So, in the eternal job-search process, I applied to a school district to get into their sub pool. There was an online questionnaire/test that I guess got me kicked out of EVEN BEING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER!!! Here is the email I received this morning:
Thank you for applying to substitute in the *** School District. As part of our new substitute screening process we are inviting substitute candidates to join our substitute teacher pool on a rolling and preferential basis. At this time you have not been selected to move forward in this process. However, we want to emphasize that as we continue to evaluate candidates you may be invited to join the substitute teaching pool in the future. You do not need to take any additional action at this time for further consideration. Thank you again for your interest in substitute teaching in the *** School District.
That is totally fine--whatever, but what was beyond irritating, is that this was a MASS email sent out to a total of 229 other people. NOT blind-copied. All of our emails/names were all included in this heartfelt and thoughtful rejection email.
As of now, three of the other teachers on this mass list have responded (reply all--oh the joy), and it has been entertaining to say the least.
There are some angry teachers out there.
I am glad I'm not the only one getting royally screwed over.
**Update** Here is the email we all received, but on a blind copy, so we couldn't "reply all" to this one.
Dear Substitute Applicants:
Unfortunately when our district sent an email to you today regarding the process of being a substitute teacher in **** Schools, messages that were intended to be directed only to you as an individual were mistakenly duplicated and forwarded to every one who has applied for substitute teaching.
We cannot correct the error that has occurred and can only offer that our intent was to communicate with each person individually about substituting for this next year.
I am extremely sorry this error has occurred and apologize for any embarrassment caused to you.
We want to make sure you understand that as the district’s needs are identified, the pool of substitutes may be expanded. We know that there will be individuals added as we review applications further.
We know that ***** Schools attracts many substitute applicants. In the past, we have been able to use less than half of the people who have registered to substitute. The intent of this new process is to advise all applicants of their status so they know whether they may need to consider other options.
Thank you for considering **** Schools for substitute teaching assignments. Again, we apologize for the electronic error from earlier today.
Questions about your individual applications can be directed via email to the Human Resources Department. Please address your message to:
****
Executive Director HR
Or
*****
Associate Director HR at
Sincerely,
**
Executive Director
Human Resources
Oh yeah...I feel so much better.
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4 comments:
oh my, thanks for giving me a chuckle. this is so classic with education and bureaucracy. i love it! i mean it's really sad though. you deserve to be treated better.
Dude--look at these email responses:
So, was the whole point of taking that survey only to add your name to the list of the automatically generated rejection e-mail ? Also, carbon copying all of the e-mail addresses of my fellow "rejectees" ? That idea is about as brilliant as switching to AESOP. Well, sorry for the sour grapes e-mail. I was once pretty regularly requested in the North Clackamas SD and it was the first place (Rowe MS) I worked as a sub 4 years ago. I got a kid on the way and the last thing I need is to lose out on any opportunities to improve my chances of generating some income on any given day. Good luck finding work, everyone, and I apologize if it really bothers you that I sent this; I am kinda hoping the district receives an earful/eyeful for this.
SMF
Completely agree Mike. I have worked in the North Clackamas School District as a substitute teacher for the last 2 years and it has given me 90-95% of my sub jobs. I often go long periods of time never having to call into the AESOP system becuase I have numerous teachers that request me. You would think that the most important factor in choosing if someone would be a good fit in the North Clackamas School District, would be to look at the actual work that they have done in the district itself. Being requested on a constant basis by teachers in the North Clackamas School District, may be a good indicator that you could be a good fit in the North Clackamas School District. But i have a feeling they put alot more stock in other indicators such as the ambiguous and vague Insight multiple choice test. I also feel that Sped and ESL endorsements were probably also heavily considered, neither of which i have because i can't shell out another 20,000 dollars for another year of school. A principal i know in another district wanted to hire me last year but couldn't because i didn't have one of these endorsements. She mentioned that it makes the district and school "look good" when they can show off their percentage of teachers with special endorsements. She said most don't consider that you are a better or worse teacher if you do or don't have an endorsement, but it really is just about the title that the school and district can "show off". Just curious to how many of us "rejectees" (since they were kind enough to show the list of rejects to everyone) don't have a sped or esl endorsement? Like many of you, i will now be unemployed when fall comes and have no work to pay bills. Its a shame that I have so many teachers in the district that I was banking on working for this year but now can't. I will have to call them up and let them know apparently they all made a mistake in wanting me to substitute for them in years past, because apparently i'm not well qualified enough to be in the classrooms of North Clackamas Schools.
I've been with the district over 10 years and must admit I'm no spring chicken any more. I have great relationships with many teachers who only use me as their substitute. Like you I really had no need for Aesop because of my history. I believe they will be shocked when I make my phone calls to them explaining the situation. Your comments about the ESL endorsements were interesting-food for thought. I don't have ESL endorsements but I often subbed in those classes. Figured there was not enough "qualified ESL subs" out there.
Naturally I'm second guessing my answers in the Teacher Insight test. There were many questions dealing with the subject of recognition. By nature I'm just not one who really has to have it. And answered accordingly. Maybe there should have been questions about rejection too. Obviously the district felt it was ok to send out this 'pink slip' publicly. Maybe if I had answered that I really needed recognition this would not have been done this way.
But what's really bothering me today is that I won't have a chance to say good bye to some wonderful kids. Subbing in the same buildings for such a long time has created strong relationships. I've known the new 6th graders at Clackamas Elementary since they were in kindergarten. They hug me when they see me coming down the hallway. Anyone working in Title I schools know that consistency is so important. Those children have so much turmoil already in their lives. It's hard enough having a sub------for many of them. At least I was a smiling face they knew, they trusted.
So I'm confused too but mainly sad.
I feel devastated! I have worked for N Clackama School disrict for the last 2 years with nothing but positive responses. I have been told I am preferred in many cases. N Clackamas was my largest working district. I am a single mom and have no idea what I will be doing now.
I too wonder about those questions on the test. There was a question about if I have ever told a lie and I told the truth. Of course during the time I have been on Earth. I have. I wonder if on this test I should have. No, I need to live in this skin.
I feel this is unfair.
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