Teacher bailing 8 weeks into the school year

[kirstenb1]

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.

Here in Virginia, you can be a long-term sub if you have a Bachelor's Degree (not necessarily in Ed). I was offered a long-term job the second week of the school year, with a provisional status. I had to enroll in Education courses and be working toward my Masters. I actually declined that job, because it didn't fit our family's needs at the time.

I sub in Special Ed classes all the time. I have done long-term Special Ed assignments (not for the whole school year). In the beginning, I felt very unprepared, and I agree, I wish there were more available people out there with a Special Ed background. As a parent of a child with autism, I feel that my life experience helps to offset my non Special Ed experience. Coming from that perspective, Jodi, I can really relate about how long it takes a teacher to build up a repoire with some special needs kids. I'd be sad if either of my daughter's SPED teachers left during the school year, because it would set her progress back.

What are you gonna do, though? I do understand how tough this transition will be.

 

[Ginger Renae]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say she is leaving to avoid certain parents. Yeesh. I understand being disappointed, but you really need to get over yourself.

 

[design_mom]

My advice is to let it go and work on helping your son adjust. Make this a positive thing for him.

I agree. My DD does not do well with change, and teachers leaving mid-year would be very difficult for her. I understand your disappointment and trepidation, but it's out of your control. You need to focus your efforts where they will make a difference.

I am not a teacher, but I thought teachers were under contract for the school year. I understand sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances that would prevent a teacher from being able to complete the contract, but "I got a better offer" does not seem like a good reason. Still, that's between the teacher and the administration (or the school board, or whoever it is that deals with that sort of stuff) and whatever consequences, if any, there are for breaking the contract. It sounds like they've already accepted her resignation, and making a fuss won't change it.

 

[mrsklamc]

On a side note, this is pretty amazing. I can only think of ONE other thread in all my DIS days where every single other poster disagreed with the OP.

 

[TifffanyD]

Love this circular logic: Can't be mad unless I know the background, and I have no right to know the background!

yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

That's not a circle...

 

[wvjules]

Hmmm, with all of the school issues you have maybe you should homeschool? You could avoid common core and there would be consistency with the teachers since it would be you until he finishes school. Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

[jodifla]

I agree. My DD does not do well with change, and teachers leaving mid-year would be very difficult for her. I understand your disappointment and trepidation, but it's out of your control. You need to focus your efforts where they will make a difference.

I am not a teacher, but I thought teachers were under contract for the school year. I understand sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances that would prevent a teacher from being able to complete the contract, but "I got a better offer" does not seem like a good reason. Still, that's between the teacher and the administration (or the school board, or whoever it is that deals with that sort of stuff) and whatever consequences, if any, there are for breaking the contract. It sounds like they've already accepted her resignation, and making a fuss won't change it.

I was surprised at this as well!

I'm not looking for her to stay. As others have said, you can't make a person stay in a job they don't want to do.

 

[jenben8426]

I can definitely see both sides here. I wouldn't necessarily be disgusted, but I would be pretty frustrated.

Although we home school now, we didn't through my special need's son 2nd grade year. The first part of his 2nd grade year he had the same para that he had through 1st grade. About 3-4 weeks in she told me that she had gotten another job and that a new para was coming in. To say that the transition was rough would be an understatement. He also had a brand new special ed teacher and things just did not go well. Later I found out that she did not just get a "new job" but that the district decided to shake everything up not taking into account the relationships that were already formed. Now I have no idea what factors went into that decision, but I do know how we felt. That transition never really got us back to where we were prior to all the changes. That is one of the many reasons we decided to homeschool our ds--he now has the consistency he so desperately needed that he wasn't getting with everyone switching jobs in the middle of a school year.

While all of this was going on, in addition, during my dd's 1st grade year her teacher was pregnant and was due in the beginning of May so there was always the expectation that there would be a permanent sub that last month. She ended up going into early labor and delivered her baby 3 months early. We were so sorry to hear that this had happened to her and we all watched her blog for updates and did a lot to help her out. However, I couldn't help but be frustrated as I watched my little 1st grade dd go through an awful transition. The school was obviously not prepared for this to happen and they had a real problem getting a permanent sub. One day my daughter broke into tears saying she hated school now. Although they did finally find a permanent sub, I know my dd never rebounded to the love that she had for school during those first few months.

Teachers must do what is right for themselves and their families--there is no doubt in my mind about that. However, when teachers leave their jobs it is definitely hard on the students as well, and sometimes those students never bounce back which is frustrating for the parents. There is nothing that the OP can do to change the situation and I would say leave it be, but you do have the right to be frustrated--you just don't have the right to take out that frustration on that teacher.

 

[declansdad]

I was surprised at this as well!

I'm not looking for her to stay. As others have said, you can't make a person stay in a job they don't want to do.

What exactly do you hope to accomplished by complaining?

 

[ellone]

She doesn't owe you any explanation at all. Maybe she was tired of being judged; sometimes a lateral move is the best kind of move.

