9 more wake-ups...

And this nightmare schoolyear is over....

But, tomorrow is graduation, and that is sad. And, I love my students, so that is sad. If I could take out the grown-up parts (like dealing with other grown-ups) out of this year, it would have ROCKED!

I'll just focus on this for the next 9 days. :) I. CAN. DO. IT.

Options....

1.

Fight. Get a POI (plan of improvement) guaranteed that if I do x, y, and, z I will not lose my job.

Do it. Keep job until budget cuts come down (positions are going to be cut at the high school).

Lose job because of budget cuts.

Have to check the box on all future applications that I have been on a plan of improvement.

Never get hired again.

2.

Fight. Get a non-renewal sent to the board (who has never EVER turned over a decision made by admin/district), appeal it (no one has ever won an appeal in this district), and then have a non-renewal on my record.

Never get hired again.

3.

Resign by February 23rd. Finish the year. Get a positive letter of recommendation. The district won't fight unemployment.

Aren't the choices awesome?

What it means to be a probationary teacher at the end of her third year...

If the vice-principal, who is her supervisor, likes the guy hired after her more, the vice principal can opt to recommend that her contract not be extended past this year. Which also means that the union can't/won't fight for her because she has no status in the union. No matter how many letters of support my colleagues write, or my students, I have a very slim chance of having a job next year. All because, according to my supervisor, I "don't know how to treat people." (Which really means her--my tone in my email comes across terse.)

Because she did say that it had:

nothing to do with my lesson plans.

nothing to do with my organization.

nothing to do with my classroom management.

So, I get to have a meeting on Wednesday with my union rep in attendance, before the meeting with the superintendent on the 18th. Basically, my rep says that if my supervisor won't put a POA (Plan of Assistance) into documentation, things are a done deal and I have no chance.

I will have to bargain to resign so I don't have a nonrenewal on my record, but I don't get to do what I love. Because I don't kiss ass. Because I SUCK at playing the game.

About 4 months left of being a probationary teacher. I thought I was finally on track to have some security.

I know it isn't the MOST healthy....

But damn, a bottle of wine helps the downs. I think I am more cut out to teach college students than I am to teach high school students. I try not to dwell on the negative, but a 3-page email diatribe from a parent (not even to me, not even with my last name spelled correctly) to my supervisor to "put in my file," accusing me of being a bully, is disheartening to say the least.

I miss my friends though!!!!!!!! A tremendous amount!!!!!!

Yeah, go ahead and "take something off" your daughter's "plate":

AP Psychology is really going to benefit her long-term, versus AP Language and Composition.

This is now the 7th student "released" by a parent from my class.

I even had an email from a parent saying that my "expectations [were] to high!"
Spelled. Just. Like. That.

The irony.

Keep telling myself...

It could be worse...

I just wish I understood why public education is so devalued in this world.