r/Teachers

I have the opportunity to serve on the hiring committee for a last-minute replacement of our principal who took another opportuniy relatively unexpectedly.

I have my own thoughts and ideas about what I'd look for and ask, but I'm actually curious to see what others in my place would prioritize--I'm pretty spoiled being in a strong union state in a very small district with strong culture.

I'm not asking you to tell ME what to do--I'm pretty set on what I'm going to ask/what my priorities are. I'm just curious how my personal experience measures up to the general populace.

What would you look for in a leader, and what questions would you want to ask in an interview setting?

This is my first summer after my first year teaching. So far, I have done ZERO work related to school this summer. I have a few planning meetings for next school year in early August, but that’s all I plan on doing until school starts again.

There are some members of my team who I KNOW are doing work over the summer, some of them have even been sending emails/messages related to stuff for next year. Because of this, I am really feeling guilty for not doing anything, but it was a hard year and Im really enjoying the break. Am I wrong for this??

Title.

I’m teaching middle & high school for a dozen years now. I honestly see much worse behavior and much less support from parents & admin today than when I started, but there are also so many kids who are just kids and the supposed “behavior issues” they have can be chalked up to kids growing up, experiencing chemical changes in their brains, learning about the world, etc. I’ll admit I’m guilty of sometimes hopping online and venting about students, but does that necessarily mean that kids are so much worse today than 15-25 years ago? Or does it just seem that way because it’s so easy to post a horror story online?

I’m a new teacher getting my own classroom in August, what are some must-haves in your class (ex. Fancy stapler, hot glue gun, smart board clicker/remote etc.) ?! I’m teaching Gr. 8 hums & phys ed! TIA :)

Zero interviews and scarce listings. I wasn't teaching in 2008, but I can't see how it is any better than it was then.

I keep hearing: Just wait until May. Just wait until June. Just wait until July. Well just sub. Just move 500 miles away. Get a different endorsement.

Then the narrative changes from "There's a huge teacher shortage nationwide" to "There's a shortage in SPED math middle school teachers in rural areas."

Fucc this. Take your Chromebooks and shove them straight up your ass.

This may come across as a rant, and I'll keep it brief.

I recently got a job as a science teacher at a middle school. Initially, I had come in to interview for social studies (US history is my thing), and they ended up asking me to move into that science position because of a transfer to the social studies one. For some context, I work as an archaeologist during the summer, and it is a form of science/humanities, so they saw that as a good experience in the field. They had told me that if I get a license in science, I would more likely get hired into teaching then I can smoothly get into a social studies position.

Now, I had told them I was pursuing Transition to Teach for the Fall and was still waiting on applications to roll through in my interview, since I did not graduate with a teaching license when I graduated from college. I graduated with two bachelor's degrees, one in General Education and the other in Anthropology. I had initially pursued social studies education, but switched after a grade tanked my GPA below the requirement and I had no money to stay another semester/year. The interviewers initially told me all I needed was a Praxis, and I was good, and they would help me get there, so I toned down looking at transition to teach altogether. Then after a few weeks, I had a call with the superintendent; I found out I do need to be in transition to teach and will also need to take a Praxis. I was also told I have 30 days after the school starts to get into transition to teach, or I would be terminated from my teaching role since I would be placed on a transition to teach license. Working on my application and, after submitting a TECR, I waited and waited (forever) for the results until finally last week, when I was told exactly what Praxis I needed (horrible timing).

I researched the Praxis all last week and around the holiday season, trying to juggle it all (studying, knowing what to go over and what is expected, when the test results are due for the program I applied to, etc.), and studied what felt like day and night for it and took it today. Sadly, I was just a few points off from the passing score. I know I have 28 days to retake it, which places me near the start date of school, and I'm coming up past a few transition to teach deadlines for the fall semester. I'm unsure where to go next: if I should even keep this job, if I should try to get into a different type of licensing program, or if I should use this time to study hard every day, retake the Praxis, and hope the program I applied to still gives me admission. I've been looking at other universities' programs as other opportunities as a failsafe too. I love teaching and have for some time now. Right before this job, I was a paraprofessional at an elementary school and enjoyed it.

Any advice or comments would be so helpful! I would appreciate anything.

Hey all,

A little about me. I have taught AP Chemistry for a few years and have struggled teaching AP at times and getting kids to pass.

I just wanted to put some reminders out about AP scores. Some people stress about them but keep in mind the following:

• It takes several years to become a good teacher. It takes several years of teaching an AP class to get good at teaching an AP class. You need time to try things out and change things based on your students. So if it is your first year or even second year teaching an AP class, don't worry so much. Try and improve.
• Student population matters a ton. There are some teachers that boast about getting so many 4's and 5's but they teach in an affluent district where kids really care about performing well and can afford 1 on 1 tutors.
• Variance occurs from year to year. I have had years where not a lot of students take the test and I have had years where I only have a few kids pass and I can usually identify that pretty early in the year. Don't fret so much about the students that chose to take your class, raise the standards of your class.
• AP Classes are more than just getting that 3, 4 or 5 on an exam. You are providing a rigorous class to students that is beholden to a CED, , for better or for worse. Often AP can be more difficult than community college classes. Students who take the class come out the other side way more prepared for difficult classes than students who even take community college classes.

So hopefully you are teaching the class next year and you are allowing your self to change a few things, whether that be the content itself or even class expectations.

Teachers who have been through a formal complaint—I’d really appreciate hearing your story. I'm finding the whole experience incredibly draining, and one thing I'm struggling with is the fear of what comes afterward. If you've been through a complaint, did you ever worry about retaliation from the student or parent, or that you'd always be looking over your shoulder waiting for the next complaint? Did those fears turn out to be justified, or did they ease with time? I'd also love to hear how the process unfolded, how long it took, what the outcome was, and how you managed to move forward afterward. Whether the complaint was substantiated, dismissed, or found to be unsubstantiated, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing your experience. I think there are probably a lot of teachers carrying this anxiety quietly, and hearing from people who've come out the other side would mean a lot.

