Job Dilemma

Missy said:
Our state has a deadline to resign or else your current district CAN hold your license for a year. Check with your union about this for MA.
Good luck!
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Same here. For us, probationary (non-tenured) teachers must be offered new contracts by May 15 and then have only 15 days to sign it. Tenured teachers don’t have to return contracts at all, if they choose to not do so, but either way, they must be resign by June 1 if that is their intent. Otherwise, the district does not have to release them until a suitable replacement is found. Also, anyone resigning after a new contract year can be required to pay the district a fee, sometime up to a few thousand dollars. Not all districts charge a fee, and some that do don’t enforce it... but they can, as it is at their discretion. A district can request the state revoke a teacher certificate if a teacher leaves after the contract deadline, doesn’t wait for a replacement to be found, and doesn’t pay the fee.

This is a good point to bring up. You should definitely look into this before you wait any longer to officially resign. It sounds like your principal is supportive of you moving on right now, but if your state allows fees or has resignation deadlines that could put your certification/license at risk, I wouldn’t wait so long that your principal feels compelled to enforce them.
 
Missy said:
Our state has a deadline to resign or else your current district CAN hold your license for a year. Check with your union about this for MA.
Good luck!
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Thanks! I have checked with my union a few weeks ago and we can resign whenever. My mentor has told me that people have left my school the week before school starts. I really like my admin and principal so I definitely want to give them the most possible notice.
 
I’m very cautious with things like this. If there is no penalty to resign, do not resign until you have signed a contract or any other type of paperwork that guarantees you a job with the new district. While I do understand not wanting to leave your old school in a bind, the fact of the matter is, you are replaceable.
 
agdamity said:
I’m very cautious with things like this. If there is no penalty to resign, do not resign until you have signed a contract or any other type of paperwork that guarantees you a job with the new district. While I do understand not wanting to leave your old school in a bind, the fact of the matter is, you are replaceable.
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I get it and understand doing do when there is no deadline or penalty. I just think it's always important to consider that, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that your principal will find out anyway. I don't live in a small town, but the education world is "small" around here, especially between administrators. I waited about two weeks between accepting a new job and resigning from the current job when I was leaving my first teaching position. I waited because I wanted to have the signed contract in hand, similar to what is being suggested here. In the end, I didn't get my contract until more than a month after the offer, but I was able to get a letter of intent from HR in the new district, which eased my concerns. When I finally went into my principal's office to formally resign, she was very blunt and told me that she had known for several days already and had already been searching for my replacement. I was caught off guard because I knew that she was not called as a reference prior to my offer, as I was trying to keep my job-hunt a secret from her. When I asked her how she had heard, she said "Education is a small world. Administrators know each other, and we talk." So, I don't know who told her or how she found out, but I've always been very open and honest about job changes moving forward. I felt like waiting to tell her made it so that I left on less than good terms with her, and I never felt comfortable using her as a reference after that. I've changed jobs three times since then, and I've always been up front about the change, which has led to being able to use my more recent principals as references. Based on my experience, it's possible to be open and honest with your principal about your plan to leave while not formally submitting your resignation to the Board of Ed. It will go a long way towards keeping a positive relationship with your principal, whose recommendation you might need down the road. I believe in self-preservation, but I also believe in not burning bridges.
 
For the new job, since I am doing intervention for grades 3-5, I wanted to make sure that I could be hired for the job since my certifications are 5-8 math and 5-12 for special ed. The principal is 99.99% sure it is not a problem, but I definitely need that confirmed before I resign. Once that is confirmed, I think I will informally let my old principal know that I am planning on leaving and I am going to formally resign ASAP. The person he contacted is on vacation so I should know for sure by Monday. I also qualify for the math certification for grades 1-6 and applied for that today. I'm wondering if I should let my new school know that I did apply for the certification?

I sent in my transcripts today and am going in tomorrow to get my CORI/payroll done. I'm hoping that going in early will speed up the process. The principal said that he did process a recommendation for hire today.
 
Ms.Holyoke said:
For the new job, since I am doing intervention for grades 3-5, I wanted to make sure that I could be hired for the job since my certifications are 5-8 math and 5-12 for special ed. The principal is 99.99% sure it is not a problem, but I definitely need that confirmed before I resign. Once that is confirmed, I think I will informally let my old principal know that I am planning on leaving and I am going to formally resign ASAP. The person he contacted is on vacation so I should know for sure by Monday. I also qualify for the math certification for grades 1-6 and applied for that today. I'm wondering if I should let my new school know that I did apply for the certification?

