Pity party for me About This Page:

[pflamingo]

School starts in just over a week. But that's not why I'm whining. Now that our principal has run off my buddy (the 6th Grade teacher), I've become her new least favorite teacher. Interesting, b/c I was pretty golden last year.

I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt last year, but now I'm convinced that she has some serious psychological problems. She is a lousy judge of character, makes terrible decisions about staff, students, and parents, says one thing then does the opposite then treats us like we're stupid b/c we don't know what's going on, gets frustrated b/c she's disorganized then blames us when things don't get done. And that's just this week. I really have tried to please her and get along w/ her, but it's like being in an abusive relationship -- we never know whether we're going to get praised, ignored, or yelled at. Most of the teachers there feel the same way.

I'm so depressed, but I don't know what to do. The job market is terrible in this town, but I'm not sure I'm financially secure enough to just sell my house and move. I'd have to have a job elsewhere, first. If I could afford to quit and work for $8 an hour (what the cheapskate companies in this town consider big money) I'd do it, but I've got to pay my mortgage, medical bills, etc. I've applied to everything I'm even remotely qualified for around here, but no luck. I love my students and their parents (most of 'em, anyway), but I just don't think I can deal with this woman much longer. Oh, and b/c of Georgia's certification rules, I can't get a job w/ the public schools. I have a Ph.D., but b/c my B.A. wasn't in education, I can't get certified -- would have to quit my job and go back to college full time for two years, and I really can't afford that. Still paying off my first 3 degrees.

Anyway, I'm going to try to enjoy my last week of "freedom". Thanks for letting me whine. If anyone has any great ideas for me, I'm open to suggestion.

(Oh, and to make things worse, my birthday's next week. Love the presents, hate being another year older and only slightly less in debt.)

[ 08-01-2002, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: pflamingo ]

[coffeechef]

Wow I don't know the answer, but this perso sounds like our Director. He does the same things. He can change his mind like the wind , then accusingly say Why are you doing it like that? Every thought that goes thru his head pop out of his mouth so you never know whether he wants something done like that or its jsut a random thought passing thru. I am one of his least favorite people so I am always being criticised by him. For 22 years I have been considered at the top of my Game with any Supervisor & Director I have worked with, including Partime jobs. But this Guy seems to resent me behind my back, he never says it to my Face but I hear it from My SUpervisor & others all the time. I wish I could give you help on this. I hope to outlast him, perhaps you can do the same. Know that others understand your frustrations & feel for you. Hang in there & lets move forward to hope things will turn around.

[LuvMK]

Pat, I am so sorry that you are starting a new school year in such a bad situation. We love our principal and still there is a lot of stress at this time of year. I can't believe that the administration doesn't do something about this principal! Do the parents feel the same way about her? Our parents are very vocal here! Is there a lot of staff turnover?

Have you thought about substituting in the public schools? I did this while I went to school for my masters and it worked out great. I worked almost everyday and could take a day off if I needed to study. I was able to take most of my classes at night and in the summer. This also lets the principals in the public school see you "in action" and as soon as you are certified they will grab you up!

For now just stay low and avoid contact with your principal as much as possible - I sure wouldn't volunteer to help out on a lot of committees, etc. if it is a thankless job!

Feel free to vent here - with all the teachers here you have an understanding support group! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

BTW - you could teach in public school here in Texas! There is an alternative certification program available to people that already have a degree. Check into this - due to the teacher shortage most states are offering something similar.

[pflamingo]

coffeechef - maybe they're related! Sounds exactly like her! I'm afraid to pay the deposit on my Sept Disney trip b/c I'm worried she'll change her mind at the last minute about giving me that one lousy day off -- even though I've got something like 3 weeks worth of sick/personal leave coming to me.

LuvMK - since we're private/Catholic, everything goes through the diocese, and they're not inclined to admit that any of their administrators do anything wrong. (Have we heard this theme lately?) Georgia has an "alternative" certification program, but it was really poorly conceived and executed. It pretty much involves taking all the education classes, just like you would going to school full time, but you get to do it while you're teaching full time, too. Yikes! And I can't get in on the program's financial aid to pay for the classes, b/c I have more than a Masters. Can we say "screwed up plan"?

But thank you, both, for the sympathy. It's definitely appreciated! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Fortissimo]

Pat, I feel your pain. I also dread going back to school this year. I'm lucky because the principal thinks I walk on water. However, since my cat is more intellegent than he is I don't take that as a compliment.

This will be my 13 year at this school. I was offered 3 jobs in other districts over the summer, all paid more than my current district. I didn't apply for any of teh jobs, the principals at the schools heard about me from my friends who were run out by our fearlous leader. For some reason I turned them all down. I love my students and for the most part my parents. I figure I can out last, out play, and out wit (yes like Survivor), our principal.

Pat, you can always come to Colorado. In Colorado you can get an emergency license which is good for three years. Unfortunately, Colorado ranks 49th in school funding so the pay stinks.

