teacher

locator

special education teacher

special education paraprofessional

high school teacher

Stafford County Public Schools

What's my typical day of work?

Arrive at school that I was assigned, go to office grab badge and lesson plans. Sometimes I ask the front office to give me a map of the school if it is an unfamiliar assignment.

Don't forget to sign out at the end of the day!

I do recommend to make your own badge as I was not given one when hired.

Job assignments are very flexible. You can work from 2 hours to 4 hours to 8 hours. I'm able to cancel my assignment if something does come up. Also, I have schools canceled on me based on some of the assignments that I've chosen.

It is flexible as I can make my own schedule. Which I love!

The onboarding training that I had received was not as detailed as I liked as they did not communicate what else I had needed before I started the job. I had found out after the fact and it delayed me from substituting.

I did address that with the administration.

What have I learned?

I have learned what it's like to be a teacher in the public school system. I understand what teachers go through dealing with lesson plans,students and staff that might be unhelpful at times. I'm grateful for the experience that I have been given especially with the teacher shortages that happened in 2020.

What's the workplace culture like?

I found that the workplace culture can be very good and sometimes a little bit too much. I have found some of the staff to be extremely helpful 
While other schools do not communicate too well when a sub is being assigned.

Sometimes to work environment can be personal. Especially if there's drama involved. It hurts me to see some teachers sucked into that.

I know not every school is perfect that's why I provide feedback so this can make them better. That's why they do give surveys out to the staff on what they can approve upon and I do them every year.

 I have spoken up about miscommunications and the school board does take feedback very seriously. Plus you can also email the admin if you have any questions or concerns.

What is the hardest part of the job?

Hardest part of the job is dealing with tough students and the staff isn't there to help you out. Especially if you're trying to do your job it can make it seem like you're not doing enough.

Some students do get a slap on the wrist based on their behavior. I know things are a lot different now but sometimes consequences do need to be made.

This can make a substitute teacher apprehensive coming back to that said school or even continuing to sub in the near future.

What's the most enjoyable part of the job?

Teaching is such a rewarding pathway. I love seeing children grow when they meet their milestones. Time goes by pretty fast and seeing the progression in them makes see my purpose in life. 

I want to continue to fulfill my purpose as teachers are needed.

The job got back with me in about 7 days of being hired. I had to apply on the main website and not just through indeed. The email I received when I got the job was the most life-changing thing. I will not forget that!

I have received opportunities because of the need for teachers. It is a really good way to get your foot in the door if you want to work in education.

They have a Substitute Institute for Stafford county. That can offer a way for you to become a teacher for the county. They also address issues that substitutes do face and they let everyone know that you are a teacher and you're not less than that. Many look at substitute teachers as not really being a teacher but you are! It's a really good place to get more information upon getting your licensure to teach if you decide to go down the pathway.

This is one of the best districts I worked for and I want to continue helping out as much as I can. I am grateful for the opportunity working for Stafford County.

There is a saying, "Money is the root of all evil."  It's true for a reason. 
 And with Stafford being one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., you will most likely notice the appropriateness of the saying.  There was backbiting, backstabbing and they just called it, "being thrown under the bus" as common as it was.  Bosses were "bullies" and had no concern for family values; they only wanted high test scores with little care for the student as a whole.  It was more important for them to get an abbreviation behind their name to I presume prove to themselves they were worthy of the post they fought for.  

Stafford showed very little concern for pregnant working moms.  In fact, when I worked there and was pregnant, my FMLA was not protected, my lunch breaks were filled with impromptu meetings, potty breaks and snack breaks to feed a growing fetus were frowned upon and ridden with guilt from coworkers.    When I was notified that I would not be permitted to use my entire FMLA for maternity leave, at their disc decision, and they were supposed to notify me within 48 hours, but instead tookk four days to do so, I called them on it.  they did not like that and "invited me in [their] office to speak with [them]."  I would never advocate to work at Stafford, unless you are desparate, single, and or enjoy being taken advantage of.

My time spent working in the public school system is wonderful.  I love the challenge of reaching children that are on all levels of  understanding and ability.  I have learned to really pay attention to each individual and tap into the resources I learned in college, and my years of experience of working with children, to make each day a successful one.  I have great respect for my co-workers and supervisors and appreciate how well we all work as a team.  We all support each other and know it takes trust, commitment and a high energy level to be effective.  The hardest part of my job is knowing that due to the high numbers in the classrooms, I am not always able to spend enough time on the lessons or give a lot of individual attention to the students who need it the most.  The most enjoyable part of the job is seeing the light bulbs go off in the students heads when they grasp a topic or figure out something on their own.  I also love engaging them in conversation about life and school experiences.

