Applied for a job...No one to talk to.....

[CAT1962]

Hi, all....

I applied for my first teaching position. It was at the school I have been a parent in for several yrs and a worker for 4. I am an assistant now. The person that got the job is male, has 1/8th the experience I have, and doesn't even HAVE a degree in the field! I gave them two glowing letters of recommendation.
This guy IS a friend ..worked together in the same class...feels badly for me...

My issue, I think, is that at the beginning of the year I inadvertantly got another assistant into trouble (she was talking about a teacher that she "hated", and how that teacher "did NO work", etc... and the principal made me write everything down, the assistant found out as did her close-knit teacher buddy. They tried a few times to get me fired (spreading rumors that I was gossiping about another worker, telling the boss I was texting when I was supposed to be watching a class...NEITHER were true at all... but it definitely tarnished my reputation.

I learned only on the last day of school that these two were doing this...the person who told me was the one that I "supposedly" talked about! She felt badly for me, as we got along great before the rumor started, calling it a "set-up deal...tried to get you fired..."  Since she won't talk anyone about it, and there is no physical evidence, I cannot file any report on them. I am just blackballed from the school....the school I am 4 blocks from and one daughter goes to. I have no reliable vehicle to apply at another school, because I obviously cannot walk miles to work. The principal said she would help me out if I applied anywhere else...AKA, "But we don't want you...." I am so upset....

[Cindy]

Thats is not fair. I work at a school and sadly all this drama happens everyday. Is not fair to you. Is there another school close by? maybe one of your co-workers can pick you up. Im sorry this happened to you.

[Pisces24]

If you are really serious, I would obtain your records of conduct from the school. Then get an attorney and file a discrimination lawsuit. Sounds like you have a good case.

[MissyLouWho?]

That is really messed up.  I agree with Pisces24, I think you have a case of discrimination.  If they chose someone else over you who didn't have near the qualifications you have, plus all the crap they've been plotting and then what the principal said....I'd get a lawyer.

[quietdynamics]

I was always amazed in schools at how free people were with their personal information:

Health, marriage, their own kids, etc. Schools are "gossip" cauldrons...adults almost as bad as the kids, just on another level. I actually, went for walks @ lunchtime.  "and the principal made me write everything down" I would have declined.

With all the $$$ cut-backs it could be schools/ employers do not want to hire "sick" people...not fair...but it is true.

[CAT1962]

The prinicpal never wrote me up. Just told me it would "blow over"...yeah, right! NO ONE but this teacher even likes the assistant that got into trouble at the beginning of the year. As a matter of fact when I went to write everything up I told the boss I "try to avoid her as much as possible"...she said, "Everyone does." She has big union backing....she should have been terminated LONG ago...but always gets out of it. If I had declined to write it down, I would have been written up and can't afford to lose my job.

The new prinicpal did email me today. I emailed yesterday asking "what areas need improvement"..AKA, why didn't you hire me..LOL.....she said they ..."hired someone with experience and the right "fit"...". FIT SCHMIT. That class is fine. I did find out.....the job that was open...? That wretched assistant will have her one-on-one in there.

[JakeL]

That's so unfair. It seems like your colleagues are the kids in this school and not the students.  I like the lawsuit idea.

[Crymeariver]

So why did nothing happen to the gossipy assistant that you had to 'testify' against?  Seems like she should have been shown the door.

[CAT1962]

There was no evidence of it.... my word against at eacher with tenure ...the assistant had the union there.  For some reason she is untouchable.   

[iraisin]

I wonder if there's an on-line tutoring service you could work for? Try looking into services like that. OR start your own! Be an entrepreneur!

Make your own money happen! You're a very smart person, you can make things happen. If there's a teacher's forum you could even start recruiting from there.

Get a DBA, work out an agreement with a background check place, review resumes and get a website set up. Sounds like a lot, but one step at a time.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

[irish]

I guess if it was me I would just put this experience on the shelf as a "lesson learned" and proceed with life. Don't let it eat you up. Sometimes/many times, things happen for the better.

I would check out tutoring or even think about setting up your own business. There are a ton of kids that need tutoring in math and english skills due to some of the crazy programs they try in the schools.Somehow, the old fashioned ways seem to still are tested and proven.

You can make something happen that will work for you and not have to deal with others about illness issues. Good luck. Irish