Teachers are the new travel agency secretaries!

[nodge]

Hi Gang,

Move over travel agent secretaries, according to the knowledgeable souls at flyertalk.com, SVO is now offering teachers great rates at Sheraton Mountain Vista DURING peak ski season!

The rate is $89/night for a small one-bedroom and $139/night for a large one bedroom, but it is only valid from Sunday to Thursday nights. (You know, the days when most teachers are usually working). You apparently have to call SPG/Starwood directly to book it (ask for rate code: SF (a/k/a “We Love Teachers” promotion).

I’m certainly feeling the love knowing that SVO would rather give this rate to yet another class of non-owners instead of us owners. On the plus side, at least SVO appears to be moving in a direction towards giving deals to deserving groups of individuals, so that's something.

-nodge

 

[vacationhopeful]

Has nothing to do with a "deserving class of people", but rather an "employed class of people" who have almost 3 months a year of vacation time and "professional" and permenent jobs.

It is about the $$$$ and selling more and more timeshares to them over many years.

Just MHO,

 

[swift]

I wish that once in a while someone would offer a deal that was offered to all school district employees. Not to offend but it takes more than teachers to run a school. With out the classified employees it would be a pretty miserable place.

 

[SciTchr]

As a middle school teacher....

...I agree with you 110%!

 

[SDKath]

Well, given that teachers are the most underpaid (and arguable most important) people in this country, I actually don't mind seeing them get a well deserved perk.

My best friend, a brilliant English teacher with a PhD from UCLA, makes $55,000 a year in Pasadena and pays $3000/month rent for her tiny 1BR apartment in Los Angeles. I can't wait to tell her about this deal.

Katherine

 

[nodge]

The weird thing is that if you read the fine print to this current deal at SMV, participants have to certify that they make more than $75,000 a year. Yet, with this teacher promotion and in light of SDKATH’s data, SVO appears to have targeted a class of professionals who have an average salary that is less than that amount while simultaneously further alienating us owners (who, by the way SVO, are a class of individuals who have already demonstrated the financial means and -- at least at one point in our lives -- a desire to buy what you are selling).

From a pure “inducing new sales” perspective, this appears to have been a really dumb move for SVO. I can only hope that SVO was motivated by something other than finances.

-nodge

 

[rickandcindy23]

There's a shortage of substitute teachers on Fridays and Mondays here in Denver and the suburbs. It's been such a huge problem that you can substitute "teach" without any teaching credentials at all. I guess this is why.:rofl:

 

[Ken555]

Perhaps that $75,000 is 'household income' (ie. couples)?

 

[nodge]

Speaking of teachers and other deserving individuals, I saw a great bumper sticker the other day. Considering the content, I thought it was extremely unusual to see it here in Portland, where the most common bumper sticker is: "Keep Portland Weird!"

Here it goes:

"If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you're reading this in English, thank a soldier."

Hey SVO, I bet that soldiers and their families like to ski too.

-nodge

 

[SDKath]

Good point about the minimum income. I thought it was close to $100,000 for a family to be targeted for these type of TS promotions. In any case, they are better off catering to MBAs, MDs, Lawyers and just about every OTHER professional other than teachers if they want to make a sale...

Katherine

 

[Kildahl]

"Our" units are in my educator-wife's ownership. Sadly her teaching income is well below 75k despite being near the top of the seniority scale in her district and having recieved a number of recognitions, one of them national.

 

[bizaro86]

despite being near the top of the seniority scale in her district and having recieved a number of recognitions, one of them national.

Does any of that make any difference where you live? My wife is a teacher (who also makes <75k, although our combined income certainly qualifies us for most/all TS presentations) and her district pays strictly by years of service/number of years of education.

That doesn't really seem fair or efficient, since there's a real shortage of teachers in some subjects, and a real shortage of good ones in all subjects! If only the government could make merit based pay work...