Good luck with your up-coming school year.

[luvnwdwgal]

My DH works for a Catholic school also. They just had 19 kids pulled out of the school because of the principal. They only had 150 students enrolled as it was so for 19 to leave, that's a big drop in money they will take in! They had to "let go" of one of the employees (not a teacher) due to cutbacks. The principal was $50,000 over budget! Hopefully the new Priest will set her straight, he used to be a CPA! Most of her problems started when she showed up at the 8th grade graduation a little tipsey! She had gone out to lunch before hand and had had a couple drinks! She wasn't fired because the Priest at that time was on his way out and didn't want to have anything to do with it! So she still has her job, but all the parents are pulling their kids! I think she should step down on her own for the good of the school! She has a lot of personal problems that she needs to get taken care of, before she ends up costing everyone their jobs! This should be an interesting new school year!

[Elliot'sDragon]

Pat, I didn't know you taught in my school.
I should say old school. Five out of Seven teachers quit because of the principal.
And you hit the nail on the head with the comment about how the diocese covers for their administartors.
I am looking forward to this year. I have a very small class and a fantastic principal.
Fell free to vent. We can play, can u top this.
The only way I made it thru last year was to go to school and walk to my classroom and not bother with anything.
We, teachers, did not tell many parents what was happening. I am waiting to hear the reaction of the parents in September.
I'll keep you posted. You keep us posted.
As for extra day at WDW. Call in sick. Last year I took about four days for WDW.

[GoofyMom]

Pat, I have no solutions to suggest. Just a lot of sympathy for you. A bad job situation sure makes getting up in the morning to go to work difficult. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] Vent away, we'll listen [img]graemlins/ears.gif[/img]

[Courtjenn]

Where in GA are you, I teach in GA too? Although I teach in the Public Schools. I can only send you my prayers because I have been lucky to be in two different school where I have loved my principals. I hope things work out for you.

[pflamingo]

Thanks for the sympathy, everyone! I'm just going to have to find something else. I'm too much like my father and sooner or later I'm going to let her have it -- then I really will need to find another job! I just feel like she's running the school into the ground.

I keep thinking more and more about how I want to move back to Florida, so I think I'm going to focus on finding something down there. My resume is up-to-date -- I just hate writing those cover letters! My goal is to have something else, either here or in Florida, by Christmas.

BTW, Courtney, I'm in Macon.

[GoofyMom]

Pat, this is totally off-topic! How the heck do you pronounce Macon? Is it with the soft or hard "c" cuz I've heard both?

Signed,

A nerd who really wants to know! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[pflamingo]

Donna, from one nerd to another, it's pronounced w/ a hard "c" -- like "bacon" (assuming you Nawtherners pronounce that right). [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

As long as we're off-topic, did I ever mention that my family is Canadian, and I have a dual citizenship? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Part of the reason why I never developed a Southern accent -- thank goodness!

[ 08-05-2002, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: pflamingo ]

[GoofyMom]

Tee hee. Bacon, now that's something I should know a lot about, eh!!!

Where in Canada is your family from? (I remember in your TR you said something about that and British heritage)

I'm British heritage too on Dad's side. Mom's side is Irish. Well, actually, I should say that my maternal grandpa was actually born in Idaho but his parents were Irish. They moved to Canada when he was a child. But my Mom can't get dual citizenship. She tried a few years ago because she thought it would help me. Here's a long story - try to follow. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] She thought if she got dual citizenship, then I could also apply for dual citizenship. Then DH could get a job in the States (he was job hunting at the time) without much trouble regarding visas and green cards or something. However, when she tried, some laws had just been changed and even though my grandpa has a social security number and was born in Idaho, it wasn't enough to grant her dual citizenship. So, oh well, DH got a good job in Canada and all her planning wasn't necessary anyways.

[pflamingo]

The family's pretty scattered now, but my parents & their sibs were born & raised in Toronto. Ready for the pedigree? Here goes:

Maternal grandfather was Irish, not sure what part he was from. Maternal grandmother was English, from a town just south of London. Not sure when they moved to Canada.

Paternal grandmother was English, from Darlington, Durham County, north of Yorkshire. Her mother (my great-grandmother) emigrated to Canada when her children were still pretty young. Great-gran ended up raising my father and his sibs when their parents died. Dad was about 7 when that happened. Now she was a woman to be reckoned with! I'm sure that's where I get my complete lack of diplomatic skills. She didn't mince words, ever, but everyone loved her.

Really don't know anything about my paternal grandfather. His family apparently didn't approve of his marriage and didn't want anything to do with the kids after he died.

Mom and Dad moved to Florida in the '50's b/c they were tired of shoveling snow, and they've never looked back. Brother & I were born before they were naturalized, so they applied for Canadian citizenship for us, just in case we ever wanted to move there. Not likely, though. Being raised on Florida, anything below 75 degrees and I'm freezing!