Still not safe
Well contrary to what I was led to believe over the summer, my job is still on the line. Sarasota is having the lowest enrollment it has ever had. 23 teachers were laid off this summer and more will be cut. Our school is down 50 students. The other elementary school near my school is down over 200 students and already had to tell 7 teachers not to return. Even if my school's enrollment was fine, if a teacher with more seniority in the county than me lost her job, she could take mine. I am second on the chopping block at my school. Things are looking really grim. I won't know anything until the 27th of this month. I spoke to my principal and when I asked her if I would be laid off she said "Not necessarily". Not exactly encouraging, but I appreciate her honesty.
Aside from how badly this will affect us financially, my whole team will be affected, plus our students. If I am gone, that means Ali is too and she is another fourth grade teacher. My team really feels like a team this year. We're sharing the planning and I was so excited for the new school year to start. THe whole school has a whole new vibe this year and it is a good one.
All I can do is pray that whatever is meant to happen will happen. I am pretty convinced that if I do get laid off, I will be looking for another field of work. I knew teachers don't get paid what we're worth, but the small amount we do get isn't enough to put up with lack of job security. Its so frustrating because I am a damn good teacher and it doesn't help me keep a job. I could be sitting in my room with my feet up having the kids do worksheet after worksheet and if I had been in the county long enough I'd have my job no matter what.
I've been having really apocalyptic dreams lately and I can feel in my gut that something is about to change in my life. I just hope I have the strength and wisdom to see it for what it is.
Aside from how badly this will affect us financially, my whole team will be affected, plus our students. If I am gone, that means Ali is too and she is another fourth grade teacher. My team really feels like a team this year. We're sharing the planning and I was so excited for the new school year to start. THe whole school has a whole new vibe this year and it is a good one.
All I can do is pray that whatever is meant to happen will happen. I am pretty convinced that if I do get laid off, I will be looking for another field of work. I knew teachers don't get paid what we're worth, but the small amount we do get isn't enough to put up with lack of job security. Its so frustrating because I am a damn good teacher and it doesn't help me keep a job. I could be sitting in my room with my feet up having the kids do worksheet after worksheet and if I had been in the county long enough I'd have my job no matter what.
I've been having really apocalyptic dreams lately and I can feel in my gut that something is about to change in my life. I just hope I have the strength and wisdom to see it for what it is.