My Friend Is a Teacher, And The Boss Sucks! Advice? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Rifleman · 10-13-2009, 11:23 PM

Hello CP, I wanted to ask a question on behalf of a friend, who is a teacher working in the Calgary Board of Education.

Long story short, last year was a great year. This year, there is a new boss/principle in the school, and the boss really, really sucks. Sucks so much that said friend can't stand going to work and finds it a struggle to get up to go.

What are the options? The friend doesn't think they can stand a whole year of this, as it's only October.

Is it kosher to get a job at a different school halfway through the school year? Is there anything the CBE can do to help place them in a different school?

Anyone who is a teacher or has a spouse who's a teacher, feel free to chime in.

kirant · 10-13-2009, 11:34 PM

I'm not a teacher, but I know a couple of the teachers at my old High School (Queen Elizabeth) quite well. Almost every time there is a principle change, there is a mass exodus of teachers. I know this time, 10-12 of them jumped boat and found work in other CBE schools. I'm not sure if it's possible part way through the year (and if the CBE will help you find a new job until the new year), but I'm 90% positive the CBE will help you find a job if you request a change at the end of the year.

Sorry for the lack of help.

BuzzardsWife · 10-13-2009, 11:35 PM

is the boss a female and does herlast name start with S??? i know its a longshot but just wonder

flip · 10-14-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirant

I'm not a teacher, but I know a couple of the teachers at my old High School (Queen Elizabeth) quite well. Almost every time there is a principle change, there is a mass exodus of teachers. I know this time, 10-12 of them jumped boat and found work in other CBE schools. I'm not sure if it's possible part way through the year (and if the CBE will help you find a new job until the new year), but I'm 90% positive the CBE will help you find a job if you request a change at the end of the year.

Sorry for the lack of help.

I'd say that happens anytime a new boss takes over. They want to come in and be bad ass and get a fire going and it causes a mass exodus because those employees have already had to prove themselves once.

NBC · 10-14-2009, 02:09 AM

Life's too short to do things you hate. Quit and find another job. They'll be much happier in the long run.

Antithesis · 10-14-2009, 08:31 AM

There are some positions that come up during the year, but I don't know about "I need to get out because of _______."

In fact, since they are both members of the ATA, your friend will have to be very careful (in a professional sense) how he or she handles this. I would strongly suggest, if they don't know how to handle this, that they should consult the ATA about how to deal with this issue. It would be of utmost importance that no names (either theirs or the principal's) are mentioned during such a call. They may suggest that the first course of action would be to speak with the Principal to try to sort things out.

Do you know what your friends' contract status with the CBE is? If you wish you can PM me but there are many teachers here (I happen to be on Paternity Leave) that might have other ideas as well.

Here is a news article from the ATA News that may be a bit helpful in this case though it doesn't seem to mention how the process got started specifically, though the "The Implications" section at the end does illuminate a bit.

jeep991 · 10-14-2009, 08:31 AM

My wife's a teacher in the Catholic board and the same thing is happening at her school. She has told me that a few of the teachers have had shouting matches with their new principal. My wife won't go to that extreme but she is miserable at work this year. I've told her to just tell the principal what she thinks but she says she doesn't want to get a reputation for being a troublemaker. One of her friends at the school is even thinking about early retirement at the end of the year. It sucks that there does not seem to be any complaint process especially when the complaint is about the boss.

Antithesis · 10-14-2009, 08:38 AM

^^ There IS a process, it just might be a bit disheartening that it's actually a process and not an 'easy button', so to speak.

Also, Rifleman, for your friends' good, I'd suggest you not answer any questions either here or from others that might identify the person whom your friend is having problems with.

mykalberta · 10-14-2009, 08:46 AM

How much interaction is there with Teachers and Principles?

Is it not possible to do what the rest of working society does and just deal with it and find ways around it.

Its not like the principle can dock the wage or is responsible for bonus/salary structure.

I say stick with it until at least the semester break, then move on or at the end of the year move on. She is stuck with only 2 employers in the City to choose from unfortunately.

Antithesis · 10-14-2009, 08:50 AM

The level of interaction depends on many things - if the teacher is on a probationary contract, then there might be interactions almost daily, with evaluations and the Principal being in the classroom several times. If the teacher has been teaching a bit longer (like myself), you might go a long time without seeing the Principal in your classroom, and could probably avoid them a fair bit if you wanted.

Sure, a Principal can't dock your pay or anything like that, but like any boss (I'd assume) can make your day-to-day life pretty miserable. Not just that but they can decide where your classroom assignment is ("Hope you enjoy teaching in a broom closet!") or your teaching assingment ("You don't mind teaching French Language Arts, Science, Drama, and Industrial Arts Right? What's that? Don't speak French? Well you'll learn, too!")

mykalberta · 10-14-2009, 09:01 AM

Weird. I went through 12 years of school in Canada and I never remember the principle ever being in the classroom except when some person I didnt know died from drugs - we got the afternoon off is all I remember from that.

I can see how a Kanye for a principle could make your life hell.

Mathalete · 10-14-2009, 09:23 AM

As a teacher in Manitoba, you can only give notice to leave a position (gracefully) at the end of November (for the beginning of February) or the end of May (for the following school year). However, that is more for if you are switching from one school board to another.

Your friend may be best advised to call their union rep and discuss the situation with them. They will have the best advice on how to proceed. In addition, they may be able to comment (perhaps not elaborate) on whether or not there are multiple complaints/issues with the new administration in the school. Protocol in this end of the country is that if you have a complaint to file, you first discuss it with the professional in question (i.e. the principal) and see how far it goes from there.

