[midwestread]

I'm noticing I'm depressed about my job. The people here are kind, I love the kids, it's the administration.
If all I wanted to do was teach one grade, same building, same everything, I'd be set.
I'll show up, keep my head down, get raises every year (or not) this would be the perfect place for me.

More and more (not man-hating I promise) the culture here is men are in charge, and they take credit wherever you can.

I feel not listened to, overlooked, interrupted, disrespected, and unappreciated.
This last huge recognition by the board that myself and my co-workers worked hard on for years, the credit was given to a senior admin. I'm not joking. I went to the board meeting and he took the credit.

I was hoping that this last award, people would take notice and listen, not interrupt, talk over me, and invite opportunities to learn and collaborate with other district teachers. Nope. Trust me I'm not a doormat, not a b*tch either.
So I get it now:
Show up, shut up.

I just might be looking into going back to Ph.D. full-time next year.

[eeza]

Do you what you need to do! I am a big proponent of taking care of your mental and physical health.

What would you get your Ph.D. in?

[midwestread]

Research- Curriculum and Instruction.
Amassing conferences and trying to get published so I could be a professor.

Academics may be just as jerky- but at least I can do my own projects.

[eeza]

That sounds wonderful! I hope you find your path in life.

[happygal]

Causes trouble here and there. Those awards sound stupid.

I get the interrupting thing. I get it too. Im learning that a lot of people who interrupt do it out of insecurity. If you pause after a sentence they jump in.

Very little active listening happens when it would be beneficial. Power hungry dork s in my opinion.

[learnforever]

Both awards and accolades are fleeting. I worked writing grants, state and national applications for recognition etc. Truly the profession's reward is with the kids...door shut...a great lesson, a funny story, a silly song, a student's hug...teaching is hard work today...when you retire you will remember the children...not the ***** *** administrators! Do what will make a difference years from now.

[SighNoMore]

Last week my principal told us we were average. He said we probably go home drink too much, eat too much and not like what we see when we look in the mirror. He said if we do something outside of school that makes us happy, then we should quit. He said he knows some of us don't want to be there. He said we should be like a certain teacher who grades homework every night until 1-2am and shows up one day of the weekend. And then he wonders why teachers quit and he can't find long-term subs or replacement teachers.

He, on the other hand, loves school to the point that he will not admit to liking anything else in his free time. An education martyr, if you will.

A new teacher sitting in front of me at that meeting was visibly upset by his unprofessional remarks. I have a fantasy of sending a summary of his crap to the superintendent, the board of trustees, the other admins at our school AND the local newspaper. Anonymous but Return Receipt Requested to a PO Box in a distant town. SMH.

[learnforever]

I would have hit record on my iPhone and sent it to the newspaper anonymously...what a ****. Stand up to this crazy louse of a prince

[Ruby tunes]

With learnforever about the principal described in the previous post! What a total creep!

[ConnieWI]

It is time you sent an anonymous letter to your school board.

Don't sign it...mail it from another town.

Seems like someone in power needs to know about this jerk!!

If possible, I would have others you trust do the same thing!!

[midwestread]

I felt like I needed to take a shower after that meeting. I kept holding up hope that if I did my best, things would change. You are all right, helping children does make the difference. My job, as it is right now, is about 20% dealing with adults/ego driven jerkwads.

I just found out that this is a systemic issue- another teacher that received a huge award took credit for someone else's project. I think the culture of my district is pretty 1950s, and will not change for a while. Leaders do not want to change that much, they don't want to be challenged.(and I'm not talking about aggressive, steamrolling challenged.)

I wish I could go to work, teach kids, go home and perfect the craft of teaching.
But the truth is, I need more. I need to be challenged.
I am not the kind of person that can do this for 35 years- GodBless all those that can.
My life would be so simple if I could be satisfied. Teach in a good job with good pay and benefits then retire.
What is wrong with me?!
I'll reflect... thanks for the advice and thanks for the shoulders