Dear We Are Teachers,
For three years now, I’ve asked my principal to move back to 5th grade, my preferred level to teach. Last year, he promised that next year (2025-26), he would put me back in 5th grade. I almost raged last week when he said that it was “best for the kids” if I kept teaching 1st grade. I feel like he’s exploiting my kindness and willingness to help out, and I’m so annoyed that I was strung along for another year. Should I start looking for another school now, or give him one year (with a very clear expectation for what I want)?
—Sadly Strung Along
Dear S.S.A.,
What a frustrating situation. I’m so sorry you’re finding this out so late in the year. Your feelings of betrayal sound entirely valid.
Whether or not you look for a new job now depends on many factors. Can you get a new job this late in the year? Are you flexible on aspects such as district, grade level, and salary? Are there other aspects of your current school that make staying worthwhile? Wanting to leave ASAP is an understandable feeling, but it’s not always a practical one, so consider your own well-being before going that route.
Either way, I think considering a new role for the future—whether that’s next school year or the one after—is a viable option. This principal, sadly, has already broken your trust. Even if there is a reason for keeping you in 1st grade (like they can’t find a suitable candidate), your feelings and preferences matter. The fact that your principal has overlooked that and gone back on a promise he made feels unsupportive and uncaring.
So, if it were me, I’d go old-school: Make a pros and cons list. What are the benefits of staying? Do they outweigh the negatives, including an unsupportive administrator? They might, but you really want to consider what kind of long-term environment you want and whether this administrator can make or break that for you.
If you plan on leaving, I’d start getting your ducks in a row now. Make connections, update your resume and documents, and make sure you’re as prepared as possible for a teacher interview. The “when” is really based on what’s available and whether it’s worth it for you personally.
If you do stay, I encourage you to obtain your principal’s written confirmation (even via email) of your grade level. It may not be legally binding (that’s based on state laws and union contracts), but it is something you can point back to if you get burned again at the end of the year, and perhaps something you could use to convince him to change his mind if you’d like to stay. Also, try to reframe it as positively as possible. Yes, this situation is very frustrating, but if you can’t leave now, can you at least take something from it? Something you’ll miss about 1st graders or a new skill you want to learn? That way, the year will still benefit your career in the long run, even if it’s not what you dreamed of.
Good luck, and I believe in you!
Dear We Are Teachers,
I have an interview coming up for a teaching position, and I want to make a good impression. I know it’s important to ask thoughtful questions at the end, but I’m not sure what administrators are really looking for when they open the floor. What are some good questions to ask that show I’m serious about the role and also help me learn if the school is a good fit?
—Interviewing the Interviewers
Dear I.T.I.,
Congrats on the interview! I’m sending you lots of good vibes and hope it goes well.
There are some great resources on what to ask here and things to look for in a school here. Remember: An interview is a chance to see if the school is a good fit for you, not just the other way around. So, while you want to be taken seriously, you can do that authentically by asking questions that also show what you value as an educator.
One thing to consider is what you value in a school culture. Student relationships? Camaraderie? Collaboration? Feedback? I’d ask questions to help you ascertain what that looks like at the school. For example:
- How does the school foster positive relationships with students and their families?
- How does the school foster camaraderie and collaboration among faculty?
- How is collaboration supported in the school culture?
- What does the evaluation process look like for teachers? How will I get feedback?
- What does professional growth look like for educators here? What supports are there?
- Are there opportunities for growth for teachers? What would those opportunities be?
Another thing I’ve done in the past is ask not only to tour the school, but also to request an informal conversation with other teachers, particularly those in my grade level or subject area, or with students. While these conversations won’t necessarily be private—you don’t know if they’ll share what you asked with the admin—you can get a sense of what school culture is like from potential colleagues or students.
Good luck, and I believe in you!
Dear We Are Teachers,
I’m a second-year teacher and have had a rough year health-wise—I’ve used all my sick days and had one really bad illness that kept me out past my allotted time. I just got a letter from the board saying I violated the time-off policy, but I truly thought I submitted everything correctly and had no idea there was a different process I was supposed to follow. I have doctor’s notes for every absence and am panicking because I don’t even know what I did wrong. Could I actually get fired for this?
—Sick and Scared
Dear S.A.S.,
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear this. Being sick is hard, and worrying about your job on top of that definitely doesn’t help. It has been a rough year for many educators health-wise (I wrote about that here), as health issues have just generally been worse this year. Plus, working in rooms full of children doesn’t help.
For your specific situation, start by contacting your union representative if you are a union member. Your union can help manage some of the correspondence, advocate on your behalf, and even provide legal representation if the situation escalates to that point. Since this appears to be a misunderstanding, I hope it can be easily resolved.
If you are not part of a union, I’d ask to speak with someone in your HR department. Be as calm and collected as possible. While you are sorry for the time you’ve been away, you have genuine medical issues with documented doctor’s notes. Ask if they can help you understand the problem with the paperwork so it can be resolved. While this situation has understandably caused you strife, transferring that frustration to someone else won’t necessarily fix the issue. They may say you need to either take leave without pay or apply for the Family and Medical Leave Act. Your policies depend on your state and the terms of your contract.
If that doesn’t help, I’d suggest trying to find a way to obtain legal support. Since your issues were actually medical ones documented by a doctor, you should hopefully be able to find some support. Generally speaking, being sick comes with some protections.
Good luck, and I believe in you.
Do you have a burning question? Email us at [email protected].
Dear We Are Teachers,
Every year, I think, “This will be the summer I do nothing school-related!” And every year, I end up getting sucked into PD, agreeing to help lead some summer seminar, or saying yes to a project I really didn’t want to do. How can I stick to my “no school allowed” boundary this year?
—Dreaming of Disconnecting