John Kindred’s Post

Stay or go? It's that time of year again ... The deadline for teachers' to hand in their notice to leave at the end of this academic year is fast approaching for many, and I know that it can be a really tricky and stressful period to navigate if you're not feeling happy in the classroom. Rather than feeling trapped in that space and weighed down by the pressure of the looming deadline, I want you to know that you do have options so that you can make the best possible decision at the right time for you. So over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be sharing lots of advice and things to consider for teachers who have handed in their notice (or want to) without a new role lined up to go to yet. The very first thing to get clear on is what your financial baseline is. If you visit the Adventures After Teaching website you'll find a handy free resource, 'Financial Foundations', which you can use to evaluate your money mindset, work out your monthly expenses and calculate your salary requirements. It's really important to do this financial work early on in the process of your decision-making. The results for take-home pay can be surprising (and sometimes freeing) when you take into account differences in pension contributions and travel costs etc! It also gives you a really well defined salary baseline for when you do begin your job search and can put your mind at ease when it comes to understanding exactly what you need as your bottom line. Let me know how you get on with accessing this free resource and keep an eye out this week for more career change support! 💷 🧮🏡 #Free #FreeResource #FinancialPlanning #FinancialBaseline #SalaryCalculator #QuittingTeaching #ExitPlan #UKTeacher #PrimaryTeacher #SecondaryTeacher #EarlyYearsTeacher #SENDTeacher #TeacherCareerChange #TeacherLife #CareerChange

“The Colorado Talent Pipeline Report calculated that 91.4% of jobs paying family-sustaining wages require education beyond high school — not necessarily a four-year college degree but at least an associate’s degree or some level of certification. However, in 2021, the portion of Colorado high-school graduates seeking to continue their education past high school dropped below 50% for the first time in memory, leaving many new workforce entrants without the skills needed to afford to live and work here.” We believe skilled trades are a key component to ensuring Colorado meets the workforce demand expected in the coming years. Learn more about what the State of Colorado is doing to promote workforce development: https://bit.ly/45qb7bH #workforcedemand #skilledtrades

---> Hard work and experience have just as much weight and value as any piece of paper declaring a certain level of education. It is certainly true those things matter. But what matters more, is that we in government make the effort to hire and acquire talent who demonstrate the willingness and desire to attain higher position in their careers. And, sometimes, that talent may not have been fortunate to obtain those higher degrees during their careers, whether due to lower incomes or work-life balances. A lack of higher degrees doesn't mean they won't try for them at some point when income improves. Often, if they finally have the means, they will go much further, and your investment in them will be that much more valuable. As our sector sees retirements in the coming years, we may see less of those higher degrees as our younger public servants are becoming more and more economically challenged. It behooves us to seek out these younger officials and cultivate them into our next generation of leaders and officials. So the long and short of it is, if the opportunity arises to interview a candidate in that kind of circumstance, take the chance on them, you'll be impressed by what they can accomplish. -MJ

A decade ago, a 100K salary marked somewhat of a financial success. It pledged stability, homeownership, and more. Today, with a family, it's humbling to realize it still places you in the lower middle class. Of course, there are many other factors involved such as where you live and cost of living. However, it's still a powerful testament to how our perspectives evolve. In the whirlwind of academia, we often underestimate the significance of financial freedom. Yet, as practicality takes the reins, its importance becomes glaring. To my fellow PhD candidates, I pose a question: What's your endgame? Ponder on the choices you make today for a secure tomorrow post-graduation. 🚀💸 #PhDLife #FinancialFreedom #CareerGoals #PlanningForTheFuture

Only one-fifth of federal investments in postsecondary education support workforce development for fields like construction and manufacturing, while the rest of the money goes to “traditional” degree programs according to a new report on federal workforce funding levels released last week. The report, which was produced by the Progressive Policy Institute the Associated General Contractors of America and Procore Technologies notes that this funding gap is making it hard for many employers to find qualified workers to hire. https://lnkd.in/gPTmiDgC

Through a collaborative effort among industry leaders, academic institutions, and local legislators, Governor Jared Polis signed a landmark workforce development package into law, designed to bridge the gap between education and employment in our state. This comprehensive package includes six bills focused on: ⁃ Aligning educational programs with industry needs ⁃ Enhancing apprenticeship opportunities ⁃ Providing tax credits to support workforce training
 In response to declining in-migration and the increasing demand for skilled workers, the legislation aims to help students gain the necessary skills for jobs with sustainable wages right here in #Colorado. By connecting educational institutions with industry requirements, we will see a significant improvement in our talent development process. Employers will have better access to Colorado talent equipped to enter the workforce, including roles that don’t require a four-year degree. Industries like quantum technology are particularly eager to hire graduates from technical schools and community colleges. Read more about the workforce bills here: https://lnkd.in/gXK3r573 #ChooseColorado #WorkforcePolicy #WorkforceoftheFuture #InclusiveWorkforce

https://lnkd.in/giwP6EXj While the gap in wages between those with a degree and those without is as wide as ever, public perception of the value of a degree is not growing. How do we change this bizarre mismatch? The current hot jobs environment won't last and those without a degree are the first out the door. 70% higher wages, greater job security, and a decline in the perception of value. What?

A recent analysis reveals the salary you need to earn to be “comfortable.” #financialliteracy #highschoolteacher The gist: A recent analysis from SmartAsset pegs the income that’s necessary to live “comfortably” in each U.S. state. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the income levels are…a lot. They’re above the median national household income level ($74,580) in nearly every state. Massachusetts was the most expensive, where a single adult needs to earn more than $116,000 to be comfortable (or almost $56 per hour). West Virginia was the cheapest, at $78,790 (almost $38 per hour). Classroom discussion: These types of studies or analyses are tricky, because they aren’t necessarily true—there are millions of people who live in Massachusetts and earn less than $116,000, and many of them are probably “comfortable.” But these numbers can give us a birds-eye view of costs in specific states, which may help shape earnings expectations and cost-of-living expectations for students who plan out where they’ll live and work in the future. Classroom questions: Why do you think certain states are so expensive to live in? What factors could be at play? Conversely, why are some states cheaper?  What could you infer from this sort of analysis about what employers pay in these states, if anything? Does this shape how you think about certain parts of the country? Why or why not? Do these numbers seem outrageously high (or low) to you? What might be shaping that opinion?

https://lnkd.in/ecNWs_S6 By eliminating this barrier, both employers and employees can move through together.

Learn more about these jobs in today's featured article.