Teaching can be a thankless profession at times, and so I hope your friend is able to stick it out and survive what appears to be a rough year. At the very least, there should be resources out there for stress management, etc. within the union and that may help ease things off for now.

Sample00 · 10-14-2009, 09:28 AM

as the husband of an Assistant Principal, I can tell you to take heed in Antithesis words. He is bang on especially when it comes to ATA stuff. the last thing your friend is going to want is to be charged with "unprofessionalism". It is an offense under the ATA code statue and is very serious!. I suggest that your friend make the best of it. Cross your t's and dot her i's and put her head down. roll with the punches. If it gets worse, she can always move on next year.

Ford Prefect · 10-14-2009, 09:37 AM

To me this is a simple question, and the professional context is immaterial. It doesn't matter whether a person is a teacher, plumber, nurse, accountant, secretary, or whatever. If a job, or anything, is making a person's life really unpleasant, change it. Life's too short to be miserable. It's unhealthy, both physically and mentally.

Sample00 · 10-14-2009, 09:58 AM

I'm sorry FordPerfect, but in this case I beg to differ. The teaching profession is a prickly beast.
His friend can quit but if she is in a contract situation, she'll most likely have to buy out her contract. If she quits now, she'll have a difficult time finding a new teaching position. Most have already been filled and depending on years of service she may be too high priced for another school to pick up her contract.
And dont forget, the reference factor..."so, lets see, you were at this school for so many years and you decided to quit, why would that be?" or "we'll phone your previous school for a reference."
It may be easier for her to have a "friendly" conversation with her principal to see if there is a reason for that person's behaviour.

jolinar of malkshor · 10-14-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antithesis

There are some positions that come up during the year, but I don't know about "I need to get out because of _______."

In fact, since they are both members of the ATA, your friend will have to be very careful (in a professional sense) how he or she handles this. I would strongly suggest, if they don't know how to handle this, that they should consult the ATA about how to deal with this issue. It would be of utmost importance that no names (either theirs or the principal's) are mentioned during such a call. They may suggest that the first course of action would be to speak with the Principal to try to sort things out.

Do you know what your friends' contract status with the CBE is? If you wish you can PM me but there are many teachers here (I happen to be on Paternity Leave) that might have other ideas as well.

Here is a news article from the ATA News that may be a bit helpful in this case though it doesn't seem to mention how the process got started specifically, though the "The Implications" section at the end does illuminate a bit.

Teachers are one of the only professions where I have seen managment not excluded from the Union. When you have good managment it works very well. When you have bad managment, you get the above and it becomes much more difficult to use union resources as both parties are part of the union and the last thing the union wants is in fighting.

Ford Prefect · 10-14-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sample00

I'm sorry FordPerfect, but in this case I beg to differ. The teaching profession is a prickly beast.
His friend can quit but if she is in a contract situation, she'll most likely have to buy out her contract. If she quits now, she'll have a difficult time finding a new teaching position. Most have already been filled and depending on years of service she may be too high priced for another school to pick up her contract.
And dont forget, the reference factor..."so, lets see, you were at this school for so many years and you decided to quit, why would that be?" or "we'll phone your previous school for a reference."
It may be easier for her to have a "friendly" conversation with her principal to see if there is a reason for that person's behaviour.

True, I didn't factor in contracts. As for references, that can be spun both ways. And as a boss/employer, one thing I've found over the years is to not put too much stock in references. Some of the most glowing references I've heard on prospective hires was for some real duds, maybe because the former employer was trying to pawn off a liability on a competitor or some such reason. And some of the worst references I've heard were for great employees that the other employer either didn't want to lose or didn't want a competitor to hire. About the only things I check when I call on references now is factual stuff ... did the person work for you, for how long, stuff like that just to verify the basic facts. Otherwise references can be pretty unreliable. Your point about contracts certainly makes things a bit sticky though.

Antithesis · 10-14-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Teachers are one of the only professions where I have seen managment not excluded from the Union. When you have good managment it works very well. When you have bad managment, you get the above and it becomes much more difficult to use union resources as both parties are part of the union and the last thing the union wants is in fighting.

I understand it seems bizarre but I think it works the best for a Principal to be part of the ATA and not 'management'. For what it's worth, Principals (in the CBE at least) earn the same salary as a teacher with a stipend (is that the right word) based on the size of the staff that they supervise. In many schools, an Assistant Principal (sometimes even the Principal) teach one or two classes which would not be possible if they were not part of the ATA (not a teacher). They are often required to cover classes in some cases which again, would not be possible.

Sure, in cases where there may be a conflict it might be more difficult to resolve, but I think cases like this (true negligence on a Principal's part) are rare enough that it is of benefit to have them in the union rather than not.

Sliver · 10-14-2009, 12:14 PM

That sucks for your friend. Luckily she/he gets a couple weeks off at Christmas, a week off at Easter and the entire summer off as well. Hopefully that helps some, lol.

But seriously, that's an interesting problem. I didn't think teachers had that much face time with their principal but I guess that's not always the case. Good luck.

Yeah_Baby · 10-14-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sliver

That sucks for your friend. Luckily she/he gets a couple weeks off at Christmas, a week off at Easter and the entire summer off as well. Hopefully that helps some, lol.

I know you're kidding, but do you have any idea the amount of time that goes into lesson planning, assessment etc that all goes into creating an effective learning environment?

If you did, I highly doubt you'd make such a joke.

/rant