I guess this is what a complaint letter looks like...
Monday, April 23, 2012
Superintendent Pickell,
I would like to thank you in advance for reading for my letter of concern regarding a day where I substitute taught in one of your schools.
On Wednesday, April 18, I subbed for physical education at Memorial Elementary. It was only my second time ever going to Memorial, and the only previous visit there was over 1½ years ago for a half-day assignment. I have been substitute teaching full-time for 3½ years, and I have been to my share of “new” schools. There is always some apprehension going to an unfamiliar building, and I have worked for 13 districts and dozens of schools since I graduated from college. I have subbed in every imaginable classroom setting: preschool to twelfth grade, special education, long-term, and specials classes. The vast majority of my current subbing assignments are for Lincoln Park Public Schools, but I also occasionally and rarely work in Riverview, Wyandotte, and Southgate. I often regard Riverview as my favorite district ever, and I have worked on many enjoyable occasions at Forest Elementary and at the high school. But, I have some issues with my day at Memorial on April 18, and I’ll keep it brief, as I know your time is valuable.
Mr. Patrick-Memorial’s gym teacher-has to be one of the nicest and most personable teachers I have ever met. He was in the gym when I came in early in the morning, but he was taking care of other school-related business and needed a sub. He was very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure my day of subbing in his gym was enjoyable. When I told him I had never been to Memorial before (with the exception of one ½ day), he did his best to praise the school and show me around the general area until he had to go. And, the day did go great until the very end, when I met Principal Holloway. I had no idea who she was when she came into the gym right after school; she introduced herself and immediately brought up several “complaints” about my teaching of the day. According to one complaint reported by a health care paraprofessional, I was very rude to a first grade girl when she asked if I could tie her shoe. I told the girl to hold on a second while I was giving instructions to the rest of the class, but she asked again. I stopped what I was doing and tied her shoe. I’m not sure why the parapro thought this necessary to report in her own words, as she sat on the stage for the duration of this gym class and did nothing but occasionally utilize her cell phone.
Mrs. Holloway said I was very rude to the girl, and she began questioning my credentials and teaching history in what I considered to be in a very insulting way. She asked if I knew “how to handle first graders” after getting the impression that I did not, and she accused me of being “too hard” on the kids without actually making an appearance at all to the gym that day to witness my teaching firsthand. She also apparently got the impression that I “did not want to teach first graders” and was therefore inexperienced in doing such things, even though my times subbing in a first grade class of any capacity would be a list much longer than this letter. She asked if I was trained to be a teacher, in which I told her I have a secondary provisional certification from Eastern and graduated in 2008. I gave her the benefit of the doubt that she didn’t know me. However, if she wanted me to recite my résumé to her, she could have done so in a much politer manner. She justified her questioning of me by saying she had previous substitute teachers in her building that weren’t actually teachers and did a poor job. In every other case where I have gone to an unknown school, the principal would’ve introduced him or herself right away or in a timely manner and made a more noticeable presence in the building to an unknown substitute teacher. But, that’s not the issue at hand, because I’m very adaptable in any situation and never need assistance from other staff members or administrators.
Knowing I was a secondary certified teacher, she asked, “So, you sub mostly in the secondary level?” I responded by telling her that the majority of my subbing in the past 3½ years has been at the elementary level. She then asked, “Do you only sub gym classes? Have you ever subbed in a regular elementary classroom? How well can you manage younger kids?” I thought her questions were interrogating in nature and much unappreciated, especially from someone I’ve never met-and after what I considered to be a great subbing day. When I told her I worked mostly in Lincoln Park, she said, “Oh, I see,” in a manner that seemingly degraded their school system. She closed by saying, “Well, we encourage positive behavior here.” I felt very insulted by her questions and vague perception of my abilities and experience. I wasn’t going to argue with her or repeatedly reiterate my qualifications and experience, because it seemed like a one-sided conversation, as she harangued me and quite frankly insulted me. I have subbed hundreds of times in dozens of schools, and I am a very competent, reliable, positive, and energetic substitute teacher. I don’t need a pat on the back when I do a good job, but I certainly don’t need to be immediately insulted and unappreciated by someone I’ve never met based off a few opinionated and unobserved allegations against my teaching. I am constantly called upon for subbing assignments at other districts. I take one day off from my usual schools to visit Memorial in a fantastic school district. I anticipated and met the most important person in the school, and I get treated like it was my first day ever stepping foot into a school. I take these kinds of negative comments very personal, because I take my job extremely serious. It left a bad impression in my mind, and it may affect my decision to return to Memorial in the future.
I was wondering what your protocol is in dealing with such complaints of this nature, as this is the first time I have ever written a letter of this nature in my 3½ years of substitute teaching. It is rarely my nature to complain, because things rarely ever go wrong when I am in charge of a classroom. There is never a situation that is out my control. I would greatly appreciate it if you investigated this matter. If you would like to contact me for a follow up and any further questions, feel free to contact me by mail or email.
Thank you for your time,