Teachers IMPUT NEEDED

[MOMOFMNM]

Thanks!! I recently applied for a position at a school and it had been so long I did not think I got it but I emailed the principal yesterday and she says she wants to interview me. My question is this...how easy is it to get four days off during school for our already paid for trip????? The airline tix are non refundable and we are getting free dining because our dates are Sept 28 thru Oct 3!!! I am now concerned about all of this...any advice is appreciated. I have been a director of a daycare for many years and sometimes people would tell me in advance if they had upcoming plans but a school environment seems more serious than childcare IMO...

THANKS again for any help.

 

[klaubaugh]

I am a teacher in Michigan and getting four days wouldn't fly around here. We do get 2 personal days that we could use, but beyond that we wouldn't be able to take any additional time off.

 

[polyfan]

Teachers around here get 1 personal day each semester.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

maybe I should have been more specific with my post...I applied for a teachers associate position...do they have the same rules as a teacher???

 

[polyfan]

Around here they do.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

ok thanks...guess I will have to see what happens.

 

[polyfan]

In our school system, it is really up to the principal. If he/she goes along with it then there is not a problem. I know of a teacher that took 8 school days before Spring Break off because they went to China. Personally, I think that is too much time out of the classroom, but any way it was allowed.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

yes I figure this much but I will be in a bind if I get this job hmmmm....well I will A. Have to see if I even get the job and B. Probably be honest with the principal if she decides to hire me and let her know of my vacation plans that I had paid BEFORE I got hired and see if she will work with me on that. I guess it all depends on the position and the school's policies. Thanks again

 

[ntburns22]

My mom is a TA. She took a week last school year. She used 2 personal days and the other 3 were non-paid. She has also been with the district for 19 years. I think being a new hire it may be tricky. Good luck with your interview.

 

[nemomama]

This wouldn't fly in my district. Teachers hardly ever even call in sick. In fact, I think it is not allowed to use personal days for the purpose of vacation - personal days have to be approved.

Good luck to you.

 

[soccerchick]

This wouldn't fly in my district. Teachers hardly ever even call in sick. In fact, I think it is not allowed to use personal days for the purpose of vacation - personal days have to be approved.

Good luck to you.

Glad I don't work in some of your school districts. So what's a personal day supposed to be used for then? Teachers usually don't get actual vacation days. They get sick days and personal days. Here they don't care what you use for what. If you have earned the days, you can take them.
While I almost never miss school (maternity leave two years ago, no days used since then), life does sometimes happen from Sept. to June. and teachers, who are human, need to be out. While not optimal, with good lesson plans and a good substitute the students will survive.

To the OP - just be honest. The principal's reaction and handling of your request, either way, will probably tell you a lot about her/him and if you want to work for that person. Good luck with the interview.

 

[Tink123]

Be upfront and tell them that you have planned and paid for a vacation that is during the school year.
Are you going to cancel the trip if you are not allowed to go?
All you can do is aks, the worst they could say is NO.

 

[8 Ears]

I am an Ed. Tech and took a week off in December to visit WDW. Long story short, we were given the trip. Even with that I had a stern warning from the Assistant Super to not miss any more time than I needed to the rest of the year.

I would be up front during the interview.

Best of luck to you!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Be upfront and tell them that you have planned and paid for a vacation that is during the school year.
Are you going to cancel the trip if you are not allowed to go?
All you can do is aks, the worst they could say is NO.

I don't think I would cancel but I would hate to loose or miss out on a good job that I have waited for and wanted and would be great for me and my family, on the other hand, I had this planned and paid for long ago and will not cancel the trip. I want a good job...but I do not need to work. It will all work out the way it should, I am praying for a good interview! I already know the principal, my kids go to the school and I graduated from the school and have a friend who teaches 5th grade there so I think my chances are good...not to mention the 10 yrs experience and college education. I think that is pretty darn good for an associate position anyway. My dh says see how it all goes and that if I am honest and upfront and the principal really likes me and thinks I will do a great job then she will work with me. We shall see, I will let everyone know how it all works out for me.

 

[Shagley]

I do not work in the educational field, but I would think that this would be a special situation since you had the trip planned and paid for before you had any idea you would be interviewing for this job. I think if you would make it clear to the Principal that you would not make a habit out of planning vacations during the school year, but this trip is non-refundable and was planned before you knew you would be working for the school system. I wouldn't even mention it though until you are offered the job.

Good luck on your interview!!

 

[holden]

where i teach, we get 2 personal days per year (10 sick days). personal days cannot be used for "recreational purposes" Or for interviewing for another teaching job.

 

[golfgal]

Since the trip was planned before you even interviewed for the job, arrangements can be made, most likely taking the time off unpaid, during the interview. I know when I got my first teaching job I had a wedding planned that year, mine, and they were more then happy to make accomodations for the wedding and honeymoon. I would just mention in your interview that this trip has been planned and paid for for quite a while and you would need that time off and you are ok taking it unpaid if necessary.

 

[JoyG]

We get 5 personal days and 12 sick days a year. We need a good reason for taking sick or personal days before or after a holiday, other than that, you can pretty much use them for whatever you want...with that said...It's an unwritten rule that you don't ask for days off in September (the first month of school) unless it's a dire emergency...As a TA, the teacher will be counting on you to help establish her routines/procedures in the classroom during the critical "honeymoon period" in the beginning of the year.

I'd let the principal know your situation at the interview. She might be ok with it this once, but I'd expect September would be off limits from then on out.

Joy

 

[tatooed goofy]

First of all, good luck on your interview.
Second, I would be really honest in your interview. If you do not intend to do this in the future and tell them this was planned before the job posting, they may understand. You could possibly take the personal days you are given and then nonpaid the other. Personal days are just that personal. You shouldn't have to tell anyone why you are taking them. Honesty is always the best with the interview and why you need 3 days (you said) off.
Good luck on everything.

 

[Alexander]

Geesh, I'm glad I teach where I do! We get 5 personal days and can use them for whatever we choose. I took a full week last May for my sister's wedding in Florida. It is requested that we not take days just before or after a holiday or school vacation, but even then, I usually take the last day off before our spring break to get a head start on our WDW trip.

Just let the principal know. Be upfront, if it's meant to work out, it will, if not, then it wasn't meant to be.