unpopular option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school systems in this area have noncompete clauses in teacher contract. If they quit during the year they are not able to go to any neighboring county to teach. So either this person has moved, changing careers completely or going to private…

If they aren’t already those will be a thing of the past. Schools can’t afford to turn down licensed teachers right now.

It 100% still happens in APS. At discovery they lost 2 of the 3 5th grade teachers at Christmas break. They had to get teachers from overseas because there is no one in the area who could apply…

Sounds like there is a story behind this one. Just makes you go hmmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She probably quit because of people like you

Exactly. I bet you were one of those people complaining about teachers during virtual learning last year, screaming that they were lazy, etc.

And now look what happened. Good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school systems in this area have noncompete clauses in teacher contract. If they quit during the year they are not able to go to any neighboring county to teach. So either this person has moved, changing careers completely or going to private…

If they aren’t already those will be a thing of the past. Schools can’t afford to turn down licensed teachers right now.

It 100% still happens in APS. At discovery they lost 2 of the 3 5th grade teachers at Christmas break. They had to get teachers from overseas because there is no one in the area who could apply…

Sounds like there is a story behind this one. Just makes you go hmmm.

No one who could apply or no one who would apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not an unpopular opinion, nobody wants their kid's teacher to quit mid year. However, when I worked in education I knew two teachers personally who literally lost their minds and disappeared mid year because of it. Not only were the parents not informed the reason why they were gone but their own teaching teams didn't get the details from admin. They might have known if they knew her well enough personally but that's the only way. It's confidential personnel information.

If they just quit for some random stupid reason you don't want that person teaching your kid anyway.

I also know of a guy who quit with zero notice because of the way he was being treated by admin and the school division, it was absolutely untenable and he was right to leave.

As others have said a teacher can really screw themselves professionally if they do that so if they do it anyway you should assume it was a pretty serious situation for them to take such a drastic step.

Not the OP, but thank you for this rational response. Any time a parent on DCUM makes a complaint like this, they get bashed. However, it's a really big deal for kids when a teacher quits mid-year, and it shouldn't be something that happens often.

It happened to two of my kids, and both times, I knew the reason for the teacher leaving. They honestly had no other choice. However, the dynamic of education, where parents are supposed to be partners with the school and the teachers in educating their child, is undermined when teachers leave without explanation mid-year. Teaching really isn't like any other profession. Parents help teachers out in the classroom at school, send in supplies, have special appreciation events, but then are shut out completely from knowing anything about extended absences or abrupt departures. I understand these things are confidential, but it's a tough pill to swallow. In fact, it feels like a slap in the face. If confidentiality prohibits saying anything, then the departure could be for something trivial. There is no way of knowing. And kids, especially younger kids, which mine were when their teacher left during winter break, tend to feel abandoned and even responsible.

I continue to believe that the system needs much more built in backup for teachers. There are always going to be illnesses, personal or family needs, or other events that cause extended absence or even leaving mid-year. Maybe if there was more backup available, fewer teachers would have to leave abruptly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not an unpopular opinion, nobody wants their kid's teacher to quit mid year. However, when I worked in education I knew two teachers personally who literally lost their minds and disappeared mid year because of it. Not only were the parents not informed the reason why they were gone but their own teaching teams didn't get the details from admin. They might have known if they knew her well enough personally but that's the only way. It's confidential personnel information.

If they just quit for some random stupid reason you don't want that person teaching your kid anyway.

I also know of a guy who quit with zero notice because of the way he was being treated by admin and the school division, it was absolutely untenable and he was right to leave.

As others have said a teacher can really screw themselves professionally if they do that so if they do it anyway you should assume it was a pretty serious situation for them to take such a drastic step.

Not the OP, but thank you for this rational response. Any time a parent on DCUM makes a complaint like this, they get bashed. However, it's a really big deal for kids when a teacher quits mid-year, and it shouldn't be something that happens often.

It happened to two of my kids, and both times, I knew the reason for the teacher leaving. They honestly had no other choice. However, the dynamic of education, where parents are supposed to be partners with the school and the teachers in educating their child, is undermined when teachers leave without explanation mid-year. Teaching really isn't like any other profession. Parents help teachers out in the classroom at school, send in supplies, have special appreciation events, but then are shut out completely from knowing anything about extended absences or abrupt departures. I understand these things are confidential, but it's a tough pill to swallow. In fact, it feels like a slap in the face. If confidentiality prohibits saying anything, then the departure could be for something trivial. There is no way of knowing. And kids, especially younger kids, which mine were when their teacher left during winter break, tend to feel abandoned and even responsible.

I continue to believe that the system needs much more built in backup for teachers. There are always going to be illnesses, personal or family needs, or other events that cause extended absence or even leaving mid-year. Maybe if there was more backup available, fewer teachers would have to leave abruptly.

I agree with all you said and appreciate your kind words about my comment. One of the teachers I know who left due to losing her mind was driven to insanity by the situation the school put her in and eventually just literally lost it. Lots of parents had a clue about that situation but admin certainly wasn't sending out memos about it. The other one had serious mental issues due to events in her personal life so you can imagine nobody was informing anybody about that. If that happened to me or you we wouldn't want anyone to be told our personal issues either, right?

As far as having backup, my experience has been that it's long been extremely difficult to find competent willing subs and that is clearly worse since covid. The attitude of many parents on DCUM and elsewhere towards teachers has made this situation much worse. Nobody wants to be disparaged, criticized, blamed and totally underappreciated by many people largely due to circumstances beyond their control. Whether parents agree or disagree with that, the reality is many teachers have left the profession or become very disenchanted with the teaching profession as a result. This problem is not getting better either, it's getting worse. I don't know the answer.

