elementary school teacher

administrative assistant

high school teacher

senior custodian

para educator

Harford County Public Schools

One of the strongest aspects of teaching in middle school in Harford County at FMS was the team approach.  This is not unique to Harford County, but it is the reason that I enjoyed this level more than elementary or high school teaching.  I taught all levels here in Maryland, as well as in other states.

During the 1990's, we had an enrichment program, and for a few years, a supervisor in this area.  It was during these years, before the supervisory position was eliminated, that we, if we wished, were inserviced in many programs, and the one I found that had the most impact on me both professionally and personally was from St. John's College, a program in discussion skills based on Socratic Method.  This still impacts me today, in every group setting in which I volunteer or participate.  We also were inserviced in Great Books, which was extremely valuable, although not all teachers took advantage of this.

I was on an exceptional team, especially during the years of Lynne Owen as principal.  We worked together to provide the best learning environment for our students.  It was an unforgettable experience.

But my most enjoyable part of my job was working with students.  They knew I loved my job, were caught up in the passion that I had for teaching my subject and teaching them.  Even today, I often itch to teach again, but I think I would also enjoy other careers.  I yearn for new experiences.  (The year after I retired, I lived on a sail boat and sailed to Bahamas and other places.)

The hardest part of the job was a feeling that I couldn't always keep the teaching and learning experience at the peak level that I demanded of myself. Teaching is all consuming, and it is difficult to always feel that you are "on top" of your game.  I imagine this is true of all professions, and those of you who demand this of yourselves understand what I am saying.

I actually enjoyed all contacts with students, parents, and co-workers, even the occasionally contentious ones.  The hardest part of the job was dealing with the few times that there were differences with the administration in goals.  I was lucky to have several of the best principals in Harford County, Chris Terry and Lynne Owen, and the last Superintendent, Jackie Haas, was exceptional, so I worked with some of the best.

Being a teacher was a rewarding job that involved a lot of work. The day began with getting there at least an hour early to make sure that all supplies were prepared for each lesson (I taught Elementary School). The day went by in a blur and by the end the room looked like a tornado hit it. So in order to prepare for the next day I could spend another two hours (after the kids left) cleaning up and organizing and then preparing for the next day to do it all over again. I loved teaching the kids and working with them, but the job is not just about teaching anymore. The job is now teaching, and managing each student which entails assessing work they have done and completing individual assessments on each child throughout the day during your 'free' moments. Charting those assessments and analyzing them as well. If you have 22 kids in your class, as I did, that is a lot of extra work on top of the work you already have.
It was awesome to see how much the students grow from the beginning to the end of the year. I was always impressed with that.
It takes a lot of time and hard work to be a teacher and as much as people think that it is nice to have off during the summer and random days throughout the year as well as holidays, what they do not realize is you are using a lot of that free time preparing for lessons that are coming up or preparing for the next year. Teaching Elementary School takes up a good part of your free time, which is why when I got pregnant I decided to stay home and focus my free time on my own children.

I was a Building Engineer for Harford County  Public Schools,  The job was a catch all for running the entire operation side of the building.  The maintenance program, the cleaning program, submitting work orders, grounds work, Supervising about 12 custodians. Maintaining a stadium, the cleaning program out side.  Scheduling for after school events on a daily basis. Security of the building and the Assets.  Snow removal.  After hours calls. 

For over ten years -  There was no real significant pay increase, unless you were lucky to get promoted.  Almost no pay raise for many years.

Short staffed always, lack of budget for repairs, safety issues.   Little investment in their employees.  Lack of appreciation for their employees.  Lack of funding for proper maintenance equipment. No operating budget at the school level. Lack of budge for basic supplies, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, inadequate staffing levels for a maintenance program with 1700 students

Management was school administrators - who ideally was teachers and not facilities management. 

The job was not to physical, a lot of working around activities - all day all night 6 to 7 days a week.  A lot of work for very little pay, a lot of responsibility. 

Health Care benefits - are some of the best in the area.  Paid time off is very good, Very flexible with coming in late or leaving for an emergency. 

A lot of hard working good people.

After being employed with the public school system for the past 5-6 years, every summer I would apply for a position that was long-term, and included benefits. Only to keep working the same position every year. 
  Working in a particular school with a very cold climate, slowly killed my passion to teach. Having lack of behavioral support from staff in the midst of a student crisis, un-empathetic teachers who were reluctant to give guidance when needed, and students who would deliberately break school rules that would be sent to the office, came back in the classroom with lollipops. 
I cannot support a staff who will not support me!

at one time HCPS was a place that many wanted to work at. I began my teaching career there and stayed there for many years, in fact, my whole career.
Over time the salaries did not keep pace with surrounding counties even though our test scores stayed consistently high. Over time paraeducators would be cut and special area teachers, like myself, would be given more duties unrelated to teaching. By the time I left, I was spending more time on duty than instruction. Expectations continued to soar, pay stayed low, morale was low, it became a toxic environment to work in. When Covid hit, things went bonkers, and I exited stage right. Best thing I've ever done.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working with high school students and other teachers

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Time availability and state testing

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
At times, the work environment can be stressful because of time constraints and student issues.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Arrive at school around 6 A.M. Students arrive at 7 A.M. Alternating rotation of eight classes. Four on one day for 80 minutes, the four different classes the next day. Classes were 80 minutes each.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part is summers and holidays off.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Lisby Hillsdale has a principal that has been there too long. She is the queen not the principal. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
There are very nice people as well as not so nice. It is the same as anywhere. The stress the special ed students put the entire school are gargantuan.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day includes the classroom being continually being interrupted by student's outbursts and sometimes violence without much consequence.

Other than being a good job for college students, the job is really not worth it. Some days it is so stressful because you do not get any respect, the next day you have good kids half of the day then rude ones in the afternoon. Teachers treat you like you’re invisible most of the time and you’re seen as a nobody. While the flexibility is nice, the job is not made for the weak of heart that get upset over someone making fun of your laugh or your name. You get no benefits and the pay is only good if you don’t have many bills and live with someone paying for 75% of your stuff. 

I have loved working for HCPS for 10 years. I love the freedom I have to do family activities during off times of school. I have done a plethora of duties for HCPS from sign language interpreting and keeping mileage, attending meetings, traveling to appointments, working with students, maintaining records, using office equipment and software programs. The hardest part of the job is that it is contractual based, so every June you have to wonder if you have another year contract to start work again for the next school year.

Current staff of almost 2 years. The only reason why I remain at my school location is because of the health benefits and pension package. Other custodians I work with are incredibly lazy and unreliable; the ones who do our job and work hard are forced to pick up the slack. Workload can be very demanding at times especially during summer cleaning (which we work without air conditioning). Teachers treat us as second class citizens who are merely used as their personel maids

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Elementary school teacher 8 salaries reported	$50,451 per year
Administrative assistant 2 salaries reported	$55,780 per year
High school teacher 6 salaries reported	$70,788 per year
Senior custodian 3 salaries reported	$42,444 per year
Para educator 21 salaries reported	$33,670 per year

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