The Expendable
I was called in to sign a contract on oct. 22. I've been signing them since the transfer to the new campus. The contract states that my wages are paid for via special funds, therefore when said funds run out, I may be transferred to a new campus (or possibly out of a job). I signed them figuring that since I taught the remedial writing to get kids to pass the state test, the funds were through the SCEI program. It made sense.
I was asked to sign the same one. Here's what didn't make sense at the time: I don't teach the remedial class anymore. I failed to see why I was being paid through special funds when I teach regular English (and ESL, the only "special" thing). But basically, the contract (and my boss from the 12-13 school year) rendered me expendable. ESL teachers are pretty valuable, the cert test's no piece of cake, working with those kids is no piece of cake. You earn that stipend. But I doubt the special funds are in reference to ESL. It's part of a class-size reduction program. The school gets funds to hire new teachers to make sure the others don't have swollen loads of 45-50 students. I think when my old boss excessed me, she made me a red-headed step-child of the district. Once those funds run out, the current campus will toss me out to one of the another one. Basically, they're passing the buck, and I'm the buck.
It's unclear to me what criteria was used in making this decision. I'm not Teacher of the Year material, but I'm not one of those jackasses who runs out the door every day at 4:00. I serve on the Improvement Committee, I work weekends when asked, I stay after school till 7 pm for grading and tutoring. I'm very miserly with my time off (no personal days since '08). I just find it inappropriate that I'm rendered expendable when I have over 8 years experience plus the English and ESL licenses. There are less qualified teachers out there yet I'm the one deemed least valuable. I'm even single and not likely to need maternity leave, yet I'm less valuable.
I want to speak to HR about the criteria used in this decision, or to see if the extra licenses could help make me more valuable. But to say that the '13 school year boss caused me a lot of trouble, is an understatement.
I was asked to sign the same one. Here's what didn't make sense at the time: I don't teach the remedial class anymore. I failed to see why I was being paid through special funds when I teach regular English (and ESL, the only "special" thing). But basically, the contract (and my boss from the 12-13 school year) rendered me expendable. ESL teachers are pretty valuable, the cert test's no piece of cake, working with those kids is no piece of cake. You earn that stipend. But I doubt the special funds are in reference to ESL. It's part of a class-size reduction program. The school gets funds to hire new teachers to make sure the others don't have swollen loads of 45-50 students. I think when my old boss excessed me, she made me a red-headed step-child of the district. Once those funds run out, the current campus will toss me out to one of the another one. Basically, they're passing the buck, and I'm the buck.
It's unclear to me what criteria was used in making this decision. I'm not Teacher of the Year material, but I'm not one of those jackasses who runs out the door every day at 4:00. I serve on the Improvement Committee, I work weekends when asked, I stay after school till 7 pm for grading and tutoring. I'm very miserly with my time off (no personal days since '08). I just find it inappropriate that I'm rendered expendable when I have over 8 years experience plus the English and ESL licenses. There are less qualified teachers out there yet I'm the one deemed least valuable. I'm even single and not likely to need maternity leave, yet I'm less valuable.
I want to speak to HR about the criteria used in this decision, or to see if the extra licenses could help make me more valuable. But to say that the '13 school year boss caused me a lot of trouble, is an understatement.