I didn’t resign. Now I’m feeling worse than ever. Please advise?

I just think you might have less stress taking a job that offers you the opportunity to work with people you love, and with a subject you love but in a different environment.

 

You're absolutely right. I just want to be at a school where I'm not a target. I pray that I'll be able to find my perfect fit.

 

I think I took three sick days altogether, all with doctor’s notes. I’ve been working myself to the bone, and since every other teacher in my position has walked out mid-year, I stayed for these kids that need me. I don’t think you really know anything about me, and it’s a shame that you’re judging what kind of teacher I am based on the environment I’m in.

And no offense, but I’d be ashamed of teaching “a model.” I want to spend time educating students on being something more fruitful and useful in life than someone who constantly shames others on their bodies and sets an impossible standard for women all over the world.

 

Little Shakespeare,
I will pray for you. Really, truly and faithfully until you have found a resolution that pays your bills, keeps your potential for teaching alive and keeps your spirit and health from being crushed.
You will find a solution. We always say "Don't doubt in darkness what you knew in the light." When you had clarity, you knew that this school situation is less than healthy. It is not a good environment for the students, based on your descriptions, nor is it a good environment for you. Stick with that thought. It is unhealthy for you to remain. Do what you need to do to get out wisely. Do you have union representative that could help you file for medical leave of absence? That would give you time to recuperate and to situate. While it is a big decision, you need to just get your resignation situated, apply at any community college that offers online classes so you can get something going now, and don't look back. What you are doing now is not sustainable. Do you have a pastor/minister in whom you could confide? Sometimes someone who knows and loves you can see things clearly. Just some thoughts. Hang in there.

 

Little Shakespeare, don't worry about what Milsey says. She always talks crap, just to stir the pot, then sits back and watches how people get upset, or how they react, etc. Sorry Milsey, but we both know that's what you do.

 

A good teacher recognizes when they need a day to relax and rest up. A good teacher knows that taking a few days to relax and rejuvenate themselves is an excellent solution to being overwhelmed and/or stressed. It is ALWAYS better for the students to have a well-rested teacher. A good teacher also knows that when they are overwhelmed and over stressed....their students will suffer from the manner of that tired teacher. I understand teachers have summers off and holidays...I love those. However, as with staying home when you are physically ill, staying home when you are not 100% mentally/emotionally is a good option. @LittleShakespeare has made an excellent decision to take some days to relax. Personally, if I was pre-occupied with other personal issues, I would not be able to provide high-quality instruction to my students who require a teacher who is on the ball 100% of the time and will assist them constantly. (While I have only taken one or two relaxing/mental health days, I still feel they are of high priority for any good teacher who is slipping due to mental health difficulties.)

 

@LittleShakespeare I know I am late to the party, however, I want to say.......since you were dealing with personal issues, you made an excellent decision to relax and take a few days to rejuvenate yourself. Instead of quitting and having a burnout, you made a decision that ultimately makes you a better teacher. You are a wonderful teacher for allowing yourself to be a human. I do hope you feel better and are able to return to normalcy.

 

Thank you so much, everybody. This was possibly the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I did not want to stay. Believe me, I just got out of a meeting with my humanities specialist who thinks I'm not putting in my share. Meanwhile, I've spent $400 on my own classroom library that I cannot even use because I have a cart. I have no space in the classroom, as the teachers I share with are very territorial. I have also spent an additional $250 for the kids to have their own Shakespeare books to annotate. If I print out the text on paper, I get in trouble for wasting paper and resources. Meanwhile, I get in trouble in my observations for not teaching them to annotate.

It's not the money. I am happy to help out my kids, but at this school, you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. I got a 2.56 on my last observation. No teacher at this school has ever gotten above a 2.8. I don't understand the mentality of this school. There are so many people leaving. I'll be one of them. April 15th is the big day. Resignation letter is ready.

 

Good luck with your next life's adventure!

 

Thank you, honey!

 

I read a workplace-in-general advise blog and periodically up pops the question of "I'm in a toxic work environment!" The advice is generally leave as soon as you can.

I understand we teachers have contracts and such, but beyond that there's that Teacher Martyr expectation to sacrifice ourselves upon the environment of a bad work environment, or even a decent one that just doesn't click with us.

