My Two Cents

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : February : 12

My Two Cents
By GM

E.J.

I know your post was not addressed to me; however, I hope you don't mind me sharing my experience.

I resigned midyear last year. It was my first teaching assignment. I did not immediately apply for another teaching
position right after, primarily because I didn't know if I had the desire to teach ever again.
In August, I applied for a turtorial position at a private institution. They, like public schools, want references. One of my references I gave was my former principal. To my surprise my former principal spoke highly of me to my current employer. However, when I asked him if he would

consider rehiring me for another position at his school or support me in pursuing another position within the district, he said no. (I asked in a letter; In hindsight, I can see why it would not be a good idea for me to go back to that school or district.)

I currently still work at the private institution and sub for several districts. In several schools I'm regarded as highly competent. My purpose for subbing is to find a school that is a "good fit" for me. I learned the hard way that it is not good to accept a job at a school you know nothing about other than it's location. That is not to say that my former school was not a good school, it was. However, it was not a "good fit" for me. My decision to accept that postion was a very uninformed decision.

Resigning has been a bittersweet experience for me. I have had A LOT of time to reflect. I see how I could have alleviated a lot of my problems.
I have grown so much as a result of that experince. The say: It's not what happens to you that matters; it's how you respond to it that does. I had a choice in how I responded to the many challenges I encountered. Some of the challenges were quite unfair; however, such is life; it's not always fair.

To resign midyear is a personal choice. It is one that I recommend weighing carefully. Getting references for the next job can be challenging. Plus, in our area, they require letters of recommendation to be current (no older than one year). I can't go back to my former principal and ask him to write such a letter. This is one of the consequences of resigning midyear.

Another thing to consider is how you will feel about yourself after resigning. What will you tell yourself? Never mind what others will think you. Be concerned about how you will perceive yourself. You have to live with yourself 24/7. You might feel better about yourself, only you can say.

Some on this board who have resigned midyear state that they omit their resignation on their resume. Is that an option for you? I cannot do such a thing because just about any district/school I would apply for I know someone that knows I was hired elsewhere.
Plus, I wouldn't want the worry of someone finding out that I was employed elsewhere and resigned. My integrity would most likley be
badly tarnished. But keep in mind that many people say that I am honest to a fault. It is just the way I am.

One other thing I would like to add is what the superindent of personnel told me upon my resignation. He said that it was far worse to be asked to resgn than to resign like I did. (Hopefully, if I do decide to pursue another postion, he will be on the interview panel ;-) But you have to keep in mind this is "his" opinion. Other people in such positions might see it differently.

I realize that some principals would shun me immediately upon learning that I resigned. While others might give me a chance. It is something I was well aware of when I submitted my resignation letter. At the time, resigning was the right choice for me. It most likely would not be in the future.

Again, weigh the decision to resign very carefully.
Take Care, GM