AE needs job advice

[jobae123]

I am a regular but I don't want this tied to my acct. If you figure me out PLEASE do not name me. Also I will probably DD this.

I am a teacher and was called in today and informed that I was up for possible non-renewal of my contract. I was blindsided. I have been told that some of my colleagues have stated that I have been hard to work with and nasty to them. This is a 100% false. I was told by my principal that the principal from last year stated that certain teachers had issues with me (don't know who they are) last year. I cannot fathom for what because I had bare minimum interaction with anyone last year because I was pumping during my lunch and conference.
When pressed for specifics of things that I have done or said, I was not given any. My principal even said that she had not seen this behavior from me. So this is all 2nd/3rd hand info being relayed to her.
I seriously can't think of what I could have done to warrant these lies being stated. I am the one offering to pick up congratulations/sympathy cards, covering duty for teachers who are not at school on time (this is without being asked so they don't get into trouble for not being there), bringing in hot chocolate in the winter for everyone on my team, etc.

I have a meeting with her next week in regards to whether I am actually going to be non-renewed. My question is how do I defend myself? How can I defend from false accusations?

IMPORTANT INFO:
-there are no unions
-I am not a term contract because I have only been there 2yrs

[arch01]

Is there an opportunity for you to ask the principal for a mediation type setting where you can hear from the supposed accusers? 

[spk926]

Who makes the hiring/firing decisions? If it's the principal and she has not seen this behavior from you then I would feel better about this whole situation. Could your colleagues think that you are hard to work with because you had bare minimum interactions with anyone last year? In next week's meeting I would ask for specifics as you would like to be able to work on things but can't if you don't know what is wrong.

Until you're tenured every spring is like a huge anxiety attack as you wait to see if you're cut or not. It sucks, I'm so sorry you're going through it.

[jobae123]

Apr 1, 2015 19:31:58 GMT -5 arch01 said:

Is there an opportunity for you to ask the principal for a mediation type setting where you can hear from the supposed accusers? 

I will ask for this.

[zarapipe]

Cam you transfer to a different school in the district?

[jobae123]

Apr 1, 2015 19:32:58 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Who makes the hiring/firing decisions? If it's the principal and she has not seen this behavior from you then I would feel better about this whole situation. Could your colleagues think that you are hard to work with because you had bare minimum interactions with anyone last year? In next week's meeting I would ask for specifics as you would like to be able to work on things but can't if you don't know what is wrong.

Until you're tenured every spring is like a huge anxiety attack as you wait to see if you're cut or not. It sucks, I'm so sorry you're going through it.

Bare minimum maybe the wrong phase. I just mean that there wasn't any time for a negative occurrence to happen because I pumped during lunch and conferences unless I had a meeting. I explained that to my current principal.

[Deleted]

Ditto pp. Here you can ask for mediation.

Also, get together any positive documentation you have in regards to your performance and interaction as backup.

Do you think this is a cover at all for budget cuts or restructuring? Sometimes districts look for anything to get anyone to quit on any excuse/account so they don't have to justify explain the why or what or why the money isn't in the budget, kwiM? It makes me wonder considering they're pulling in 3rd hand info from people who don't work there anymore. Your principal might be passing the buck on so to speak for whatever reason. I'd watch for that.

[oliviapope]

Honestly, the best thing to do is go in there ready to problem solve. I would avoid the whole "they are spreading lies". The information may be false, or they may be perceiving your actions incorrectly-but that defense is not going to save your job.

I would discuss with her how you are planning to work through this. Find some communication CEUs and schedule yourself for those, ask her for guidelines on ways to improve your team building and communication skills. I know it will feel like you are "letting them win", but honestly you are protecting your job. Ask for examples and ask for ways in which your princip sees that you can improve. Let your principal know your goals and how your plan to meet them.

[jobae123]

Apr 1, 2015 19:34:35 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Cam you transfer to a different school in the district?

Small district. Only one school at my certification level. I did ask to be moved to a different grade level then.

