Thinking of moving to Oregon...

[SenorZ]

...and I'm looking for some possible insight and any information people would be willing to share with me.
I'm a physics teacher in southern California and have been thinking about moving for some time. I'm new to the FRC and really love it. If I'm going to move I want to go somewhere I personally enjoy, but a place that also needs a physics teacher and has an FRC team! Where better to turn than Chief Delphi?

Anyone know if their school is going to need a new physics teacher next year?

PS: I'm not posting a resume or anything, but just a heads up: 8 years teaching physics, degree in physics, 2nd year involved in FRC.

[rsisk]

Sorry, you are not allowed to leave Southern California, we need you here. Your visa has been revoked.

I can't let you do that, Dave.

Don't leave California! It's the best state in the world! Plus, if you left, Rsisk would be sad.

[princessnatalie]

Well...
Depending on where you are in OR you will get into very different situations.

I am from SW WA and my mother is a teacher in Portland. I cant tell you if any place is in need of a new Physics teacher (but if you happen to want to move to Camas WA my school would love to have you...) but as far as FRC teams go, they can be found all over OR.

If you want a prestigious well off well funded team go to a private school.
OR public schools (esp Portland) have a lot of funding issues, but the teams there are super eager and fun to work with.

Plus the Pacific Northwest is the best place to be(:
Good Luck(:

[rsisk]

You can also check out www.oregonfirst.org for contacts in Oregon. The first image I saw when I went there was "Mentors Needed"

[Bethie42]

There is a nice little group of 4-5 teams in the Corvallis/Albany area in the Willamette Valley. Oregon State U and surrounding tech industry has had a lot to do with that. FIRST Force is a coalition of those local teams: mentors work together on fundraising, planning off-season events and so on.

Recently we've had quite a few teams starting in the southern and eastern parts of the state, but the highest concentration is still in Portland and the rest of Western Oregon.

The Autodesk Oregon Regional, so I've heard from people who've attended other regionals, is very well run. It's usually a pretty level playing field in my opinion, in that while there are very consistently strong teams, there is a lot of room for teams to advance quickly and everyone has a shot at success.

Team 1540, the Flaming Chickens, is a Chairman's-winning team that does a lot of outreach to new teams: every year they host FIRSTFare, a day-long workshop geared to rookie teams but with lots of helpful workshops for veteran teams as well [fundraising, public relations, mechanical and software]. That happens every October and should be well publicized on the oregonfirst website.

Oregon recently passed legislation to fund FRC teams located at public high schools, to the tune of several $k I believe. I'm not sure of the details [if it was a one-time event or not] but it would be worth looking into.

Oregon's Regional Director Deb Mumm-Hill is a great contact if you are looking for more info.

[SenorZ]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

I can't let you do that, Dave.

Don't leave California! It's the best state in the world! Plus, if you left, Rsisk would be sad.

Leaving CA is not something to do on a whim, that is for sure.

Originally Posted by princessnatalie

Well...
but if you happen to want to move to Camas WA my school would love to have you...

Thank your for the invitation. Do they let students do the hiring?

Originally Posted by rsisk

You can also check out www.oregonfirst.org for contacts in Oregon. The first image I saw when I went there was "Mentors Needed"

I saw that, but wasn't sure... seems they are looking for industry professionals, but I will look into the site in more detail.

Originally Posted by Bethie42

Oregon's Regional Director Deb Mumm-Hill is a great contact if you are looking for more info.

I will email her and see if she has any hot tips, and possible ask her to keep her ears open for any in the coming months.

I really want to thank those of you that responded for taking the time to consider my situation. My reasons for wanting to leaving CA are personal and philosophical. I still want to teach, and I still want to get involved in robotics. Having just started a team here I feel especially guilty for even considering leaving. Its nice to know that wherever I end up (or even if I stay) that there is a strong community of FIRSTers out there.

[Bob Steele]

If you can't find what you want in Oregon... come a little further north!!
Washington awaits... 94 FRC teams this year...and still growing..

Glad to help in your job search if you need it..

I am also a physics teacher and run an FRC team.
Aviation High School
Skunkworks Robotics..1983
Seattle

[DonRotolo]

...or move to Montana. Grow dental floss. With your zircon-encrusted, pearl-handled tweezers...

(Does this reference show my age?)

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

(Does this reference show my age?)

Zappa is timeless.

[rsisk]

Old man fist bump - Love Zappa!

[Fe_Will]

Originally Posted by princessnatalie

Well...
Depending on where you are in OR you will get into very different situations.

I am from SW WA and my mother is a teacher in Portland. I cant tell you if any place is in need of a new Physics teacher (but if you happen to want to move to Camas WA my school would love to have you...) but as far as FRC teams go, they can be found all over OR.

If you want a prestigious well off well funded team go to a private school.
OR public schools (esp Portland) have a lot of funding issues, but the teams there are super eager and fun to work with.

Plus the Pacific Northwest is the best place to be(:
Good Luck(:

Team funding situations are relative to structure, support and capacity. I also take offense to your blatant generalization.

Regarding the OP: Ill send you a PM with some info that may be useful.