Ranting here!!

[maridee]

Be forewarned!

I searched long and hard for somewhere to vent my feelings, so here it goes!

For those of you who may be offended, you need to either skip this post and put on your asbestos underwear!:eek:

My name is Maridee and I'm a new member here.

I voluntarily resigned my Special Education teaching position last spring [school year ending May 2007]. It was either resign or seriously hurt my immediate supervisor, witch that she is. Let me explain....

My supervisor for the past two years was much younger than I, a nice-looking woman who thought very well of herself. For the first year at the school district, we got along fairly well and I looked to her for guidance because I wasn't truly qualified to teach SpEd. {I am now, BTW.}

I worked my derriere off, trying to create lessons and to interest my students in learning but making it fun along the way. The school district--very rural, very small tight-knit community :rolleyes:--provided me with absolutely nothing in the way of teaching materials.

I was using text books, dictionaries, materials that were a minimum of 20 years out of date and reading materials that were as old as 40 years!! This was NOT to say that some of the material couldn't be used. Actually, I used a large portion of it for review lessons and tried to tie it all into my students' grade levels.

Don't get me wrong--I loved my students! I tried the best ways I knew how to teach them on their level: even if it WAS 2 grade levels below their current grade in school. {Sigh! I feel like such a failure!}

There was a time or two when I disagreed with not only a fellow teacher but also my supervisor. With the other teacher, I made a few comments to her about one of our mutual students. She apparently didn't like it and took it as criticism.

And my supervisor? Well, it was one of those days when she and I had had a scheduled IEP meeting with parents that ran long and I literally missed my lunch time. She volunteered to watch my students while I ate and I returned to my classroom to pick up my lunchbag. While I was there, I had elementary students show up, as that time was their scheduled time to meet with me.

Being a new teacher, I thought it best to go ahead and provide for these students--never mind my growing hunger and the beginnings of a headache. I NEVER DID get lunch that day! Oh, BTW, who did my supervisor watch? Two high school students. In the computer lab. While she was doing other paperwork on another computer.

At the end of the school day--ravenously hungry and by now furious--I came downstairs and walked by the computer lab. There my supervisor was--still on the computer and talking to another teacher. I admit it. I was HOT :mad: I asked her none too politely just who she watched. When she told me, I just lost it.

I yelled at her for not watching the elementary students. I yelled because I missed lunch. Oh, she told me, I could have just sent the elementary kids back to their classroom while I ate. Oh, really! And when where you going to tell me that was an OK procedure?

I know--it was bad form to yell at your supervisor. I apologized the next day, of course, explaining WHY I was so upset. She told me she didn't realize I also had elementary students that same hour.

Now, you know, as my supervisor, she HAD my schedule. She HAD a list of students in EACH class, for EACH hour of the day. So how could she say she didn't know I had other students?! grrr@@##!!$$$!!!!

The following year, my supervisor started nit-picking: after working for hours on a student's IEP, she would return it and make me do it over. Not just once, but 2 or 3 times. She made me schedule meetings with parents in the middle of the school day because THAT was more convenient for her--never mind that the parents were working or couldn't get to school at the time she thought was "convenient." At one point, when I said this set of parents wouldn't be able to come because they were working, she said, "We can schedule meetings any time WE want to." She began dropping in at unscheduled times. She would NEVER call me when I had my plan time--she'd call whenever she felt like it! And what was worse--the secretaries at school would put her through to my classroom! (Any teachers out there ever try to control a class while you're on the phone? It doesn't work!)

I voiced some concerns to my principal. And what did HE do? Turned around and told my supervisor what I said. And then I had to listen to her witch me out over the phone in the middle of my class because she was SO MAD she was practically screaming at me!!

I used resources I had bought with my own money to help me because my supervisor never bothered to explain. I drafted my own forms to use because the school district had nothing and my supervisor snatched 'em to use elsewhere. (AND, I suppose, you think I ought to be flattered by that old saying, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." HA!)

The second to last straw was when she referred to one of my students who had one of those names that could go for either a boy or a girl. The supervisor called the student "she"--it was a BOY! And continued to refer to the student as a female. She didn't even know which student I was talking about!

