This is the end of my third year teaching at the High school level. I teach mixed grades Video Production and Photography. Within the last three years, I've double the video program in terms of numbers of students taking the classes, and the after school club went from 4 students to 33 this year. My first year of teaching, I was awarded Rookie of the Year in the district. My department head loves what I've been doing and wants me to stay. However, my principal doesn't like me personally. He has harassed me, bullied me, threaten my job multiple times. Now that it is the end of the year, he told me that there are "strong indications" that my contract will not be renewed. Obviously when I was told this, I was crushed. My students have started a petition and got 425 signatures out of a student body of 1,100 to try and convince the administration to keep me on. They also have been wearing shirts, arm bands, and head bands in support of keeping me at this school. They will also be going to the next School Committee with parents and community members to argue to keep me too. Clearly, I've had a positive impact on them. But now I'm faced with a dilemma. If they don't change their minds, and they let me go, should I stay in the teaching profession? I love my students, but dealing with administration is clearly difficult. I don't want to start all over with a new school, and have to wait three more years of probationary job security. If I don't go through with it, am I giving up on something that I'm good at or is am I supposed to be doing something else? I have no idea what to do. I've applied to 24 more jobs (none are teaching jobs) but I haven't heard from any of them yet... And if the district changes their mind and allows me to keep my job and enter into professional status, I'm going to have to deal with the administration that I know doesn't want me there. Should I even stay if they do keep me? I don't know what to do. Any one have any thoughts?
If you like teaching you should continue. This one experience with admin should not change that. There are horrible, inappropriate, crazy bosses in every career.
Ultimately you're there for the students, and it seems they want you to stay. That's a powerful reason not to leave. BUT... Working under an administrator who personally has it out for you has to be stressful at best and miserable often. I couldn't stand it myself, but everyone is different. It's not fair for you to be harassed and bullied by the person who is supposed to have your back and be supporting you. SO... Do what is best for YOU. If it's truly just a personality clash with your current principal, then perhaps another position at another school will solve that. If you love teaching, it's worth it to see if a change of school might be the answer. If you're not that dedicated to the profession (and it sounds like you are given your students' support of you), then look for a career change. You know in your heart what would make you happiest. Do that.
You sound like a really good teacher. I hope you either stay or go to another school. Whether you stay at that school or go to another school is one that is a personal one for you to make. I think either one would be positive.
Sadly, tenure is becoming harder to acquire, and some states are trying to abolish it, so you are simply in the same boat that many of us will be in shortly. I teach in a private school, and no tenure or guarantees - it is all year to year. I teach anyway. Follow your heart.
