too.old.to.teach

Happy F*cking Birthday UFT

2010-03-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

Apparently today is the big b-day bash for the United Federation of Teachers. 50 years. 40 of which were spent building the rights and benefits of hard working educators. The last 10, systematically destroying everyone of those gains.

I have been a dues paying member for 20 years now. I have watched as my union leaders sold out their membership for the promise of future members. Those future members are the ones who come here, work for 2 years, gain a free Masters Degree and then leave. They are the same TFA's & Fellows who are brainwashed into thinking they are superior to those of us who were here before their programs began.

I have watched as they gave away our seniority rights, our working hours, our ability to earn overtime (in the form of per session), and our contractual right to have unionized public schools with their support of charter schools.

So, back to the party...

So far the reported guests include:

Randi Weingarten, the woman who almost single handedly destroyed what used to be one of the most powerful locals in the country.

Bill Clinton, who I'm assuming is being paid speaking fees with our dues.

and for the win...

Mayor for Life, Mike Bloomberg, otherwise known as Public Enemy #1.

Again, who is paying for this shindig? I know I'm asking for a refund, and am seriously thinking it's time to go Agency Fee.

Spring Semester

2010-02-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

Last week in January: No new schedule.

Decision is made to change classes after Winter Break to accommodate school-wide events.

New schedules are promised for 1st week in February.

We are now 1 day away from vacation and I have no idea what classes I am teaching on the Monday we return.

I don't know the grades. I don't know the days or times. I therefore don't know the rooms/equipment available for said classes. My lesson plans are completely dependent on this information.

Obviously, I cannot plan.

After many weeks and many requests for the information...I officially give up!

I will not spend my vacation worrying about the deficiencies of those chosen to lead. I will not worry about what to do with my classes on February 22nd. I'm thinking we should all just put our heads down for an hour.

Snow Drift Thursday

2010-02-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

Apparently our M4L lives in the land of delusion, where streets are plowed, sidewalks shoveled, and curbs passable. If only I could afford to live there as well.

3 foot snow drifts, and snow plows re-plowing them in just before the bus arrives!

The NYC Housing Authority didn't seem to see the need to shovel the pathways through their properties.

Today's commute: treacherous!

A Brief History of My Time On the Open Market

2009-08-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was very, very picky about the schools I applied to on the Open Market this year. This is year 4 of my involuntary participation in the Open Market System.

The first year, I was excessed on a Friday afternoon at 4:00 PM, on the last business day of July. That gave me the opportunity to apply for the jobs left over during the last week of "trading." This was also before fair student funding was implemented. I applied for and was offered a job at an elementary school in Bay Ridge. In hindsight perhaps I should have accepted it, but I did not feel a rapport with the administration. Also, my psychic future-reading powers had failed me, and I did not anticipate just how much my tenure and seniority rights would be destroyed the following year.

Instead, I accepted a Staff Developer position at a unionized charter school. Although not a fan of charters, I had my full UFT salary, pension & benefits. It seemed as though I could really boost my career by taking this position. Not so much, but more about that later. It wasn't a bad place to work, but terribly frustrating, with more political fallout than your average public school.

Since I knew that I could only take a 3 year leave of absence from the NYCDOE to work at said charter school, I spend summer #2 scouring the Open Market. I saw the position I had been excessed from listed, but since that principal obviously didn't want me, I decided not to fight for it. I also admit I didn't try that hard this year, but it did weigh upon me all summer. Not exactly a relaxing vacation. Also, no responses to any of my resumes.

I returned to the charter school for a second year. Everyone knew that this would be the Principal's last year in charge. TPTB were working overtime to replace the Principal. I had some hope that the new administration would make changes that would benefit the school, and make it a less frustrating place to work. However, in mid-June i was informed that my position was being cut, and I would be working as a middle science teacher, something I am "highly-unqualified" to teach. As a member of the Leadership Cabinet I would have expected the professional courtesy of more notice than the 2 weeks before the end of the term they gave me.

So Open Market year 3. Fair student funding is now in full effect. I apply to 40+ schools. I hear from exactly 1 one of them. The second to last week in August. I interview, and am offered the position which I accept. Although I know this school is difficult and has a reputation for high teacher turnover, I decide it's best to get back to a DOE position sooner, rather than later.

And here we are, in August 2009. Year 4. In December the DOE decided our school was hopeless and should be closed. One more year on the Open Market. With my salary, this has become an impossible task. Although I sent out far fewer resumes this year (15ish). This was because after my experience with a closing school, I will only apply to strong, stable schools with experienced admins. I want to be done spending my summer vacations job hunting. So, this year 2 interviews, but no offers. Also, I had resigned myself to going back into a classroom teaching position instead of restricting my job search to my cluster subject area.

I had come to terms with my future life as an ATR. I was excessed to a district with really only one bad school (and that was the one they closed). Besides, I really am an excellent teacher, and any school I was assigned to would certainly recognize my brilliance and find me a position post November 1st, once they could get their hands on that ATR incentive money.

And then I received a letter from the principal. A Welcome Back form letter to the staff asking if we could come in and set up for the coming year the 2 weeks before school starts. One, why would an ATR do this, and if I am not an ATR, don't you think that you maybe should have picked up a phone, or written an email?

That's right kids, apparently I am no longer in excess, and have been given back to the closing school. Also, I should have surmised this from said generic Welcome Back letter. I also should have been able to tell what my position would be, "of course." Yikes.

All this leads up to the following, Open Market Season 5, premiering beginning April 2010. DVD release expected August 2010.

Winding Down the Open Season

2009-07-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

Well it's been another thrilling Open Market Season. Let me report to you on the highlights of these festivities:

1. Due to budget cuts there were far fewer jobs posted to the Open Market System this year.
2. I only found 10 jobs to apply to that would in any way provide me with a better situation than I am currently in.
3. I went for a consultation appointment with the Teacher Hiring Support Center, where I was in fact given what I believe to be good advice about changing my resume back to it's old form.
4. Even with said rewrite, I have garnered exactly 0 (zero, zilch, nada) interviews.
5. At least 90% of my young colleagues in excess had multiple interviews and have received job offers.

One week left, and I can't imagine that my prospects will look better. The question remains, should I sign up for the citywide job fair on the 28th?

Feel free to comment!

Am I too old to teach?

2009-07-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

I have finally decided it's time to start writing about teaching. Mostly about my 4th summer in a row job hunting (thanks to BloomKlein). You would think that perhaps I am not a "good teacher" what with all the job hunting, and resume that reads like swiss cheese. But no, I have never had anything but satisfactory ratings and I have great references. I'm sure you are asking yourself, "why would this fabulous teaching candidate be once again looking for a position?".

Erm, perhaps it is because as fabulous as I may be I still cost a whole lot more than that newbie down the street.