Teacher bailing 8 weeks into the school year

[jodifla]

If her ailing mother needs her she shouldn't move closer because it inconveniences you?

If her DH got a new job they should keep two houses and be separated because it inconveniences you?

If she is very sick and needs to be closer to the hospital she should stay put because it inconveniences you?

She should give up her dream job and stay where she is unhappy because it inconveniences you?

Sorry but I don't get it.

I would be frustrated too but why would you want an unhappy teacher? I bet the new one will be even better. Good luck!

This teacher just got this job last year! So she's had 3 jobs in 3 years -- and this is no big move. She's moving to a neighboring district.

But you are right, I don't want someone who doesn't want to be there teaching.

 

[Hrhpd]

The time to quit a teaching job is between the school years.

No.

The time to quit is when you find a better opportunity. Period. The opportunity may not be there in a year.

To expect something different of teachers than any other professional does indeed sound selfish and reeks of entitlement.

 

[jodifla]

Absolutely!

She has the right to better her life just like anybody else in any other job. Maybe it is closer, maybe it is better pay, better hours, etc. Since she has only been there a year, she is probably low man on the totem pole and knows of cuts next year. She has the right to seek more stability in her job. There are so many reasons she might have made the move, none of which is any of the parent's business.

I don't know of any job where it is frowned upon if move on to bigger and better things before a year is up.

Op - how would you feel if people were "disgusted" if you found a better opportunity in your field of work and took it?

Kudos to the teacher to seek better opportunities. The kids will adjust just fine, even kids with special needs.

I'm not a job hopper, so the idea is pretty foreign to me. I totally get wanting to switch jobs to move up, but for me, there is a time and a place.

My last job I was in 20 years, in my current job 6 years.

When a big year-long project came along, I put off starting a family so I would be there and not abandon my staff during the changes. I knew 15 hour days were ahead -- and they were.

And when we did move when my husband got a new job, I sent my husband ahead for 6 months, so I could help my job transition to the new manager. My son and I stayed behind.

 

[sam_gordon]

Our school system is very small and rural. I can't remember the last time a teacher left during the school year, so for some of us, it would be unusual (and yes, I realize we're very fortunate). And I do get that special needs kids do much better with consistency. I'd be disappointed too.

I hope her replacement is a great teacher.

I agree with "disappointed". In no way would I be "disgusted". Yes, the OP is coming off as selfish thinking the teacher should consider her students when making a life changing decision. And for all we know, she did. Whatever benefits came with the new job overshadowed the negatives.

 

[skatalite]

I'm not a job hopper, so the idea is pretty foreign to me. I totally get wanting to switch jobs to move up, but for me, there is a time and a place.

My last job I was in 20 years, in my current job 6 years.

When a big year-long project came along, I put off starting a family so I would be there and not abandon my staff during the changes. I knew 15 hour days were ahead -- and they were.

And when we did move when my husband got a new job, I sent my husband ahead for 6 months, so I could help my job transition to the new manager. My son and I stayed behind.

That's all well and good... For you. But not everyone is like you, and that doesn't make them any less professional or dedicated.

Such is life.

 

[mjkacmom]

The time to quit a teaching job is between the school years.

The time to get a new job is when there is an opening you are qualified for. Not being able to take on a new position during 10 months out of the year is crazy. This is a job.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

Before you judge, you need to know the facts behind her departure.

 

[jodifla]

Our school system is very small and rural. I can't remember the last time a teacher left during the school year, so for some of us, it would be unusual (and yes, I realize we're very fortunate). And I do get that special needs kids do much better with consistency. I'd be disappointed too.

I hope her replacement is a great teacher.

Thanks Kristen!

I do hope the replacement is great. But it is going to take him or her months to get up to speed on these kids -- so there goes months subtracted from my child's education.

It's laughable to me that people are comparing this job to any many other types of jobs. The amount of prep and commitment it takes is substantial. There's a start time and an end time, so yes, I expect professionals to stick with their job commitment until it comes to its conclusion, which is not at the beginning of a school year.

There's no sick parent, or husband's new job scenario that I know of. I will sure update if I find out there is.

The class was just now, two months in, getting into the groove of it -- the teacher's own admission -- and she leaves.

 

[louisianab]

Had a teacher do that in our district. Actually left because a different married teacher and she were "dating" and everyone knew it, including the students. Might be a blessing in disguise for your child.

 

[jodifla]

Before you judge, you need to know the facts behind her departure.

She sent a letter out, and it was basically, "Sorry, i got a new job. Good Luck to you."

So I feel pretty free to judge.

 

[sam_gordon]

There's no sick parent, or husband's new job scenario that I know of. I will sure update if I find out there is.

I'm willing to wager there's a LOT of factors in this decision that you don't know, and really, you don't have the right to know. There could be more money, better working conditions, a promotion, a shorter commute, closer to family, more responsibility, less responsibility, the list goes on and on.

You also don't know when the teacher notified the school. She may have given them a month or more of notice.

OP, I suggest letting this go. There's absolutely nothing you can do about this situation.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

So I feel pretty free to judge.

That is very apparent.

