Teacher bailing 8 weeks into the school year

[Grumpy's Gal]

With all that's happening in the world today, I'm THRILLED for anyone who can get a better job, better benefits, or just be happier about their job situation etc.

Who knows -- maybe she's going to get some additonal education and this job change will help her be closer to her class, or maybe this new job may put her closer to an ailing loved one or in some other way just make her life easier. It's really no one's business except for her and her family.

 

[Hrhpd]

I am absolutely serious. Everybody here doesn't realize it, but you've really encouraged me.

Color me confused.

An entire thread disagreed with you viewpoint. Which by the way, unanimous agreement is a very, very rare occurrence on the DIS boards.

An entire thread is encouraging you to let it go, move on and telling you that you have no basis in your anger or judgement.

And this inspires you to go complain?

Very confused.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

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

I'm going to suggest that you might consider speaking with a professional. It is obvious that this is causing you a lot of stress and believe me , kids pick up on that.

Life happens. Unfortunately,It doesn't always go the way we want.

 

[Hrhpd]

This is definitely the model I grew up with and the high standards I hold teachers to.

Sadly, everyone seems to have lost their standards these days.

And teaching jobs have changed these days.

25 years ago, you were pretty much guaranteed to be in the building come September.

Now a days, as a person mentioned previously, many teaching positions are termed "temporary." Which means the hiring period is for one school year and there is no guarantee of returning in September. The teacher often does not know if she has a job until late in the summer when the number of registered kids comes in.

If the teacher finds a permanent position, they are crazy not to jump and take it.

It is not the standards that have changed, the job has changed within today's budget woes.

 

[sam_gordon]

OK, I'm confused...

1) You say the teacher should stay until the "job is done", but later say she'd be working with your son for three years. Does that mean the job isn't done until he goes to HS?
2) You say you son "joined" with this teacher in April. Who did he work with before? Didn't he have to switch to work with this teacher?
3) Back to April, even if you got out in June, that means she only had 2 months (at most) to work with him. But you're complaining because it will take 2 months for a new teacher to "get adjusted"?

I HIGHLY recommend printing out the following and reading it (as well as follow it) every day...

 

[LiveYourLife]

I am absolutely serious. Everybody here doesn't realize it, but you've really encouraged me.

Well, please pass along our congrats on the new job to her while you're at it, OP!!!

This is probably one of the most over the top reactions to a situation that I've read on the DIS in a long time. It's sad actually. That poor teacher is probably going to get ripped up one side and down the other. For no reason at all.

 

[nym4588]

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.

Her reasons for leaving are none of your business and I wouldn't recommend going to the school in order to throw a temper tantrum. Instead, perhaps you can turn this into a positive and use it as a teaching experience for your child.

 

[npmommie]

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.

I agree, you should homeschool. And you dont have to be a teacher to homeschool, you could do it if you wanted to, even with working there are ways. I know plenty who do it.
Then you could do things to suit your family how you want.
If you choose to utilize the school then you have to realize you give up some things. They are out of your control.
I understand your disappointment.

 

[Ember]

Ooo, I can one up the "bad" teacher. I'm planning on leaving half way through the next school year. My admin is well aware of this, as are many of the parents in the school.

OP, get over it. The world does not revolve around the needs of you or your child.

My mum's oncologist changed part way through her treatments. We were a bit concerned, but not "disgusted." He had been there from the start and knew her history, her issues, etc. But the new oncologist was great. In her case it was her health and well being at stake. However, we knew that while the doctor cared about his patients, he wasn't owned by them.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

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.

How can you judge here? She got a new job. She is NOT obligated to list the reasons. I am a teacher, and I almost left midway through a school year 20 years ago to work at a bookstore due to the insane parents I dealt with all year. We could NOT do anything RIGHT.

 

[hunner]

Is this school a charter school? Depending on the state you are in, a public school teacher would have a contract that would have to be broken to take a new job. However, charters are different and everyone is at will. That means less job security and less stability. Some states also do not require year-long contracts, so the same thing applies.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

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

There are lots of parents that have quit working to home school.

 

[sam_gordon]

Is this school a charter school? Depending on the state you are in, a public school teacher would have a contract that would have to be broken to take a new job. However, charters are different and everyone is at will. That means less job security and less stability. Some states also do not require year-long contracts, so the same thing applies.

I would assume if the teacher was under some kind of contract that prevented her from leaving, the principal would have let her know.

 

[MidwayState]

It used to be easy for a teacher to stay, they got treated well by the administration and the parents. Now they get second guessed all the time by the higher ups and parents are "disgusted" when they want to leave a job. And some parents feel they have a right to go and complain to the teacher when the teacher wants to leave the job.

And in case anyone's interested, I'm not a teacher. Nor do I know any or am I related to any. I just read the threads here on the Dis and I have sympathy for teachers.

amen amen amen. My sister is a teacher and they make very little money for putting up with parents that refuse to have their backs on anything these days. I would want to bail out as fast as I could as well if I were dealing with the op's kind of logic on a daily basis. I'm going to go way out on a limb here and assume this probably isn't the first thing that the op has complained about. Going and complaining is only going to put that red flag beside your name as a person to watch out for. If you want the reputation as some kind of zealot whose child no one wants in their class then by all means, complain about something entirely out of your hands just for the sake of complaining. I would think it was better advice to wish the old teacher well and welcome in the new teacher with open arms. It will get you much further than all the negativity. I know my sister wouldn't be ready and willing to go the extra mile for someone known as a troublemaker. Just sayin.

