Re: Technology Teachers (o. specialists) stuck with Yearbook

Blackout

Posted on 10/18/09

More | Report Post

You don't understand. The purpose of the state in creating
the TRT position as part of the Standards or Quality was
not to teach students but to help teachers. By definition
the position is staff development. It is not simply to
help you find resources; it is to help you integrate
technology into your instruction. If you are not going to
them to ask for assistance using the vast technology
available to you, then you are missing out. If the TRT
isn’t offering to help then you have an issue and need to
take it to the principal. The TRT’s role is to provide
training to assist teachers it is not to teach students
technology.

On 10/18/09, About time! wrote:
> I agree, "Blackout." They are rarely in the
> classroom, but their aides are
> in there more often, yet they get paid much less. Go
> figure. TRT stands for "Technology Resource
> Teacher," so are they supposed to "teach me
> how to find resources?" The word
> "teacher" is in the name, so shouldn't they
> TEACH the students? I know that they do in other
> counties!
>
> On 10/18/09, Fed Up wrote:
>> On 10/18/09, Blackout wrote: Please, give me a
>> break...When the TRT has more planning time than a
>> teacher, there is a problem. They do very little and
>> everyone knows it!
>
>>> Your post clearly indicates that you have no clue
>>> as to what the role of the TRT is in Loudoun. There
>>> position, by design, is staff development. They are
>>> to help you, the teacher, use the vast technical
>>> resources available to you to integrate them into
>>> your instruction. 80-90% of their time is to be
>>> spent working with you to achieve that goal if you
>>> are not taking advantage of this valuable resource,
>>> than shame on you.
>>>
>>> On 10/18/09, About time! wrote:
>>>> I didn't realize that you weren't in Loudoun, and
>>>> since you aren't, and since you actually teach
>>>> (like those in Loudoun should be doing), my
>>>> posting doesn't pertain to you and those in your
>>>> county). Which one are you in, if you can share?
>>>> You are experiencing what those of us in Loudoun
>>>> are going through.
>>>>
>>>> When I started, 10 years ago, we didn't have to
>>>> do half as much as I am doing now. I don't mind
>>>> doing extra things that are meaningful, but when
>>>> I can't concentrate on my subjects, or wish to do
>>>> extra to enhance my subject area because I am
>>>> doing all of these non-essential "extra
>>>> items," (teaching technology, teaching
>>>> Health, acting as secretary, and everything
>>>> else), that's where I get upset. Like my post
>>>> says, the majority of our "TRTs" don't
>>>> do half of what you are doing, and they should be
>>>> teaching like you are. I retract my earlier
>>>> comment and "thank" YOU for working
>>>> hard!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 10/18/09, Zipdrive wrote:
>>>>> Well thank you ABOUT TIME for your support! A
>>>>> glorified babysitter! Nice! NO! I am not in
>>>>> Loudoun and no I do not have an assistant, and
>>>>> secondly I have to teach typing to fourth and
>>>>> fifth graders as well as how to use the
>>>>> computer to all grade levels including
>>>>> kindergarten.
>>>>>
>>>>> I guess the Loudoun Techs have it made then
>>>>> don't they?! In your school system I bet all
>>>>> your specialists get bogged down with this type
>>>>> of crap because of teachers like you who think
>>>>> of specialists as "glorified
>>>>> babysitters" as you so eloquently put it.
>>>>> thank you again!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/18/09, About time! wrote:
>>>>>> To the principal who is making you actually
>>>>>> work - THANK YOU! I don't know what county
>>>>>> you are in, but in Loudoun, they are
>>>>>> glorified babysitters and get paid nicely to
>>>>>> no nothing, except check their e-mails, go on
>>>>>> eBay, or sit in their "offices"
>>>>>> while their aids do all of the work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, technology "teachers" need
>>>>>> to, well, TEACH! It's not the job of the aid,
>>>>>> and with teachers already having overflowing
>>>>>> plates, classroom teachers shouldn't have to
>>>>>> teach technology. Loudoun, if you're looking
>>>>>> for a way to save money, then make your TRTs
>>>>>> actually T-E-A-C-H!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's about time someone make the TRTs
>>>>>> actually do something!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 10/17/09, zipdrive wrote:
>>>>>>> Hello All!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I wanted to get some thoughts and opinions
>>>>>>> from other technology teachers or
>>>>>>> specialists here in Virginia in regards to
>>>>>>> a certain issue I am dealing with. I am a
>>>>>>> traveling technology teacher and split my
>>>>>>> time between 3 schools each nearly 45
>>>>>>> minutes apart. I am lucky that I am at each
>>>>>>> school for the full day and do not have to
>>>>>>> drive from one to the next during a single
>>>>>>> day. Two of my principals want me to do the
>>>>>>> yearbook, they tell me this is the
>>>>>>> "technology teacher's" job at
>>>>>>> their school. NO it is not the technology
>>>>>>> teacher's job (or any other specialist for
>>>>>>> that matter) and secondly last year I was
>>>>>>> not required to do it at my school (same
>>>>>>> county). My director told me that only my
>>>>>>> "home" school can issue the
>>>>>>> yearbook job to me. I have done a yearbook
>>>>>>> a few years ago for the same county at a
>>>>>>> different school and the amount of time and
>>>>>>> dedication it took was so overwhelming that
>>>>>>> I vowed I would never do it again. I don't
>>>>>>> want to do it and my "home"
>>>>>>> school principal said it was required of
>>>>>>> all technology teachers that worked at that
>>>>>>> school. I am not even there
>>>>>>> "full" time and do not feel it is
>>>>>>> my job. How many of you have been told that
>>>>>>> you are "required" to do this?
>>>>>>> Much of it ends up done outsied of school
>>>>>>> hours without compensation. The company we
>>>>>>> use is Lifetouch and though you are able to
>>>>>>> "do it at home" online, I cannot
>>>>>>> because I do not have adequate internet
>>>>>>> connection to maintain the connection
>>>>>>> needed for uploading and I am certainly not
>>>>>>> going to upgrade my internet connection at
>>>>>>> my cost to make a darn yearbook! I have
>>>>>>> heard that other specialists get stuck with
>>>>>>> it too, especially art teachers and
>>>>>>> librarians. This is not fair and actually
>>>>>>> quite demeaning. Our programs require the
>>>>>>> same amount of effort to teach and plan for
>>>>>>> as a regular classroom teachers (who get to
>>>>>>> be at their schools ALL DAY) and yet they
>>>>>>> are not required to make yearbooks. If any
>>>>>>> principals read this, maybe it will make
>>>>>>> you consider other options! Thanks My vent
>>>>>>> is over! I'd be interesting in seeing how
>>>>>>> many other technology teacher's or
>>>>>>> specialists get shafted with this!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks!

Posts on this thread, including this one