What to do?

[Kathianne]

Tuesday we has a staff meeting, seems the principal had decided that a 'teacher' needed to go, because of benefit costs. Since I never got along with her, figured likely myself. Tuesday evening was a school board meeting, where she laid out the plans for the coming year. None of us knew that, but seems there were repercussions. Parents were not happy with her solution, nor her choice of teacher to let go.

Wednesday morning went into her office, brought up possible remedies, when she blurted, "I had to look at the lowest enrollment years, it's 6th and 7th." Now I know that I'm popular with students and parents, she'd be silly to carry out, YET, I'm very aware that her DAUGHTER is the 6th grade teacher. So, I knew there was no winning here.

Lo and behold, I'm being rfd, (reduction faculty). So, ok. I'll accept that, asked for letter of recommendation, at which point on Thursday, she says, "Look, in all likelihood, 99% you'll have a job next year...." I say, "Great, I need the letter for that 1% and will need tomorrow off for personal day." So I got a very strong letter of recommendation from her and will be asking for one from the board and a personal one from the board president, whose 3 children I've taught and adore me, (I know it sounds sappy, but they do.)

It's all out of control now, most likely the school board will raise the funds, but the ideas are 'out there.' I've decided to seriously look to other areas, inside and outside Illinois. Hopefully I'll find something, preferably in a lower cost of living state. Considering the employment environment, it's a gamble. How do I face next year, if they come up with the money and I haven't found alternative employment?

I'm understating the problems; now parents, staff, and kids are involved. The Catholic high school closed closest to us, in spite of parents raising over a million bucks, in less than a week, has closed. So? Me I'm looking for anything, anywhere.

[Mr. P]

Cheaper living, close to emmett and no snow!

http://www.gwa.com/

[crin63]

Last time I talked to my brother the schools in the Houston area were looking for teachers. I'll check with him tomorrow. He's a teacher in Huntsville, TX.

Whether this helps or not, I have a friend that was pink slipped a couple months ago. She just got 3 offers from the same school district and her pink slip officially rescinded. She has decided to go back to working with the special ed students, she has a real love for those kids. She is one of the few teachers who have training for and wants to work with the special ed kids. Maybe you might want to look into that area of teaching.

[Kathianne]

Last time I talked to my brother the schools in the Houston area were looking for teachers. I'll check with him tomorrow. He's a teacher in Huntsville, TX.

Whether this helps or not, I have a friend that was pink slipped a couple months ago. She just got 3 offers from the same school district and her pink slip officially rescinded. She has decided to go back to working with the special ed students, she has a real love for those kids. She is one of the few teachers who have training for and wants to work with the special ed kids. Maybe you might want to look into that area of teaching.

Funny thing, I'm good at working with special needs kids, but I really love history. Soooo, if I get a job I should probably get a MA in history and teach at least part time in college. Then I could handle my 'day job' being special ed.

[Kathianne]

Last time I talked to my brother the schools in the Houston area were looking for teachers. I'll check with him tomorrow. He's a teacher in Huntsville, TX.

Whether this helps or not, I have a friend that was pink slipped a couple months ago. She just got 3 offers from the same school district and her pink slip officially rescinded. She has decided to go back to working with the special ed students, she has a real love for those kids. She is one of the few teachers who have training for and wants to work with the special ed kids. Maybe you might want to look into that area of teaching.

Hmm, I hadn't thought of TX, but seems everyone from there loves it.

[jackass]

I havent looked into it, but I here the schools in SC are looking. Real estate is pretty cheap down here, hope you dont mind the heat and humidity!

[Kathianne]

I havent looked into it, but I here the schools in SC are looking. Real estate is pretty cheap down here, hope you dont mind the heat and humidity!

That would be worth looking into. I love the ocean and seems SC doesn't get the hurricanes as much as some.

[jackass]

That would be worth looking into. I love the ocean and seems SC doesn't get the hurricanes as much as some.

No, but if even the hint of a hurricane or snow....WATCH OUT!!!

[Kathianne]

No, but if even the hint of a hurricane or snow....WATCH OUT!!!

Well the hurricane thing would quite freak me out, snow?

[Agnapostate]

Funny thing, I'm good at working with special needs kids, but I really love history. Soooo, if I get a job I should probably get a MA in history and teach at least part time in college. Then I could handle my 'day job' being special ed.

If you had an MA, you could easily teach as a professor at a community college (or a university as a lecturer, perhaps), and then transition onward as a university professor, though some are biased against those who have taught at community colleges. I do have a colleague at Northwestern, and I could inquire about general conditions in a roundabout sort of way.

[Kathianne]

If you had an MA, you could easily teach as a professor at a community college (or a university as a lecturer, perhaps), and then transition onward as a university professor, though some are biased against those who have taught at community colleges. I do have a colleague at Northwestern, and I could inquire about general conditions in a roundabout sort of way.

Why thank you! I do have MS in Admin Ed. I believe I'd need to pick up MA in history or political science. First I really would like to find a new position, so I do not go through this again. As I said, if it were really 'reduction in force', she would have riffed a teacher who has many complaints or gone on seniority-neither of which was done. While she says 99% sure the position will be there, I'd rather it not be me.

[Abbey Marie]

Sorry Kath!

Are you really ready to move away from your kids? I think that is the big question. I'm sure you wouldn't mind less snow...

I see you as an AP History and AP US Gov't teacher in a high school. You get the smart kids and can delve deeper.

[Little-Acorn]

Come to the People's Republic of California. You can set up as a combined homeschooling store and History tutor. Enjoy the best, avoid the worst.

Except house prices still suck, even after the crash. My sis-in-law just bought a 1000sf 2br 2ba for "only" 360K in San Jose. San Diego's better, but not much.

Weather is flat out gorgeous. And farther from emmett , and no snow!

[Kathianne]

Sorry Kath!

Are you really ready to move away from your kids? I think that is the big question. I'm sure you wouldn't mind less snow...

I see you as an AP History and AP US Gov't teacher in a high school. You get the smart kids and can delve deeper.

Actually if my nephew hadn't gotten sick, probably would have done so a year or two ago, but he did. It's taken this to make me decide to go on my own, my brother and his wife pretty much have to stay here, until something happens with Jay. So, all my kids are done with university now, but one, and he's doing fine with accounting and working. If they need to, their dad is close by. So yeah, I'll probably be moving if I don't get something here before then.

I really don't want to go back to my current school, lots of hard feelings there.

[Kathianne]

Come to the People's Republic of California. You can set up as a combined homeschooling store and History tutor. Enjoy the best, avoid the worst.

Except house prices still suck, even after the crash. My sis-in-law just bought a 1000sf 2br 2ba for "only" 360K in San Jose. San Diego's better, but not much.

Weather is flat out gorgeous. And farther from emmett , and no snow!

No way I could afford, if I could would have taken a job Manu offered a couple years ago.