Dear, we are teachers,
I was hired by the school where I taught in March. I was really looking forward to relaxing this summer. However, since signing the contract, I have received three emails from the district or principal about mandatory professional development I must attend before school starts. It doesn't matter that I had no plans this summer. My plan was not to work! Should you say you're busy or plan to attend to make a good first impression?
—Can you tell your boss to leave you alone?
Dear CYTYBTLYA,
First, here are a few things to know:
1. When does the contract start?
Look at your actual contract. If it starts in August or September, you shouldn't be asked to work before then. It's not work time yet.
2. How “mandatory” is this PD?
I understand you said it is essential. But sometimes principals will expose an upcoming PD as an “amazing opportunity” to their staff without actually expecting it.
Here are some questions to help you decide whether it's required or recommended: Are these questions necessary to teach the course (e.g., district-mandated study sessions for certification exams that require being able to teach) or something else? Is that something that is expected of current employees? Are you the only ones receiving this email (and other new teachers), or is it everyone on the staff? If you're having trouble resolving this issue, you can always post anonymously in our Helpline Facebook group to get real-time feedback.
3. Can any of the PDs really help you?
Okay, listen to me. I am very much in favor of teachers having summer vacations. However, some PDs can provide you with very valuable information/education that is very important to you this school year. For example, you don’t want to miss out on instruction that is very specific to your content area, such as AP or IB instruction. Another thing you don’t want to skip is training on new technology, software, or LMS systems that your district may be adopting. You don’t want to come back the first week and be the only one who doesn’t know how to use a new report card, smart board, etc.
Say to your department chair, mentor teacher, or even principal, “I'm really excited about all the PD opportunities coming up. Some of my schedule overlaps with summer plans I had made before I knew this date. Helping me prioritize what's most important to me as a first-grade teacher in the fall. I don't think there's any harm in saying, “Can you please give me a ?”
They don't need to know that your summer plans were asleep until noon.
Pro tip for next summer: Don't check your email!
We are teachers.
This past school year has been the worst of my career for many reasons. At my regular checkup in the first week of June, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It's still early days, but I'm very concerned about how the stress of constant school life will affect my body. I don't want to quit at this point. But how can we “lower stress” when so many factors are out of our control?
—Stress for success
Dear SFS,
Well, isn't that the question of the century for teachers (and maybe everyone)? First, please know that I am sending you lots of love and light. This is a weighty diagnosis. Plus, I'm sure all the thinking, planning and evaluation you have to do surrounding it is its own beast.
Second, ask your doctor for accommodations that may make teaching easier for students with this diagnosis. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helps ensure that school districts follow doctors' recommendations. Accommodations I know of include permission to sit instead of stand, time and support for medical appointments, and fewer before and after school meetings.
Also, don’t be afraid to think “big” about this new information. You’ve heard that you don’t want to quit. Maybe you want to stay in school and try a new role that takes you outside the classroom. Or maybe you want to take on a role teaching a small group of students. Maybe you want a change of scenery at a new school or work closer to home. Your health is your top priority. Don’t be afraid to make it a priority.
We are teachers.
I had a successful Zoom interview with a school a month ago and accepted the offer. I'm planning to move because my school is a 3-hour drive away. Then I joined a Facebook group for teachers in the area. When I introduced myself and told them where I was hired, several former teachers at the school DMed me with horror stories about the school's abusive principal. She yells, gets her teachers into fights with each other, and tries to subtly humiliate the teachers in meetings. I am absolutely terrified and feel like I made a huge mistake. Job training begins in a little over a month, and if you quit at this point, you could lose your certification. What would you do?
-I am sick
Dear IFS,
Don't panic. There are several options here:
If you haven't signed the contract yet:
You are under no obligation to stay. Sure, it will be an awkward conversation to have to back out of your agreement, but the weight of the temporary awkwardness is nothing compared to the anxiety of driving a carriage into a really tough school year.
If you have already signed the contract:
Contact your local union or professional organization representative to see what their recommendations are.
If you get blocked, you will have to decide whether to keep your license for a year or to deal with the consequences of the breach of contract. You can also look into private schools. Private schools usually do not require state accreditation, so it will not be a problem if you are accepted to one. I can't make that decision for you.
I'd like to say that two years at a really crappy school changed my life in a really positive way. It has made me a stronger, more aware, and more resilient person. It also opened my eyes to many things about leadership, educational inequality, and honesty. Be open to the possibility that you can do meaningful work and accomplish powerful things, even at schools with a bad reputation.
Have questions? Email us at askweareteachers@weareteachers.com.
Dear We are Teachers,
The principal announced that cell phones will be banned from all middle schools next year. Teachers, administrators, and staff were thrilled. Parents and students were immediately outraged by the ban. There was so much backlash that the principal announced at a faculty meeting that cell phones would be allowed during classes and lunch. Now that's our policy, but the students are completely ignoring it. How do we convince the principal that it's worth doubling down on this? Then teaching next year will be a hundred times easier.
—Grow a Spine, Major Mine