My building and district has a very different feeling this year. We have tons of new things going on and it is just stressing everyone out. * New superintendent who is placing more/different demands on administrators. * New expectations as far as dress & professionalism (IMO, not an issue but really bugging some colleagues) * Receiving 3 Fs on new state report card, including SWD growth (my stressor) * New evaluation procedure (OTES) * Student growth measures * Online diagnostic testing being delayed until this past week, & not enough working computers * Impending 2014-15 PARRC assessments * Implementing CCSS * Expired union contract July 31, no movement on negotiations, no meeting until Sep 18 * Higher STRS contributions, making pay less for many And I don't even know what else. It just feels like everyone is waiting for the other shoe to fall. We're on pins and needles. It just isn't very much fun to go to work right now. I'm exhausted daily, and never seem to have enough time to get things done. My plans and preparations are definitely suffering. Hoping to get myself into the groove soon. Just wondering if anyone else was really feeling new pressures?
Yes, in my district, and especially in my building, we are feeling the new pressures. I am also exhausted by the end of the day, and I am feeling as though I cannot catch up on my sleep. I just spoke to a colleague about the different feel in school this year. Hope it improves.
Different in a positive way. Even though we are in a new building with new administration, over half of the students and staff are from my previous site. Administration is interested, supportive and involved. The contract/labour issues that plagues us all of last year are (mostly) behind us. Looking forward to a fabulous year!
Things are sooooooo much better this year! We have a new P, who has changed some of the really hot-button issues in our building and made a lot of people really, really happy. Everyone was so angry and upset last year over weekly CCSS training because no one else in the district was doing it... but now we're ahead of the game and the transition to using the CCSS this year has been smooth (ish) for us. The union successfully negotiated for us to receive ALL our back steps (six years without steps) AND reduce the cost of our health insurance AND found extra money and is negotiating for a raise across the board. We have a new superintendent who, so far, truly seems to be about the teachers and students. So, I'm very pleased. I don't think I could handle another year of abject negativity and anger.
It's mixed. We're doing the pre and post tests for the first time, which is a bit of a stress point. On the other hand, my department has a new principal, as do several other departments. So far, the change has been extremely positive, and I feel a lot more supported than I did last year.
Yes it has...some good and some bad!! -We have a new building which has been exciting. However, the last minute finish left teachers stressed and feeling behind. -All of the elementary staff is now in one building which is nice, but meshing into one staff instead of two has been interesting. Also dealing with PreK-5 students in one building has been crazy. The older ones are still getting used to the fact that they are the role models for the little ones! -We are in our first year on the SINA list so the pressure is on to get test scores up!
I am in a different building this year, so new job. I am much happier. I was commuting 25 miles each way last year, but now I only commute 2 miles each way! It is such a huge savings on gas, which every little bit helps because we've been stuck on a pay freeze. It also means I can sleep an hour later every day which helps me a lot psychologically. I don't mind staying after the kids leave since I now have an hour of my day freed from commuting. The kids can leave at 2:30, I can leave at 3:30 and be home by 3:37, lol. My coworkers in my new job say that our principal is amazing. I love her so far. She apparently came mid-year last year, after the prior P was moved to one of the high schools in our county. The prior P caused everyone anxiety attacks and stressed everyone out. Interesting tidbit: I interviewed for a position at the school he went to. I'm so glad they didn't offer me the job. I don't do well in high anxiety situations and I wouldn't be able to take it. I'm much happier where I am this year than I was last year at my previous school. My P last year was a great guy but the special ed dept. was horribly run both at the county and school levels. I have far more resources where I am now, and they try to make special ed and IEP meetings as easy as possible for us.
We have a new principal and assistant principal. Last year we were a little stressed, but this year everyone seems happier.
This year I am happier. It is going to sound odd... but. I transferred to a new school that also has a new P who is very experienced, very hands on an visible throughout the school daily. She does drop ins daily. And I feel that by her holding the curriculum team as well as teachers more accountable by random dropins it forces us to truly be on our Ps and Qs to the best of our ability. She is also easy to approach and the students in a school of 800+ are getting to know her as well. So yes happier... I cant speak for anyone else, but I'm ready to rise to her expectations.
I also love a principal who is constantly dropping in to classrooms to see how things are going; it's a big part of the job, and I hate that our principals have so many other responsibilities that they can't sit in on more lessons informally.
The mood has definitely changed for the worse in my building. With PLC's we are in meetings ALL the time! We literally had a meeting one morning to discuss all our meetings.
We are all pretty stressed here, but working very hard to stay positive. Some days it works better than others.