 

[pioneer89]

I'm not a job hopper, so the idea is pretty foreign to me. I totally get wanting to switch jobs to move up, but for me, there is a time and a place.

My last job I was in 20 years, in my current job 6 years.

When a big year-long project came along, I put off starting a family so I would be there and not abandon my staff during the changes. I knew 15 hour days were ahead -- and they were.

And when we did move when my husband got a new job, I sent my husband ahead for 6 months, so I could help my job transition to the new manager. My son and I stayed behind.

This is a good attitude to have if the company you work for shows an equal amount of loyalty back.

Sadly this loyalty to an employee has always been uncommon, and lately has been rare.

 

[soccerdad72]

OP, I suggest letting this go. There's absolutely nothing you can do about this situation.

ITA. Move on and don't linger over this.

 

[Janepod]

Good for her.

 

[MrsPete]

The time to quit a teaching job is between the school years.

In an ideal world, yes, but that's not always possible. Spouses get new jobs, living situations change, medical issues come up . . . for some reason, she wants to work with a friend in another district, she wants to move into a district where she knows a couple people will retire soon and leave openings, a better job came available for her, and that better job might not come along again for years.

You wouldn't complain about people in other jobs leaving. It's wrong to hold teachers to a different standard.

This teacher just got this job last year! So she's had 3 jobs in 3 years -- and this is no big move. She's moving to a neighboring district.

But you are right, I don't want someone who doesn't want to be there teaching.

If she's new, she's not all that entrenched in your child's education. I'm even less inclined to have sympathy in this situation.

Neighboring districts aren't always the same -- I would not teach in the county right next to me. And it may be more convenient for her, or it may be that her children will eventually attend those schools (that's a very big reason for teachers to move).

I do hope the replacement is great. But it is going to take him or her months to get up to speed on these kids -- so there goes months subtracted from my child's education . . .

There's no sick parent, or husband's new job scenario that I know of. I will sure update if I find out there is.

Let's think logically instead of being upset: This teacher had eight weeks /2 months to get to know these kids; yet the new teacher will require "months"? Having taught for more than two decades, I can tell you that it takes about a week and a half to get a handle on my new classes in the fall. At the week and a half point, I know all the names (for 90-something students), have picked out the slackards, have picked up on those who need extra help. If you get a straight-out-of-college teacher, it might take him or her longer, but you're giving lots of credit to a teacher whom you barely knew and are setting yourself up to dislike the replacement.

As for sick parents, new job, etc., let me point out the key words: "That I know of". You'll probably never know just what facilitated this move.

 

[jodifla]

In an ideal world, yes, but that's not always possible. Spouses get new jobs, living situations change, medical issues come up . . . for some reason, she wants to work with a friend in another district, she wants to move into a district where she knows a couple people will retire soon and leave openings, a better job came available for her, and that better job might not come along again for years.

You wouldn't complain about people in other jobs leaving. It's wrong to hold teachers to a different standard. If she's new, she's not all that entrenched in your child's education. I'm even less inclined to have sympathy in this situation.

Neighboring districts aren't always the same -- I would not teach in the county right next to me. And it may be more convenient for her, or it may be that her children will eventually attend those schools (that's a very big reason for teachers to move). Let's think logically instead of being upset: This teacher had eight weeks /2 months to get to know these kids; yet the new teacher will require "months"? Having taught for more than two decades, I can tell you that it takes about a week and a half to get a handle on my new classes in the fall. At the week and a half point, I know all the names (for 90-something students), have picked out the slackards, have picked up on those who need extra help. If you get a straight-out-of-college teacher, it might take him or her longer, but you're giving lots of credit to a teacher whom you barely knew and are setting yourself up to dislike the replacement.

As for sick parents, new job, etc., let me point out the key words: "That I know of". You'll probably never know just what facilitated this move.

Actually, no. Because she's a caseload teacher, she's been working with all of her kids through the transition to middle school. so it's been about 4 months for my kid, even longer for others, like 6 months that she's to have been familiarizing herself with their cases, attending transition IEPs, etc.

She is the point person for my son and his five other teachers (plus her) as they change classes, etc. So I imagine he'll have some sort of sub for the next month, then another new teacher.

It will likely be January before they settle in.

The more I think of it, the madder I get.

 

[erin1715]

As the wife of a teacher, there is absolutely no loyalty on the end of the administration when it comes to teachers, so what if this teacher heard through the grapevine that her job would eventually be cut at the end of the year and this opportunity arose, so she jumped at it. In this economy, especially being a teacher, you have to jump at the best opportunity.

 

[jodifla]

This is a good attitude to have if the company you work for shows an equal amount of loyalty back.

Sadly this loyalty to an employee has always been uncommon, and lately has been rare.

You are right about this!

Loyalty is rare on both sides these days, and why American business isn't what it used to be.

 

[jodifla]

As the wife of a teacher, there is absolutely no loyalty on the end of the administration when it comes to teachers, so what if this teacher heard through the grapevine that her job would eventually be cut at the end of the year and this opportunity arose, so she jumped at it. In this economy, especially being a teacher, you have to jump at the best opportunity.

I don't see how this would be, given her particular job in special education, but you have certainly given me something to thing about.

Thank you.