It could also be what administration allowed her to put in her letter. There could be more going on but the administration generally doesn't want the parents to know what really went on. Even if you confront the teacher they will not tell you what really went on.

Heck when my sister was let go from a private school where the helicopter parents made her job hell and the head of the department wanted to get her buddy in, the head of the department wrote the letter that went out to the parents. And what it told the parents was not the truth.

 

[jodifla]

Hmmm, with all of the school issues you have maybe you should homeschool? You could avoid common core and there would be consistency with the teachers since it would be you until he finishes school. Sounds like a win-win to me.

I work, so homeschooling isn't an option. (Home sick today.)

I am also not a teacher, more of an aide. I can assist what they do at school, but not do the main part of it, I've found.

This is likely the law of averages playing out. We had a terrible K teacher, then fabulous teachers from 1st through 5th. In fact, I think they got better every year. So this is a huge letdown.

 

[jodifla]

I can definitely see both sides here. I wouldn't necessarily be disgusted, but I would be pretty frustrated.

Although we home school now, we didn't through my special need's son 2nd grade year. The first part of his 2nd grade year he had the same para that he had through 1st grade. About 3-4 weeks in she told me that she had gotten another job and that a new para was coming in. To say that the transition was rough would be an understatement. He also had a brand new special ed teacher and things just did not go well. Later I found out that she did not just get a "new job" but that the district decided to shake everything up not taking into account the relationships that were already formed. Now I have no idea what factors went into that decision, but I do know how we felt. That transition never really got us back to where we were prior to all the changes. That is one of the many reasons we decided to homeschool our ds--he now has the consistency he so desperately needed that he wasn't getting with everyone switching jobs in the middle of a school year.

While all of this was going on, in addition, during my dd's 1st grade year her teacher was pregnant and was due in the beginning of May so there was always the expectation that there would be a permanent sub that last month. She ended up going into early labor and delivered her baby 3 months early. We were so sorry to hear that this had happened to her and we all watched her blog for updates and did a lot to help her out. However, I couldn't help but be frustrated as I watched my little 1st grade dd go through an awful transition. The school was obviously not prepared for this to happen and they had a real problem getting a permanent sub. One day my daughter broke into tears saying she hated school now. Although they did finally find a permanent sub, I know my dd never rebounded to the love that she had for school during those first few months.

Teachers must do what is right for themselves and their families--there is no doubt in my mind about that. However, when teachers leave their jobs it is definitely hard on the students as well, and sometimes those students never bounce back which is frustrating for the parents. There is nothing that the OP can do to change the situation and I would say leave it be, but you do have the right to be frustrated--you just don't have the right to take out that frustration on that teacher.

Thanks for your post. I appreciate the well-thought-out input.

 

[mrsklamc]

Teachers must do what is right for themselves and their families--there is no doubt in my mind about that. However, when teachers leave their jobs it is definitely hard on the students as well, and sometimes those students never bounce back which is frustrating for the parents. There is nothing that the OP can do to change the situation and I would say leave it be, but you do have the right to be frustrated--you just don't have the right to take out that frustration on that teacher.

I'm not certain of OPs opinion, but the bolded is what I get the impression she disagrees with.

 

[Ceila]

It may be partly the district's fault that there is a disruption in the teaching. The teacher may have given notice in the summer, but the district could have held her to a required notice. Many districts will waive the notice requirement in order to hire someone at the beginning of the year, thus avoiding a change of teachers. Of course, that isn't always possible, so you end up with a disruption.

As for the OP, I think she has no right to be disgusted. Disappointed, sure, but not disgusted.

 

[Mkrop]

I will! You all have convinced me I should!

What is this going to accomplish??? It is not going to bring Ms SoandSo back.

 

[gwynne]

I will! You all have convinced me I should!

Please don't.

Maybe work on having a positive can-do attitude. Kids get both verbal and non-verbal cues from their parents. If you want a good outcome, control what you can control.

 

[Hrhpd]

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.

And frankly, it is absolutely NONE of your business. I am sure her reasons are quite valid for her lifestyle.

And apparently, her contract does not state that she has to stay till the end of the year.

I suggest you deal with it. And quit having such a judgmental attitude over something you have absolutely no idea about.

 

[skatalite]

I work, so homeschooling isn't an option. (Home sick today.)

Right. Because you wouldn't want to let down the people you work with in order to make life better for your child.

(I'm just using circular reasoning.)

 

[blessedone03]

Hmmm, with all of the school issues you have maybe you should homeschool? You could avoid common core and there would be consistency with the teachers since it would be you until he finishes school. Sounds like a win-win to me.

I'm guessing there are some teachers that this solution would make very happy!

 

[Hrhpd]

No, if she left in June, that would be natural. And a teacher coming in would have 3 MONTHS to get up to speed.

How so?

Most teachers do not work over the summer. They start up usually a week before the students start.

So, if a new teacher is hired over the summer, their start date wouldn't be until the beginning of the school year. They would not have 3 months to get up to speed. They would start getting paid, have access to records, etc the same time as all the other teachers, at the beginning of the school year.