OT: Teachers of Boneyard...Back to School Time

[husky429]

I graduated in 2011 and the change in teacher job markets is wild. I was looking for social studies jobs and there were 5 open in the whole state that summer.

My first job had 98 applicants. No idea why those idiots hired me.

 

[husky429]

May is definitely the worst month of the school year. Standardized testing and you’re still trying to hold kids to some kind of a standard. June is just survive and advance.

We have 23 days of school in May. I am giving standardized tests or make-ups 21 of those days. Even kids who show up have testing 13 days.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

May is definitely the worst month of the school year. Standardized testing and you’re still trying to hold kids to some kind of a standard. June is just survive and advance.

For sure.

My mom is back in the hospital, but thankfully, as you mentioned, probably because that it's already mid-May, my school has been super kind to let me have as much time off I need to be with my mom. I'm certain they'd do the same no matter the date, but it's definitely easier to "let go of control at work" now then, let's say, December.

 

[Minicoop69]

10 days left with kids and 1 day left for grade and BS meetings. But done May 31st so can't complain

 

[Hey Adrien!]

It's my first day back and I have six hours of meetings today...and I'm ready for a nap.

 

[Minicoop69]

It's my first day back and I have six hours of meetings today...and I'm ready for a nap.

That was me last Monday. Today is 5th day with kids.

 

[SportsFan88]

Us teachers in Bridgeport go back Thursday the kiddies start the following week

 

[crazyUCfan23]

Us teachers in Bridgeport go back Thursday the kiddies start the following week

same in Danbury

 

[StllH8L8ner]

This is always a fun thread around this time. I’m not a teacher but my kids go back next week. Son is moving to middle school now so his 8:40am bus pick up is now 7:30am. Won’t he be surprised.

 

[cp176]

great thread and good luck to all - I was a middle school (public) teacher and coach for 34. I stayed in the classroom and would not have changed one thing. With all that said though, September is a beautiful month.

 

[husky429]

I'm interviewing today for a job that was supposed to start 2 days ago for orientation/convocation. It will be pretty weird if I go to 2 days of PD at my current job, and then give them a "I won't be in tomorrow. Surprise!" But it is what it is, I guess.

 

[temery]

I'm interviewing today for a job that was supposed to start 2 days ago for orientation/convocation. It will be pretty weird if I go to 2 days of PD at my current job, and then give them a "I won't be in tomorrow. Surprise!" But it is what it is, I guess.

Never concern yourself with what a current employer thinks if you accept a job elsewhere. If they cared, they would have made a better offer to keep you.

 

[husky429]

Never concern yourself with what a current employer thinks if you accept a job elsewhere. If they cared, they would have made a better offer to keep you.

I was telling my wife's parents this yesterday and it couldn't even register with them. They come from the land of "stay at your employer for 30 years, get a pension, give your two weeks if you leave." FIL has been working for the same employer since 1991.

The only thing keeping me in my current job is they put me on top of the pay scale well before I deserved it to try to get me to come on board a few years ago.

I'm looking for admin jobs (this one is a closer step), and my current district has hired around 10 admin in the past 2 years: 0 of them internally. If I can get comparable pay somewhere else in a job more suited to my career development, there's no incentive left to stay. They've made it abundantly clear that I have nowhere else to go in their system.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Never concern yourself with what a current employer thinks if you accept a job elsewhere. If they cared, they would have made a better offer to keep you.

I left a job with a big bank during Covid and prior to that every other email was “we’re with you, stay safe, we’re here for you, care for your families, keep fighting”. Fast forward to late last year they announced tens of thousands of layoffs including a lot of my former colleagues who I keep in touch with.

Bottom line - you do what’s best for you. Your employer will figure it out.

 

[temery]

Us teachers in Bridgeport go back Thursday the kiddies start the following week

I'm not sure when school began to start before the first Wed after Labor Day, but it's bullshit. Adding a few days to the school year does nothing to improve a child's education.

Summer activities with friends is far more valuable than moving the rituals of the first few days of school up even just a few days.

"When does school start" should never be a valid question. The Wed after Labor Day should be the only answer.

Oh ... and the change in the starting date for school is what killed the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

</rant>

 

[Chin Diesel]

I was telling my wife's parents this yesterday and it couldn't even register with them. They come from the land of "stay at your employer for 30 years, get a pension, give your two weeks if you leave." FIL has been working for the same employer since 1991.

The only thing keeping me in my current job is they put me on top of the pay scale well before I deserved it to try to get me to come on board a few years ago.

And remember they'll unload you as quick as they can if they deem you unnecessary.

