Teaching - my job

[paris]

Some of you may remember my frustration with my job. They had asked me in March to only work 2 or 3 days next school year. We did not receive our new contracts before school ended in May. Today I received a certified letter from my school stating that they are not renewing my contract. 18 years ---- I have taught there 18 years. Every evaluation has been highest marks. It is a private school and my classes fill first because I have parents requesting my class.  My husband if furious - he keeps saying that it is illegal and they can't do this. But, they have and now my life has changed even more. I feel like I have no control over anything.  I did start paperwork for disability, but don't know if I will be accepted. That process takes 4 to 6 months.  I love my job -- love the students --love the staff. But, I missed too much work and they say that puts too much of a burden on other teachers.  Haven't they heard of the American Disability Act??  I feel numb and would love to be on a mountain top and scream. No work - no paycheck -- what else?  It is a slippery slide down hill with kidney failure.    This is how I feel right now!!!






EDITED: Fixed smiley. okarol/moderator

[st789]

After 18 long yrs.

Gratitude??  ADA please.

[kitkatz]

I would get a hold of a lawyer and go down fighting like mad.  If you are not a dnager to the kids or to yourself then you cannot be let go without reason.

[st789]

Agree with Kitkatz.

[Sara]

That is horrible!  You have GOT to fight this.  Talk to a lawyer.  I'm sure the media would like to hear about this.   

[paris]

My family is furious and wants to take action. I don't have any fight left in me and can't deal with being upset 24/7.  I just feel like the whole world is out of kilter and nothing is going in the right direction.  I have had some calls from parents already.  Their support has helped.  It is definately a hard time in my life (like kidney failure isn't enough?).  Thanks for listening!!!!!!

[glitter]

I really hope you get a lawyer- that is such crap.

[tweetykiss]

My family is furious and wants to take action. I don't have any fight left in me and can't deal with being upset 24/7.  I just feel like the whole world is out of kilter and nothing is going in the right direction.  I have had some calls from parents already.  Their support has helped.  It is definately a hard time in my life (like kidney failure isn't enough?).  Thanks for listening!!!!!!

Parents like you and that is what is important....you are a great teacher and they have no buzwa doing this to you....I would get a lawyer and hit them hard on the head....

[tamara]

Paris, you Go Girl,  Here's an extra pair of hands for Ya!

Take Care xxx ooo Don't Let them Get You Down!

[Rerun]

Paris you hire a lawyer to fight for you.  I know you will be upset, but down the road when you have the strength to fight it will be too late.  Immediacy that is the key.

[Bajanne]

I totally understand what you are going through, since I am in the same position.  I will discuss my situation in another thread.

[Jaybird]

Wow, thats harsh.

Fight it baby! Fight it.

That makes me sick to hear that. I am right in the middle of school to become a teacher also. I would hate to get the job and rely on it, then some crap like that happen.

You should fight it, and also focus on your disability. If your Job fired you because of your disability, you will qualify for unemployability and be able to get social security or somekinda government check for that.

Keep us posted on what happens.
 
-Jaybird

[okarol]

Regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act - info here http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

It appears that "undue hardship" on the employer may be their rationalization for termination, but weren't they hiring substitutes while you were out, and reducing your pay if you missed work? How did it burden the other teachers?

Here's some Q & A's from the website, more info at that link above.

Good luck Paris, I would demand a review of the termination if it were me.

-------------------------------

Q. What are the limitations on the obligation to make a reasonable accommodation?

A. The individual with a disability requiring the accommodation must be otherwise qualified, and the disability must be known to the employer. In addition, an employer is not required to make an accommodation if it would impose an "undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business. "Undue hardship" is defined as an "action requiring significant difficulty or expense" when considered in light of a number of factors. These factors include the nature and cost of the accommodation in relation to the size, resources, nature, and structure of the employer's operation. Undue hardship is determined on a case-by-case basis. Where the facility making the accommodation is part of a larger entity, the structure and overall resources of the larger organization would be considered, as well as the financial and administrative relationship of the facility to the larger organization. In general, a larger employer with greater resources would be expected to make accommodations requiring greater effort or expense than would be required of a smaller employer with fewer resources.

If a particular accommodation would be an undue hardship, the employer must try to identify another accommodation that will not pose such a hardship. Also, if the cost of an accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer, the individual with a disability should be given the option of paying that portion of the cost which would constitute an undue hardship or providing the accommodation.

Q. Can an employer maintain existing production/performance standards for an employee with a disability?

A. An employer can hold employees with disabilities to the same standards of production/performance as other similarly situated employees without disabilities for performing essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation. An employer also can hold employees with disabilities to the same standards of production/performance as other employees regarding marginal functions unless the disability affects the person's ability to perform those marginal functions. If the ability to perform marginal functions is affected by the disability, the employer must provide some type of reasonable accommodation such as job restructuring but may not exclude an individual with a disability who is satisfactorily performing a jobs essential functions.

[paris]

It all goes back to teachers being on contracts.  They are renewed every year and it is stated that both the employer and employee have a right to give 30 days notice.  Now that being said, I have been at the same school since it's beginning. I was on the board before I started teaching there. I had pay subtracted from my check for each day missed over my allowed time.  My family is so upset - I need to find some peace with all of this. I can't stand being upset and angry.  Looking back, I can see where they were setting me up for this. We always get our contracts in April. This year we didn't have them when school ended because " the lawyer was looking over the contracts and rewriting some points".  No - they didn't want to give the other teachers their contracts and not me --they were cowards and would rather send me a letter after school was out.   What a crappy spring is has been - sister in law died from breast cancer, my letter from school and then my son and his wife of 13 years are seperating. We all thought they were the golden couple. Too much for my mind to absorb -- and the doctor keeps reminding me that stress doesn't help my situation. Are you kidding?    I keep trying to be positive, but it is a little hard right now.   Sorry for all the complaining!!

[st789]

Yep, stress can be hard on us.

Take care.

[kitkatz]

I am lucky that my district gives tenure and I would need a pretty rotten write up for them to begin the procedure to let me go .  Also ADA has some protections. I would definitely look into it and the Family Leave Act.  I say get a lawyer and bite some toes!

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Hope youget this sorted  Paris. How can they be so rotten to you after allthose years of service? It sounds to me that the American disability act is is just a lot of hot air and allows too much discretion to the employer. Are you in any kind of teachers union and if so what are they doing about it?

[paris]

Well, just to make the situation better --- the school is a private Christian school!!!  Most of the families are doctors, professional athletes, coporate executives.  This is contected with the church that I have been a member at for 23 years. Been on every committee, council board, fundraiser, counselor - you name it, our family has done it. Now, how do I walk in there knowing people there voted to not renew my contract? Of course, the school board is made up of mostly new members who don't know me personally --- still -- I am having a problem with the "Christian" part!     Just want this all to go away!

[st789]

They should give you tenure like Kitkatz has now consider that you were there for 18 yrs.

[twirl]

Well, just to make the situation better --- the school is a private Christian school!!!  Most of the families are doctors, professional athletes, coporate executives.  This is contected with the church that I have been a member at for 23 years. Been on every committee, council board, fundraiser, counselor - you name it, our family has done it. Now, how do I walk in there knowing people there voted to not renew my contract? Of course, the school board is made up of mostly new members who don't know me personally --- still -- I am having a problem with the "Christian" part!     Just want this all to go away!

reading this old thread and wondering what the heck happened
as a teacher and a fellow kidney paient I would like to know