NonRenewal

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New Jersey Teachers Chatboard

NonRenewal

by Nck16

Apr 16, 2016

Hi,

I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the second. I had one bad observation at the beginning of the year during a math test review (first chapter, new math program) that was very unfair. Ever since then it seems that my observations were given lower scores than they deserved and when I asked for help in the areas where it was noted that I wasn't doing well my admin said he would help but never did anything. I am worried that I won't be able to get another job if I have to check the non renewal box on applitrack. Anyone have any advice or been in this situation before and gotten another job? I really don't want this horrible experience to be the end of my career. :(

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anon On 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote: > On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the > second. ...See MoreOn 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote: > On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the > second. I >> had one bad observation at the beginning of the year >> during a math test review (first chapter, new math >> program) that was very unfair. Ever since then it seems >> that my observations were given lower scores than they >> deserved and when I asked for help in the areas where it >> was noted that I wasn't doing well my admin said he >> would help but never did anything. I am worried that I >> won't be able to get another job if I have to check the > non >> renewal box on applitrack. Anyone have any advice or >> been in this situation before and gotten another job? I >> really don't want this horrible experience to be the end > of >> my career. :( > > I wouldn't worry about it too much. Education is full of > politics and sometimes you can't win, especially for new > teachers in the school/district. I had a similar situation > happen to me last year, but it was my very first year of > teaching coming from industry after 23 years. I pretty > much knew in October that I was not going to be asked back > for the following school year. The department chair and I > just didn't click. > > One thing that you want to explore is looking at getting > additional licenses in Middle or High School math, which > could open up your opportunities even further. > > Also, I wouldn't worry about finding another job. School > districts have constant turnover and hire up to the last > minute. One thing that blows my mind. I was interview for > both my last two jobs 2 days before the start of school. I > have even heard of folks getting hired the day of the start > of school. Just keep applying. If the question gets asked > why you left, you can say budgetary cuts or department > restructuring, whatever. You're low man on the totem pole, > so you will always be let go over someone with more > experience. > > One question, when you got your first review feedback, what > did it say that you needed to do and did you follow-up on > it? Also, our formal reviews are announced and we sit down > with our reviewer before the observation and discuss what > we are planning and what the reviewer is looking for. > > As far as doing a brand new lesson for the first time, one > that you are unfamiliar with, for a formal review, I would > strongly advise against it. Do something that is engaging > for the students and in 15 minute or so mini lessons. > Practice it BEFORE you have someone observe you for a > formal review.

It may have worked out for you, and that is great. However, for most it is not that way because it is still a competitive market in most areas of the country, though that is changing. The problem is in the application questions. There is only one reason they ask the question, and that is to weed you out of the stack of applications. You answer "yes," and HR will not pursue it further. You lie on an application, if you are found out you can have sanctions on your license, and then you would have to disclose THAT as well.

When people are canned, they most often do not have the money to go and get additional certifications. Being fired from teaching basically leaves you destitute.

Apr 20, 2016

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anon On 4/20/16, anon wrote: > On 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote: >> On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >>> Hi, >>> >>> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >>> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >>> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >>> leaves ...See MoreOn 4/20/16, anon wrote: > On 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote: >> On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >>> Hi, >>> >>> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >>> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >>> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >>> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the >> second. I >>> had one bad observation at the beginning of the year >>> during a math test review (first chapter, new math >>> program) that was very unfair. Ever since then it seems >>> that my observations were given lower scores than they >>> deserved and when I asked for help in the areas where it >>> was noted that I wasn't doing well my admin said he >>> would help but never did anything. I am worried that I >>> won't be able to get another job if I have to check the >> non >>> renewal box on applitrack. Anyone have any advice or >>> been in this situation before and gotten another job? I >>> really don't want this horrible experience to be the end >> of >>> my career. :( >> >> I wouldn't worry about it too much. Education is full of >> politics and sometimes you can't win, especially for new >> teachers in the school/district. I had a similar situation >> happen to me last year, but it was my very first year of >> teaching coming from industry after 23 years. I pretty >> much knew in October that I was not going to be asked back >> for the following school year. The department chair and I >> just didn't click. >> >> One thing that you want to explore is looking at getting >> additional licenses in Middle or High School math, which >> could open up your opportunities even further. >> >> Also, I wouldn't worry about finding another job. School >> districts have constant turnover and hire up to the last >> minute. One thing that blows my mind. I was interview for >> both my last two jobs 2 days before the start of school. I >> have even heard of folks getting hired the day of the start >> of school. Just keep applying. If the question gets asked >> why you left, you can say budgetary cuts or department >> restructuring, whatever. You're low man on the totem pole, >> so you will always be let go over someone with more >> experience. >> >> One question, when you got your first review feedback, what >> did it say that you needed to do and did you follow-up on >> it? Also, our formal reviews are announced and we sit down >> with our reviewer before the observation and discuss what >> we are planning and what the reviewer is looking for. >> >> As far as doing a brand new lesson for the first time, one >> that you are unfamiliar with, for a formal review, I would >> strongly advise against it. Do something that is engaging >> for the students and in 15 minute or so mini lessons. >> Practice it BEFORE you have someone observe you for a >> formal review. > > > It may have worked out for you, and that is great. However, > for most it is not that way because it is still a competitive > market in most areas of the country, though that is changing. > The problem is in the application questions. There is only > one reason they ask the question, and that is to weed you out > of the stack of applications. You answer "yes," and HR will > not pursue it further. You lie on an application, if you are > found out you can have sanctions on your license, and then > you would have to disclose THAT as well. > > When people are canned, they most often do not have the money > to go and get additional certifications. Being fired from > teaching basically leaves you destitute.

