Same here :(

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Home : 2004 : June : 29

Same here :(
By Marsha

I too understand what you are going through. I have been out of school for four years now and after subbing for a few years and a couple of short interims I finally got hired to teach a full year so technically it was my
first year. I was in heaven over the opportunity and worked my tail off to show I was a keeper. I worked hours past the end of the school day and on weekends. When my dad was near death I graded papers next to his bed. 98% of my students passed the writing assessment! I have no idea how the state test went and probably never will. I thought for sure I would return to teach the next

year. My observations were good and I never had a "needs improvement..." until the summative that is. That is when it all fell apart for me! Suddenly, I had a needs improvement and so wouldn't be hired back the next year. The principal told me that he had warned me back in October. Well, back in October (before I even had my first observation), he came into my room and told me about a first grade opening at another school and that I needed to go on and apply for it. I did and didn't get the transfer and thought nothing of it. In the summative I was told that I would get an excellent reference to teach elementary school (elementary positions are next to impossible to land unless you know someone or are related to the right person). What's up with that? How can they say that and also tell me that I did an excellent job there? I firmly believe it is all in who you know and/or are related to and I am waiting to see who ends up in my old room. I have a feeling I know who! I too, haven't been able to get an interview and with all the budget cuts in this state...I just don't think I will be teaching next year. I will be shocked if I do. I have one school year left that has got to be spent teaching because my license is due to expire in August 2005! I can't afford to go back to school and take classes in order to renew my license! I am scared and am on the brink of financial ruin. I don't know why I am telling you all that. Maybe because I want others to realize that it isn't just them and that it isn't personal. Politics stink. I am taking the Career Scope next week to see what else I can do to earn a living and am moving on. I have sold part of my teaching tools and will sell the rest before the summer is over. I have had it with the horrible treatment recieved at the hands of education. No wonder so many teachers leave the profession early on. I am in my 40's and need a job that I can rely on and put away for my retirement. My advice is this, don't sit around and wait for education to decide you are worthy of membership in their club...get out there and find an alternative career earning a good living for yourself...one that makes you feel good about yourself and IF education decides to hire you then go for it, just don't look at it as your only choice because it may never get around to choosing you and waiting certainly doesn't pay the bill and put food on the table. I won't come to this site anymore because it is too much of a painful reminder of what I am being denied. It's time to start living my life and finding my place in life. My life has been on hold long enough. Seriously, good luck to those of you that aren't ready to give your dreams up. I am getting too old to hold onto a dream of being a part of something that doesn't want me for whatever reason...the reasons really don't matter. I am tired of the whole mess. I am tired of crying. Bye.