Teacher bailing 8 weeks into the school year

[Jessica14]

Having taught for many years, I have had the experience where parents have complained that teachers should have planned their pregnancies for delivery during the summer. Parents were not happy with me when I had to go to China to adopt my child! We actually had a parent tell a teacher who miscarried four months in that it was sad for her, but good for the class. I don't like job hoppers either and I had two principals leave midyear as well. Bottom line is you have to do what you have to do and everyone will adjust.

And talk about disruptive, one of the teachers who serviced special ed kids, died mid year at 24 years old of cancer. The whole school was devastated. That was a tough recovery. Getting another job will be Ok.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

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 too am the wife of a teacher. And in the 19 years he has been teaching (high school math,) the times they sure have a-changed. Once upon a time, teachers stayed in their position in their district for the duration of their career. With budget cuts and slashes in state aid to schools, you're absolutely right - there is no longer any loyalty on the part of administration towards teachers. Teachers have the right, just like any position in any field, to change jobs/districts if and when the opportunity arises.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

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.

So it sounds like she works year-round then. Did she actually get paid over the summer? If what you are saying is true, there would never be an optimum time for her to leave. There would always be new students coming onto her caseload.

I think you are out of line being 'mad'.

 

[aaarcher86]

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.

Looks like you'll just have to get over it. It's done. The lives of the kids she works with don't trump her own.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

OP it is none of your concern why the teacher is leaving.
Get over it move.
You say it is not because of illness or new job for hubby...WHAT CONCERN IS IT OF YOURS IF IT IS...you said you will update if YOU FIND OUT. Seriously GOSSIP GOSSIP GOSSIP.

Probably leaving because parents drive her crazy with things that aren't their business!

 

[Metsfan520]

Looks like you'll just have to get over it. It's done. The lives of the kids she works with don't trump her own.

Exactly.

 

[U2_rocks!]

The thing is, if she's leaving for a position in another district, that means that the other district lost their teacher for whatever reason so that the position became available. Imagine how relieved those other parents are that a replacement has been found so quickly! You can't please everyone, that's for sure.

As to why the teacher decided she had to grab THIS job, even though it was in the middle of the term and disruptive to her students ..... you don't know the details of her previous employment, or the details of her new job offer. There may be reasons she would never mention in a letter for why she jumped ship. Even if there was no drama but it was simply that the pay was higher or she'd always wanted to work in that district but never had an opening there before (so she took what she could get until there was) .... it's still her decision. You don't know why she changed jobs so often - there can be many reasons, all of which are her business.

Sure it's an inconvenience, and it's natural to be unhappy about it. But it's not reasonable to be disgusted with her like she's done something wrong.

 

[minkydog]

We got a letter from my son's caseload teacher that she's leaving next week for a new job in a new district. She's been in our district a bit over a year. This will be incredibly disruptive to this class of special needs kids.

When I was in school, no teacher left midyear other than for pregnancy.

Frankly, I'm disgusted. But then I'm not one to quit in the middle of things.

When my son Christian was about 7, the teacher in his Severe/Profound Intellectual Disabilities class went missing on day 6. Just didn't show up. The principal couldn't reach her and even when to her address. She looked through the window and all the furniture was gone. I don't know if she ever found the teacher, but obviously, there was a crisis in that classroom. Thankfully, she found the most wonderful substitute--a man with not one shred of special education background! But he had a heart for the kids and within 5 days he had the class under control and making headway. He even got Christian potty-trained, something we never thought would be possible. Mr. Tom turned out to be the best teacher Christian ever had.

I hope your principal can find someone wonderful to take over. I know how disruptive losing a teacher is to the kids, especially when they have special needs. Let's pray for a quick resolution.

 

[jodifla]

So it sounds like she works year-round then. Did she actually get paid over the summer? If what you are saying is true, there would never be an optimum time for her to leave. There would always be new students coming onto her caseload.

I think you are out of line being 'mad'.

Transition process starts in January the year before. So for many of the sixth graders, she's been planning Jan. through June, then Sept. Oct. actually with them. I don't think she worked over the summer.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

I personally don't think I would be disgusted in this situation. You certainly don't know the whole story.

You say she's had three jobs in as many years.

Coming from the are I live in, that sounds like none of her jobs are considered "permanent". I have multiple teacher friends, and only two of them have permanent positions. And they're both older.

As for those that aren't permanent, they go where they need to go, latching on to any job, whether it's for four months, a year, or even just subbing. If she didn't have a permanent position and this opportunity arose and it was permanent, I would commend her for using her head and abandoning her current position in order to establish a career that can not be ended because another teacher has come back from extended leave.

During my high school years, I remember a teacher leaving halfway through the year on mental health leave. He left because the administration was singling him out because of his sexual orientation. When he came back, he was not the same man that he used to be.

So he disrupted his classes by leaving halfway through - but to this day, I still think his own wellbeing, be it mental health, financially, or otherwise is more important than sticking to the bloody end.