 

[jodifla]

Update: I didn't speak to the teacher but I did speak to the principal in order to understand what happens next for his class -- and I wasn't the first person who called. Other families have already set up meetings with this as yet un-named incoming teacher. I now have all the background on teacher's motivations, etc. (And I did not ask for it; it was volunteered.) Nothing remotely tragic; more along the lines of a "dream job."

The good news is that this was no temporary job, as so many speculated; and since it was posted on Friday, there have been more than 60 applications for it. There should be over 100 by the time they start interviewing. There will be much less time with a sub that I was anticipating; they will be able to move fast.

I am hopeful that this time they are able to fill the role with a dedicated teacher who actually wants THIS job and isn't just using it as a mere steppingstone to the next job. Since there are so many applicants, I want it to be his/her "dream job" for the sake of the new teacher and all the kids in her class.

For those who tried to understand, even a little bit, thanks! And thanks to those who offered unique perspectives.

 

[sam_gordon]

Update: I didn't speak to the teacher but I did speak to the principal in order to understand what happens next for his class -- and I wasn't the first person who called. Other families have already set up meetings with this as yet un-named incoming teacher. I now have all the background on teacher's motivations, etc. (And I did not ask for it; it was volunteered.) Nothing remotely tragic; more along the lines of a "dream job."

The good news is that this was no temporary job, as so many speculated; and since it was posted on Friday, there have been more than 60 applications for it. There should be over 100 by the time they start interviewing. There will be much less time with a sub that I was anticipating; they will be able to move fast.

I am hopeful that this time they are able to fill the role with a dedicated teacher who actually wants THIS job and isn't just using it as a mere steppingstone to the next job. Since there are so many applicants, I want it to be his/her "dream job" for the sake of the new teacher and all the kids in her class.

For those who tried to understand, even a little bit, thanks! And thanks to those who offered unique perspectives.

I'm glad you're satisfied. Speaking for myself, I understood your concern and disappointment, it was when you said you were disgusted, mad, entitled to judge, and implied you were owed a reason that crossed the line.

I'm willing to wager the teacher that left didn't anticipate the other job opening (or her getting the job) so quickly. Plans change. When I got a job in my field halfway through my junior year in college, my plan was to last a year and a half, graduate, then go on to "greener pastures". I'll be celebrating my 23rd year the beginning of December.

 

[jodifla]

There are a lot of unemployed teachers in this state. I hope it's one of them.

 

[Becky2005]

No, he would keep a caseworker the whole three years. The transition process started last January for most kids; it was about April for my son.

Wait...then by this logic, she couldn't quit for 3 years since every new student once assigned has the same case manager for 3 years.

Goodness!! All my younger kids have IEP's and I can not tell you how many times we have had different case managers, different speech pathologists, different OT (the school district themselves changed companies they get OT from, so my kids got a different OT when that happened).

One of their case managers moved to Texas! Would have been a heck of a commute to finish off the 3 years.

It's a transition but there are always transitions in life no matter what. We had one teacher who got cancer, yep...kids had to adjust.

I hope the new teacher works out well for your child.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I have to chime in here since I'm in sort of a similar situation.

My DS18 w/Asperger's is a senior this year. He's been strictly in special ed classes since 6th grade. In the spring, he toured the occupational center that is open to high school juniors and seniors. He absolutely fell in love with the place. He especially clicked with the teacher of the video production class and begged us to let him sign up. It's a totally mainstream environment and his current special ed teacher felt he was up for the challenge. He goes to his high school in the mornings and takes two classes. Then he takes the bus to the occupational center and spends 3 hours in his video class. He loves it and got an A on his 6-week progress report. The teacher has really spent a lot of time and effort figuring out how and with whom our DS works best. He's really thriving there.

Last week, we found out the teacher is being promoted to vice principal of the school. He will be involved in searching for and training a new teacher over the next month or so. Are we disappointed? Sure. A little I would love it if the current teacher could continue for the rest of the year. Are we disgusted? Not even close. I have no reason to expect that he should turn down a promotion. He was voted teacher of the year last year, so I'm certainly not surprised that he's been promoted. I trust that he will choose an outstanding teacher to take his place, and that he will help all of his students make the transition.

It's life. Teachers come and go. They move. They change jobs. Our special needs kids are going to face lots of transitions in their lives. This is just one of them.

 

[jodifla]

Wait...then by this logic, she couldn't quit for 3 years since every new student once assigned has the same case manager for 3 years.

Goodness!! All my younger kids have IEP's and I can not tell you how many times we have had different case managers, different speech pathologists, different OT (the school district themselves changed companies they get OT from, so my kids got a different OT when that happened).

One of their case managers moved to Texas! Would have been a heck of a commute to finish off the 3 years.

It's a transition but there are always transitions in life no matter what. We had one teacher who got cancer, yep...kids had to adjust.

I hope the new teacher works out well for your child.

No, I would not expect a 3 year commitment. I was expecting her to fill out the school year, though.

We've had various resource room teachers, speech teachers, OTs, subs, etc. etc. etc. etc. I've not complained in the past.

This will leave the 12 students she is responsible for to be rather on their own until a new teacher is assigned, and then also after that until the teacher is acclimated. (Our school has it set up so we are only able to message the caseload teacher.) So as of next Thursday, I have nobody to communicate with at the school.