I was told today that my teaching contract with the school I'm at is NOT being renewed for the 2009-2010 school year because I am "too negative, never telling parents what their child does right, only what they do wrong. Parents are concerned that their child has had a negative experience in your class this year." I only know of 1 parent that wasn't happy with something that I said and that's because her son took what I said and completely twisted it. This parent took her kid out of my class in January and other than that, I don't know of ANY complaints against me that are reguarding me being negative. I did have 1 parent that was upset about an assignment, but his kid is still in my math class and we seem to have no worries now that things have gone through the proper channels.
My principal told me once (less than a month ago) that "I'd really like to talk to you about positive presentation, because I just really feel like that's key." And in 1 email she said, "Remember to stay positive." Other than that, nothing else has been said to me. Everything in my evaluations went smooth and the areas I was told to work on, I have to the best of my ability.
I really feel like I'm being lied to. One of the teachers that helped interview candidates to fill positions we knew were being left said that the principal offered 2 girls jobs and NEITHER one has graduated from college yet. Today my principal let 3 out of the 4 people she called into her office go. All 3 of us have our teaching licenses and none of us are first year teachers. The 1 teacher she did renew a contract for is an ARL teacher. Don't get me wrong, she's fabulous & I was planning to put Samantha in her class next year. I just think something's wrong when 3 certified, non first year teachers are fired and a first year ARL teacher is given a renewed contract.
At this point I just feel really upset. I have put absolutely EVERYTHING into this job. I have missed a lot of my daughter's kindergarten experience, my son's first preschool experience and my other son's first year of life. I think I've gone above and beyond what I've been asked to do. I'm the (volunteer) teacher advisor for the student newspaper and I'm on Community Council -volunteer AGAIN- (both of which are extracurricular with no extra pay). I'm at school at 7:30 am and my contract says I don't need to be there until 8:00. I didn't leave until at least 6 pm every day before Trav started working in WY and I don't leave until at least 4:15 pm since then and my contract says I only have to stay until 4 pm. I just really feel like maybe teaching isn't going to be worth it. I put my heart and soul into my job and this is the thanks I get (twice now for those of you who know my history). I keep asking myself "Why do this to yourself again?"
On the bright side: Travis avoided getting laid off this week when Halliburton did their first round of layoffs!
Have a better week than ME!
