Today, I've made a decision...

...and it's not one that I made quickly.  In fact, it's been coming for a LONG TIME.  I have decided that it is no longer worth it being a teacher.  I have spent the year in one long-term sub spot after another, and at two of the four schools I've been at, I've had issues with the administration.  One school, they didn't like the pace at which I was teaching.  I had spent a couple of days playing math Jeopardy to get the kids ready for tests and quizzes, and the principal told me that she was hearing from a number of parents about how their kids weren't learning anything.  However, I had just heard the night before from parents (at the school's Open House night) about how much their kids liked my class, and how they were getting so much out of it.  Needless to say, for the next 6 weeks, I was on pins and needles, and every time the phone rang in my classroom, I got nervous, thinking that the principal was on the other end of the line to tell me, "We've decided to let you go."  I was so happy when the teacher got back from her maternity leave.

Then, after a month off, I was interviewed by another school, when a math teacher went out on medical leave.  I was at the school for 3 months, but heard mostly good things from administration.  Even if there was a criticism about something that had happened, they always made sure to mention the positive as well as the negative.  This, if anything, made me feel at home at this school.  It was the best 3 months of the year for me.

Now, I have been at a third school in another long-term sub spot teaching math.  I keep hearing from other teachers, as well as students, how much the kids love having my class.  Unfortunately, I had a dressing down from administration about the kids' behavior in one of my classes.  The administrator basically said, "(This) is what I heard, and I wouldn't accept that from a daily sub, much less a long term sub.  If you don't fix whatever you did, I'll have to find someone else for the rest of the year.  I don't want to, but I'll do it if I have to."  Needless to say, this upset me a bit, but I tried to deal with it gracefully, and told him that I would try my best.  Then, I asked for some suggestions about another class, and was told, "I wouldn't know, since I have never observed that class," (not like he saw the other class he was talking to me about...), "But, you must have done something to make those kids believe they could act up, so you have to fix it."

Now, here I am, a teacher with 16 years experience teaching math and science, some kids who had Asperger's Syndrome, and I regularly hear from parents, kids and other faculty how much they enjoy having me as a teacher.  Yet, I cannot find a permanent position because the union rules state that I must be paid the equivalent of two brand new teachers, fresh out of school.  I am also being dressed down about my classroom management as a long term sub.  Add to that the fact that long term subs get paid so little...

ASIDE: Most districts pay long term subs the per diem rate that they would pay a first year teacher, which, in CT, is about $210-$250 per day.  However, out of the 3 Long Term Sub spots I have had this year, and one from last year, half of the districts pay much less.  One district limited the pay to 60% of the first year salary for the first 20 days (1 month) of teaching), and the one I am in now is paying only $135 per day (or about the same amount of money I would have been making as a math tutor in a district - or one and a half times the daily sub rate).  Needless to say, I am not making enough to support my family...

Everywhere, I hear about the shortage of teachers we have, and especially Math teachers.  I also hear about the lack of subs for the schools.  Yet, here I am with 16 years of experience, and I cannot get a job in a school because of the salary they would be forced to pay me due to the union contract.  Jobs at private & parochial schools are easier to come by, but most of these pay so much less money (due to the lack of a union in most cases), that I couldn't support my family on it.  Also, with Common Core and states pulling money out of education, many schools are cutting teachers just to remain solvent.  I have decided to leave the teaching profession - it will no longer support me or my family.  I may take a tutor position in a school, or even a paraprofessional position, since I can work less, have fewer responsibilities outside of school hours and, as a result, make more money as a private tutor as well.  I have 23 more days to get through (if the administration here doesn't get rid of me first), and then I can concentrate on getting a better position with less responsibility, as well as similar, if not higher, pay.  I think it's a shame, but public education is doomed if it continues along this path...

Thanks for sticking with me through this long rant.  And, if you hear something about a teacher in your district, ask them what they think.  They'd love to talk about it, since they really can't talk about it in there school.