But the LAST STRAW was at a meeting when my supervisor kept talking over the head of a parent, using those four-syllable catch phrases we teachers sometimes use [that's because we know what we're talking about!] My supervisor was running this meeting--she apparently decided that I didn't get to give any input at this point. I was gritting my teeth because I could see the dad looked like he'd been kicked and stomped when he found out his boy's IQ was not normal. [And yet the child was performing well academically.] Mom (who was a teacher in the school district) could only hold Dad's hand and be there for support. I couldn't believe my supervisor was so unfeeling.

Several months later, I resigned, effective at the end of the school year. I told the principal I wanted to return to a regular education classroom. I would have been willing to stay in the same district, but there were no openings.

Ever since, I've been looking for a teaching position. I've interviewed at least 8 times. All to no avail! {And it didn't help that I fractured my leg this summer and for several interviews was limping heavily and leaning on a walker!} At least, however, I made the attempt to be at an interview and look presentable. [BTW, my leg healed, but I still limp slightly on occasion: I'm probably going to be a human barometer from now on.]

My #1 question: Is my former principal bashing me when someone calls for a reference? I have a nice letter from him. My teaching evaluation was good.

My #2 question: Is my former supervisor stomping me? She is actually NOT on my applications as a reference. Has my former principal been giving school districts HER name?

My #3 question: WHY isn't anyone hiring me? I'm a good teacher. I like teaching. I am qualified to teach grades 1-6, high school Social Science and Special Ed K-12. Do administrators look at my qualifications and say, can't afford her!? I'm not asking for some astronomical salary--that is, if I can get ANY kind of response from a school district. I call. I send in applications and all other related paperwork.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!!

I'm losing heart--and faith.

Now I'm uninsured. {I have to pay all those bills from my fractured leg because my school-district insurance has lapsed.}

Unemployed. My husband died 2 1/2 years ago with complications from colon cancer.

Major crisis #1 here: I had to replace my failing foundation on my house. I raided my long-time savings so I wouldn't have to take out a loan.

Major crisis #2: I had planned to remodel my kitchen and had already ordered new cabinets before I found out I had to replace the basement. I couldn't send the cabinets back, so I'm in debt up to my eyeballs to Lowe's ($$,$$$) [yeah, THAT much.].

Major crisis #3: My daughter is in the same boat with me! She is also a teacher, but the school district chose not to renew her contract (Never said why, of course) and she's ALSO looking for a teaching job. AND not finding one. She had 4 small children and a husband who's working his butt off at a new job in construction trying to make ends meet. He's also facing a lay-off due to weather for at least 8 weeks. And this is HER last week to draw unemployment!

My spirits are low and my prospects are dim.

I've spent 2 1/2 years putting myself back through school while my husband's health was failing, trying to get into a growing (at the time) Education field.

I spent 2 years teaching. Except for the disagreements with my previous supervisor, I really DO enjoy teaching.

Is THIS the end of the line for me?

What do I do now?

Maridee

[wig]

Well, it does sound like you are having a rough time. I know you said this was a "rant" and we all need to do that at times. At this point I would just let your experience from last year go. You had a good eval and a good letter from the principal. You could drive yourself nuts wondering if she is giving your supervisors name to the other schools. You will probably never know.

One thing you could do is ask the schools that did not hire you what you could do to interview better. It is probably too late now, but I know of others who have gone back and very nicely asked why they were not hired. Usually the answer will be that the other candidate was more qualified, or whatever, but still just hearing why the other candidate was chosen can help you. Often it is nothing personal at all. I will say this: I have been on hiring committees before and if the candidate says anything negative about their former place of employment, we generally did not consider them. AND if you are in a state like Michigan where there are few jobs available will not help.

I am so sorry that your finances are so bad right now. I can certainly understand why you are so stressed out. how are you supporting yourself? Are you subbing? Usually those with SPED certification can find sub positions easily. Is relocating to an area that needs teachers (like the Carolinas) an option?

What is most important right now is to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Don't let last year's experience eat you alive. You can't change it.

[Chef Dave]

I am sorry you had this experience.

Insofar as so much of teaching has to do with our personalities, I tend to think that each school is different and each collection of faculty is also different. Sometimes teachers are a good match for a school and sometimes they are not.