[Anonymous]

He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

Have you considered there could be medical issues? I had to leave mid-year after a cancer diagnosis. I assure you I was able to teach again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

I respectfully disagree with you, especially regarding teachers who left during this school year or last year.

Especially if this person is a SPED teacher or secondary math/science teacher and can thoughtfully explain the mid-year departure, they could be rehired almost immediately (a health emergency in the family — didn’t we all have that to one degree or another?).

The idea that breaking contract will result in that person never teaching again is outdated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

I respectfully disagree with you, especially regarding teachers who left during this school year or last year.

Especially if this person is a SPED teacher or secondary math/science teacher and can thoughtfully explain the mid-year departure, they could be rehired almost immediately (a health emergency in the family — didn’t we all have that to one degree or another?).

The idea that breaking contract will result in that person never teaching again is outdated.

100% no one is turning down a licensed Sped teacher

[Anonymous]

FCPS has a rule that if you leave after a certain date (and it's early, possibly June 15th), you are considered "leaving with prejudice." It's almost never the right time to leave, especially if you have a vindictive principal who will treat you badly if you let them know before the end of the year that you intend to leave. Also, unlike most jobs, you cannot get another job in the county without the blessing of your current principal. So, you cannot job search privately. It's no wonder that teachers are fed up with this system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not an unpopular opinion, nobody wants their kid's teacher to quit mid year. However, when I worked in education I knew two teachers personally who literally lost their minds and disappeared mid year because of it. Not only were the parents not informed the reason why they were gone but their own teaching teams didn't get the details from admin. They might have known if they knew her well enough personally but that's the only way. It's confidential personnel information.

If they just quit for some random stupid reason you don't want that person teaching your kid anyway.

I also know of a guy who quit with zero notice because of the way he was being treated by admin and the school division, it was absolutely untenable and he was right to leave.

As others have said a teacher can really screw themselves professionally if they do that so if they do it anyway you should assume it was a pretty serious situation for them to take such a drastic step.

Not the OP, but thank you for this rational response. Any time a parent on DCUM makes a complaint like this, they get bashed. However, it's a really big deal for kids when a teacher quits mid-year, and it shouldn't be something that happens often.

It happened to two of my kids, and both times, I knew the reason for the teacher leaving. They honestly had no other choice. However, the dynamic of education, where parents are supposed to be partners with the school and the teachers in educating their child, is undermined when teachers leave without explanation mid-year. Teaching really isn't like any other profession. Parents help teachers out in the classroom at school, send in supplies, have special appreciation events, but then are shut out completely from knowing anything about extended absences or abrupt departures. I understand these things are confidential, but it's a tough pill to swallow. In fact, it feels like a slap in the face. If confidentiality prohibits saying anything, then the departure could be for something trivial. There is no way of knowing. And kids, especially younger kids, which mine were when their teacher left during winter break, tend to feel abandoned and even responsible.

I continue to believe that the system needs much more built in backup for teachers. There are always going to be illnesses, personal or family needs, or other events that cause extended absence or even leaving mid-year. Maybe if there was more backup available, fewer teachers would have to leave abruptly.

I actually hesitated in responding because I think you are coming from a good place. I agree it is unfortunate when teachers leave in the middle of the year, but we can’t demand martyrdom. The job must come second; health and family must come first. If that makes me sound like a selfish teacher, ask yourself if we expect any other professional to martyr themselves the way we do our teachers. Teachers must put themselves first, and the best example I can give you is a young teacher who told me she prayed every morning to get into an accident on the way to school. She was that miserable. Should she have to stick it out for the rest of the year? Absolutely not. She was doing herself no favors, nor was she able to be the teacher she wanted to be in the classroom.

Teaching has always been a hard profession, but it has become too unreasonably demanding and (at times) hostile. We are facing a National teacher shortage because of these conditions. Be kind to teachers and respect that they are making the best decisions for them. Don’t feel like you have any right at all to know why they left, even if you did provide classroom supplies. If you truly want to help, become a substitute. We are desperate, and we are going to lose more teachers since so many of us complete missing colleagues’ work on top of our own every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you quit your teaching job doing spring break you’re selfish. My DD 8th grade ELS resigned over break and she isn’t coming back some days other teachers have to fill in because of her actions. Just FYI if you quit wait till June please.

It’s a job. Your kids are your kids and not the employee’s responsibility.

The idea that parents think they can say things like “wait until June please” is laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

I respectfully disagree with you, especially regarding teachers who left during this school year or last year.

Especially if this person is a SPED teacher or secondary math/science teacher and can thoughtfully explain the mid-year departure, they could be rehired almost immediately (a health emergency in the family — didn’t we all have that to one degree or another?).

The idea that breaking contract will result in that person never teaching again is outdated.

Whether it’s right or not, that is exactly how it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

I respectfully disagree with you, especially regarding teachers who left during this school year or last year.

Especially if this person is a SPED teacher or secondary math/science teacher and can thoughtfully explain the mid-year departure, they could be rehired almost immediately (a health emergency in the family — didn’t we all have that to one degree or another?).

The idea that breaking contract will result in that person never teaching again is outdated.

100% no one is turning down a licensed Sped teacher

Well… If your teacher, I don’t recommend that you try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He or she left the field. We’re all under contact- this person will never teach again.

I respectfully disagree with you, especially regarding teachers who left during this school year or last year.

Especially if this person is a SPED teacher or secondary math/science teacher and can thoughtfully explain the mid-year departure, they could be rehired almost immediately (a health emergency in the family — didn’t we all have that to one degree or another?).

The idea that breaking contract will result in that person never teaching again is outdated.

100% no one is turning down a licensed Sped teacher

Well… If your teacher, I don’t recommend that you try it.

If you are a teacher!