I sent in my transcripts today and am going in tomorrow to get my CORI/payroll done. I'm hoping that going in early will speed up the process. The principal said that he did process a recommendation for hire today.
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Based on this, it makes sense to receive something more formal before resigning. I would wait until you hear if you can have the job without the certification. Just in case there is some hiccup with that (department of ed takes a really long time, there is some random qualification thing you don't know about, etc.) you don't want to be worrying about that all summer.

Around here, signing contracts right away is simply not done. Typically they're given out to all new and returning teachers at the same time, often a couple of weeks before school starts regardless of when you're hired. In my first district, I didn't actually sign a contract until October even though I'd been working there since August. However, when switching jobs I did at least wait to hear something more formal from HR and not just a verbal offer from the P. That pretty much guaranteed there were no issues on their end. My second district was moving super slowly with the HR piece and I ended up calling and explaining that I was moving (which was true) and needed some sort of proof of employment in order to rent an apartment. They ended up processing my stuff right away.

As for your current P, I don't think he's going to be blindsided as he knows you're the top candidate for this other school, right? I would just tell him that the other P told you you're still the top candidate, but they are checking on your ability to work with younger grades with your current certification, and need to clear that up before making a formal offer. I don't see why your P wouldn't understand that.
 
waterfall said:
Based on this, it makes sense to receive something more formal before resigning. I would wait until you hear if you can have the job without the certification. Just in case there is some hiccup with that (department of ed takes a really long time, there is some random qualification thing you don't know about, etc.) you don't want to be worrying about that all summer.

Around here, signing contracts right away is simply not done. Typically they're given out to all new and returning teachers at the same time, often a couple of weeks before school starts regardless of when you're hired. In my first district, I didn't actually sign a contract until October even though I'd been working there since August. However, when switching jobs I did at least wait to hear something more formal from HR and not just a verbal offer from the P. That pretty much guaranteed there were no issues on their end. My second district was moving super slowly with the HR piece and I ended up calling and explaining that I was moving (which was true) and needed some sort of proof of employment in order to rent an apartment. They ended up processing my stuff right away.

As for your current P, I don't think he's going to be blindsided as he knows you're the top candidate for this other school, right? I would just tell him that the other P told you you're still the top candidate, but they are checking on your ability to work with younger grades with your current certification, and need to clear that up before making a formal offer. I don't see why your P wouldn't understand that.
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These are all good ideas! Thank you. I am still waiting to receive something more formal from HR so I am going to wait to resign. I figure that resigning next week isn’t so bad considering that they’ll have over a month to find a replacement. I don’t know if my former principal knows if I’m the top candidate for the position.
 
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bella84 said:
Same here. For us, probationary (non-tenured) teachers must be offered new contracts by May 15 and then have only 15 days to sign it. Tenured teachers don’t have to return contracts at all, if they choose to not do so, but either way, they must be resign by June 1 if that is their intent. Otherwise, the district does not have to release them until a suitable replacement is found. Also, anyone resigning after a new contract year can be required to pay the district a fee, sometime up to a few thousand dollars. Not all districts charge a fee, and some that do don’t enforce it... but they can, as it is at their discretion. A district can request the state revoke a teacher certificate if a teacher leaves after the contract deadline, doesn’t wait for a replacement to be found, and doesn’t pay the fee.

This is a good point to bring up. You should definitely look into this before you wait any longer to officially resign. It sounds like your principal is supportive of you moving on right now, but if your state allows fees or has resignation deadlines that could put your certification/license at risk, I wouldn’t wait so long that your principal feels compelled to enforce them.
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Wooooooooow
 
bella84 said:
I get it and understand doing do when there is no deadline or penalty. I just think it's always important to consider that, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that your principal will find out anyway. I don't live in a small town, but the education world is "small" around here, especially between administrators. I waited about two weeks between accepting a new job and resigning from the current job when I was leaving my first teaching position. I waited because I wanted to have the signed contract in hand, similar to what is being suggested here. In the end, I didn't get my contract until more than a month after the offer, but I was able to get a letter of intent from HR in the new district, which eased my concerns. When I finally went into my principal's office to formally resign, she was very blunt and told me that she had known for several days already and had already been searching for my replacement. I was caught off guard because I knew that she was not called as a reference prior to my offer, as I was trying to keep my job-hunt a secret from her. When I asked her how she had heard, she said "Education is a small world. Administrators know each other, and we talk." So, I don't know who told her or how she found out, but I've always been very open and honest about job changes moving forward. I felt like waiting to tell her made it so that I left on less than good terms with her, and I never felt comfortable using her as a reference after that. I've changed jobs three times since then, and I've always been up front about the change, which has led to being able to use my more recent principals as references. Based on my experience, it's possible to be open and honest with your principal about your plan to leave while not formally submitting your resignation to the Board of Ed. It will go a long way towards keeping a positive relationship with your principal, whose recommendation you might need down the road. I believe in self-preservation, but I also believe in not burning bridges.
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Cause they like to gossip and be messy.
 
I honestly don't think it's anyone's business, especially the principal's, where anyone is going. Now it may comes up if you use this principal for a reference or need a letter of recommendation, but other than that, nope.
 
I went in to do my paperwork (my CORI, bank information, etc.). I still haven't gotten confirmation about the certification. I am really hoping that I won't run into anything unexpected here...My greatest fear now is that I will have to go back to my original job and my principal will hate me!
 
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Ms.Holyoke said:
I went in to do my paperwork (my CORI, bank information, etc.). I still haven't gotten confirmation about the certification. I am really hoping that I won't run into anything unexpected here...My greatest fear now is that I will have to go back to my original job and my principal will hate me!
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I’m crossing my fingers that everything goes well!
 
Received my 1-6 license today!! :) I had a letter from my principal that I taught 6th grade this year and that experience counts to receive your 1-6 license.

HR said that my paperwork is processing & I finished everything on my end. I haven't heard from my new principal this week though about the certification so I'm assuming it's not a problem. Should I send him an email that I am certified? I don't want to be annoying but I do want to let him know.
 
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Ms.Holyoke said:
Received my 1-6 license today!! :) I had a letter from my principal that I taught 6th grade this year and that experience counts to receive your 1-6 license.

HR said that my paperwork is processing & I finished everything on my end. I haven't heard from my new principal this week though about the certification so I'm assuming it's not a problem. Should I send him an email that I am certified? I don't want to be annoying but I do want to let him know.
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Does HR know about the additional certification. At this point, I think they are the ones that matter.
 
Ok...so my paperwork is still in payroll. I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can make them hurry up or if I can pick up my letter on Monday instead of them mailing it. It has to go through payroll and the superintendent's office.

I am working the summer program at my (former) school. My principal was out on vacation this week so I didn't see him which was nice. What should I tell him when I see him on Monday?
 
Ms.Holyoke said:
Ok...so my paperwork is still in payroll. I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can make them hurry up or if I can pick up my letter on Monday instead of them mailing it. It has to go through payroll and the superintendent's office.

I am working the summer program at my (former) school. My principal was out on vacation this week so I didn't see him which was nice. What should I tell him when I see him on Monday?
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At this point, it seems okay to tell your current principal that you have accepted the new position.
 
Who did you use for references? If you used your principal then he would most likely have an idea about you leaving already.
 
I received my offer letter today! The thing is that it says "your employment will not extend beyond June 2020 unless renewed by the recommendation of the principal and supervisor" and "this letter does not constitute as a contract of employment." It says employment is contingent on a CORI check so maybe that's why?

Does anyone have a 'template' for a resignation? I am still going to be doing the summer program at my school next week.
 
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Ms.Holyoke said:
I didn't even think of this. I assume that I would have to resign effective August 27th?
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You should resign effective at the end of your current school’s contract year. For me, that’s always June 30. So, even if my last day of work were May 28, I would state in my letter that “I am resigning my position effective at the end of the current contract year, June 30.” That allows me to keep my insurance and all other benefits through that time. You might have to find short term insurance or pay COBRA if you have gaps between coverage. Unfortunately most districts won’t allow you to have benefits coverage at the start of the new contract year (July 1 here), if you haven’t signed a contract for the new school year. You can always check with your current HR to find out the exact date when your benefits will end, but it likely won’t change the official date of your resignation. Unless you resign sooner, your period of employment ends when your current contract ends, assuming you have not signed a new one.
 
I have to say that I am slightly nervous. An offer letter is not a contract but it seems like they don’t sign contracts until orientation. So I’m hoping nothing goes wrong :)

I’m a little sad to leave my school since I am so used to it. But I also feel relieved knowing that I won’t have to deal with 35 kids per class anymore and a long commute. My new district also offers free PD where we can earn .5 of a grad credit for every 6 hours of PD. It is really nice and a great way to move up the pay scale :)
 
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I’m going in to see my classroom on Friday! I’m really excited. The principal also told me that the person who had the job last year is transitioning to coaching. He said that if I am interested, he has a ton of resources he can share with me and he would pay both of us for any collaboration time. We are also meeting next week to talk about supplies, etc. Apparently this school has a $250 budget for supplies AND provides the basics like pencils on top of it (which is very new to me.) The coach also has a ton of intervention resources that he can share which is great. I am a little nervous about the intervention part of the job but I am excited for it. I like working w/ small groups.
 
