Living in Saint George, Utah

My dad lived in SG for a while as I was growing up and I would visit often throughout summers. I fell in love with the city! He's since moved away but now that I'm almost done with college, I've been thinking about moving there. I have a few questions- is there a good market for high school teachers, specifically high school English teachers? Also, what kind of social community is present for somebody who isn't religious? Thanks in advance!

Ironically a neighbor of mine who is a teacher here was addressing several of these topics this morning. I assume you know the pay level here? She claims the pay is bad, not just compared to CA where she comes from, but in comparison to SLC. She says that the administration and the school board know it is a supply-demand thing (people want to move here) and thus take advantage by not paying as much as other school districts. Her husband, who is retired, and she want to live here for other reasons, thus she accepts the low pay which makes her a perfect example as to why they do not pay much. This is a Chinese immersion teacher from the bay area that is use to making a lot more money. Upside is that St. George is progressive enough to offer Chinese immersion. The elementary and high school charter schools I know are 2nd to none featuring Tuacahn as one of the top public performing art schools in the nation. I have developed routes on the walls above this school. Just one example of how the climbing is integrated into the town.

She claims her young cohorts can barely if even afford to live and teach here. Supposedly real estate is more expensive than northern Utah and Vegas. The cost of living in my opinion outside of real estate is pretty damn low.

Religion is what it is any where you move. I have polygamists friends (I was in CO City yesterday delivering a horse) just like I have atheists friends. No big deal except for one major issue if you are working for the man (non-independent). Mormons get promoted over non Mormons, Government, schools, hospitals, that is just going to be reality in this state. It is what is preached at the pulpit every Sunday.

My neighbor of course was complaining about that and we all know families promote family members and the Mormon church teaches first and foremost to help your brothers and sisters within. So as I have told other young nurses, teaches, etc., it is one thing to get a job in Utah, another to get promoted as non LDS, if that is your desire. Mormons have been so persecuted through the years, made fun of, whatever, that they don't even cross invest with others except on rare occasions.

My neighbor is my age and she is just waiting to draw a pension. Her and her husband like living here the same reasons we do. They are not Mormon nor does she expect the same treatment at work. If you are cool with that, you will be hard pressed to find a better location weather and beauty wise for 9 months out of year while you are working. However, you would be a fool not to hit the road during your summer break and avoid the 90 days of 100F+ temps.

Buy your pot from CO (The Black) and your liquor from NV (Red Rock). Neither are far.

Good Luck with it.

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damn Austin....straight to the point!
I too love StG but I see it the same way I see so cal, fun on vacation but everyday living? hmmmm not so sure.
Have you looked at Vegas?

Thanks to all for your input! Financially speaking, I will be living alone and modestly, so I would rather choose a place I care about with a lower pay scale over a place that I don't care for with higher pay. My dad actually worked at Tuacahn when he lived there so I am hopeful that I could aim for a position within that specific high school, but we will see. I know employment there is very competitive.

And I have considered Vegas but I think it's just far too large for me to ever feel comfortable. It's funny, I see Vegas as you've described SG - a lovely vacation destination but not a place I would consider for a home.

Austin - I'm assuming based on your comment that you are Mormon (please correct me if this is wrong) -- In all honesty I'm very uninformed when it comes to the Mormon faith, but I respect it and have no problems with it. I'm just curious if somebody who doesn't participate in church-related activities would have a hard time forming a social circle - would you have any insight into that? Thanks!

hope you don't like to dance:

good4utah.com/news/local-ut…

I lived in St. George and Cedar City for close to 7 years. The living was incredibly inexpensive and the amount of recreation available locally is hard to beat. I had a pretty dynamic social scene through work (Wilderness Therapy and Outdoor Ed Programs), which made for a really fun place to live during my 20's.

Long term I had a hard time finding career opportunities in my fields of interest. This and aging out of the outdoor ed social scene led me to look elsewhere (I moved to Oakland, CA). Overall, if you are into the outdoor pursuits both Cedar and St. George have pretty good social scenes, though it can be tough to find people if you aren't at least a little extroverted.

I found that the religious community was open and typically easy-going. Yes, the LDS Church can be insular, but the people I met were warm and welcoming. I had a number of friends there in interracial marriages and in the LGBQT community that have had negative experiences, but I believe the area as a whole is becoming more progressive. That being said, don't expect amazing amounts of racial and ethnic diversity.

If you are flexible with locations, I would look at Cedar City as an option, I have a number of teaching friends who found positions at the college up there that really enjoyed their experience.

Give me a call at Tuacahn HS. I am the new principal - just moved from Nashville, TN. with my family. A bit of culture shock but totally doable, especially with the outdoor action...

dwilliams (at) tuacahnhs (dot) org

tuacahnhs.org/

You might consider living in St. G. and commuting to Mesquite NV. Many educators do this because of better pay. You will have the same professional BS to deal with no matter where you work. Kids are kids though, all pretty cool dispite who their parents are, we only get weird after we become adults. Best wishes! Roy

Does Grand Junction interest you? I heard they were looking for high school teachers.

At least you can eat at el coyote churro!

Austin Baird wrote: Stick to bloviating about climbing, name dropping, referring people to Summit Post, making up bullshit complaints about climbing areas that other people call you on publicly, and breaking the law by pirate guiding in Red Rock and leave the explanations about Mormon business practices to people who aren't (1) insufferable blowhard douchebags and (2) ignorant about the subject.

Why all the hate, Austin? Did this guy do something to you? Couldn't you just disagree without all the insults?

I doubt that your bitterness is representative of all Mormons.

oldfattradguuy wrote:At least you can eat at el coyote churro!

quoted for truth.....just be careful with their "salsa"

Question for those in St. George, is there a climbing gym there? I found some references, but can't find anything definitive.

Not sure about St G but SUU has a rock gym in Cedar

Roy Suggett wrote:Not sure about St G but SUU has a rock gym in Cedar

had...
.
The College PE building has "a wall", like when you go to the fair.

My 0.02 cents - Avoid St. George and go to Vegas. You'll increase your pay by 60%, and if you want to hit up St. George, its 1:45 up the road. But with increased earning power and decreased living expenses of Vegas you'll actually be able to retire. Also follow D. Williams advice, you've got to leave during those hot months, which is much easier to do if you have an income that would allow it. St. George is incredibly aesthetic though, and Zion being an hour away, the temptation to stay in S. Utah is very real. Vegas is hiring teachers though, and looking for more.

662 teaching positions need to be filled right now,
indeed.com/q-Teacher-l-Las-…

Any of you fine upstanding individuals wanna climb? I'm free every day of the week.

Why would you want to live in the US? Please change the subject to "Canmore, Alberta"