I regret to share my disappointing experience working at a Stafford County Middle School. The environment was unprofessional and toxic, marked by verbal abuse and an unsupportive administration. Speaking up about student behavior only led to being called out, and there was evident favoritism. Unfortunately, resigning mid-year was my only option for peace of mind. The lack of acknowledgment upon my departure amplified the feeling of not mattering. It’s disheartening that disagreement or non-conformity led to being outcasted, with stories fabricated about my disposition. While the initial excitement faded quickly, the lasting memory is one of insecurity. I won’t consider working with Stafford public schools again. A reassuring gesture or outreach post-resignation could have made a difference, but unfortunately, that never occurred. I am hunted by how administration can easily clique up and easily destroy a hard earned professional reputation that I built. I will never look back. 

Contract hours for a regular school day are 8:30 - 4:00, but most days the hours are usually 7:00 - 5:30. This does not include work that needs to be completed at home on a nightly basis. Most days are challenging, yet rewarding when you are working with 25 fourth grade students. The support from the administration was great and the openness that could be achieved with both the principal and assistant principal was refreshing. For the most part co-workers are supportive and great to work with. The amount of trust and teamwork needed continues to grow, especially as the pressure of test scores and requirements increase. The hardest part of the job was teaching every year without receiving a step increase or raise even though the amount of responsibilities and curriculum continued to increase. The most enjoyable part of the job is working with young people and hopefully getting them to realize their full potential while seeing why hard work, integrity and treating people with respect will matter throughout the rest of their lives.

I had pull-out classes with gifted students as well as team teaching meetings with each grade level, working on how to deal with differentiation in the classroom to best teach all students.  I bettered my organizational skills since I was working with grades K-5.  The worst part of the job was the fact that so many of the teachers were forced to teach to the standardized tests (Standards of Learning, or SOL, they were called in Virginia)  and I was told that my job was to help my students raise the overall average test grades in the school.  This is NOT the purpose of gifted education, although my lessons did have that effect.  The most enjoyable part of the job was the students.  Watching them make cognitive leaps, helping them to improve when they were used to minimal effort being "good enough;" these things were the best part of teaching.

A typical day consists of teaching lessons to the VA SOLS, classroom management to include behavior modification, general paperwork and grading, and meeting with the teaching team to discuss continued planning. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a teacher and the wonderful people I have been working with. The hardest part is that there are too many demands placed on teachers and not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Teaching is not just a 9 to 5 job. The most enjoyable part is helping students to learn and discover new things.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The team work with other educators has help maintained the curriculum to teach each student.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Getting the parental support when  needed

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The culture and  environment is a very diverse. Many culture and teaching methods.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
There is constant learning and sharing new ideas. Morning greeting meeting with students. Then commencing literacy work with groups and centers. Keeping a schedule to make sure each child  receives proper instruction.

My current workplace is an excellent place to work.  I work closely with my administrative team. We have a truly collaborative relationship - that supports open dialogue.  Each member of the team has strengths that are capitalized on resulting in school-wide success. 
The most difficult part of my work is knowing that a child's ability to find success is hampered by circumstances beyond their control.  The most enjoyable is exercising my expertise in program development (example - creating a writing program to address weakness in writing scores on state standards); working alongside professionals who, like me, feel excited about the work we do and our impact on the future.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Stafford County Public Schools cares for their employees. As a para, I never felt "less than" or taken for granted. I observed any employee, whether they were a administrator or a hospitality worker being treated with kindness and respect, and truly valued. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working with children and their parents takes dedication and a willingness to learn with a humble heart.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Excellent environment. Find a school you jive with the administration and other teachers.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Teacher 34 salaries reported	$73,611 per year
Locator 57 salaries reported	$48,730 per year
Special education teacher 18 salaries reported	$79,904 per year
Special education paraprofessional 28 salaries reported	$39,332 per year
High school teacher 2 salaries reported	$131,172 per year

Working at Stafford County Public Schools: Company Overview and Reviews

Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford County Public Schools Ratings

Popular jobs at Stafford County Public Schools

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected