Why Is It So Difficult To Get Rid Of A Teacher??

As I reflect on the number of teachers that are in need of assistance in my building I cannot help but ask why it's so difficult to get rid of an ineffective teacher.  After observing their class and finding areas of concern principals have to collaborate with the teacher to create a plan to help the teacher 'grow'.  Inevitably this plan becomes more work for the principal than the teacher.  Between the documentation and the follow up meetings little time is left for the "good" teachers.  Just like with students, most of our time is spent with the teachers who are making the wrong choices and wrong decisions as they try to educate our students. Now I'm not saying that teachers don't need guidance and shouldn't be allowed to grow and become better; but at what cost.  How much time should ineffective teachers have to damage students?  Students will never get that time back.

Blogger Buzz: Monetize!

Blogger Buzz: Monetize!

What Does It Take To Get A Student In A Behavior Adjustment Class..... Too Long

It's amazing how much documentation is required to get a student in a Behavior Adjustment Class; and in the meantime valuable instruction time in the regular classroom is being lost every day. So much time and energy is spent on the special education student that the average student often gets overlooked. Something has to change..... and soon.

No Spring Break for Me

It's Spring Break week and I'll be spending my time completing staff evaluations instead of relaxing somewhere on the beach. I want to get a jump on it because the next few months are going to be extremely busy with testing, testing, and more testing.

Everything Wasn't Coming Up Roses

I started the day receiving a beautiful pink rose from one student and ended my day being calling a bitch by another student.

Get On The Bus

When is the last time your principal rode the bus home with you? Well I bet a lot of my students never imagined the principal would be riding home with them. Initially I was invited to ride by the bus driver because the students were a little unruly; however, when I got on the bus and took a seat the bus was probably the quietest it has ever been.

Special Needs

This morning the first few hours of my day were spent trying to figure out a plan for a wheelchair bound student who will be returning to school tomorrow after being out ill for several weeks. Unfortunately the illness has limited the student's mobility more than ever. Staff members had to be trained on how to assist the student in the restroom; and a plan was devised to make modifications to the restrooms that will be used. Tomorrow should be very interested.

Staff Development

Tomorrow our staff will receive staff development on Differentiated Instruction. I'm looking forward to some great staff development but my question is this.... will the staff take what they've learned and use it in the classroom? So often the staff participates in effective staff development and then they think of a million reasons why they don't have time to implement the strategies they've learned or the all too famous line... "This won't work with our students." When are we going to stop making excuses and make a change?

Under Arrest

Every day gets crazier and crazier... Today law enforcement came to school to arrest a teacher for outstanding warrants. Luckily they allowed the teacher to pay the fines online and she didn't have to be escorted out of the building in cuffs.

We Hit the Ground Running Before the Announcements

Today started off with a bang and ended with a bang. Three brothers were suspended before they ever entered the building. The resource officer and I had to take the brothers home since mom didn't have a car. After they were dropped off I headed to our district spelling bee to support our campus spelling bee winner. Upon returning I was called down to a classroom because the substitute teacher couldn't handle the class. During dismissal I had to take care of a cell phone issue. Oh... and how could I forget, a parent was arrested during dismissal.. I'm still not sure why.

All In A Day's Work

• Make Announcements
• Go on a Home Visit
  
• Meeting with a teacher, the counselor, and the reading specialist to discuss a student's difficulty with reading. The parent was suppose to be present at the meeting but she was a no show.
• Work on teacher schedules
• Check and respond to 54 emails
• Handle two office referrals

And this was all before noon.

What A Mess!

Today was definitely one of those days I thought about walking out the front door. I had to chase a student that ran out of the classroom. When the student finally made it to my office she knocked everything off my desk, and bit me when I tried to stop her. I don't remember seeing any of this in my job description. All I can say is What a day!!!

How To Maintain Professionalism.... It's really hard sometimes.

When teachers don't do what's best for our children it is not only frustrating, but it makes it so difficult to maintain a professional relationship with those teachers. The education profession is challenging every single day; and if you're not up for the challenge then you are in the wrong profession.

If I Get One More Parent Call or Email I'm Going To Scream!

I've received more parent calls and emails in the last 5 weeks than I'd care to count. Some parents are upset because of something their child has shared with them. Unfortunately they don't have all of the information. In other cases, the teachers are dropping the ball. As the principal, I'm only going to support teachers if they are supportable.

Can I Make It Until The End of The Year?

Yesterday was, by far, the strangest day I've ever had a principal. I had a teacher not show up for work. She didn't call in and when we tried to reach her we were unable to do so. She was truly MIA.

Maybe I Should Have Stayed In My Office

As I conducted walk-throughs this afternoon I started wishing I should have stayed in my office. One of the classrooms was out of control. It took everything I had not to just take over. Another classroom was filled with so much negativity. I walked away wondering what could be done to help these teachers.

The Circus Juggler

I felt like a juggler in the circus today. I was juggling ARD meetings and office referrals all day. I definitely earned my pay today.

Dallas Student Inspires Teachers

Special Education Students

Everyday I become increasingly curious as to why some teachers have such low expectations of our special education students. Do they not realize that special education students can learn. They just learn differently. LD does not stand for Lower D expectations.

Data Drives Decision

Today was a good day. I conducted 5 classroom walk-throughs and one 45 minute observation. I also facilitated a lead teacher meeting after school. My meeting agenda included student data, goal setting, and special education students.

Every decision we make for our students should be based on data. We should be constantly collecting data and discussing better/different ways to reach our struggling students. We should also remember to have high expectations for all students; including special education students.