I'm not going to repeat all that I said before about my recent 2nd grade LTS position that I was screwed out of by a FORMER principal who gave me a negative reference. If you didn't read about it before, you can find it a few posts down.
I just wanted to give an update by saying that I have continued to be in the position until the principal found a permanent teacher, which is all of this week (totaling 12 days). Everything has gone extremely well, and the students have responded to me at such a high level that I can't even put it into words.
The principal has continued to thank me for my contributions to the position, including today as he brought in the new hiree to observe the class. He continues to remain firm that he can't hire me because of my negative reference from my former principal, even though it was completely unjustified. I went through hell with this woman last year.
I have been in contact with my union rep from last year, and he told me that he spoke to the superintendent of last year's school district, who is now backing up his principal despite offering me a positive recommendation at the time. My union rep believes that my former principal may have said more than she was supposed to (opinions versus hard facts), and that it probably constitutes defamation of character. But since there is no way to prove what she is telling prospective employers, he strongly suggested that I don't spend my money on a lawyer.
Furthermore, he said that I shouldn't leave last year's experience off my resume, because that is considered falsifying information, and if caught, that is a felony.
So, after consultation with family members, I have decided to leave the profession. I hate to do this because it's all that I ever wanted to do, especially my dream grade (2nd grade). Everything was going so well. I had moved on from a very bad experience last year, and I had impressed very many people.
I just can't take the weight that is on my shoulder of trying to fight this situation anymore. My former principal has ruined my career, and my life. One person against all the others - that is all that it took. At this point, I am finding it more comforting to just give up.
I will not be posting here anymore. I am sorry that it had to come to this. Thank you to all of you who actually replied to my original post(s) and offered your support.
May you touch many little hearts along the way, as you create your magic and help shape the future.
I have kept up with your situation. I am so sorry this has happened to you. I know people will probably tell you to not give up the profession just because of one person. Sometimes though, one bad experience or one bad person is all it takes. I taught for seven years and last year was my last. I realized that teaching wasn't for me. I know this isn't the case with you, but ultimately it is about your happiness, and I can understand how at this point giving up seems the like the best thing to do. I sincerely hope that you are able to find something that you can be just as passionate about. A thought just occurred to me, could you maybe teach overseas, maybe this one bad experience wouldn't hinder the possibility of something like this. I don't know what the process is, but it might be worth looking into. I also wanted to tell you that you don't have to stop coming onto this message board if you do decide to leave teaching. Thus, explains why I'm still here. I hope you will consider staying on this board. Best of luck to you.
I can only imagine how angry, sad, and heartsick you must feel. And I'm also hearing that you are feeling pretty defeated as well. This is a letdown of enormous proportions. It's almost incomprehensible to understand how you can have so much love for something along with the skills through which it can flow, and yet have it all brushed aside in favor of small mindedness and bureaucracy.
AND, you're probably too raw to hear this now, but since you may not be back, my intuition tells me you will find a way. There is a place for you. Maybe you need a break right now. Let the anger and sadness fume and flow and they will and then move on. But don't give up what your love.
Look into private instead of public schools. Get in on the private school sub pool. They have much more flexibility. Look into homeschooling. Outdoor ed. Teach overseas. Join the peacecorps and teach. ETc Etc. A few years down the road, that #%!! principal will be ancient history and you'll have new fresh recommendations. Just keep your eyes and your heart open.
I'm not sure who is giving you legal advice, but sometimes you go with your gut. If you have a cause of action (that would be AFTER speaking with an attorney who does these type of cases), go for it. It's kind of like a bad item on your credit report, if there are allegations hanging out there, that are not addressed with some type of response, then, it is presumed to be true. So, a lingering bad administrator comment here and there, sometimes, doesn't get to paper, but one of them speaking to another, who speaks to another........All of a sudden, you're branded with no due process.
The comments with regard to going overseas, etc. seem pretty bazaar to me. All you have to do is look for slots at Charter schools. Most states now have a plentiful alternative system that would love to have a passionate teacher in their system. I would suggest you collect as many recommendations from parents and colleagues.
I walked away from teaching many, many years ago, from assumptions in my own head, but not necessarily in the heads of others. Now when I'm just about at the bottom of hill (been over it several times), I've started once again and find so much pettiness and all the things throughout this site, but until they lock the doors and won't let me in, I'm going to school, every day I can. Good Luck!!!!