[arch01]

Apr 1, 2015 19:34:06 GMT -5 jobae123 said:

Apr 1, 2015 19:31:58 GMT -5 arch01 said:

Is there an opportunity for you to ask the principal for a mediation type setting where you can hear from the supposed accusers? 

I will ask for this.

I would phrase it as an opportunity to clear the air and to discuss any actions that have been perceived as "hard to work with" and "nasty".

I just had an employee file a complaint against me and we went through this exercise-long story short, it was a misinterpretation of a comment I made. It could be something as simple as that or it could be something as difficult as someone who really just doesn't like you for whatever reason-and discussing it really isn't going to make it go away. 

Good luck!!

[jobae123]

Apr 1, 2015 19:35:48 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

Ditto pp. Here you can ask for mediation.

Also, get together any positive documentation you have in regards to your performance and interaction as backup.

Do you think this is a cover at all for budget cuts or restructuring? Sometimes districts look for anything to get anyone to quit on any excuse/account so they don't have to justify explain the why or what or why the money isn't in the budget, kwiM? It makes me wonder considering they're pulling in 3rd hand info from people who don't work there anymore. Your principal might be passing the buck on so to speak for whatever reason. I'd watch for that.

I don't think budge cuts are an issue. We just got a bonus and they're talking about raises.

[kaycee]

My second year of teaching every teacher that was about to get tenured was non-reelected. I was promised my job a week before the meeting. Then was presented a letter that they had made the decision months before. There was no reason given. There was a union, but they said it was pretty impossible to fight. There were 5 of us they did it to at my school all at the end of our second year.

I am so sorry this is happening to you.

I ended up at a way better school in a job I adored until I moved.

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2015 19:38:03 GMT -5 jobae123 said:

Apr 1, 2015 19:35:48 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

Ditto pp. Here you can ask for mediation.

Also, get together any positive documentation you have in regards to your performance and interaction as backup.

Do you think this is a cover at all for budget cuts or restructuring? Sometimes districts look for anything to get anyone to quit on any excuse/account so they don't have to justify explain the why or what or why the money isn't in the budget, kwiM? It makes me wonder considering they're pulling in 3rd hand info from people who don't work there anymore. Your principal might be passing the buck on so to speak for whatever reason. I'd watch for that.

I don't think budge cuts are an issue. We just got a bonus and they're talking about raises.

I'd still watch. Not my district but one next to me is notorious for "raises for everyone! yay!" and then laying off a bunch of teachers at the end of the year to pay for said raises. School politics isn't easy. 

Do you happen to be due for a raise/lane change/tenure? The school I work in currently is famous for firing pretty much everyone at the end of their second year/on the brink of a raise without tenure for this very reason. Fresh college grads come so much cheaper and they'll find any excuse to make it happen.

Are you in a private school by chance? Those can be rough in the he/said she said hire/fire raise/not raise at will. I worked in a school like that out of college and he said/she said drug up 12 months later over stupid sh*t to push an agenda was commonplace (and why I know longer work there). I'm projecting now I know but I wish you the best and want you to be careful.

[origami]

I'm sorry you're going through this. If you only have a week until the decision is made then, in your shoes, I would email the principal and say something about how you have really thought about what you discussed. You really want to improve and be a team player. You did not intend to be nasty to anyone. You have tried to remember when you were not a team player but you honestly can't remember, and it's hard to know what to fix if you aren't sure what exactly went awry, but you are willing to make a concerted effort to be easy to work with. Maybe give some examples of what you can do/continue in the future.

Basically, I know it's shocking and people suck, but don't be defensive. Show the principal you are easy to work with by being open to criticism. Hopefully he/she sees all the hard work you've done and realizes whatever gossip flew around is petty and unimportant.

[VillainV]

Could these comment possibly be from someone who resents the fact that you pumped during conference? Like someone who doesn't understand laws about pumping, or is bitter that you were allowed to be absent during these times?