 

[Bootsy]

I'm interviewing today for a job that was supposed to start 2 days ago for orientation/convocation. It will be pretty weird if I go to 2 days of PD at my current job, and then give them a "I won't be in tomorrow. Surprise!" But it is what it is, I guess.

If you are in a public school and go to another public school district, your current district is entitled to keep you for 30 days. The release is typically negotiated between the superintendents for a solution.

 

[husky429]

If you are in a public school and go to another public school district, your current district is entitled to keep you for 30 days. The release is typically negotiated between the superintendents for a solution.

This is not correct. It's a myth perpetuated by political forces to keep teachers in place. Same type of myth as "you only have tenure when you start your 5th year!" The millisecond you are offered a year 5 contract, you are tenured with or without the letter.

Mobility is dependent on the contract. I have worked in 3 districts and none of them required 30 day notice. Teachers can (and have) quit one day and never come back in my district.

 

[temery]

And remember they'll unload you as quick as they can if they deem you unnecessary.

Each of the three school systems where I worked had a habit of reassigning teachers at the top of the pay scale to a different school, grade, and subject. Most were close to retirement and said screw it, I'm just going to retire. A new, younger teacher was hired at or near the bottom of the pay scale.

Two of the last four superintendents I worked for were let go. I made sure to send them a "congratulation on your retirement" card.

 

[temery]

If you are in a public school and go to another public school district, your current district is entitled to keep you for 30 days. The release is typically negotiated between the superintendents for a solution.

When did that become a thing?

 

[Bootsy]

When did that become a thing?

It’s been a thing at least since 2004 when I was held by a district as a teacher. I had to spend 3 weeks (test prep for CMTs) before I got start an admin job in another district.

As a principal, I had the situation come up 3-4 times but I let the Superintendent know that the teacher should leave immediately. This has been standard practice where I’ve been

 

[husky429]

It’s been a thing at least since 2004 when I was held by a district as a teacher. I had to spend 3 weeks (test prep for CMTs) before I got start an admin job in another district.

As a principal, I had the situation come up 3-4 times but I let the Superintendent know that the teacher should leave immediately. This has been standard practice where I’ve been

I can assure you that's contract-based and not state law.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I'm not sure when school began to start before the first Wed after Labor Day, but it's bullshit. Adding a few days to the school year does nothing to improve a child's education.

Summer activities with friends is far more valuable than moving the rituals of the first few days of school up even just a few days.

"When does school start" should never be a valid question. The Wed after Labor Day should be the only answer.

Oh ... and the change in the starting date for school is what killed the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

</rant>

I'm not old enough to provide feedback to your last point, but I agree with everything else you said.

About a decade ago, a previous head of school incrementally added time to our school year to the tune of once his seven year tenure was over, poof we added three extra weeks. Famously, he once told me in private if it weren't for the board, I would probably put in place a year-round calendar as he justified his reasons for families and teachers. The idiot spent two whole years in the classroom.

What's weirder is that our highest-esteemed competitors follow a Labor Day to Memorial Day schedule, so it's not uncommon to have partially filled classrooms prior to Labor Day and post Memorial Day.

At least, on the summer end its mostly remedied: our last day w/ kids is June 6th and teachers stick around for three days after that. However, I do not know a single private school teacher in the area who had to return to work as early as us, this Tuesday w/ kids coming the following Tuesday.

 

[JohnFSilver]

in Connecticut, we're only short 1000 bus drivers as of now.
expect delays.

This is insane. You can’t find a driver to save your life. Farmington went to a new company. No one wants to be a bus driver anymore.

Same with sub teaching. Good luck finding people.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'm not sure when school began to start before the first Wed after Labor Day, but it's bullshit. Adding a few days to the school year does nothing to improve a child's education.

Summer activities with friends is far more valuable than moving the rituals of the first few days of school up even just a few days.

"When does school start" should never be a valid question. The Wed after Labor Day should be the only answer.

Oh ... and the change in the starting date for school is what killed the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

</rant>

It's different in different parts of the country.

Kids have been in school for over a week now throughout most of the South. A couple of reasons for it.
First, it's hot as hades right now so putting the kids in an air conditioned school beats having them sit around inside the house all day. No one is doing outdoor activites in August.
Secondly, hurricane season. Opposite of winter snow storms and classes being cancelled. Start early in the year and by the end of October you'll know whether any changes are needed to the school calendar for the year.
Finally, and best of all, HS seniors are done with school by first week of May and everyone is done by Memorial Day weekend. You get Memorial Day and all of June and July off.