Maine Teacher looking to change Districts
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I’m a middle school science teacher in rural Maine with 4 years of experience, and I’m starting to think seriously about changing districts/locations within Maine for next school year. I love teaching middle school science and I’ve built a lot of hands-on/environmental/agriculture-based projects into my classes, but I’m feeling a little stuck where I am now.
The biggest thing holding me back from applying more broadly is honestly housing. A lot of the areas with openings seem to either have almost no rentals available or housing prices that are hard to manage on a teacher salary alone. I also have cats, so finding pet-friendly housing adds another layer.
For people who have moved districts in Maine (especially rural to rural or rural to small town areas), how did you approach the housing side of things? Did you secure a job first and then housing, or the other way around? Are there certain regions that are better for teachers trying to relocate without spending their entire paycheck on rent?