not sure what to do??

[forensix1]

:mad: Hi i was reading on your website [ thread = rant], and all of you seemed informed, i have been looking throughout the internet and can not seem to find any info what so ever on the following: ready; i have been teaching in New England for 11 - 12 yrs and in that time a new chairperson came in after the old chairperson retired, i know redundant [p.s. forgive my spelling, all i see is red right now] Anyway this new chair appears to hate me with the fury of ten thousand suns and i don’t know why?? Prior to her becoming chair i thought everything was fine but 6 months into 04-05 year and massive blow out!!! I reflected over Feb vacation:rolleyes: and went on from there to try to let bygones be bygones…and POW again. I lose all my classes, one’s I created at the request of my old dept chair to bring tech into schools, & I am handed my next years schedule and it is the schedule of a first year teacher, no offense, but i did those classes, put in my time and now i am back at the beginning again. I am not snobby or uptight its just that you put 4 - 5 years into a class you create [ it was all online no textbooks and we go to autopsy’s and stuff, it was forensics and it was cool and growing:cool:] and it is handed to another teacher thats been there 1/8th as long as you have and you have to pick up their core classes, so they can teach your created elective class and ... well something doesn’t seem right. Last year it starts again now I get hauled into meeting after meeting for the stupidest things, I know I sound paranoid, but I have not received as much as a slap on the wrist, or verbal, written reprimand, because i always clarify the facts and “oh its a misunderstanding” how many misunderstandings can there be in one school year, i almost quit!! Anyway didn’t mean to vent my spleen, as the saying goes but i was wondering if any of you knew any web sites that may be able to help me. I have tried several different avenues to get this new chairperson off my back, but she won’t stop!! And this year it started again...{did I run over her cat in a different life:confused:}, I have actually got an attorney outside the union because I feel she is approaching harassment and i do not and will not put up with it!!! By the way I noticed you guys had spell check, thanx, 4n6one

[Chef Dave]

If I understand you correctly, you want your department chair off your back for what you allege is a series of petty harassments?

Have you talked to your building administrator?

[maridee]

Have you considered that maybe your new department chair actually WANTS you to resign?

Ouch--I'm sorry to hear you lost the courses you designed. Not only is it an insult to be demoted so to speak to teaching core classes but also an assault on your self-esteem, with all the hard work it took to create it. (Sounds cool--where can I sign up?:D)

I would definitely do what Chef Dave says--if not a building admin, then some kind of supervisor above your dept. chair: university admin? Dean of your school?

If this woman is truly harassing you--and it sounds like she is from what you've posted--then take steps to protect yourself:

1. Keep a log [day, time, place] of your meetings/discussions/confrontations, with a brief summary of what occurred.

If you can prove a pattern of behavior, so much the better--your lawyer will LOVE you.

2. Keep ALL written communications from your chair. Make/print out copies of e-mails, if necessary.

3. Keep both these things off-site, so that no one except you has access to them. Most institutions will regard anything kept on their property as "theirs," and should the situation turn 'sticky', you may be barred from returning to campus. And if you're unable to retrieve your 'proof,' there goes your case! Your evidence may be destroyed and then it's just your word against hers.

Sounds like a worst case scenario, but it happened to me while I was working for the state Prison system (a very crooked, corrupt organization).

Keep posting and let us know how it's going.

Maridee

[teach1027]

Is there anyone at the district level that you could go to to discuss what is happening? Are you the only one, or are there others, ask around and see you may be able to strengthen your case if there are others.