Like I said I would in my last post... I turned in my two weeks notice. The director which is (actually a super good friend of mine) was so excited for me because she is a former teacher and knew that I just was not happy with the choices made by the owner and felt that I deserved to be in a school that valued me more and was more school like. Plus this means we can be friends again without having to hide it from the owner. That sounds like Jr. High drama right? Trust me, so many things were blown up that was so silly. Like the fact that I hung out once with the director... the school found out and made her pull me into the office and tell me that we couldn't be friends and hang out. Of course we both took it as a joke, but the higher ups were VERY serious about it. So to protect our rears we just kind of both went with it.
Anyways, so here is how it went. I turned in my notice, the director and I gabbed a bit about the new job and went ahead and set a hang out date. As soon as the house is ready we're throwing a guitar hero party, she is a huge guitar hero fan. (It is a video game where you play a pretend guitar to songs and you have to hit the matching color button to the matching color note). About 10 minutes later I received a text from my assistant (she was out sick) saying that the owner JUST called her and offered her the lead teaching position. Wow... talk about fast right? Well apparently the owner thought that my assistant was quitting too because she was out today when really she was just sick. Of course she accepted the job and I'm excited about that because she too is one of my best friends. Then around 8 a new girl is brought into my class and I'm told she'll be the new aide after I leave. Wow again... that was quick. It ended up great through because she is also from SFA and while she was starting in the 2's room, they moved her to my room once they realized I was really quitting.
The day ran pretty smooth and I even took an hour lunch break during my 7am-6pm shift. At the end of the day I went to clock out and the owner pulled me into a meeting. She asked about the job and if I would please stay. I mentioned that I really wanted to take this other job and she asked if it was about money. I said that a just part of it was, and she offered to match what they offered. First up... if she could match that why wouldn't she meet me in the middle when I first started?? The new job pays 13,000 MORE than what I make now. I still turned it down because while the pay is nice, I don't feel supported at that school. I explained that I'm the type of teacher that needs feedback. I need someone to come in and let me know if I'm doing a good job, offer suggestions on how to improve my lesson plans, and give me guidance when I have problems with my students. I don't like being left in my room with the kids without guidance. I want that critical feedback so that I can grow as a teacher and reach my full potential. I mentioned that I've been struggling and I needed more support and the occasional "good job". She said the reason they don't bother me is because they feel that I'm their best teacher and that I can handle it. That is great and all, but that doesn't help me learn. I've been struggling hardcore with this class from the day they switched my kids and the only person to offer any advice is the director. Everyone else just says things like "give it time" and honestly that doesn't help me. All teachers need a little bit of praise here and there... but most of all they need support.
I don't care what I make as long as I can pay my bills and have a bit of wiggle room because when you're happy it doesn't matter as much. I'd rather have a low paying job that I'm excited and happy about rather than a high paying job that causes me major amounts of stress and has a lack of support.
Plus... like I'm really going to go and say "Sure I'll stay..." after my friend has already accepted it?? No. That would cause issues between us and while jobs are very important in life, friendship is more important.
I'm not that kind of person.
Of course after school I talked to my good friend the director and she said that the owner told her that I was quitting because I "don't receive enough praise".... so I think that she didn't quite get what I meant.
I love my class size, I loved my kids, and I loved my coworkers... but the support just wasn't there that I was looking for as a new first year teacher. So for the next two weeks I'll be training my assistant to be a teacher (like she needs it? she is a teacher) and training the new assistant on how to be an assistant.
Lets hope it is there for this next school otherwise I don't know what I'll do.
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