I agree that I would try to approach this as constructively as possible, and ask for specific feedback so you can improve your interactions. If they can't give you concrete examples of how you are "nasty" or "hard to work with" then how can you possibly be expected to improve? This is probably all just made up bullshit from someone who either a) doesn't like you for some reason, or b) is worried about their OWN performance and is trying to deflect attention onto you.

[jobae123]

I am at a loss. I feel like I have been kicked in the gut. I stated in our meeting that I want to grow and improve but I feel like I can't without understanding/knowing what people's issues are with me. I can't fix what I don't know. I feel like I can't trust anyone. Most of these people I thought were my friends.

I have great relationships with students and I pull great scores. I pulled 100% pass rate last year on our big state test.

[Velar Fricative]

I'm so sorry. I truly feel like the onus has to be on the complainants to back their complaints up with documentation and other evidence. It doesn't sound like they have that and so I'm frustrated for you that the admins are entertaining these complaints. I agree with many of the pps and just want to wish you the best of luck.

[imojoebunny]

With this vagueness, I would be looking for another job. It sucks, but it sounds like you work in a small company atmosphere where the smallest personality difficulty, means job "performance" problems. These jobs are fine for people who can roll over and play dead, ignore problems, and don't mind not fixing mistakes. Go find a job working with people who care a whole lot more about educating, than "anonymously" complaining vaguely.

You absolutely should challenge it, but I would be looking immediately.

[jobae123]

Apr 1, 2015 20:04:42 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

With this vagueness, I would be looking for another job. It sucks, but it sounds like you work in a small company atmosphere where the smallest personality difficulty, means job "performance" problems. These jobs are fine for people who can roll over and play dead, ignore problems, and don't mind not fixing mistakes. Go find a job working with people who care a whole lot more about educating, than "anonymously" complaining vaguely.

You absolutely should challenge it, but I would be looking immediately.

I am going to be looking regardless of the outcome. I just would feel much better having a job. That whole saying, "the best time to look for a job is when you have a job."

[jobae123]

Apr 1, 2015 20:01:13 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I'm so sorry. I truly feel like the onus has to be on the complainants to back their complaints up with documentation and other evidence. It doesn't sound like they have that and so I'm frustrated for you that the admins are entertaining these complaints. I agree with many of the pps and just want to wish you the best of luck.

There is 0 documentation. But it doesn't really matter because I am not on a term contract. They don't really have to show "cause" for anything.

[bronxgirl]

I am really sorry you're in this situation. I don't have a lot of additional advice, but I want to echo some things that were mentioned, such as trying to stay calm and don't get defensive or emotional, stick to the basic facts and show that you want to be a team player. in the meantime, vent to a close friend or on here whenever you like to express your true feelings so it doesn't spill into your meeting. Good luck!

[wavepool]

I'm sorry this is happening to you. Others have good advice. I hope you're able to get some more explanation on what they're talking about and that you can find a new job soon either way!

[sent]

Apr 1, 2015 19:48:46 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Could these comment possibly be from someone who resents the fact that you pumped during conference? Like someone who doesn't understand laws about pumping, or is bitter that you were allowed to be absent during these times?

I was going to suggest the same thing.  Back before I became a mom, I might've thought someone running off to pump all the time was using it as a convenient excuse to get out of their share of the workload and not being a "team player."  (Yes, very ass of me I know.  Please don't flame.)

[mlt]

I would probably ask for some kind of mediation and try to make nice. Maybe there are some old guard types who are being shitty because you are new. Play the game, see if your contract gets renewed. If you are calm and accommodating and willing to work on these supposed "issues" you will look good and mature. Hopefully this will blow over. My firm has drama like this sometimes because the partner in charge listens to every stupid rumor and tries to address each one. So dumb, half the stories are total lies and half are gross exaggerations. The associates just gotta ride it out.

[andthentherewere10]

This sucks. I'm sorry. Even if my contract did got renewed, I wouldn't want to work there

[auntie]

It sucks.

My mom had this happen at her first school; the principal wanted to replace her with the DD of a close friend and my mom was the only one with the certs needed who wasn't tenured yet. The principal gave her a glowing reference and she moved on.