To Resign, or Not to Resign

Dear Members:

• We are getting close to non-reelect time unfortunately. The principal will encourage a person to resign for their own good. Job applications now require an answer to the question if you have ever resigned from a position or been non-reelected. Being untruthful on a job app is grounds for termination. Districts encourage employees to resign to avoid high unemployment insurance premiums, however. They’re not out for your best interest. They’re out for their bottom-line. So, if you’re non-reelected, you can collect unemployment. If you resign, you cannot.

• Non-reelects used to be a dark stain on a person’s record but in today’s world, school districts are willing to take flyers on people and try them out for a couple years due to the teaching shortage. Districts are no longer living in the dark ages like the rest of us. We are all more tolerant nowadays and aware that some employees have personality conflicts with their bosses through no fault of their own.

• Bottom line, it’s your call to resign or be non-reelected.

• If you are non-reelected or receive a poor evaluation, I would take your supervisor’s opinion (which is what it is actually) with a grain of salt. Do I process it? Yes, any good teacher will try to improve and appreciate feedback. But, remember, it’s their opinion of a snapshot of your classroom. Only YOU know what you do in your classroom. And not to be too hard on admin, but frankly, ANYONE can get an administrative degree. I just prefer to make a difference in the classroom.

• Whether you resign or non-reelected, there really is nothing the union can do about it UNLESS the supervisor explains to you why you’re being non-reelected. Principals are trained to say nothing about the rationale except that “You’re being non-reelected.” If they do say something else, then we have something to fight, possibly. In ten years, I’ve never been able to fight a non-reelect.

• I’ve attached an image regarding MUSD employee statistics. It’s pretty interesting I think, but it shows we’re pretty average compared to the county and state. What stands out tho is the teacher numbers that are 50 and over. The teaching shortage is here and here to stay. Thank God for all you young folks! That’s why I said districts are willing to take a flyer on you. If you’re breathing and standing upright, you can practically get hired somewhere. Click here for the link to that website.