RIF'd Teachers: Tell Us Your Story
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 21:27.
[Note: We've moved postings commenting about the RIF to a previous post. Let's try and keep this one to ONLY stories from those who have been RIF'd. Please post commentaries elsewhere. This is a life-changing development, and we really need to give these folks somewhere to tell us their story.]
Teachers: Who Have We Lost?
To the administration, you may simply be numbers to be corrected.
To your students, you may be the teacher who was there when your parents went through school.
So we think it is extremely fair to try and put faces with names.
We'd ask you to "take the high road" on this one. Though it's your job and career, we'd like to ask that this thread be kept positive.
What we mean is that there are plenty of other places on this blog to vent--so lets not bash the administration here. You can do that in another thread if you're so inclined.
We'd like to show our readers who, and what, we're losing; and how fiscal irresponsibility impacts our most precious assets.
So, please, tell us your story.
Here's what we'd like to know:
- How long have you been with the District?
- Have you been a teacher at another District?
- What grade levels have you taught, in what part of Dallas, and what subjects?
- Do you have a family? How does this affect them?
- What do you view as your greatest accomplishment during your time with the District?
- What is the most memorable experience you've had since being with the District?
- What will you miss the most about contributing to the District?
- If you could offer one piece of constructive advice to the Superintendent and the Board, what would it be?
- What's next for you? If you have another teaching opportunity in the District, would you take it?
Click on "Add new comment" below and tell us your story (you'll need to create an account if you don't have one).
If, for some reason, you have problems creating an account, then use this link and we'll help you out.
Riffed
Mother of two
Riffed and told to get my purse and leave, told to come back next day at 1:00 after kids were gone
Was not allowed to tell students goodbye and this made it even more difficult for me
Felt very humiliated and degraded
Went to Alliance and got absolutely no advice, answers, directives, nothing
Know this was a personal RIF due to unfair, unprofessional, hateful, nasty principal who chose to make my life a living heck from the first day I was at the school( now I feel blackballed and wonder if I will be able to get another job)After teaching for over ten years in Dallas, I never had an evaluation like this person gave me. The overall score was proficient but there were 2 domains that were marked below expectations. I have never had anyone principal give me a low evaluation. This was a personal thing that I had to put up with all last year. I tried to get another job this summer and did not find one. Could this principal be giving a bad report on me? Why is it that all the previous years do not matter and one nasty principal can ruin my career? What should I do?
I am very disgusted about so many things that have happened recently. I had many enjoyable years in the district up until last year.
Any advise from anyone would be appreciated. I am a certified teacher who has always loved teaching and always received a good evaluation before meeting this nasty principal.
Thanks for listening. This is my first time to comment on this website.
New Vacancies on DISD Website
Hi Dallas Citizens,
Did you see me on television at the DISD/Texas Workforce Commission Job Fair on Tuesday? Gee, I didn't know my own district was hiring. How did I miss their booth? Oh, DISD did not have a booth you say.
Well, according to the DISD website, the "Job" link, DISD has many teaching vacancies, ranging from kindergarten to high school science. Maybe more people resigned after being reassigned or could it be they just didn't count properly again.
Well, guess the employees handling the RIF were products of the "new math" programs around in the 60's and 70's.
Job Fair
I cannot believe that there are all these available jobs and we had to be riffed. There were no jobs at the job fair for teachers. I handed out my resume, transcript, and copy of my teaching certificate to many districts even those too far away. I was told the same thing by everyone which was to fill out an application on-line.
I was under the impression that there would be jobs available and hiring would take place. Was this all for show to make DISD look good to the media? I felt it was another way to frustrate already frustrated people. Then I heard Hinojosa made an appearance after I had already left. I am glad I was not there because it would have infuriated me to see the man.
I took new math in school and I know how to manage a budget
Don't blame the school, as I was told in an ARD conference. It is a simple case of being asleep at the wheel, while driving under the influence of evil, malicious, incompetence. They are just too stupid to comprehend any math or logic, but they did SOMETHING to get the job to jack the taxpayer. Hmmm.. what could that be? Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place, but I am sorry for all the suffering RIFFED teachers need to go through and I just wanted to note it is not about "new Math" but good ol' politics.
Student Letters
I am a speech-language therapist and today when I got my school after lunch, several teachers and students all over the school were crying. I went to grab a couple of 4th graders out of class for their language therapy and both of their teachers were being RIF'ed. These two kids were so upset that they could not concentrate on the grammar lesson that I was trying to conduct. They only wanted to talk about their teachers and how sad they were. They didn't understand why this was happening to their beloved teachers and it was heartbreaking to listen to them. I decided to change the lesson plan and work the grammar lesson into writing letters to their teachers. That way, they could express how they were feeling (and work on grammar at the same time). As I was reading the letters, I couldn't keep from crying. I made copies of them and then they gave them to their teachers.
Here is one from a 4th grade girl:
Dear Ms. *******,
I am so sad because you are going away. I didn't think that this was going to happen, so I am going to give you this letter because I feel bad. I wish you could stay. Thank you for teaching me how to read well. This is a song I wrote for you:
You went away and you never came back.
You've been on my mind every single day,
All I do is miss you and wish that you could stay.
You've been on my mind every single day,
I wish that you could be my teacher again.
I miss you, I love you as a friend.
You've been on my mind every single day.
From your friend,
******
This is from a 4th grade boy to another teacher:
Dear Mrs. ******
I really do not want you to leave, but you have no choice. I loved the time when we all did the report that I did on bats. I used to hate science, but thanks to you, I love it. I also had horrible handwriting, but thanks to you, it is better than before. I love you because you are nice and funny. You are nice because you teach me the things I have been dying to learn. You are funny because you say you are not trying to make funny comments. Good luck in the future. I love you, Mrs. *******.
P.S. I hope I put enough details
Bye. I love you and I will miss you
Love your one and only,
****
SLP
Thank you for sharing your story. I hope others will follow. What a wonderful gift the students can give to these teachers. My 7th grader at Hill lost his Lang. Arts and Math teachers. They were both wonderful, refreshing & energetic. Due to being new this year, they too were riffed. My 11th grader also lost a teacher. I'm very disappointed in those on Ross Ave, who have caused these teachers careers. Possibly, they too, will SOON feel what they are going thru, especially Olsen and her team.
Getting RIF'd
DISD product.
Fifteen years in the classroom.
Thirteen years coaching.
Took in a homeless student, gave her my last name, put her on my insurance, secured her residency status, put her through college.
Paid college expenses for numerous former students.(Still proofread their college papers)
Recruited by the district to go into administration.
Paid for my Masters.
Spent the last two months on my first job as an assistant principal.
Getting RIF'd this week.
No opportunity to go back to the classroom.
No prospect of a job.
I'll be at work tomorrow with a smile on my face, encouraging words for the faculty, and the task of tying up multiple loose ends before leaving.
I wish my friends and colleagues the best of luck in turning this thing around. Have faith in one another. IT CAN BE DONE!
I have been riffed
I have taught for the district for 33 years. I am a Master Reading teacher. I love watching little students that are having problems reading to all of the sudden realize that they can read. It has been a wonderful experience. I will miss working with my elementary school students. I would never have retired at this time. I have a husband that is handicapped so I am the breadwinner in my family. I have enjoyed working at my school and with my parents. Two days before I signed my RIF papers my mom died so this has been a very difficult time for me. Our school is in a big turmoil about this. Thank you for your support on this line.
RIF'd for being Outspoken
This comment has been moved here.