Teachers in the land of unaffordable

Being a teacher in a rural area offers a unique and enriching experience with invaluable advantages over working in a large city school. In rural areas, people often know each other, which creates a close-knit, family-like atmosphere. This close connection not only facilitates cooperation with parents but also creates a supportive environment for the students.

The reduced pace of life and the proximity to nature create a relaxed environment, allowing teachers to unwind and recharge. This leads to a better work-life balance. Those who live and work in Unbezahlbarland quickly develop a strong connection to the local community. It's easy to get involved in various social and cultural activities and thus bring about positive change within the community.

A first selection of specific job offers can be found at Jobs-Oberlausitz.

The "Perspective Rural" study program offers student teachers and trainee teachers extensive opportunities to become familiar with the Saxon school system . Using a wealth of information and vivid school profiles, prospective educators can determine whether a rural school is a good choice for them.

The portal "Becoming a Teacher in Saxony" offers comprehensive information about the teaching profession in Saxony. The resources range from guidance on choosing this career path and explanations of a teacher's duties and earning potential to a guide through the complex world of teaching subjects. There is a blog from the teaching community and numerous inspirations for choosing and practicing the profession. The district of Görlitz presents itself as an attractive future place to work.

Sylvia Wackernagel originally studied ethnology, Spanish, and peace and conflict studies, earning a master's degree, and worked as a museum educator, including at the Silesian Museum in Görlitz. At some point, she felt it was time for something new. She increasingly considered experiencing school not just as a professional partner, but also from the inside. "Being a teacher is one of the jobs that allows me to have an impact on society," the young woman explains. After five years, she is about to complete all the necessary training modules. Throughout this time, she has been earning money. Those who have studied a recognized school subject at university are classified in pay grade A12. If they hold a university degree in several disciplines, the classification process is even faster. Career changers complete a three-month intensive course to begin, followed by a one-year teaching traineeship. Sylvia Wackernagel completed this traineeship at the Innenstadt secondary school in Görlitz. She has now fully embraced her new profession. 

Daniela Zlobinski grew up in Bavaria and studied in Augsburg. Securing a permanent teaching position in Bavaria after her teacher training proved difficult. "Personal reasons led me from Augsburg to Görlitz in 2015. I immediately received a permanent contract at the Rothenburg secondary school and was later granted civil servant status." She appreciates working at the school, which has a rural character. The number of students is manageable, the sense of community is strong, and the parents are also very close-knit, as they have known each other since kindergarten and primary school. The anticipated culture shock of moving from the large city of 350,000 inhabitants to the tranquil town of Görlitz never materialized. "There is so much to discover and experience here. We love hiking in the Zittau Mountains and being able to quickly get out into nature with our dog. And if we ever miss the big city, we can reach Dresden in just under an hour."