Fort Worth ISD

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Home : 2008 : April : 12

Fort Worth ISD
By TeachtoScrap

I moved here ten years ago from OK. I taught in FW ISD for 7 years before moving to the burbs.

Pros: Cost of living is FABULOUS! Even more so if you are coming from Cali. $150,000 can buy you at least a 2500-3000
sq foot home (fairly nice) depending on the area of course. There are cheaper places as well as more expensive. We live in N FW and have almost 2200 sq ft for around 115,000.

TONS of positions are available. FW is always needing teachers (especially ESL). When DH and I moved here 10 years ago, the district started the year with over 200 vacant spots (meaning subs filled those).

It is quite a large district with big city politics, but the nice thing is that they offer TONS of staff development. For a new teacher it was nice as I knew NOTHING! :D

Not sure of the number of schools they have now, but when I left three years ago they had around 80 elem schools.

They got a new super the year I left so I am sure there are TONS of changes.

Traffic in FW is nothing (especially compared to Dallas).

Lots of fun things to do and see here. It was great for a single 22 year old moving here knowing no one but DH (who we were sort of dating at that time! That's a whole 'nother story! :D). As well of tons of things for families to do.

If you are looking for a house with land, that is still an option. It will cost more but bigger lots are available on the edge of town.

No state income tax.

CONS: It is SOOOOOO hot in the summer!

We have one of the WORST air qualities in the nation.

TAKS! It is no fun to teach, but than again what standardized testing is...

Property taxes are high.

PM if you have any specific questions (areas to live, work.... areas to avoid, etc...)

Another good thing about FWISD is that they ALWAYS compensate for workshops and give stipends for many things. DH got a signing bonus as well as $2000 a year stipend for teaching math (shortage area). I also got a stipend for being an ESL teacher (something neither of us get at our new district).

Oh, and the pay is great. They are constantly competing with the area burbs to retain teachers. Ten years ago new teachers were making over 32,000 a year (well above state avg) and now they are over 40,000.