Eric:
This isn't right. Please consider talking to an attorney. Do some research (call several big attorney firms) to find the right attorney. They will speak to you for free to interview you and do some initial fact finding. Attorneys today are too busy (and careful to take cases they feel merit their time and that they can win) to take on cases they don't believe in. This is bigger than just the current position you were passed over on. This is about YOU and your good name...not to mention your passion and livelihood. We need...make that NEED men in the classroom today. Men who are good teachers. Men who care. Men who kids can relate to and learn from. Something tells me that you have a case. Many attorneys will take the case and agree that you only pay if they win. I'm not talking about money here...I'm talking about your good name. Don't let the turkeys get you down!
And...please don't 'go away' from here. Keep us posted on how you are and what you are doing. If not, I will miss 'seeing' you here.
I think you are being hasty. I know you are hurt and it alls ucks, but I think you can get through this.
* I dont' recall anyone telling you to leave former employment off your resume. *I* did however tell you to leave the persons NAME off of it and put down HR dept as the contact info. I do not feel this is wrong in any way. You gave the position you held and the general contact number. This would not stop them from transferring someone to your former employer, but you can cross your fingers they'd get the employment info they'd need w/o going that far.
* I think also you can pack and stack a resume with information carefully sited and reference so impeccable as to discredit one bad experience. It would cause the person calling the references to take that ONE bad ref. w/ a grain of salt. So I'd concentrate on preparing your references. Include other prestigous as possibel titles from that former place of employement to write letters and be willing to attest for you as possible.
* I think the letter you were promised from this current job needs to be persued. Even if you do quit this profession you still need a ref. for the next j.o.b. you get. I wouldnt' let this go. THIS is your last job now and it is VERY important that you get that for your files.
As subs we have the luxury (if you want to call it that) of going in and out of this profession as we see fit somewhat. Whether it be by the day or the year. So, go ahead. Get something else, but don't block this completely out of your options. You may cool down, that grinch may get fired (hehehe) and you may see things differently later. OH, and this new person you met today may not work out or be half as good as you and they may decide to hire you anyway, but if you have given up it will come through in your attitude.
Good luck to you and so sorry this happened. THis type of things goes on a lot where I am as it is a very small town and very political. There is a definite who's who here and it is hard to get in or work around them.
I do not mean to argue with you in this time of stress, but I have to disagree with you on one point here and that is where you have stated, "Furthermore, he said that I shouldn't leave last year's experience off my resume, because that is considered falsifying information, and if caught, that is a felony."
I just do not see how omitting ANY job or experience from one's resume in any field could ever be considered a felony. This sounds totally ridiculous. If I am wrong about this and it is a FELONY, somebody chime in and tell me so.
And even if it were a crime, I am positive that there is no crime in simply stating that experience as follows:
4th grade Learning Support Teacher
ABC School, DEF School District
Anytown, NJ
LIST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE HR DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S IT. DO NOT INCLUDE THE PRINCIPAL'S NAME OR NUMBER OR ANYTHING.
Description of the things you accomplished there and the experience you gained.
My cooperating teacher during my student teaching was a wolf in sheep's clothing. She was destructive, emotionally unavailable, egotistic, etc. But in a way that one would never know it until it was too late. I list that experience on the resume but I do not include her name as a reference.
Let us know how this works out if you want to,
Best wishes,
Hermione
I am sorry this has gotten to be such a huge issue for you! I can't imagine!
But I too have to question that felony comment, that is just crazy, because people adjust their resumes all the time, omitting info isn't the same as falsifying. I would think falsifying would be when you make up a job that you never worked at. Anyway....I suppose that is something that could be researched a little farther.
We all have bosses or jobs at some point in our lives that wasn't a good experience, and that might give a negative report (of course this takes the cake). People that hire employees realize this in the normal workplace (I have a degree in HRM), but you have to look at the overall picture here, there are a lot of teachers looking for jobs so even one blemish they can pass you by.
Eric, I was very sorry to see your post. I respect your decision, but the kids need
you.
One last thought however. Back to the union rep. His advice stinks. First, you
definitely need to talk to a lawyer, if only to resolve the question of what you are
legally required to include in your resume. Second, you don't need to "spend
money" on a lawyer, since many if not most lawyers will give you an "initial
consultation" for free - that's how they get their cases! Third, if it's really so
impossible to prove what your former principal has been saying about you, why
are most employers very careful to stick to the basic facts when giving a reference?
A lawyer specializing in employment law (preferably PUBLIC employment law, on
the plaintiff's side) may know some way.
Find a lawyer who will talk to you once for free. Then write up your story just as
you have told it to us, lay it on his (or her) desk, sit back, and wait.
11-05-2009, 07:19 PM
#%
Simple View