</end rant>

Michael

 

[swift]

Does any of that make any difference where you live? My wife is a teacher (who also makes <75k, although our combined income certainly qualifies us for most/all TS presentations) and her district pays strictly by years of service/number of years of education.

That doesn't really seem fair or efficient, since there's a real shortage of teachers in some subjects, and a real shortage of good ones in all subjects! If only the government could make merit based pay work...

</end rant>

Michael

I think it does matter where you live. Our teachers get close to the 75k when they are at the top of the seniority list if they have 75+ units and they get extra stipends for continuing their education as well as being bilingual. http://www.wusd.org/files/Certificated_Salary_Schedule_PDF.pdf

 

[grest]

I think it does matter where you live. Our teachers get close to the 75k when they are at the top of the seniority list if they have 75+ units and they get extra stipends for continuing their education as well as being bilingual. http://www.wusd.org/files/Certificated_Salary_Schedule_PDF.pdf

This looks nothing like our teachers' pay in Marion County, FL!!
Connie

 

[jerseygirl]

Since this thread has moved into teaching salaries ....

My (brilliant, of course ) daughter is an early childhood psych major who is also getting her teaching credentials and intends to teach k-3 while pursuing a graduate degree or degrees (that I hopefully won't have to pay for!). I've done a little research on starting teaching salaries vs. cost of living (I can't help myself -- I'm a researcher by nature). Teach for America has great info on their website, e.g.:

• New York $45,530 .... Apartment $900 - $2000 .... Car not essential
• Hawaii $37,507 .... Apartment $900 - $1300 ... Car is essential
• Chicago $34 - $38000 .... Apartment $900 - $950 ... Car not essential
• Houston $38500 - $41500 .... Apartment $500 - $800 ... Car is essential
• New Orleans (where she'll probably stay) $36000 ... Apartment $600 - $1000 ... car is essential (not necessarily true, but wouldn't want to be without one)

Luckily, she's also getting a minor in economics ... so she understands that $45000 in NY is NOT the best deal!

Here's the website if anyone else has an interest in this:

http://www.teachforamerica.com/corps/placement_regions/atlanta/cost_of_living.htm

 

[zazz]

My best friend, a brilliant English teacher with a PhD from UCLA, makes $55,000 a year in Pasadena and pays $3000/month rent for her tiny 1BR apartment in Los Angeles. I can't wait to tell her about this deal.

Katherine

$3,000? I have acquired a lot of units in LA County over the years and that kind of scratch can get you a lot of freaking apartment.

 

[SDKath]

It's Pasadena. Mega overpriced city with a lot of smog. We paid $2995 for our little apartment here in the San Diego suburbs before we wisened up and bought a house with 5 bedrooms for the same monthly payments.

As a matter of fact, I fondly remember paying over $3000 for rent in Palo Alto even before we moved to San Diego, in the late 1990s. So I am not the least bit surprised.

At least she has a community pool and clubhouse at her apartment. And a covered parking spot. Those things are quite coveted in LA.

Katherine

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Well, given that teachers are the most underpaid (and arguable most important) people in this country, I actually don't mind seeing them get a well deserved perk.

This is a false opinion that has been spread for years.

People seem to forget most teachers only work 190 days per year vs 250 days per year for non-teachers and they usually get very good benefits including health insurance and a nice pension (rare these days).

Thus, if a teacher works for 30 years (a full career) and averages $45k per year then they usually get 50% of their salary for the rest of their life as retirement benefits plus $10k in benefits per year.

Also, if a teacher gets a masters or doctorate or works summers, they can may $100k per year (in Florida).

I would be very happy if one of my kids chooses a career in teaching, even thought the entry level pay really stinks.

All too often, people ignore the "total package" of salary, benefits, retirement over a 30 year career.

I would argue that fast food workers or Wal-Mart employees are the most underpaid (but are NOT the most important) people in this country.

