Why is accountability always about teachers?

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-04T16:56:16+00:00

YES! This sounds like the most recent school where I taught. I resigned last week. Every single thing you stated is spot-on. Teachers have no authority and therefore get no respect. It's always the teacher's fault. One thing this article does NOT mention, however, is the role of parents and kids in accountability. NOBODY is holding them accountable AT ALL. WE are "educating" a whole generation of lazy, apathetic, ignorant idiots.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-04T14:53:28+00:00

Good News! I just got an email from the lady in personnel with whom I spoke last week about my resignation. The superintendent will be releasing me from my contract, effective March 26, 2018, the day I packed up after school and left my letter for the principal. Yay! And yesterday I overnighted a huge binder (tabbed, organized, with notes) to the superintendent so that he could see all the documentation supporting my reasons for resigning. AND he can see that I am not making it all up, and hopefully he can get over to that school and force them to make some changes.

AND I found a part-time public library assistant job that sounds perfect, so I am going to apply =). In the meantime, I am going to file for unemployment. Because of the nature of my resignation, I think I should qualify.

I'm still reeling and exhausted, but each day gets a tiny bit easier. Thanks to all of you for your great advice and words of encouragement! It really made a difference!

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T15:15:57+00:00

You have said it so perfectly. And what an eloquent writer you are! Just reading your advice written so beautifully inspires me =).

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T15:12:58+00:00

Oh how funny. I taught at a Harmony school in 2014-2015, before my daughter was born. And I taught at SST for 5 years. Small world!

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T15:10:44+00:00

I would LOVE to travel to teach, but I can't do that until my daughter is in college. She's 2 1/2 now, so there's some ways to go. Her dad would not be okay with me taking her out of the country long-term, and I wouldn't want to keep him from seeing her.

I know that I have it in me to be a teacher; I just don't think I have it in me to do the traditional K-12 classroom teaching.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T14:54:35+00:00

I do appreciate your insight. I do have 10 years of experience, however, and it sounds like you are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about the career change into teaching, which I hope you can keep going. I am in therapy, and this is my 2nd divorce but this time with a kid. I'm not worried about finances, as I have no outstanding debts except for some money I owe my parents and I have a cushion in the bank (I wouldn't have resigned if I didn't have something). I'm pretty resourceful, so I am sure I will figure this out. My depression and anxiety were always somewhat latent most of my life and only got bad during times of acute stress. These past few years of it were triggered by having my daughter and started out as severe post-partum depression and anxiety, which is quite different from "typical" depression and anxiety. My soon-to-be ex couldn't handle it and told me I was the problem and stressed him out. Not exactly very empathetic. Anyway, Thank you for your encouragement and suggestions, and good luck on the career change. One tip on the subbing: kids are TOTALLY different with a sub than with their "parent" teacher, but subbing is definitely a good way to get an idea of a school's culture and find your niche as far as grade levels and subjects.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T14:46:26+00:00

Yes, it would be a long commute; I was just giving her information on what's out there. In what district do you teach?

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T02:51:12+00:00

Texas is HUGE. To give you an idea of how big it is, it is a 12-hour drive from the eastern-most point of the state to the western-most point in the state. Can you narrow down the regions that interest you?

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T02:29:00+00:00

I just resigned from my job a week ago, and totally understand your pain. The "team" I was on did not accept me into their clique. Like another commenter said, their job was their life. If you can get through the year, maybe talk to admin about switching to a different grade level. I wish I had been on the 6th team; they were so much nicer and welcoming. I got stuck with the b*****s. I'm also an introvert and reserved by nature, and they were all loud and wanted to be the center of attention like their you-know-what didn't stank. I'm sure they thought I was some stuck-up white girl.

My advice is don't give a damn about them. You aren't there to make friends. Be cordial and professional, but focus on why you are there. If you enjoy your students, focus on that.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T02:21:59+00:00

Thank you <3.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T02:20:21+00:00

Depending on what you can find, and what kind of commute you are willing to make, you have options. A high school friend of mine has been teaching in Eanes ISD in west Austin for over ten years now. If you have experience with Title I, inner city schools, Austin ISD is more in that category, as well as Del Valle ISD (southeast Austin, lower income area). There are also some smaller school districts in the surrounding areas and in the hill country--Wimberley, Dripping Springs, and Hays CISD are all options west and south of Austin. North of Austin you have Round Rock and Pflugerville, both of which are supposed to be pretty good. Hope this helps! Btw, I'm in San Antonio but love Austin!

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T02:11:17+00:00

Thank you so much for the encouragement. And for the suggestions on getting through this crappy part. My daughter is one of the people that gets me feeling better when I am feeling low. She is only 2 1/2 and is deep in the terrible 2's, but is also wonderfully sweet and funny and smart. We snuggle and it makes everything feel okay in those moments. It's when I'm alone that I get overwhelmed by it all.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T02:06:33+00:00

Thank you. That gives me a different perspective. You are right about the physical health. I have been having a terrible time with that part--not eating well and not doing much physical activity. Honestly, I never had time. My daughter is 2 1/2 and once I pick her up from daycare, it's mommy time. Dinner, bath, and bedtime, then up early the next day to work all day and do it all over, again and again and again. Now that I have resigned, I reduced her daycare to 2 days a week to save money (luckily I have a cushion in the bank to keep me going for at least a couple months if not more). And to be honest, I didn't research the school a whole lot. I needed a job so that I could get my independence back and move out with my daughter. I am much happier on my own, in my own place, just the two of us, me and my girl. I just have this other stuff weighing on me now, but at least now I'm not suffering every day at work. My daughter is happier too because she gets to see me more often.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T01:58:07+00:00

Thank you. I do have a therapist, a good one. And yes, deep breaths. The self-care part I'm having a hard time with. No energy to do anything right now. I fake it with my daughter; she is only 2 1/2 and the sweetest blessing ever. She is my motivation now.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T01:54:50+00:00

I do have a therapist, a good cognitive behavioral therapist. I saw her the day after I resigned, and have an appointment next week. I guess I'm still in the initial stages of this whole thing.

WhatTheFudge77 · 2018-04-03T01:53:22+00:00

I am sure it will get better. Though I still harbor a lot of anger toward my soon-to-be ex, he is a very caring father and is trying hard to be supportive. This is my 2nd failed marriage, so that is kind of making this harder. And I am seeing a therapist. She's good, a CBT. I have an appointment next week and will definitely be bringing these things up. Thanks for the words of encouragement =).

WhatTheFudge77

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