Lost my teaching job today UPDATE page 7

[poohfriend]

Not trying to impose my faith on you, but my favorite scripture says that all things work together for the good to those that love God. You just gotta believe that this too is for a reason --that this will be for the best even though it doesn't appear that way now.

I was thinking the same thing as i read the OPs post. When someone who obviously loves what she does looses a job, I have to believe something good will come from it. Hoping that good comes sooner than later...

 

[roadtripper]

Thanks everyone-- I am a person of faith, too, and did a lot of praying before leaving my other job. So I am hopeful that it will all work out in the long run. It just feels really yukky today, and despite knowing that it was based on seniority and not job performance, it still feels personal. Blech.

 

[comicguy]

At my school we are loosing 2 FT Spec Ed positions 1 FT Tech position and in each core area the lowest person got cut 20%. I am sorry that this is going on for all the people affected. It just sucks!!!

 

[NemoMOm]

 

[SOnotLayuh]

Good luck. Things will turn out okay! It's just time that you touch the lives of some other students.

 

[Poohbug]

I am sorry that you lost your job.

I am also sorry that the education system is losing so many good teachers that our kids really need. The classroom size has just become unacceptable. I don't know how teachers can really teach with 30+ students. I really hope that the US education system can move forward, start hiring back good teachers and give our kids an education that is competitive with the rest of the world.

 

[Deesknee]

I am so so sorry to hear this. DH lost his job a few years ago,after 23yrs in the same company. All I can say is things happen for a reason, even though it never seems that way lately. I will keep you close in my thoughts & prayers. Good luck.

 

[labdogs42]

That is awful! I'm so sorry that you are losing your job through no fault of your own. Are there any private schools in your area that might have ab opening? I have a feeling that with all these cutbacks at the public schools, private schools might start becomeing more popular soon! I hope you find a great job soon. Good luck and hugs to you!

 

[momof1princess]

i am so sorry please know you're not alone. a good friend of mine graduated college with a teaching degree in 2008, now has her master's, is considered "highly qualified", and STILL can't get a teaching job. she has applied at every school in our district for every position that has come open. in the meantime, she is substitute teaching and works pretty much every day-there's always someone calling in sick or needing a maternity leave somewhere. perhaps this is an option for you until you find something permanent? good luck

 

[Wendy*Darling]

I am so sorry to hear that. I hope that this means there is something even better around the corner for you. All of these cutbacks in education are scary,. Our district is having to cut over $100 million from next year's budget.

 

[cm8]

, hope you can get something else

 

[mlittig]

I am so sorry Have you thought about a parochial school at all? Please let us know how it goes and keep looking for that open window

 

[frtchr]

I'm so sorry, OP.

 

[southbarringtonjen]

One of the larger districts by me has a war zone of a school where a teacher was brutally attacked and lost her eye. Just one year later they got rid of her in budget cuts. We should be like most other education systems in the world that start eliminating the dead weight and funnel them into trade schools. Take the public burden off educating those that don't want to be there.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

I'm so sorry to hear that :-( I hope you find something good very soon.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

One of the larger districts by me has a war zone of a school where a teacher was brutally attacked and lost her eye. Just one year later they got rid of her in budget cuts. We should be like most other education systems in the world that start eliminating the dead weight and funnel them into trade schools. Take the public burden off educating those that don't want to be there.

Really good point. Not every kid is destined to be a college-bound white collar up-and-coming manager. Our education system could very much use an overhaul. I can't even express how grateful I am to be in a really good school district and to have kids who pretty much fit right into the mainstream. I feel for those who have to fight tooth and nail to get/find appropriate education for their kids. I think we should encourage trade schools a lot more in general. People can make a great living in the trades and a lot of kids would thrive in a track like that.

 

[tinkabella627]

I am so sorry! I know how scary it can be with the bumping. It almost happened to me last year and I am still low on seniority so every year I fear it will happen to me. BUT... are there any teachers in your entire district with less seniority than you? I know in our district you can bump anyone with less seniority in any position you are qualified for. Maybe there is a position in another school. You would have to look at your district wide seniority list and then go from there (of course, then bumping someone with only a year or 2 of experience... but sometimes you have to look out for yourself). Good luck!!

 

[EKW]

It makes it worse when it's just your position! Is the district going to offer you something else or do you have to apply as if you were new to the district?

I've lost my job, too. 25 years of teaching...with a Reading Specialist certification. Like you, I changed jobs 3 years ago. I'm not the only one, tho. 50 people in my district were cut.

A few were picked back up for positions that emptied due to the cuts, but most of us our just plain out of luck. So far, there have been about 300 teachers cut on the Front Range in Colorado.

I've applied everywhere, but with a few exceptions none of the districts have money for reading teachers, and nobody needs elementary teachers.

One of my coworkers, the librarian, got hired by DPS last week. I'm still hoping, and telling myself that even tho this means I'll now be making $21,000 less than I did 4 years ago, a job is a job and I need to hope I get one!

As a single parent, this is not a happy thing.

Here's hoping that your district has something for you so you don't have to go through job hunting again!

 

[EKW]

I am SO SO SORRY!

Are you being bumped because you are union and have the least amount of seniority? I know I am making assumptions here but my husband works for a University and this is the way that the unions do it. He is not union but has voiced frustration because some really amazing employees get bumped so that individuals that have senority keep their jobs. I HATE that! Yes, I agree it should be a factor but job performance should have impact too!

Stand strong sister. It really will work out.

I don't know about the OP, but it's been 13 years since I worked for a district that honored seniority! Here, until you have begun the first day of work of your fourth contract they can cut you at any time (yes, even mid-year) with no warning, no explanation, and no apology.

All teachers who have been with their given district 3 years can be bumped by a teacher with 4 or more years, but after you get to year 4, seniority has nothing to do with it. They could cut a teacher with 15 years of experience and keep one with 4 years and there's nothing you can do about it.

This is not the same profession I entered. Back then you would retire with health benefits, often after just 25 years of teaching, and seniority meant something. None of that exists anymore!

 

[Katy Belle]

So sorry! Such a shame! Hang in there