Re: Fired Non-Tenured Teacher HELP!

No, there is nothing you can do. You weren't "fired," you were
not offered a contract for another year. If you look at this
year's contract, it has a terminal date (probably the last day
of school). You aren't entitled to re-employment until you hit
tenure, which would be the first day of your fifth year.

> This after he just reviewed me and complimented me on the
> growth he has seen in me this year. He offered me the
> alternative recommendation letter if I resigned.

This is slimy. I'm now a special ed administrator. I wouldn't
do this to teachers I'm not renewing... unless my boss told me
he would fire me if I didn't. Even then, I'm a tenured teacher
in my district and could just go back to the classroom even if
he did fire me, so I still might tell him to get bent. This is
an attempt to screw you out of your unemployment benefits,
however, if you take them to a hearing, a resignation in lieu
of termination is usually found to be qualifying for benefits.
It will take months to get this resolved without an
unemployment check, however. You'll get back pay, but it'll be
months.

> I am putting together a portfolio for the superintendent and
> school board and I am not resigning.

Odds are the superintendent already had your name ran by his
desk by your principal before you were not renewed. You're
welcome to put together whatever you like, but I have to say it
is highly unlikely to change anyone's mind. The board rubber
stamps anything administration does. It pretty much has to
because of the way the system is set up.

Basically, this is not personal. My district has started
cutting nearly all 3rd years over the past three years. You
have to be the "golden child" to get tenure in my district now.
I've been fighting for two people I supervise and write
observations on, but I had to give them the bad news Friday.
They were great teachers, but an assistant superintendent who
doesn't know these teachers made the call. It's all about
numbers. They want to keep their tenured percentage down for a
number of reasons. The job market allows them to do so, even
in special education. There's nothing good about it, but it's
reality.

Good Luck!