Can anyone tell me the reason why teachers can take leave for vacation during school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

PP here:
I wouldn't want to finish up the year on disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

In my mom's school system, teachers were allowed to cash in unused leave when they retired, but only at 60% of what it was worth. So if your pay per hour worked out to $30 before taxes, you could get $18 per hour.

In Washington State, a teacher can convert up to 180 days of leave to a payout when she/he retires or dies. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-136-020

Most school systems aren't that generous. I think mine has a 40% payout. And some don't allow any cashing in of leave at all. I know a few teachers who were "out sick" a lot as they approached retirement. In the spring semester of her last year, my former MIL only taught Tues-Thurs each week. She took Mon and Fri off to zero out her sick leave and personal leave. It was an open secret what she was doing.

[Anonymous]

The last two days I took off were spent doing the paperwork that I didn't have time to do during the school day. -- Special Ed teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

In my mom's school system, teachers were allowed to cash in unused leave when they retired, but only at 60% of what it was worth. So if your pay per hour worked out to $30 before taxes, you could get $18 per hour.

In Washington State, a teacher can convert up to 180 days of leave to a payout when she/he retires or dies. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-136-020

Most school systems aren't that generous. I think mine has a 40% payout. And some don't allow any cashing in of leave at all. I know a few teachers who were "out sick" a lot as they approached retirement. In the spring semester of her last year, my former MIL only taught Tues-Thurs each week. She took Mon and Fri off to zero out her sick leave and personal leave. It was an open secret what she was doing.

FCPS doesn't pay for unused leave at retirement. That's part of the reason I'm thinking I should start using it a bit. For example, my wife and I have our 20th anniversary coming up. We never took a honeymoon type trip. We're thinking of taking two days off around a holiday such as Columbus Day for a trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County teachers earn approximately 13 days of leave a year. Of those, 3 per year can be used for personal leave. Any unused leave carries over as leave, but only up to 3 per year are supposed to be used for personal.

I have almost 1,000 hours saved. I'm thinking I should start using some of it.

The librarian at my former ACPS had a year of leave accumulated and was going out on leave then retiring. That's such a misuse of the intent of leave. Government agencies and school should have a use of lose cap - 8 weeks should be the most you can carry over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County teachers earn approximately 13 days of leave a year. Of those, 3 per year can be used for personal leave. Any unused leave carries over as leave, but only up to 3 per year are supposed to be used for personal.

I have almost 1,000 hours saved. I'm thinking I should start using some of it.

The librarian at my former ACPS had a year of leave accumulated and was going out on leave then retiring. That's such a misuse of the intent of leave. Government agencies and school should have a use of lose cap - 8 weeks should be the most you can carry over.

The OP wouldn't like a use or lose policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County teachers earn approximately 13 days of leave a year. Of those, 3 per year can be used for personal leave. Any unused leave carries over as leave, but only up to 3 per year are supposed to be used for personal.

I have almost 1,000 hours saved. I'm thinking I should start using some of it.

The librarian at my former ACPS had a year of leave accumulated and was going out on leave then retiring. That's such a misuse of the intent of leave. Government agencies and school should have a use of lose cap - 8 weeks should be the most you can carry over.

The OP wouldn't like a use or lose policy.

And with such paltry maternity leave policies, accumulating annual leave is the only way most teachers can spend a decent amount of time with their babies- assuming they were unlucky enough to have a baby born in any month other than May or June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

In my mom's school system, teachers were allowed to cash in unused leave when they retired, but only at 60% of what it was worth. So if your pay per hour worked out to $30 before taxes, you could get $18 per hour.

In Washington State, a teacher can convert up to 180 days of leave to a payout when she/he retires or dies. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-136-020

Most school systems aren't that generous. I think mine has a 40% payout. And some don't allow any cashing in of leave at all. I know a few teachers who were "out sick" a lot as they approached retirement. In the spring semester of her last year, my former MIL only taught Tues-Thurs each week. She took Mon and Fri off to zero out her sick leave and personal leave. It was an open secret what she was doing.

FCPS doesn't pay for unused leave at retirement. That's part of the reason I'm thinking I should start using it a bit. For example, my wife and I have our 20th anniversary coming up. We never took a honeymoon type trip. We're thinking of taking two days off around a holiday such as Columbus Day for a trip.

