Re: Fired Non-Tenured Teacher HELP!

You were basically let go because the district doesn't want to
pay more money after you are tenured. They want first year
teachers that they don't pay as nearly as much. I have seen this
way too often. You could be a great teacher...the best for that
matter, but it comes down to one thing money. They don't want to
pay the little bit extra for a more experienced teacher. I've
seen waaayyy too many teachers like you that they just let go.
On 3/13/10, sped wrote:
> On 3/13/10, Mary M wrote:
>> I am a third year teacher and was let go(fired) for no
>> apparent reason. Is there anything I can do?
>
> 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!
>