If you still feel that teaching is the right thing for you to do, you may want to update your resume and identify all school districts and private schools in your area that you could apply to.

December is after all, the time of year during which some teachers resign. Spouses get transferred, people get sick, family emergencies occur ... there are many reasons why teachers might leave their jobs.

I understand that you own your house - but have you considered the possibility of selling it and moving on? Your job prospects will be significantly improved if you're willing to relocate anywhere.

Last August, I relocated from Pennsylvania to Arizona.

You could do the same thing.

There are lots of teaching jobs available - especially in large cities. Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, and Philadelphia all have persistent job vacancies for qualified teachers.

[mopar]

Definitely begin by taking care of yourself. And after an interview always send a thank you card and follow up with a phone conversation about what you could do better in an interview. I did that a few times and was finally able to land a job.

If the principal really is saying bad things, you can file law suits. Past employers are not allowed to say certain things about employees. So definitely worth asking after your next interview.

[maridee]

Thanks for all the tips from all of you! As I said, I really needed to vent!

Out of the interviews I have had recently, only TWO principals called to notify me I hadn't been hired. Turned out in one case they hired the student teacher already in the school system; the other case, they told me was the #2 choice. {#2's gotta try harder...} The others, I never heard a word from again.

Yes, I am subbing, but unfortunately it's not on a regular basis. It would be nice to fill in for someone on maternity leave...{sigh}

And yes, in my state (which will remain nameless), there are a couple (read: 2) of positions that have opened because someone's spouse got transferred. I've applied both times; one place I never heard from and the position is now removed from the state-wide teacher jobs site; the other is the principal who called and said the Board hired the student teacher.

Unfortunately for me, Chef Dave, I can't relocate. My children and grandchildren are here--and so is my aged mother who has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Wig, the only bright spot--or at least a dull glow--is the fact that I receive a small stipend monthly, part of my husband's estate. It's enough--just--to pay the bills.

Mopar, hindsight is 20-20 but I'll remember next time to call back and say "thanks." I've always said thanks at the end of the interview, but sometimes I think the people who interview aren't paying attention at the end. They've already made up their minds almost at that point. {I know--I can see it in their eyes.

Well, just wish me luck!

The next Teacher Employment Fair held at the college from which I graduated is not until March next year. But I'll keep my ears and eyes open...and get a few friends to do so too.

:) Maridee

[Chef Dave]

Maridee!

It sounds as though you're feeling much better? True?

Hang in there!

Use this time to update your resume. Organize your portfolio.

If you're subbing and have frequently been at a given school, talk to the building administrator about your availability. If you're on good terms with an administrator, ask that person for a letter of recommendation to add to your portfolio.

When thinking about a job, consider the possibility of a private school.

Best wishes!

David

[mopar]

When you do interview for a position, use as many examples of how you do something. For instance, if an interview asks how you incorporate hands on learning into the curriculum. Give a specific lesson where you do something like that. Be as specific as possible.

And no matter what, always drop off the applications in person. Don't just fill out the online app, drop off a resume at the school and try to meet the principal.

As you are subbing in different schools, leave a resume with the principal after you sub their a few times. Many times schools higher subs to fill teaching positions the next year.

[teach1027]

There are orginizations that you can pay to checkk your references for you they are kind of pricey, but if you need to know, then I guess it's worth it. This happened to me 2 years ago, I did not hire the reference checking service, but I did look into it. I ended up teaching at a private school, less pay, but insurance and a paycheck nonetheless, there are also charter schools that you could check into to see if they are hiring. Re apply, lots of teachers retire mid-year. Keep trying, it will work out in the end. Remember everything happens for a reason.

[kingrichie]

Whooo! You go. Let it out.
My uncle used to say, "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Sometimes, I believe revenge is in order.

[Spectre]

What a rotten deal.

I recently extricated myself from a very frustrating situation and while I am now out of that place, I still suffer from a fair amount of residual anger. I am determined to get past it, though, as brooding over past injury seldom helps.

I cannot believe you haven't found another position. An experienced, qualified special education teacher. School systems in my state are going bonkers trying to find people like you.