Get A Job

Hi All!

Well, you all know how I felt about our contract in the Spring. I had resolved to put it behind me when our pre-season started and focus on doing my job and enjoying my kids and our coaches. The first day back to school I learned I was still having my Master's degree prorated. I felt it was totally unfair that my Masters of Education degree was worth $1000 less than a teacher's Masters of Education. It seemed to be the last straw. I was angry and beside myself at being treated unfairly by the people who were supposed to represent me. I felt abused and discriminated against soley because of my job title.

About an hour after I sent a professional "your full of crap and I don't trust you at all. you suck." email to our Union Negotiator, a job opening came across my email. Our head ATC, Bill called and inquired about the job for himself. We had both had it. The biggest problem for Bill is that he has 19 years of h.s. ATC experience and it is difficult to find anywhere that would pay him comparably to what he makes at our place. In essence, he is stuck. After speaking at length to the principal at the job opening school, he encouraged me to apply. I called and had an interview two days later. Three days after that I had a second interview with the Superintendent, which was essentially a negotiating meeting and that ended with a job offer. Two weeks after the first phone call, I have a new job. Not only is my new job on the Teacher's Scale, but the Superintendent offered me all my experience steps. While the significant raise was a factor, so was the fact that right away the Superintendent showed me and my profession respect and value.

I was very sad about the prospect of leaving my kids and our coaches/teachers - so much so when I knew I had to take the job, I cried for hours. It was not made easier by the fact our Principal and our Athletic Director told me how much they would miss me and even tried to negotiate on my behalf to keep me. They are wonderful people and I will miss them terribly. I have since moved past the crying and am starting to look at the positive and look forward to the new people I will meet. Because I am tenured, my current school has the right to keep me 60 days. My Principal and A.D. would both like to move as soon as possible to get settled as we are just starting the school year. We are in limbo for now, but it will all be settled down soon.

Song by The Silhouettes.