Administrators not encouraging full year teacher commitments for our students. (home, employment)

[Susan Warren]

Dear Union County School Officials,


My child attends a new Union County Elementary School and is getting ready to get a new 5th grade teacher because the one she has was encouraged to apply for a promotion in a new position with in the same school before the school year is up. I find the timing in poor judgement. As parents we received no previous indication of such a change until it was a done deal and our child's class was visited by the Principal and then was sent home with a note for the parents.

I feel strongly that our teachers and administrators should fulfill a year long commitment to our students by staying in their position until that school year is up in June. I do not understand the urgency to continue switching teachers and administrators around just to fill a different position half way through a school year. Especially for reasons like promotions or getting a teaching job at another school. I am not talking about teacher maternity leave or firing school employees that abuse children in some manner or even sickness or some family issues. I am talking about job changes that could take place at a more fitting time for our children.

I know that this is happening with in many of our schools. I also understand the growth is huge, but I am sure that with a considerable amount of thought volunteers could pick up the slack for that short time. We only have approximately 18 more weeks until the end of school. Let's find a solution to these adult issues and allow our children to have the consistency in their classroom.

Our children should be the first priority and it is obvious to me that in such cases they are not. It seems that a good caring teacher would want to stay and complete the year with a class he/she has come to know and understand as well as our children who, by this time, have grown secure with them. I especially expect the head administrator of that school to encourage such a commitment. These standards must first be set by the school board officials with in each county.

Don't get me wrong. I think it is wonderful to advance in your career or find a place of employment that better suits your skills, but make such changes after your commitment has been fulfilled. This is, after all, one of the best lessons and a wonderful example to set before our children.

[FortMillBound]

I'm not sure "Union county school officials" read this site. You would be better served to contact the school system directly with your concerns.

[Susan Warren]

Thank you for your suggestion. I am working with others regarding this situation. Probably should have left open to general audience on this site. I am curious to know how others view this subject.

[FLtoNC]

I understand your point, but when the opportunity comes along for a teacher to be promoted, it is hard to pass up. For example, let's say the teacher has a leadership degree and is looking for an assistant principal position. If there is a vacancy for this, especially in the same school, it would be dumb for the teacher not to apply. The position will be filled whether the teacher applies or not, and he/she might miss out on a wonderful opportunity. I believe most school districts will not allow a teacher to transfer to a lateral move (i.e to another teaching position at a different school) during the school year. For promotions though this in usually the case.

[Susan Warren]

Yes, I agree, which is what I stated in my last paragraph. I think it is wonderful to advance in your career, but allow our teachers and school administrators to fulfill their obligations to our children/young adults, not present them with an ultimatum half way through the school year (with such urgency). Even if the position is made available, make plans to hire the best applicant and give them a June start date for that new position. It is not unusual to give starting dates. Schools particularly should, in my opinion, handle hiring toward the end of a school year and not handle hiring as in the corporate world. This seems like it would be a much smoother transition for everyone involved. Also, we have actually had teachers leave our school this year (one a lateral move and another left from elementary to teach in high school very recently) for reasons I don't know.

[Burgi]

I have heard (& experianced) quite a few problems in UCPS lately. Maybe the growth issues are catching up.

[cabercro]

I agree that this is a huge issue - not only are kids getting a new teacher halfway through the year, but they're often stuck with substitute teachers for long periods of time while their current teachers interview, plan for, and begin new positions and until a replacement can be found.

I think a lot of it is a growth issue. And especially in schools that are already overcrowded, I think the underlying issue is that if one upper-level position is vacant, it's very hard for the school to function. Without an appropriate number of qualified principals and VPs, discipline, paperwork, and teacher support can all go out the window very quickly. And in the end, that's much worse for the students than having a new teacher. So if something happens to one administrator, then someone gets transfered to a new position, someone gets promoted, another person gets transfered, and on and on down the line.

But to stick up for the county just a little bit, I must applaud them for their commitment to promoting from within. Other counties are notorious for refusing to promote teachers, even those who are highly deserving, with the theory that they'd rather hire a new person from out-of-district than risk giving up someone who is already in a position in their county. I wish there was a better solution. Maybe hiring on a temporary basis? That way the position isn't left vacant for the rest of the year, and deserving teachers can still be promoted at an appropriate time.

I do wonder, though, if this rapid growth is starting to get unsustainable...

[Susan Warren]

Thank you for your response. I do wonder what kind of effect these stress induced quick fix solutions have on the students midway through the school year.

I do think if each county had a starting date set in stone for hiring, promoting or transferring teachers/administrators, it would allow the students the consistency they need during that school year. Perhaps the end of the traditional school year would be good timing for job changes or teacher/administrator promotions. (Year-round schools, charter schools and private schools would have to establish their best time for these changes.)

I have compassion for the parents who have students that stuggle with learning disabilities (ADD, ADHD, autism or other), physical limitations, mainstreamed into our regular classes because they are high level fuctioning and capable of being there. Those teachers/administrators who come to know these students, as well as the rest of the class and the parent/teacher relationships are established. The teachers spends those first many weeks setting up their classroom environment and stratagies for their students that once it is put into practice should not be interrupted due to job changes for whatever reason within ones control. Our education system, though we are blessed in so many ways with many good programs and standards, is losing leverage by not remaining consistent during these rapidly changing times.

[muffinman]

It is interesting that a classroom teacher would be able to do this. It happens a lot with administrators but teachers, first I've heard. I know from my teacher friends that Union allows existing employees to apply for transfers this time of year but one usually has to wait until the end of the school year first.

[Susan Warren]

Let me ask those of you out there... Do you think if parents got together and approached the school board (in our case, Union County) that we could possibly have a hiring date established in June after the traditional school year ends? This hopeful challenge would be for the hiring of teachers and administrators (promotions and or transfers) to happen after this time.

It would be nice if parents in each county would push for this as to encourage consistency in our classrooms. What's the overall opinion?