Furthermore you CANNOT say restructuring or budget cuts if you are let go for performance reasons. You WILL get caught, mark my words, if you lie on that application. It won't matter anyway what the explanation is because you HAVE to answer yes on those "background" or "disclosure" questions that are found near the end of almost every certified application of almost every public school district in the United States. The explanation will NOT matter because HR only looks at whether "yes" or "no" is checked. Many districts will actually list "no" before "yes," which pretty much gives the game away that they screen all applications out of the hiring pool that have any "yes" questions checked off.

Apr 20, 2016

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Nck16 On 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote: > On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the > second. ...See MoreOn 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote: > On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the > second. I >> had one bad observation at the beginning of the year >> during a math test review (first chapter, new math >> program) that was very unfair. Ever since then it seems >> that my observations were given lower scores than they >> deserved and when I asked for help in the areas where it >> was noted that I wasn't doing well my admin said he >> would help but never did anything. I am worried that I >> won't be able to get another job if I have to check the > non >> renewal box on applitrack. Anyone have any advice or >> been in this situation before and gotten another job? I >> really don't want this horrible experience to be the end > of >> my career. :( > > I wouldn't worry about it too much. Education is full of > politics and sometimes you can't win, especially for new > teachers in the school/district. I had a similar situation > happen to me last year, but it was my very first year of > teaching coming from industry after 23 years. I pretty > much knew in October that I was not going to be asked back > for the following school year. The department chair and I > just didn't click. > > One thing that you want to explore is looking at getting > additional licenses in Middle or High School math, which > could open up your opportunities even further. > > Also, I wouldn't worry about finding another job. School > districts have constant turnover and hire up to the last > minute. One thing that blows my mind. I was interview for > both my last two jobs 2 days before the start of school. I > have even heard of folks getting hired the day of the start > of school. Just keep applying. If the question gets asked > why you left, you can say budgetary cuts or department > restructuring, whatever. You're low man on the totem pole, > so you will always be let go over someone with more > experience. > > One question, when you got your first review feedback, what > did it say that you needed to do and did you follow-up on > it? Also, our formal reviews are announced and we sit down > with our reviewer before the observation and discuss what > we are planning and what the reviewer is looking for. > > As far as doing a brand new lesson for the first time, one > that you are unfamiliar with, for a formal review, I would > strongly advise against it. Do something that is engaging > for the students and in 15 minute or so mini lessons. > Practice it BEFORE you have someone observe you for a > formal review.

It was an unannounced observation. The admin who did it was actually assigned my announced observation for the year but she made a mistake and did unannounced but decided to count it anyway (completely unfair and I think it shows she had it in for me) and also in other classrooms when she want in to do unannounced observations this year if the teacher was doing a test review she told them she would come back the following week... I did follow up on every suggestion she gave and when I asked her to come back to observe me informally she ignored my emails or said she would come and then would cancel at the last minute. :(

Apr 27, 2016

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Nck16 On 4/20/16, anon wrote:
> On 4/20/16, anon wrote:
>> On 4/20/16, ChemTeacher wrote:
>>> On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a
>>>> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching
>>&g...See More

Apr 27, 2016

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Nck16 On 4/19/16, anon wrote: > On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the > second. I >&...See MoreOn 4/19/16, anon wrote: > On 4/16/16, Nck16 wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I am an elementary teacher and yesterday I was given a >> notice of non renewal. This is my 4th year teaching but >> my second in this district. I did 2 year long maternity >> leaves in central Jersey but I relocated after the > second. I >> had one bad observation at the beginning of the year >> during a math test review (first chapter, new math >> program) that was very unfair. Ever since then it seems >> that my observations were given lower scores than they >> deserved and when I asked for help in the areas where it >> was noted that I wasn't doing well my admin said he >> would help but never did anything. I am worried that I >> won't be able to get another job if I have to check the > non >> renewal box on applitrack. Anyone have any advice or >> been in this situation before and gotten another job? I >> really don't want this horrible experience to be the end > of >> my career. :( > > > It is an uphill battle. There is no way around it. You > have to blackball yourself on those applications, and lotsa > luck getting past the initial screening. > > What would you even do for a reference? You wouldn't have > any that count, and many districts require you list your > last supervisor. > > You will likely have to start all over again as a > substitute, or relocate, or go into a completely line of > work. > > I have been there and done that when I was wrongly > terminated eight years ago. I have never taught since, > only subbing and parapro work. >

My principal did offer to write me a letter of recommendation. In a follow up conversation with him he told me he thinks I'm a good teacher, just not a good fit for the district. It is a very small district with no grade level teams or communication, just one teacher for each grade. Also, a colleague of mine from the school I am at who I worked very closely with wrote me a glowing letter so we will see. The letters from my previous positions still count. They were maternity positions and each time I found another job before the year was over. The first one offered me a half year leave for the next year because that was all they had but I needed a whole year to pay my rent and the second one was laying off regular teachers so they obviously weren't going to keep a maternity leave teacher if they were laying off teachers who were about to get tenure. >

Apr 27, 2016

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