Folks, I don't often comment about my work life on my blog because, well...on a scale of 1 to 10, I love my job about an 11. Good curriculum, ideal schedule, students who have become family. Therefore, the recent turn in events at school has really put me in a funk.
I share a room with my teacher-twin Lindsey. We teach the same thing, but to different grade levels. We alternate teaching in room 116 depending on our class schedules. So you can imagine my hesitation when I learned that Lindsey would be out on maternity leave from November through March.
Enter Mr. Orange, her long-term sub (name changed for his confidentiality and my amusement). When we initially met Mr. Orange he was professional, capable, and good with the kids. If only we had known that Mr. Hyde was in there somewhere...
Since November, things have been in a gradual downward spiral.
- Mr. Orange did not show up for work on 3 occasions and I had to make last minute sub plans for him
- Mr. Orange will not read his school email for fear of being held responsible
- Mr. Orange raised his voice to the Assistant Principal
- Mr. Orange told the Dean of Students that if she tried to observe him again he would quit
- Mr. Orange passed off his duties onto me without telling me
- Mr. Orange will not follow sub plans and had his students paint instead of read
- Mr. Orange refused to do important requirements of his job until he was caught
And best of all!...
- Mr. Orange followed me down the hall on Monday and verbally assaulted me in front of students and teachers for no reason.
I have filed a grievance, but the school is not able to do anything about him. There are procedures to follow. He gets a meeting with the Dean and another warning and a letter of reprimand. I get to share a room with him.
So, room 116, my home, has become the child of divorced parents. I have custody in the mornings, and Mr. Orange has custody in the afternoons. I pack up all my things after lunch and never return.
When I take a moment to reflect, I realize that this experience has taught me so much:
- I need to focus on my locus of control.
- I am lucky to have so many other "homes" open to me throughout the school.
- I still love my job, even under insane circumstances.
Feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome in your home is all encompassing. It changes how you think about your day and how you treat people you come into contact with. Room 116 is my home. It's where I keep my pictures, my candy drawer, and five million stacks of random papers on my desk.
If I am all bent out of shape about "losing" my classroom, imagine what it is like for students who don't have a real home to welcome them. I know now that I must make my classroom a stable, friendly and safe place - it might be the only one some kids see. And it matters.
I also know now that I'm strong. I'm a survivor. (cue Destiny's Child).
I had to travel around rooms my second year because all I was given was a tiny office to share with the 2 other special educators. I did not get along well with one of them, so I would just hang out in other classrooms all day, so I know the feeling. :(
ReplyDelete