Depressed teacher finishing her first year with a question:

[DebJ]

I just completed a year-long substitute position as a 7th grade social studies teacher. Is what I experienced the norm?

This is the first time in my working life (of 40 years)that I have only received any feedback whatsoever from my superivsor twice over 9 months of work, and that was only when I asked, and that was in October and in March. The feedback was very brief, covered only one topic, and gave no details or advice, except to offer a seminar that I took in February. I was observed at least 6 times over the year; one time she left a brief note thanking me for having my lesson plans on my desk (which they always were, although they get buried because I'm never at my desk except at 3; I don't know if she saw them before or not when she was in, because she never told me anything about the other visits)and a notation as to the total number of parent calls I had made year-to-date. That's it; that's all the feedback I received from administration over an entire year. I stopped by the Principal's office from time to time, before school, after school, on planning time, but she was always busy. I don't even know what evaluation criterion are in this school district; I've never even seen a form. Is this normal? How does a first year teacher improve with no feedback from supervisors? Is it just that you are perfect, or you are not, sink or swim on your own?

I received a lot of positive feedback from my peers. They thought my lesson plans were 'amazing'. The ELL teachers appreciated, and said the students appreciated, the extra time and assistance I gave to the ELL students (including home visits with a book and the work to do). Other teachers appreciated my concerns over various students over the year and my attempts to find a way to help each of them. I received numerous thank yous from parents, verbally, in writing, in meetings in front of guidance counselors and other teachers. I got small thank you gifts from them. I have letters from parents stating that 'thank you so much the world needs more teachers like you' and other commments.

The position for which I substituted has now been vacated. I am left with the impression that I'm not going to be offered the position. I did give the Principal a formal letter of thanks for the opportunities, re-stated my interest, and requested a letter of reference if the position would not be available to me. That was a week ago. So far, nothing; I will see what next week brings.

If I have done even one thing right this year in the eyes of administration, I have no idea as to what that might be, except that I provided healthy snacks in line with district policy. (I do that because I know these kids aren't going to be eating well over long breaks and the summer, and it breaks my heart, cause I'm a mom and a grandmom myself.)

So, is this normal? Should I anticipate the same if I am fortunate enough to get another long-term sub position? If I do, I will have the background and experience now to be more persistant/insistant this time. I didn't have a personal life at all this year (except for the surgery I had over the holidays, LOL). (I was given the job days before school started, in an area outside of my core concentration though within my certification, and had no time to plan in advance). My husband is like a stranger to me now. I worked all day, almost every evening for hours, and well over half of my weekends for nine months. Quite a few weekends, I'd make blitzes where I would call the homes of every student, and follow-up calls for no answers, and that would take the better part of a Saturday/Sunday right there. It's just a bit much to not even hear about one thing consequential or of substance that I might have done right. The biggest irony is how we as teachers are to insure that we always celebrate the students achievements, because of the positive results that are achieved that way...

I needed to vent. I know I should have been more forceful, but it was tough to do in my first year in that environment.
Thanks for reading my whine.

[roody]

1. You sound like a great teacher.

Your first year seems normal to me. If admin is ignoring you, you are doing fine. You may not get a job offer because of the hiring protocol. Many hires are done right before school starts. You are there for the kids, and they all benefitted. At some point, you have to take your life back, and do less.

[DebJ]

3. Thanks. I did learn enough this year to make huge

improvements in taking my life back if I get to teach again.

[roguevalley]

13. get their handbook on evaluations, they are supposed to give you

one each year at the start, read it and the goals for the year and count yourself INCREDIBLY LUCKY that your principal left you alone. It could be taken that you did such a good job they didn't mess with you too much. Principals are way too many times psycho assholes. Avoid them, only use their name thusly: Mr. so and so, Mrs. So and so. Keep the distance and proper relationship. You are not their friends and if they have to cut off your head to save themselves they will.

Sounds normal otherwise. I find it odd that people need feedback if they are doing a good job which you sounded like you did. Congrats on a first year, hon.

RV, who had 27

[roody]

14. You replied to me instead of OP.

I agree. The less you see of your principal, the better off you are. It is best to stay under their radar.

[roguevalley]

15. sorry, roody. these dropdowns always get me in trouble.

:hug:

[msongs]

2. principals/veeps are hardly EVER qualified to evaluate you cuz they only see you 30 minutes per

year. really! they observe one time for a formal evaluation of 15 minutes and then the rest is just what they see and hear on campus the rest of the year.

Msongs

[southerncrone]

4. Don't think it's that unusual.

Most of the time, I feel like I'm completely out of the loop, except for my students. You will most likely get more support & feedback from your fellow teachers than superiors. In my experience, as long as you "don't rock the boat" administration will leave you alone. Once you get some yrs under your belt, you'll be expected to do even more for the "team" & that's when you have less time for students & your personal life.

Society has no idea what the life of a public school teacher is today. The demands are enormous; burn-out is common. I think you were fortunate to get kudos from parents. In many places you never get that.

Make sure you check w/the board of education to reapply for your job. Unfortunately, the hiring process often is not the most transparent, which allows for nepotism & buddy hiring to take place. Many districts require you to reapply every year until you reach tenure (which is probably going to be gone in the next few yrs). I'd make sure I did that tomorrow....that is, if you want do continue in education.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Yep that's normal

And don't you ever forget that teachers are the problem in our schools. :)

[southerncrone]

6. LOL. The media won't let anyone forget that!

I often wonder what will happen when no one will go into the profession because of the low pay & low status it has today. Not to mention, the enormous work load that is continually increasing. :shrug:

[demtenjeep]

9. If no one is telling you how to do things better, you are doing fine

In my experience, if you are getting observed a lot then there is an issue

[Catshrink]

10. I agree...it's a "no news is good news" kind of thing

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. That's so true

Before NCLB I went years without being evaluated. I took it as administrative approval. :)

[demtenjeep]

12. as one principal told me once

"If people are doing their job, I don't need to interfere"

[montanto]

7. In my experience

and based on what many others have said, not only are those who evaluate you not qualified to do so, positive feedback is extremely scarce. I was evaluated this year as well, and my VP actually collared me in the hall later and said "that was a great lesson." A fifteen year first! Probably wouldn't have happened at all if it hadn't been the same day and a chance encounter (there are 4000 people here. You don't just bump into an admin every day). Basically if the classroom isn't on fire when they come through the door you are doing your job as far as they are concerned. Don't get me wrong, some of them really do care, but the other stuff that they have to do limits the amount of time they can spend thinking about the stuff that you do. Sounds like you are doing what many of us do. Keep fighting the good fight. We know what you are up to.

[DebJ]

8. Thanks. I really appreciate it. n/t