 

[zazz]

It's Pasadena. Mega overpriced city with a lot of smog. We paid $2995 for our little apartment here in the San Diego suburbs before we wisened up and bought a house with 5 bedrooms for the same monthly payments.

As a matter of fact, I fondly remember paying over $3000 for rent in Palo Alto even before we moved to San Diego, in the late 1990s. So I am not the least bit surprised.

At least she has a community pool and clubhouse at her apartment. And a covered parking spot. Those things are quite coveted in LA.

Katherine

I know Pasadena. $3,000 is the top of the market for a 2/2 Class A built in the last five-six years. Very high-end stuff. She could get an 1980's vintage place renovated with a nice level of finish in Pasadena for a grand less with similar amenities. She might even be able to score 4-6 weeks free on a new lease.

 

[bizaro86]

Based on Jersey Girl's Info, I'd say the starting at $48,000 we have here in Calgary is pretty good, although it'd be one of the more expensive cities on the list. A 'cozy' one-bedroom apartment in an 'ok' neighbourhood would run around $800, probably you'd want to spend around $1200. A car would be essential. Teachers top out around $85,000, but that would be with a master's degree.

My original interest was whether having national recognition (or any other type of awards/skills) had any effect on compensation. I know here the collective bargaining agreement specifically forbids it.

Michael

 

[vacationhopeful]

I believe in NJ, a teacher MUST have a master's degree after the 5th year in teaching.

I wish I had the pension and health insurance plus the "almost forever job with no layoff". When I graduated college, teachers got HALF the salary I was offered and we both had pensions with health insurance. Nine years later, my top 50 USA employer sacked 10% of the workforce, esp. those of us just 8 months away from being VESTED in the pension plan. (And another 10% sacked 1 year later). My next job was being a "contract" worker with NO BENEFITS at a top 15 USA employer who had a rule no contractor could be extended into year 4. I did 3.5 years there. And social security for retirement? LOL. So, 27+ years working later ...

My friend in teaching who RETIRED 10 years ago, gets OVER $60,000 in teacher retirement pension with FULL health insurance coverage with cost of living adjustments plus social security.

IMHO, our global economy seems only to affect the private sector. :ignore:

 

[Steamboat Bill]

My friend in teaching who RETIRED 10 years ago, gets OVER $60,000 in teacher retirement pension with FULL health insurance coverage with cost of living adjustments plus social security.

IMHO, our global economy seems only to affect the private sector. :ignore:

I 100% agree with you and that is why I don't understand people that state teachers are the MOST underpaid people in America!!!

 

[LisaRex]

I 100% agree with you and that is why I don't understand people that state teachers are the MOST underpaid people in America!!!

I think they're underpaid because they have to try and teach kids of all maturity levels, abilities, and attention spans, not to mention dealing with deranged, helicopter parents who side with their children over their teachers.

 

[vacationhopeful]

Helicopter parents are deranged?

I wish my world was so sane.:annoyed:

 

[Kildahl]

I believe in NJ, a teacher MUST have a master's degree after the 5th year in teaching.

I wish I had the pension and health insurance plus the "almost forever job with no layoff". When I graduated college, teachers got HALF the salary I was offered and we both had pensions with health insurance. Nine years later, my top 50 USA employer sacked 10% of the workforce, esp. those of us just 8 months away from being VESTED in the pension plan. (And another 10% sacked 1 year later). My next job was being a "contract" worker with NO BENEFITS at a top 15 USA employer who had a rule no contractor could be extended into year 4. I did 3.5 years there. And social security for retirement? LOL. So, 27+ years working later ...

My friend in teaching who RETIRED 10 years ago, gets OVER $60,000 in teacher retirement pension with FULL health insurance coverage with cost of living adjustments plus social security.
IMHO, our global economy seems only to affect the private sector. :ignore:

My sense is that your friend's situation is unusual for elementary or secondary teachers. I would guess that most current retirees do not recieve health care or colas.