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So I moved almost everything out of my current classroom today and I'm finishing up tomorrow. It's convenient that I am still there for summer school for two more days so I can clean up. I have been spending my prep cleaning up for whoever teaches next, erasing things off the wall that my kiddos from last year drew, etc.

I didn't realize how much stuff I had accumulated. I'm leaving a few things that I don't need but I'm taking most of it with me but leaving a few things. I brought it home with me but it is a mess. I am really hoping that I can move some stuff into my new classroom soon to get it out of the way because I do not want it sitting in my apartment all summer AND I do not want to stress about moving everything in a week before school starts.
 
If I stayed in my previous school, my class sizes would be 35, 33, and 28. The class of 35 has one pretty bad behavior problem...I am so relieved that I found a new job.
 
Ms.Holyoke said:
If I stayed in my previous school, my class sizes would be 35, 33, and 28. The class of 35 has one pretty bad behavior problem...I am so relieved that I found a new job.
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What are your new sizes? I got my class lists today. My class sizes this year are 16, 18, 19, 26, and 28. Could be a little more balanced, but can't really complain.
 
TrademarkTer said:
What are your new sizes? I got my class lists today. My class sizes this year are 16, 18, 19, 26, and 28. Could be a little more balanced, but can't really complain.
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I won't have access to any of that until orientation in August. A ton of teachers left my old school (even months ago) but we are still listed as their teachers on PowerSchool and my district hasn't removed email or gradebook access yet. The class of 35 used to be 36 but they moved one kid to turn the class of 32 into a class of 33.

Next year, my principal said that my classes will be around 22-24. They are capped at 30. I hear the behavior is better so I'm hoping that is true. There were 43 students in the 5th grade last year and we will split them between two classes, but I know we might have some new students, etc. I am not sure if my school has some sped students who do not participate in gen ed math classes or if that's at another school in the district. My intervention groups will be around 2-4 kids per group.

I know that these class sizes (30+) are normal in some areas but they are not in my state. I have been on interviews where they were shocked when I told them that I had 34-35 kids per class. In the previous offer I got (the one that started as a LTS), it was at an urban school w/ behavior issues, and the interview panel agreed that if I could manage 35 kids that I would do find in their school. I talked to the coach at my new school (who had my job last year) and he said classes do not get close to 30 here and he had 23-24 last year.
 
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I have to say that my new school already seems very different from my previous school. I think I’m going to like it.

First of all, my Principal has communicated with me and the two other new teachers and forwarded us all of the emails relating to scheduling, etc. He also said I could voluntarily meet with him next week for a transition meeting and connected me with the previous teacher in my position to meet. He said he would compensate both of us for any time spent. The curriculum director reached out to me about the new curriculum and the supplies for it. It seems more organized than I am used to and I really like the curriculum we are using. In my previous job, I had to ask for the info and I didn’t know any of this stuff until a few days before school started. I remember panicking because they hadn’t sent us a schedule!

My new district also offers tons of PDs that you can take to earn .5 of a grad credit for free. A friend of mine says that they’re great! I’m attending a few next week. I have 9 credits past my masters now so I definitely want to use the opportunity to earn more.

My team also emailed me to introduce themselves and said that we can meet them week school starts to discuss things like grading and classroom management strategies that they use. I am so excited to have a team!
 
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Wow! It sounds like it is all working out great for you! It is exciting to have a good team. :) It is really great your P connected you w/ last yr's teacher to meet w/ you and will comp your time! That can be so helpful! It sounds like you are walking into a dream job!
 
So I have some concerns about my new job. I don’t want to post too much info but I would love to PM someone if anyone is willing!
 
I’m moving into the Dean for Academic Affairs role. I will continue doing what I’ve been doing, but in a lesser capacity, plus my new admin duties. I will be working alongside the vice principals primarily and report directly to my principal and CEO.
 
comblegraci said:
I’m moving into the Dean for Academic Affairs role. I will continue doing what I’ve been doing, but in a lesser capacity, plus my new admin duties. I will be working alongside the vice principals primarily and report directly to my principal and CEO.
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Oh my goodness, you’re situation closely parallels mine!!! How much of a pay raise did you get? (I went from making $67k to $85k.) Are you excited? Do you think you will miss your previous duties? Did you get your admin credential to get this position?
 
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