Let's Get Real

Realistic points of view from a candid teacher.

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What Happened to Our Jobs, San Diego Unified?

Well, it is the day after San Diego Unified started school and here I am with no job to speak of. Last weekend a few of us “jobless” got together to complain. I mentioned how something must have gone wrong between our credential program and the district because NO ONE had gotten hired over the summer by San Diego Unified. It is odd because our credential program with San Diego State was in a “partnership” with San Diego Unified.

The only people to get jobs in the district were given contracts back in February when our program and the district set up early interviews with student teachers at San Diego State. The interviews were meant to get us pre-approved to work in the district. A few people were also offered contracts. A contract meant that they would be guaranteed a teaching job in the district if they sign it. All of this was because of the small shortage of teachers San Diego Unified had in the beginning of the last school year and they did not want a repeat.

In May, our block leader told us that the district got in a lot of trouble for doing that. In fact, the main people in charge of putting it together were fired. That was all we were told. My guess is the Teachers Union got word of all this and deemed in violation of something. You see, like I have explained before, there is a priority/hierarchy system of hiring. Basically, student teachers/newly credentialed teachers are at the bottom and do not get considered for jobs or hired until all other teachers have been.

So, last weekend, I mentioned my thoughts about something going wrong and one of the girls turns to me and says rather matter-of-fact like, “Yeah, something did happen.” That is when she explained that the early interviewing back in February screwed us over. Apparently, everyone was fired and not just the top people. So everyone that had interviewed us and sent us approval emails had been let go. On top of that the district implemented a new job application website to apply to the district. None of our interviews/information had been transferred into this new system. In fact, our information went “missing” altogether.  When contacting Human Resources they claimed to have no idea about the interviews...

Basically, the district purposely lost our interviews and information from February because they made a HUGE mistake and the Union found out. However, our program was never told this and our block leader never mentioned it. Luckily, in late July, someone had posted on our Facebook group, that they had been recently instructed to apply to the online job pool because it was new. I believe most everyone did. But at that time it was late July and by the 1st week of August there were no more jobs.

So much for a partnership with the district we all student taught in. I could made plans to move back home and find a job up North. But stupid me, I believed there really was a teacher shortage in San Diego. Now, we wait for a teaching job that may never come this year. Our last hope is that within the month enrollment numbers will require new classes to be made and more jobs to open up.

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San Diego’s Teacher Shortage is Fixed? 2016-2017

At the start of the 2015 school year, my credential class kept hearing glorious news that San Diego was going through a teach shortage. All throughout the year we were being told by our block leader, Cathy, that we would have no trouble at all getting hired.

Fast forward to the end of such a stressful and exhausting year, and my class is all graduating with our multiple subject teaching credentials in hand. Oh, the joy! We were finally done, and could not wait to start working in California’s second largest school district that we student taught in for a year.

First red flag. Cathy, brought in a panel of last years students to talk to us about jobs. At this point (May) we had already been sending in applications to districts. The girls told us about how they got hired super fast in July. However, Cathy had set most of them up with a job and they really did not have to lift a finger. They told us to watch out for interviews and calls around mid-late July. That surprised me, July? Why so late? I would think districts would hire at the beginning of summer?

That is when we were told the district hires everyone else before they ask newly credentialed teachers. That means fired, let go, retired but coming back, quit, or new to the district but has experience, all get first dibs on jobs. Also, the way it works is the district acts as your “agent.” When principles need a teacher they contact the district and the district contacts their “pool” of applicants. So, we waited. I actually went back home (Northern CA) for most of the summer. I will admit, it was frustrating because the Bay Area was hiring anyone and everyone, but I was told I would have a job in San Diego.

Second red flag. July came and went and there was no contact from any district. Mind you I was not very diligent about contacting them because the rest of my class had not heard anything either. Then, at the end of July, Cathy sent out an email stating San Diego Unified would start hiring again in mid-late August. WAIT WHAT?!?! Of course, Cathy was out of the loop, and unaware that most of the class had not even heard from the district at all.

Third red flag. Mid August has come and is leaving. Traditional schools are starting and year-round schools start Aug. 29th (in one week!) yet, about 20 of us still have not gotten a call. This begs the question, WHERE IS THAT TEACHER SHORTAGE you all were squawking about just five months ago!?!?!

Fourth red flag. Inevitably, I called the districts to see what was going on. I had actually heard from others that they had stopped interviewing. As it turned out, San Diego Unified filled all positions FOUR WEEKS AGO! They had no jobs. I called other districts, they too had no jobs. Our only hope for a job now falls down to enrollment. The districts run class size and grade enrollment after school starts to see if extra teachers/classes are needed at a school.

At this point, I am furious! Throughout the year we were basically promised, even from our Dean and Dean of Education, that we would be getting hired this year. I held out for San Diego over going back home and getting one, for a job that will never be this year. I was so excited to have my own class, I bought so much for it already and now it will just take up space and collect dust. I worked so hard last year, in what is to be considered an accelerated and difficult credential program for nothing. I student taught in San Diego Unified and that seemed to be worthless.