 

[ellone]

We got a letter from my son's caseload teacher that she's leaving next week for a new job in a new district. She's been in our district a bit over a year. This will be incredibly disruptive to this class of special needs kids. When I was in school, no teacher left midyear other than for pregnancy. Frankly, I'm disgusted. But then I'm not one to quit in the middle of things.

You have no idea what she is going through. There may be things going on in your district behind the scenes that is making her life miserable.


My sister was a teacher a a magnate school for half a year. She had a lot of inner city kids that were uncontrollable. Administration could not help her. She was having a mental breakdown from dealing with these kids - there was no way she could make it through the year.she quit because it was what was best for her.

 

[jodifla]

When my son Christian was about 7, the teacher in his Severe/Profound Intellectual Disabilities class went missing on day 6. Just didn't show up. The principal couldn't reach her and even when to her address. She looked through the window and all the furniture was gone. I don't know if she ever found the teacher, but obviously, there was a crisis in that classroom. Thankfully, she found the most wonderful substitute--a man with not one shred of special education background! But he had a heart for the kids and within 5 days he had the class under control and making headway. He even got Christian potty-trained, something we never thought would be possible. Mr. Tom turned out to be the best teacher Christian ever had.

I hope your principal can find someone wonderful to take over. I know how disruptive losing a teacher is to the kids, especially when they have special needs. Let's pray for a quick resolution.

Wow! That's something. I'm glad they found such a good replacement. It's interesting they could hire someone without a sped certificate though. I didn't realize that was possible.

Will it be the principal, though? My sense is that the special services dept. hires special ed. teachers.

I am hopeful for a silver lining.

 

[barkley]

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.

so true-a good friend and her dh work for the same district. it's a nail biter every other year for her b/c special ed is budgeted on a 2 year cycle in her district, and with changes to what has to be provided vs. unanticipated increases in costs they often don't know what is happening with staffing until well into the fall of school year #2.

she was recently telling me what a massive increase her health insurance is taking come January 1st, and that they anticipated some staff would jump ship for other districts with considerably lower employee share of costs at their earliest opportunity. comes down to dollars and cents-teachers have to be able to support themselves and meet their financial obligations just like everyone else.

 

[Couchy]

We got a letter from my son's caseload teacher that she's leaving next week for a new job in a new district. She's been in our district a bit over a year. This will be incredibly disruptive to this class of special needs kids.

When I was in school, no teacher left midyear other than for pregnancy.

Frankly, I'm disgusted. But then I'm not one to quit in the middle of things.

As harsh as it sounds the teacher has a responsibility to herself and her family before her students.

There are many reason why she might leave and take a different job.

1. Many many districts are cutting and she may be the first to go. Even if it is not her exact position, if another position in the same area is cut and she is lower seniority, she is out and the other teacher gets her job.... it is scary to be low on a list right now in teaching.

2. Other district may have different start and stop times. Even if its 10 minutes, that could mean a lot in terms of her families schedule.

3. It may be closer to her home. Even by 10-15. That is 20-30 minutes a day she saves in commute and gas $$. That is a lot of time & $ for her family over the course of a year and career.

4. The other job may have additional opportunities for her.

5. The other job may have better benefits.

I don't think it is selfish for her to take a better opportunity. She went to college, got her degree and probably has her masters, took all the certification tests and deserves to put herself in the best position available for her not you and your family.

It is a bummer that it happened during the year but she does not choose when the opportunity comes up and frankly these types of opportunities are few and far between in this day. If she doesn't take it now, she may never get another chance.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'll start off by saying that I'm a teacher in Florida so I'm familiar with the profession and students with special needs.

While I agree with the majority that say that you can't be upset with this woman for choosing an option that's better for her, I'd definitely like to emphasize that it sounds like this will be BETTER for your child. Based on your post, it seems like she is unsure and unhappy at your child's school. There is almost nothing worse than a teacher who dislikes their school or their job.

It sounds like it will be better for everyone that she moves to a new school and at the end of the day, that's all that really matters!

 

[meggiebeth]

I really don't see the problem with a teacher moving in the middle of the year. They have a life. They shouldn't turn down an opportunity because they don't want to 'inconvenience' their class. Sure it might be an inconvenience but it is also good to show kids that change should be expected in life.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Mkrop]

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

That is in an ideal world. Obviously life is not that simple. Someone left the other school so that is why there was an opening. If something happened with a teacher in your school, an accident etc would you not want the school to replace that person asap.

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.

You have no idea, there is no reason to tell you, and frankly it is none of your darn business.

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.

Sounds like a waste of energy. Spend that engery working with your child and helping the new teacher. What's done is done.

 

[msjprincess]

It's annoying but I can't blame her. I don't know how it is where you live but where I live teaching jobs are hard to come by. I wouldn't expect a teacher to turn down a job they really wanted. It may be years before they get another opportunity.

My sister turned down a job not long after she was certified because it was far from home. Four years later she's still looking for a full time job and kicking herself for not taking the other job.

 

[firecracker725]

Anyone who faults a person for leaving a job without knowing the whole story is just wrong. You have no idea the circumstances behind it. And frankly, it is absolutely none of your business. Period.

 

[declansdad]

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

The same time to give birth, between school years.