You do understand that those 2 days would be considered personal leave. It doesn't matter whether you have 10 days of sick leave or 200 days of sick leave. You still only get 3 personal days a year. Every teacher in FCPS gets 13 sick days a year. Up to 3 of them can be designated as personal leave. Whatever isn't used, rolls forward as sick leave. Personal leave does not roll forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

In my mom's school system, teachers were allowed to cash in unused leave when they retired, but only at 60% of what it was worth. So if your pay per hour worked out to $30 before taxes, you could get $18 per hour.

In Washington State, a teacher can convert up to 180 days of leave to a payout when she/he retires or dies. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-136-020

Most school systems aren't that generous. I think mine has a 40% payout. And some don't allow any cashing in of leave at all. I know a few teachers who were "out sick" a lot as they approached retirement. In the spring semester of her last year, my former MIL only taught Tues-Thurs each week. She took Mon and Fri off to zero out her sick leave and personal leave. It was an open secret what she was doing.

FCPS doesn't pay for unused leave at retirement. That's part of the reason I'm thinking I should start using it a bit. For example, my wife and I have our 20th anniversary coming up. We never took a honeymoon type trip. We're thinking of taking two days off around a holiday such as Columbus Day for a trip.

You do understand that those 2 days would be considered personal leave. It doesn't matter whether you have 10 days of sick leave or 200 days of sick leave. You still only get 3 personal days a year. Every teacher in FCPS gets 13 sick days a year. Up to 3 of them can be designated as personal leave. Whatever isn't used, rolls forward as sick leave. Personal leave does not roll forward.

Yep. I understand that. I'd use them as personal days. Why not? That's why we have them. I never use all 3 personal days anyhow and they roll forward as sick leave. That's part of the reason I have so much unused leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now. Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach. Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere. Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress. I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days). She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone.

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them.

In my mom's school system, teachers were allowed to cash in unused leave when they retired, but only at 60% of what it was worth. So if your pay per hour worked out to $30 before taxes, you could get $18 per hour.

In Washington State, a teacher can convert up to 180 days of leave to a payout when she/he retires or dies. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-136-020

Most school systems aren't that generous. I think mine has a 40% payout. And some don't allow any cashing in of leave at all. I know a few teachers who were "out sick" a lot as they approached retirement. In the spring semester of her last year, my former MIL only taught Tues-Thurs each week. She took Mon and Fri off to zero out her sick leave and personal leave. It was an open secret what she was doing.

FCPS doesn't pay for unused leave at retirement. That's part of the reason I'm thinking I should start using it a bit. For example, my wife and I have our 20th anniversary coming up. We never took a honeymoon type trip. We're thinking of taking two days off around a holiday such as Columbus Day for a trip.

You do understand that those 2 days would be considered personal leave. It doesn't matter whether you have 10 days of sick leave or 200 days of sick leave. You still only get 3 personal days a year. Every teacher in FCPS gets 13 sick days a year. Up to 3 of them can be designated as personal leave. Whatever isn't used, rolls forward as sick leave. Personal leave does not roll forward.

Yep. I understand that. I'd use them as personal days. Why not? That's why we have them. I never use all 3 personal days anyhow and they roll forward as sick leave. That's part of the reason I have so much unused leave.

Oh wow, I just checked and the county doesn't pay for sick leave anymore at retirement if you were hired after 2001. But if you have 1000 hours, you must have been working for the county for awhile. I have 500+ and I've been here 14 years. I always use my personal leave each year - usually just a day or two here and there.

[Anonymous]

Teachers dont get paid over summer.

In other words - for those of you who have difficulty in understanding the concept - summer vacation is not PTO for teachers.

Teachers can, however, choose to have their 10 months of salary paid over 12 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers dont get paid over summer.

In other words - for those of you who have difficulty in understanding the concept - summer vacation is not PTO for teachers.

Teachers can, however, choose to have their 10 months of salary paid over 12 months.

Not any more in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers dont get paid over summer.

In other words - for those of you who have difficulty in understanding the concept - summer vacation is not PTO for teachers.

Teachers can, however, choose to have their 10 months of salary paid over 12 months.

Not any more in FCPS.

Which part is not anymore. The only part that isn't standard is that many schools no longer allow you to choose to receive your paycheck over 10 months. The part about summer not being PTO is still 100% true.