Here I am, defeated and screwed over by the college education system once again. My chances of getting a teaching job are slim. I have no idea what this year will hold for me. I have applied to Northern CA, but I fear it is too late as school started up there almost two weeks ago. Such as the others in my graduating class, I am a credentialed teacher fresh out of school, educated on Common Core and technology, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but with no job.

As for that teacher shortage, it apparently got fixed within the last five months. San Diego State University has offered us no help and we have been dropped like hot potatoes upon graduating.

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Let’s Try It! -Pinterest

Ever see an amazing DIY (Do It Yourself) or craft on Pinterest.com and save it to your board to maybe try it out one day or just envy it instead? Well, I consider myself a crafty person and I have always loved art and creating things. So, naturally if I see a project on Pinterest and it looks simple/doable and somewhat cheap, I go for it. Check out my other Try It Outs! 

Melted Crayon Art

This is a popular Pinterest.com craft. It is called Melted Crayon Art and it is pretty self explanatory. I have loved this idea the day I first saw a zillion pictures on Pinterest. It is simple and I love colorful things.

Here is how you do it. Buy a box of crayons, I bought Crayola 64 count, and hot glue them down on framed canvas in any shape. I have seen heart shapes, chevrons, stars, and some people use black silhouettes. You can also just hold and melt the crayon above the canvas and let it make pretty splotches of color. I actually tried that, it was hard and I realized it would be very time consuming that way, even though I liked the effect better. Once the crayons are glued down, use a hair dryer and blow hot air on the crayons. Within minutes they begin to melt and drip.

The first time I tried this, I put the canvas in my bathtub and figured it would be any easy clean up if I controlled the hot air and melting...I was wrong. In the end, it looked like a unicorn had diarrhea in my tub and it was a very time consuming clean up. Lesson learned. The second time I did this craft, I laid newspaper down in the tub and it was a lot easier.

This picture is my first attempt and I gave it as a gift to my guide teacher for her classroom. I wanted to add the woodblock words to make it more creative and inspirational and I cut out some card stock butterflies as well. My second attempt is very similar and is pictured in an earlier post.

I really liked doing this craft! It was fun and easy and it comes out so colorful! It will look great as classroom decor and the students will find it creatively inspiring.

Supplies:

Framed Canvas (Black or White or painted)

Crayons

Hot Glue

Newspaper

Woodblock Words (Optional)

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Students started requesting drawings. My favorite was a polar bear drink coffee and reading the newspaper. :)

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Oil Painting of the family cats.

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Myths About Teaching

I realized at the beginning of last year, when I was starting my credential program, that people outside of the teaching circle have no idea what you are talking about. The only people I could talk candidly to were my gurls in the program and my guide teachers. No one understood.

So you are thinking how hard is it too understand teaching? Believe me, there is so much I try to explain to people and THEY JUST DON’T GET IT! It was just recently that I realized people do not understand a teacher’s life because there are so many misconceptions and myths about being a teacher.

Myth #1: Teachers have great hours, 8am-3pm.

Yeah, uh...no. My day starts at 5am and if there are no staff meetings after work I can usually get home by 4pm. However, teachers will be flagged down by parents, other teachers/staff, and even students after school. Then at home and “off the clock” there are papers to grade, lessons to plans, or materials to organize.

Myth #2: Teachers get Spring, Summer, and Winter breaks.

Well, yes, but we DON’T GET PAID! Many teachers take on a second part-time job on breaks, full-time jobs during summer, and even part-time jobs in the evening. I remember my high school English Teacher was moonlighting as a bar tender and we all thought it was the coolest thing.

Myth #3: Teachers get a half-day every week.

No. The students get the half-day every week. The teachers get staff meetings or planning time where they are stuck at school until 3pm. Oh yeah, and its nice that school provides lunchtime to the students on these half-days but the teachers then have to patrol the cafeteria and it just takes more time out of our day. When I was kid we did not stay for a lunch on half-days, we just went home. There should be an after-school optional lunch hour for students who’s parents work or usually buy lunch.

Myth #4: Teachers get reimbursed and/or the school provides all the materials.

Not that I know of... Schools will supply basic office supplies. It depends on the school of course. But many do not supply much at all for their teachers. Most teachers purchase all of their materials using their own money, such as posters, rugs, chart boards, decor, and even some furniture. There’s no reimbursement but it is tax deductible. I cannot tell you how many times someone thinks the school will supply something and I look at them and go, “Are you kidding?”

Myth #5: Teachers teach from behind the desk.

My dad seems to believe this one. That teachers are sedentary. Yeah, I guess I got my plantar fasciitis this year by just sitting in the chair... Teachers are always on their feet! Actually, if your just sitting around instead of moving about the classroom, unless your physically unable, I would have question your methods. Teachers need/have to be moving. Have you ever tried just sitting in a chair and monitoring a room full of 6 year old students when learning something new? You cannot.