Please lmk if this isn’t allowed and i’ll take down. I am finishing my AA and transferring to get my BA in English Lit but I had an overwhelming feeling that I will be completely unprepared because I am getting my degree in English and not teaching. I go to school online while working full time and can’t afford to be a student teacher so hence me not finding a university I could complete education degree online. I want to teacher high school English and I am so worried that I will feel like an imposter. Are there things I can do now that will best prepare me now? Any kind of advice is welcomed!

I am asking this as a genuine question out of my own curiosity. Because where I live, the pay and benefits at most private schools are much lower than public schools, and it can cause interruptions in your pension. You also have way less protections. Teachers in our charter schools get to participate in the state pension system, but their pay, benefits, protections, and hours are much worse. I know public schools have their issues, but to me it’s clear that working in a public school where I live is the way to go. I’ve also only ever worked in public schools so that is my only experience.

However, I’m aware that schools across the U.S. and the world operate differently. I also know that in some secular private schools you can sometimes get more freedom in what you teach (I knew someone who liked this aspect, but her husband made enough money to support them so she could take the lesser pay.) I can see how that might be appealing if you have other income. I also know people who work in private language immersion schools who like it for that reason. But overall, I don’t really see the appeal in working for most private and charter schools. Are they sometimes the better option in the area that you live in? Is it a case of just taking what jobs are available? Is there something about them that you prefer to public schools? I’m curious.

Ok, so I checked my scores today. This day always gets my heart rate up... I am so, so nervous checking! I taught 126 juniors AP English Language and Composition. 109 of them took the test in May. And after all the nerves to log in and check my scores, I ended up with a 92% pass rate, with 62 of those being a score of 4 or 5. I had one score of 1, and that kiddo had a D- in the class when it ended. My admin doesn't really note any successes with AP scores, which always bums me out a bit, but I thought I'd share, and this seems like a crowd that might care!

I’m a 10th year high school teacher, most of my experience is in middle school. This was my 2nd year in HS and I’ve had 4 preps since I started. This year I will finally be teaching what I hoped to teach so hopefully can be more specialized.

Today I got my AP scores back and I am SO bummed. No 5s, a few surprise 2s. Most kids that I thought would pass did, but not by leaps and bounds as I had hoped. We have no pre recs and are not allowed to implement any requirements so I end up with a lot of kids that just want the GPA boost.

I’m feeling good about the content at this point but I can’t feeling like absolute garbage, even though I know test scores are just one metric, and so much responsibility falls on the students and their own work ethic, but still. Big ugh. Just had to vent . Tagged as power of positivity because that’s what I need desperately 😪

I teach an AP class that is mostly seniors. This past year, I had 10 kids. All are bright, capable kids and the highest grade in the class was a 101. The lowest was an 82. We studied a lot and the kids were all proficient in the material. I knew they were done & over school by exam time, but still, I told them all I believed they could all do well (and I did & do believe that).

So imagine my surprise checking the college board website today and 6/10 kids got a 2. My most serious and dedicated kid got a 5. One student who isn't as serious but generally tries under pressure got 4. And my 2 weakest students got a 3. I'm proud of them! Those were kids I did think could be on the cusp of a 2, but they worked hard and made it happen to get a 3.

But the 6 that got a 2 were all capable of better. One or two of them were maybe just having a bad day. But all 6? They clearly were phoning it in. I get it, they're seniors, it was an early morning exam, and that's how seniors are, but it still annoys me because I know they were capable of better. And it's always frustrating when kids are capable of better and choose not to try. Also it makes me look incompetent to admin, so that doesn't help lol.

So I’ve never resigned after putting in my intent to return. I was offered a job the other day and am needing to send a resignation email. I have a few days to send it. I want to resign on decent terms. I’m unsure who to email other than the building principal. Should I text the principal first to thank them and explain my reason for leaving and then still send a formal email? I have no idea how to go about this. In the resignation email, do I mention what district I’ll be going to? Any tips are appreciated!

Dear all! I had an interview this morning. I think it went well. After we finished the interview the said everything went well and they said to write them a letter of intent by tomorrow afternoon! Does that mean I have the job? I definitely want to accept the offer but what if something better comes along? I have another interview next .

I’m a little over halfway through college, and I’m considering teacher when I’m older. Any advice for someone considering teaching? I know kids can be mean and dumb, but is there anything I should know?

Hello! I'm looking for input from fellow teachers who have had to leave their classroom in the middle of the year.

I'm a certified public school Integrated Pre-K teacher who is also currently 26 weeks pregnant. I am on a few childcare waiting lists for my little one to start daycare in January (due in October). However, after checking in with the care centers today, my confidence in being able to get a spot at any of them for January is shaken. Apparently most of their spots (even for their infant and toddler rooms) open in June or September, and as time goes on they seem less sure that I'll have a spot for January. We don't have family nearby that can take care of her until daycare can be lined up, so the only other option would be I stay home with her.

I already told admin that I intend on returning to my classroom after maternity leave. I personally wouldn't be too upset about needing to stay home and enjoy my baby, but professionally I'm nervous about the idea and unsure of what could happen. Will they try to go after my certifications? Will having to resign due to lack of childcare put a black mark on my teaching record? I'm sure my current district would not want to re-hire me later because of it, but would other districts hire me in the future (once we secured care or she started school herself)? I'm also slightly concerned about how the parents of my students would feel. The only guidance my handbook gives me is I have to provide at least 30 days notice.

Open to any and all input and advice!