Why do we do that to ourselves?

Good luck!

 

Believe me, I have no martyr mentality anymore. I used to think the "Freedom Writers" was so inspirational, until I realized it was a bunch of hyped-up BS.

I'm only staying for the money, just to keep my head above the water. Whenever I'm having a hard day, I remember those kids that I stick around for. But I seriously cannot wait for June 15th. Contract offers for next year go out (for non-tenured staff) on May 15th 2019, but I will already have put in my resignation on April 15th. I am not counting down the days. I'm counting down the minutes. May God give me strength.

 

If you don't mind, I have some questions. Not judging, but really just curious. Why did you end up not putting it in on Dec 11? Is June 15 the last day, because if so, why would you wait until April 15 to put in the letter?

 

On April 30th, offers for contract renewals go out. I know, for a fact, that my contract will not be renewed. I've heard some things in the department (those who are buddy-buddy with the VP and who have stolen my lesson plans to get me in trouble with her, knowing that she wouldn't like them) and I also failed my observation. It's been known throughout the department that I'm the sacrificial lamb this year. She loves targeting a specific teacher this year, especially new ones. I think it's better to resign than to explain not getting renewed, and at the same time, I cannot really thrive in this environment.

I wanted to stay only because I have no other source of income. My backup job of teaching college fell through; there aren't any available classes for me to teach. I figured to just suck it up for six months and have, on my resume, two full years of experience working in the inner city.

My contract says I have to give 60-days notice, so I will put in my resignation letter on April 15th, two weeks before contract offers go out, and my last day of work will be the last day of school, June 15th.

 

FYI - when you are not going to be renewed, they often tell you before the contract offers go out, sometimes by more than a month I would possibly submit my letter of resignation in March. You must give 60 days notice at least. I don't think that making the time frame a little longer than 60 days would be inappropriate. You might want to check with your teacher's union.

 

Sadly, they don’t tell us in advance. Last year, a math teacher was not invited to come back for the following year, and he wasn’t given a notice that his contract wasn’t being renewed. The ball dropped for him on April 30th.

 

If you know you're not being renewed, it is foolish of you not to submit your resignation tomorrow, effective June 15.

Just because they have not previously given advance notice does not mean that will be true this year. You also run the risk of your admin calling you in and telling you that you might not be renewed, or that your observation wasn't high enough--something that means you can't check the box on a future application where you affirm that you did not resign in lieu of a nonrenewal.

 

VERY sound advice.

 

Wait, I can do that? Effective June 15th?

I’m sorry, I just truly didn’t know. I was scared that if I put in my resignation now, then I’d have to leave in 60 days. I don’t want to leave mid-year because then it will look bad.

 

I've seen it done several times. When you know in advance that you will be moving on, your advance notice of resignation is a gift you give to them. More importantly, you do bypass the questions about resigning to avoid termination. I've been sick, and not at my best. Tulipteacher nailed it, and it allows you to honestly answer "no" to all those tricky questions. Once again, I would recommend talking to your union rep if in doubt. You are giving the district the gift of time - time for them to find their "perfect" candidate, time saved by not being involved in whatever turmoil is going on, and the assurance that you will not share tales to sour the workplace culture more than whatever currently exists. By giving them this head start, you really don't need much of a reason. Change of life plans would be as specific as I would get, and it would be what I say to anyone who asks. That could mean going back to school, taking a new job, teaching at a college, moving out of state, and the list goes on. They will be grateful for the lead time when new graduates start sending in applications, maybe getting you less scrutiny. You do give up unemployment benefits, but those would only come to you if you wait to be non-renewed.

 

Thank you so much! I did it! I spoke to my union rep, and he told me I could hand it in now. I submitted it this morning, and oh my goodness, I feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like break dancing! Thank you so much for your help. The countdown to June 15th begins!

 

Keep us in the loop with how things go and what your next steps are. Your passion for literature is palpable, and I know you'll find the right medium to share it with others.

 

Thank you so much.

 

Good luck. I'm happy you finally put in that resignation before it was too late.

 

Thank you for your help.

 

I hope things go well. It's never fun being in an environment with this type of people. I hope it goes well. Hope things go well in the future!

 

I agree here with Linguist. Milsey's posts do not seem realistic or logical.