Myth #6: Teachers are naturally happy and positive people.

Teachers are stretched thin. And with adults, I have very little patience. After monitoring a room full of children, I do not want to deal with adults that act like children or make my students look like total geniuses. And teachers drink... a lot...that’s got to tell you something. I call it “putting on my teacher hat.” Naturally, I am a very sarcastic person. But students do not understand sarcasm and they just think you are being mean. So, in a way I have to portray a non-judgemental, un-biased, and positive personality because when they are in my classroom I need to create that safe zone where everyone is equal and comfortable.

Myth #7: Teachers love all their students equally.

I wish I could say this is true, but the reality is, its just not. Any teacher that says otherwise is flat out lying to you. Teachers have favorites and they also have those (LSHs) Little Shit Head syndrome, as some teachers referred to them when I was student teaching.

Myth #8: Teachers get a lot of help from classroom volunteers.

The days of stay-at-home-moms that get involved in their kid’s school are gone. In these times, both parents work. In fact you are lucky if parents even show up for conferences and back to school night! Back in the day, my elementary school used to require parents to volunteer a certain amount of hours every year, otherwise they would get fined or kicked out. Sometimes there is the token parent that likes to come in once or twice a week and help out for an hour. My personal favorite is the parent that says they are coming and then flakes.

Myth #9: Teachers are married with children.

I cannot tell you how many times parents, students, and staff ask if I am married or if I have kids! Then it seems that all the other teachers are married and have kids and I am the only single teacher. Its weird...I do not like it. Sometimes I feel like my grandma is standing in front of me giving me a judgemental look, while her thought bubble reads, “Why don’t you have kids yet?!?!” And how about the parents that go, “Well, you don’t have kids, you wouldn’t understand.” Right, because the 25 in my classroom everyday do not count for anything.

Myth #10: Teachers write detailed lesson plans and teach their own material.

Districts, especially large districts supply teachers with the curriculum. We do not just decide what we would like to teach students. It is called State Standard Curriculum and we have to follow that too. Sometimes, we wish we could make those over-the-top lesson plans we did for student teaching because what the district gives us is usually created by people that have not stepped foot in a elementary classroom for 20+ years or know anything about teaching.

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Candy Bean playing with some string!

@FriscoLuvsCandy on Instagram

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Oil painting of Willits the one and only family dog. He was such a good boy!

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Color-changing neon POWER tunnel at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

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If you don't love cats, then I think you're crazy!

Self

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I know how important Bloom’s Taxonomy is and Higher Order Thinking, but how much really are teachers using it? It is not like we are constantly running to our Bloom’s reference during a lesson in order to spew out a bunch of HOT words that will just confuse the students. Then I love how the students should be repeating these terms in their learning... sure.

I feel as teachers, we already ask a lot of these questions in general when gauging if a student is learning anyways.

-My Bloom’s Taxonomy flip-book from student teaching.

[getrealteaching-blog]

I luuuuuv my kitties...if you haven’t noticed. :) Here’s an oil painting I did of Mr. Frisk.

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From Katz Collection: Frisco-Flea! He is our big fluffy chill dude.

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Let’s Try It! -Pinterest

Ever see an amazing DIY (Do It Yourself) or craft on Pinterest.com and save it to your board to maybe try it out one day or just envy it instead? Well, I consider myself a crafty person and I have always loved art and creating things. So, naturally if I see a project on Pinterest and it looks simple/doable and somewhat cheap, I go for it. Check out my other Try It Outs!

Baking Sheet Student Account

I saw this and thought I had to do it! When summer came around I went to Walmart and Michael’s and bought all the supplies (listed below). It was such a cute and simple idea. It really is great to keep account of which students are where. The downside I realized after creating it was that you would have to be very diligent about the students using it when going in and out of class. That can be real challenge. Students tend to become flippant about taking hall passes and even putting them back. And that is if they are used to taking passes. A lot of teachers just have them ask and go.

This picture is the one I created and the glittering on the back of the glass took the most time and was frustrating and messy. However, it turned out really cute. Would I recommend this DIY to a fellow teacher? NO. I think in the end I wont even use it. It would end up being ignored and I would get tired of reminding my students to use it. Just take a pass.

Supplies:

Baking sheet/ cookie sheet (MAGNETIC!)

Patterned Duct Tape (Owls)

Washi Tape (Green polka dot)

Flat Glass Marbles or Vase Gems

Magnetic Tape (Back of marbles)

Glass Paint Pen

Hot Glue

Wooden Letters (Optional)

Glitter (Optional)

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From my Katz collection. This is my princess Candy.

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No one understands being a teacher more than a fellow teacher.

Self

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Back when I was into Anime I started drawing my cats as people. I named it my Katz Collection. I will post more with time.