Re: Fellow Teacher Requesting Guidance

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Fellow Teacher Requesting Guidance

by Mary Smith

Nov 17, 2011

Good Afternoon Fellow Teachers: I have been a Spanish teacher for 12 years, and could use some help. First of all, I love the Spanish language. I am not a Native, but, many Natives have thought that I was. I come from a line of excellent Educators. I have always tried to instill the importance of learnng a second language in all of my students. I feel that all of my classes are extremely versatle. I feel like many of my students have learned. I have always worked extremely hard each and every day. Very often, I am one of the last teachers left in the school. My Observations are excellent. I have written Curricula. I feel like I am a excellent Spanish teacher. I would be the first to admit the contrary. And yet, I have had the "extreme luck" in finding Districts which do not have the knowledge or desire to have quality Foreigh Language Programs. I am then let go. I am mentally exhausted. I work trememdously hard in every single area, remain very optimistic each year, and this is what ha...See More

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questions On 11/17/11, Mary Smith wrote: > Good Afternoon Fellow Teachers: > I have been a Spanish teacher for 12 years, and could use > some help. First of all, I love the Spanish language. I > am not a Native, but, many Natives have thought that I was. > I come from a line of excellent Educators. I have always > tried to instill the impor...See More

Nov 17, 2011

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Mary Smith Good Morning, Thank you for replying to my post. I have been teaching for 12 years, and have never reached tenure. All of the districts have had issues with their budget, many have had multiple FL teachers, and being the last one hired, I was the first one to go. It has been absolutely ridiculous as to being let go. Many of the Administrators have ...See MoreGood Morning, Thank you for replying to my post. I have been teaching for 12 years, and have never reached tenure. All of the districts have had issues with their budget, many have had multiple FL teachers, and being the last one hired, I was the first one to go. It has been absolutely ridiculous as to being let go. Many of the Administrators have been nice and haven't wanted to do this. You're right, it is apparant that they do not want a good FL Dept. I have: written Curricula, extensively researched for Textbooks and sought approval via board, and have also discovered other additions to the Curricula, Workshops etc..Yes, it is November, and I was let go as of October. I thoroughly do not know what to do. Every single year, I go into the year with SO much excitement, increase the Program, worke SO hard, and this is what eventually happens. And, I'm even optimistic. I literally am speechless, clueless, and exhasted.

On 11/17/11, questions wrote: > On 11/17/11, Mary Smith wrote: >> Good Afternoon Fellow Teachers: >> I have been a Spanish teacher for 12 years, and could use >> some help. First of all, I love the Spanish language. I >> am not a Native, but, many Natives have thought that I was. >> I come from a line of excellent Educators. I have always >> tried to instill the importance of learnng a second >> language in all of my students. I feel that all of my >> classes are extremely versatle. I feel like many of my >> students have learned. I have always worked extremely hard >> each and every day. Very often, I am one of the last >> teachers left in the school. My Observations are >> excellent. I have written Curricula. I feel like I am a >> excellent Spanish teacher. I would be the first to admit >> the contrary. And yet, I have had the "extreme luck" in >> finding Districts which do not have the knowledge or desire >> to have quality Foreigh Language Programs. I am then let >> go. > > So you're saying you don't achieve tenure? How many districts > have you been let go from? > > That asked, it's baffling as to why they let you go. Your post > suggests they let you precisely because you're good and they > purposefully don't want a good Foreign Language department. > That's hard to understand. They let all of their foreign > language teachers go or just the good ones? > > And it's November - are you teaching this year? Or are you in > between jobs? > > I am mentally exhausted. I work trememdously hard in >> every single area, remain very optimistic each year, and >> this is what happens. This has been happening to me for >> the past 10 years. I am only 40 years old, and have been >> severely exhausted for the past 5 years, but, due to my >> optimism, have continued on. > > > > Due to this, to me, Districts >> would look more favorable towards other teachers. But, >> none of this has been my fault. What is going on here? >> Why is a 40 year old teacher, of a valuable language, >> considering retirement, for the past 5 years? Help!

Nov 23, 2011

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Sara On 11/23/11, Mary Smith wrote: > Good Morning, > Thank you for replying to my post. I have been teaching for 12 > years, and have never reached tenure. All of the districts have > had issues with their budget, many have had multiple FL teachers, > and being the last one hired, I was the first one to go.

Administrators have ...See MoreOn 11/23/11, Mary Smith wrote: > Good Morning, > Thank you for replying to my post. I have been teaching for 12 > years, and have never reached tenure. All of the districts have > had issues with their budget, many have had multiple FL teachers, > and being the last one hired, I was the first one to go.

Administrators have no authority to increase the budget on their own nor can they raise school taxes. If this is purely budgetary and a sign of the times, then there's nothing to do. The times are not good and they're not getting better. You will always have been the last one hired and thus it will always be you that's let go.

How long have you been teaching in your current district? I trust you weren't just hired in September - how do they do know now they have budget issues already for the coming year?

And as it's budget and a matter of low person on the totem pole with the least seniority, it doesn't matter how strong your resume is and that's the way it is. Districts will not let someone of longer standing go before you - they would have an outcry from the union if they did and an outcry from the faculty if there was no union to cry out first.

What to do? Try private schools that have no union is one thought that comes to mind. Private schools can more often predict their budget though they too have had budget issues of late with families too strapped to keep their children in private school.There's a book called Peterson's Guide to the Independent Schools and you can find a list of the private schools in your area in that book. Try parochial schools and pre-schools too. Neither of those will pay as well but preschools abound and good ones can offer Spanish as a subject. Community colleges are another thought - though you might have to start as an adjunct but jobs can open up.

I don't know where you are but around here they are always hiring Spanish language speakers - for court translators and for social service outreach work.

Much good luck to you - I truly hope you find your perfect place.

Nov 23, 2011

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