks to the Open Market for that.

Jonthan

About half of all schools chose to participate in the SBO transfer plan … the seniority transfer plan narrowly defined vacancies, only half of vacancies had to be posted … schools chose the half to post … the bilingual Common Branches Urdu rather than the regular Common Branches … OM requires all postions to be posted during the open period … hopefully in this round of negotiations teachers will be restored to the interview committee … each year around 3000 teachers move under OM.

AMC,

under SBO transfers there were no “restrictions on the numbers of these transfer types allowed from each school.” I’m glad you were able to move, but you are giving credit where it is not deserved.

Peter,

we moved from some union control of the process to no union input whatsoever.

You write “hopefully in this round of negotiations teachers will be restored to the interview committee” when you should know that the school-based committee, when it bothers to meet, already does include teachers.

The question is control, not participation. Your implicit praise of the Open Market is uncalled for, especially as they replaced far superior SBO transfers in many schools, where there was real teacher input, some guarantees of fairness, and a real appeals process.

Often we see only what we wish – myself included . I was hired through Open Market and not in some sub rosa fashion, but by following the rules. That is an indisputable fact. I truly don’t know enough (or really care, for that matter) to argue about the “old” system. I do know that I had friends in Brooklyn schools who waited forever and were not able to get seniority transfers to Staten Island. One was a very senior teacher. Why had the system failed them if it was so great? But, this post is not about Open Market vs. past methods. Ruben invited those who have used Open Market to give a review – and I have. Open Market worked very well for me and although some would say it is misplaced, I give it the credit for enabling me to find a position closer to home.
I am sorry that many who have posted have not had a good experience with it.
I do agree that there needs to be a safety net in place for our senior teachers. I am just not sure how to achieve that.

The situation this year seems different from last year. I, like AMC, have ten years experience, a masters and 30 credits beyond. I,too, was on childcare leave for 6 years. I wanted to transfer to school closer to my home, a school in Manhattan. I applied for thirty positions and recieved three dubious interviews. Since I could not procure a position within the time allotted- July 2008- I was told to resign ot take the old position. I resigned being that I could not travel to my old school. Now I am just day to day subbing in Manhattan. I have seen quite a number of people hired for positions I am qualified for with no experience during the time period I was looking. I sub in my license area most of he time. I can not use this Open Market System since I “resigned.” My question is shouldn’t I be allowed to use it to since I fact I was part of the system and am still subbing and paying union dues. I kid you not- so many people have asked me if I am retired from looking at my computer file. At this point I really do not know where I fit in this new system- it really does seem to me that they hold age and experience which equals salary against me and other teachers alike. The thing I do not understand is that they dismiss the experience one gets by teaching within their own system. At this point, I feel the only option for me is to find a position in an alternative school system.

No one “told” me the Open Marked helped me. Here are the facts from my perspective: I had no access to a UFT transfer or a SBO. I was not paying union dues during my 7 years on leave. I do not even know the union rep at my school, nor would I have any idea when the transfer list was available. At the last minute – literally at the end of June – my circumstances changed and I needed to return to work. Fortunately, I had not yet resigned my position so I was eligible for the Open Market. Through OM I was able to get an interview and a position. Would the old system have helped me under those circumstances? I don’t know how many teachers were able to change positions under the old system, but 3000 teachers finding new positions each year under the new system seems like a success.
I like Open Market. Others don’t. That’s just the way it is.