http://administrators.net/
Monday, January 2, 2002
School Administrators
Helping The Less Than Effective Teacher
Kathleen - Hello no name. Are you a school administrator?
no name - yes
Kathleen - I'm hoping other admins. will log on now that they see you here.
Kathleen - At what level do you work?
no name - I hope so, too.
no name - all grades
Kathleen - Monday night might be meeting night at school for many of the admin community
no name - I am a director of special education
Kathleen - k-12?
Kathleen - How does the Internet help you on the job?
no name - 3-22
Kathleen - I should ask, DOES the Internet help...
no name - I can help my teachers find resources for their jobs.
no name - get materials, strategies, etc.
Kathleen - Do you use Teachers.Net/ and Admin.Net for that purpose?
no name - sometimes
Kathleen - How are things "going" in the world of sped, lots of red tape?
Kathleen - It seems there is more and more paperwork, especially in your field
no name - not really
Kathleen - I guess No Child Left Behind (NCLB) will have great impact upon your programs, the expectations, right?
no name - if you have a good staff you are ok.
no name - yes it does.
Kathleen - It sounds as though you have a good staff, you sound comfortable, not stressed.
no name - you can't be stressed.
no name - I have some very difficult parents though.
no name - and you can't give them everything they want
Kathleen - ah, so that is challenge...
Kathleen - What are those parents demanding?
no name - I have one mother who thinks she can hire and fire teachers
no name - I have one mother who year after year gets rid of a teacher.
no name - this is a very hard to fill position and the mom always makes my life and the teachers life hell.
Kathleen - She really is successful in getting rid of a teacher each year?
no name - yes for the past 4 years
no name - and there is not much we can do.
no name - she has advocates and lawyers right and left.
Kathleen - That's a difficult situation, for sure. Can't the principal back you up?
Kathleen - That's a difficult situation, for sure. Can't the principal back you up?
no name - this person is a traveling teacher
Kathleen - ah, the lawyers...
no name - I am her principal-- we have taken the matter to the school board.
Kathleen - What is the child's exceptionality?
no name - the child has cerebral palsy
Kathleen - And I suppose the new teachers you hire to replace the ones she's scared away aren't veterans, so they're more easily intimidated?
no name - we have even discussed it with the superintendent, who is unfortunately a lame duck.
no name - yes. No matter how hard I try, the teachers get frustrated.
Kathleen - Is it a problem of the parent barging into the classroom? Or it the problem confined to the legal pressures she exerts?
Kathleen - I ask because I've known situations where a parent was barred from the classroom, even the school for being disruptive.
no name - the parent expects the OI teacher to do certain things. That the teachers do not feel comfortable doing.
Kathleen - can you give an example?
no name - she is also very unrealistic as a parent. She does not want independence skills for her child.
no name - we can't bar her from coming into the school- she is a school employee.
Kathleen - OH GREAT! no wonder!
Kathleen - conflict of interest in this case...how totally awkward
no name - like physical therapy-- the mother refused physical therapy for her daughter because she does not like the PT
no name - actually, we are working with the school board and the state getting a letter from me expressing my concerns with her and that she has crossed the lines many times over.
Kathleen - maybe a counter suit charging the mother with neglect if she attempts to prevent having her child receive what is accepted as adequate services?
no name - they get outside physical therapy.
Kathleen - This is a truly sticky situation with her working for the school dept.
no name - yes, but we had a former teacher write a letter to the school board.
no name - so that is helping us.
Kathleen - oh. so she isn't denying service. Well...then just be happy for your OT person that s/he doesn't have to be involved with this parent
Kathleen - How sad to have so much time and energy tied up in one parent/child
no name - we also have another parent who is pursusing due process because we cannot keep a teacher
Kathleen - Does this parent have a spouse who is more reasonable?
no name - nope.
no name - and that other parent is helping our claim-- she is considering a letter to school board in lieu of due process.
no name - it became apparent after this teacher left that she told all to this other parent what this mom did-- she harrassed her after she left, and such. So we may evenutally be able to get rid of this mom.
Kathleen - ah, good tactic, that other parent being denied due process
no name - we did not deny it-- I just talked to her because I knew she had vital information.
no name - parents like this are awful.
Kathleen - I understand, but I mean it's a good tactic to go that route if you must. you're in a real bind
no name - yes very much so. We have a former teacher who is pursuing legal action against this parent.
Kathleen - You CAN make it a requirement that this parent does not meet with the teacher without an admin present. that would at least help the teacher
Kathleen - wow, she is a REAL case! makes real enemies!
no name - it does not help having admin present.
Kathleen - If she confronts the teacher without an appt and w/o an admin present then you should be able to take action.
no name - the admins given in tot he parents.
Kathleen - but it would take the heat off the more vulnerable teacher
Kathleen - I mean YOU be there with the teacher, no?
no name - that usually doe snot help.
Kathleen - This sure is a challenging situation. Have you posted about it on the admin mailring or chatboard, see if someone there has advice?
Kathleen - Although you do seem to have a plan.
Kathleen - One parent sure can eat up everyone's time and patience.
Kathleen - have I lost you, no name?
no name - yes, I had
no name - we are just dealing with it one day at a time.
no name - I must go. Have a nice night.
Kathleen - a long year ahead, one day at a time. and in what grade is the child?
Kathleen - bye no name, good luck!
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