Dear, we are teachers.
For three years, I asked my principal to return to fifth grade, which is my preferred teaching level. Last year, he promised that next year (2025-26), he would bring me back to fifth grade. Last week I almost angrily said that if I continue to teach first grade, it would be “the best for kids.” I felt like he was using my kindness and willingness to help, and I was so angry that I was trapped in another year. Should I start looking for another school now, or give him a year (very clear expectations of what I want)?
– Take root
Dear SSA,
It’s a frustrating situation. Sorry, you discovered this very late this year. The feeling of your betrayal sounds totally effective.
Whether you are looking for a new job now depends on many factors. able Will you get a new job by the end of this year? Are you flexible in areas, grades, and salary, etc.? Is there anything else you have to do with your current school? It is understandable to leave as soon as possible, but it is not always a practical feeling, so consider your own happiness before going this path.
Either way, I think it’s a viable option to consider the future new roles (whether the next school year or the next one). Sadly, this principal has broken your trust. Even if there is a reason to get you into first grade (like they can’t find the right candidate), your feelings and preferences are important. Your principal ignores this fact and When he returned to the promise he made, he felt unsupportive and rude.
So if it were me, I would go to the old-fashioned: Making a list of pros and cons. What are the benefits of staying? Do they outweigh the negative factors including unsupported administrators? They may, but you really want to think about the long-term environment you want and whether that administrator can create or break it for you.
If you plan to leave, I will start sending the ducks in continuously. Build connections, update resumes and documents, and make sure you are ready for teacher interviews. “When” is actually based on what is available and whether it is worth it to you personally.
if you Do Stay here and I encourage you to get written confirmation of grade level by the principal (even by email). This may not be legally binding (this is based on state law and union contracts), but if you get burned again at the end of the year, you can point out that maybe you can use it to convince him if you want to stay and change his mind. Also, try to reframe as aggressively as possible. Yes, this is very frustrating, but if you can’t leave now, can you at least take something out of it? Would you miss a first-year student or something you want to learn? That way, in the long run, the year will still benefit, even if it’s not what you dream about.
Good luck, I believe in you!
Dear, we are teachers.
I’m in an interview for a teaching position and I want to impress. I know it’s important to ask thoughtful questions at the end, but I’m not sure what the administrator is really looking for when they open the floor. Any good questions to ask me about my serious performance in this role, which can also help me understand whether the school is suitable?
– Intervention interviewer
Dear iti,
Congratulations on accepting the interview! I sent you a lot of good atmosphere and hope it goes well.
Here are some great resources for what to ask here and what to look for here. Remember: Interviews are an opportunity to see if the school is suitable younot only the opposite. So while you want to take it seriously, you can do it truly by asking questions about what you are worth as an educator.
One thing to consider is the importance you place in your school culture. Student relations? Friendship? cooperate? feedback? I will ask questions to help you determine the appearance of the school. For example:
- How does a school establish a positive relationship with students and their families?
- How does the school cultivate friendship and cooperation among teachers?
- How to support cooperation in school culture?
- What is the teacher’s evaluation process like? How will I get feedback?
- How is the professional growth of educators? What support is there?
- Do teachers have opportunities to grow? What are these opportunities?
Another thing I have done in the past requires not only visiting the school, but also having informal conversations with other teachers, especially teachers in my grade or subject area or students. Although these conversations are not necessarily Private– You don’t know if they will share your request with the administrator – You can learn about the school culture of potential colleagues or students.
Good luck, I believe in you!
Dear, we are teachers.
I’m a sophomore teacher and have had a tough year with health status – I’ve used all my sick leave and have a very bad disease that has moved me beyond the allocated time. I just received a letter from the board saying I had violated the time stop policy, but I really think I submitted everything correctly and didn’t know I should follow another process. I had doctor notes every time I missed and was panicked because I didn’t even know what I was doing wrong. Can I really fire it for this?
– Sek and Fear
Dear SAS,
Oh no, I’m sorry to hear this. Being sick is difficult and worrying about your work is absolutely not helpful. It’s been a tough year for the health of many educators (I wrote this here) because health problems are usually worse this year. Also, working in a room full of kids doesn’t help.
For your specific situation, please contact your union representative first if you are a union member. Your union can help you manage some letters, advocate on your behalf, and even provide legal representation if the situation escalates to this point. Since this seems like a misunderstanding, I hope it can be easily solved.
If you are not part of a union, I would ask to talk to someone in the HR department. Be as calm and collect as possible. Although you are sorry after your absence, your doctor’s notes have real medical problems. Ask them if they can help you understand the paperwork issues so they can be solved. While this situation is understandable, causing you to conflict, and transferring this frustration to others may not necessarily solve the problem. They might say you need to take leave without paying or applying for the Family and Sick Leave Act. Your policy depends on your status and the terms of your contract.
If that doesn’t help, I suggest trying to find a way to get legal support. Since your problem is actually a medical issue documented by the doctor, you want to be able to find some support. Generally speaking, illness brings some protection.
Good luck, I believe in you.
Do you have a burning problem? Send us an email at AskWeareTeachers@weareteachers.com.
Dear, we are teachers.
I think that every year, this is the summer when I don’t do anything to school! “Every year, I end up being attracted to PD, agreeing to help with some summer workshops, or saying “yes” to projects I really don’t want to do. How do I stick to this year’s “no school allowed” boundaries?
– The dream of disconnecting
