Teachers - When do you go to Disney?

[RJBMickey]

Do you go during the school vacations? Or do you take days off during the year to go? What time do you prefer to go to the World?

Just asking because I'll be going to college to become an elementary school teacher next year, and wanted to see if I'd still be able to go at the same time my family and I go now (September-ish, haha) when I become a teacher.

Thanks fellow dis-ers

 

[Debi]

My school district does not allow vacations during the school year, so I'm limited to summers and school breaks. I'm definately in the minority, but I really enjoy traveling to WDW the week between Christmas and New Year's, so my district's policy doesn't bother me much. I vacation to WDW one week in the summer and the week between Christmas and New Year's - it works out well!

 

[Sinderelli]

I always go during our Mardi Gras break. We went in 2003 during Thanksgiving- never again! Way too crowded. Our school does not allow personal days for vacations but I know some schools have a much more lenient policy.

 

[michellev]

I'm another who works in an area where we cannot take personal time for holidays. Honestly, I wouldn't anyway. We travel at Christmas and Spring Break.

 

[teacups]

Whenever I want to.

See sig

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I'm not a teacher, but I know that there are teachers in our school system who have gone against the rules and taken personal and/or sick days to go on vacations.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I go mid-August, usually the 3rd week.

 

[dimimi]

spring break

We can't use personal days for vacations. My kids go to school in the same district that I teach in...so I wouldn't have us all lie. Spring break has always worked for us because our spring break is not the same week as Easter.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

spring break

We can't use personal days for vacations. My kids go to school in the same district that I teach in...so I wouldn't have us all lie. Spring break has always worked for us because our spring break is not the same week as Easter.

We can, but 1. we only get two personal days, 2. they can't be used at the same time or you have to forfeit $ for the second, and 3. we have to pay our sub whenever we take a personal day.
So I never take mine. Besides, it is more work to be gone than it is to be there. You won't want to leave your kids any longer than you have to, anyway---they really need the consistency.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Regardless of whether or not your school district allows personal vacations during the year, I don't think it's ethical.

Last year I was a sub for the district where I am currently interning, and no matter how well prepared the sub is, you are losing instructional time. You will have students with disaiblities in your class, and it is hard for those students to deal with any kind of break in routine. It is hard for districts to find subs, especially long term, and you are putting the academic achievement of your students at risk. I have a feeling as you progress through your education toward your certification you will change your mind about taking time away from your kids to go with your family to Disney.

The other issue is that the first month is absolutely critical in establishing classroom management. It sets the tone for the rest of the year. Missing too much time during that first month is going to make it difficult for you later.

So, welcome to the world of being an adult! While it would be cool to go with your family in September, you're going to need to find a different time that won't conflict with your school's calendar.

 

[Kathi OD]

I usually go during the NJEA Teacher's Convention (held on the first Thursday & Friday of Nov) and tack a few personal days onto it. This year I'm going at the end of January and using my personal days.

I'm in a pretty unusual situation, as I teach in a county detention center. Most teachers are on a 10-month contract, but most of the teachers in my district are on a 12-month contract and work 205 days, with 200 student contact days. At the detention center we (all 5 of us) are also on a 12-month contract, but it's 220 days, with 217 student contact days. Every teacher (in the district) has a teaching assistant who is a certified by the state to substitute, so if you are out, they take over the class.

Teaching in a detention center is much different than a regular school. Everyday there are new students in your class. Students who were in class yesterday, might not be there today. Therefore, choosing to go to WDW in September really wouldn't be any different than me going in August, March, or November.

So while the district frowns upon us using our personal time as vacation time, the only time they'll deny the request is if you want to go during a state-mandated testing period.

 

[daisyduck123]

Whenever I want to....I use my sick days & personal days.

The most I've ever used in one year was in 2006. My kids & I each missed about 12 school days during the course of 2 WDW trips that year.

**Early May is a wonderful time to go!!

 

[Pigeon]

I don't know any teachers who can take non-school vacation time. Dh is a teacher and we usually go during the Feb. break if we are going. It stinks not to be able to go off season as we pay top dollar and deal with huge crowds. But that's part of the deal in being a teacher.

 

[Pixiedust34]

My dh is a teacher and we go to Disney during the summer. He can't take off for a vacation during the school year.

 

[IDoDis]

DH and I are both teachers. We take our family vacations early in the summer. We used to have a 4 day weekend "fall break" and went a couple of times for a long weekend, but now that fall break is only a weekend, plus one extra day. The only other times off we have are the 2 week Christmas break and a week around Easter, both of which are high season. So we don't even attempt to go then.

Our school year runs from early August to around the 22nd of May. When we go to Disney, we leave the day school gets out or the day after that so we can have a few of our days with low crowds before the Memorial Day crowds show up.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Whenever I want to.

See sig

I think she means teachers who went to college and have a certificate (or 2 or 3) saying they are qualified.
I have gone Christmas, spring break, and summer. My district does not have winter break and goes from 2 weeks prior to Labor Day until first of June. My DD's recital is June 20 so that takes us to late summer.
We did spring break last year and are doing it again this year because the districts where I live and work have the same vacation. When we have different breaks it has to be summer.
Robin M.

 

[JoyG]

I went the week before Labor Day one year and it was awesome. No crowds at all.

I did have to go in to work very early to set up my classroom. I went in the week before I left because school started the day after I got back.

 

[michellev]

I went the week before Labor Day one year and it was awesome. No crowds at all.

I did have to go in to work very early to set up my classroom. I went in the week before I left because school started the day after I got back.

I was wondering how the last week of August would be. We'll have to try that, I'd love to go when it's not so busy!!

 

[Sonya]

I refuse to go in the summer anymore, I just end up tired and cranky. It is way too hot. I really liked going over Thanksgiving break. We left Tuesday night and got home Sunday night. The weather was wonderful and the crowds were OK, the airport was busy though!
I've only done Christmas break once, but I would do it again. I just miss hearing the "Disney" music. I get sick of the Christmas music.
Usually we plan on going during spring break. It is usually with Easter, but we have managed to deal with the crowds.

Our school district is one that doesn't let you go on vacations.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I'm a second grade teacher, and my husband is an SRO in a middle school. We both just took off a week at the end of September to go to Disney. We have personal days that can be used at our discretion. We also cleared it with our principals last (school) year before we even booked the trip.

We went back to school in July, so my kids were already in a routine. I made sure I had a well-qualified sub and extremely thorough lesson plans, and my sub did a great job keeping the students on track.

Now, would I leave for a week every school year? Absolutely not, but I don't see the harm in making an exception every now and then.