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Post by Merge on Aug 3, 2023 1:29:48 GMT
Update: I’m still employed! Haha. I ended up emailing the AP, who apparently forwarded the message to the principal, who then called me. All is well. What I’ve learned is that this guy doesn’t respond to email and to call/text instead. I don’t like to use someone’s personal cell unless I’ve been given permission, and now I have, so that’s good.
Thanks peas!
******
I’m going to vent here because I can’t do it in my real life. I left my old school last spring and was hired for a part-time music job at my neighborhood school. Very exciting. I’m thrilled. I received and accepted an offer letter and have a contract.
But the principal, since then, has completely ignored me. I’ve emailed twice over the summer with questions (principals work 12 months) and got no response. And I got no “back to school” email from him, which I would have expected last week.
I finally messaged a teacher at the school who I met by coincidence in an online group and asked if she’d heard anything from him. She said yes, and forwarded the “welcome back” email he sent the staff last week. I was left off the email list AND the list of new to the school teachers highlighted in the email.
I’m beginning to wonder if I still have a job there, kind of. It’s the strangest thing.
I just emailed him again and was like, haha, please include me on future emails so I know what’s going on. I have specific and urgent questions about the district PD schedule for the first two weeks. I’m only being paid at .4 FTE so I need to know which days I should attend. Certainly not attending extra days for no pay. Haven’t heard anything back yet.
So weird and starts the year off on such a bad vibe for me.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,408 
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Post by RosieKat on Aug 3, 2023 1:41:08 GMT
I"m sure it's just that somebody messed up the email list, but yeah, I'd be disturbed and wanting answers ASAP.
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Post by gizzy on Aug 3, 2023 1:58:30 GMT
That's strange that you've been left off of the new teacher hires and the email chain. That would make me nervous. I hope you hear back from him tomorrow.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 3, 2023 2:16:49 GMT
I’ll validate you!
IIRC, you live very close to the school. I’d probably pop in one day and ask some questions. It could be that the principal has been on holiday or another staff member typically handles the ins and outs of a new hire.
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Post by worrywart on Aug 3, 2023 2:32:01 GMT
That is pretty unprofessional but hopefully you can get it straightened out asap. I'm glad that you at least have gotten to know someone there who can keep you partially up to date in the meantime!
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Post by MissBianca on Aug 3, 2023 3:03:13 GMT
Can you email the principal and cc the superintendent and/or the school secretary? Even if it’s just a hey, making sure someone sees my email and it’s not going to junk. And you should have a school issued email address by now right?
We have a guidance counselor who is horrendous about communication and he is never in his office. I have begged DD to let me switch but she won’t so if I email the guidance counselor and I don’t hear back in 3 days I email again and CC the head of the guidance dept and magically the GC responds that day.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 3, 2023 3:19:52 GMT
That would really freak me out. I hope you can get it all sorted quickly!
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Post by Darcy Collins on Aug 3, 2023 4:01:23 GMT
Best of luck, definitely would make me wonder!
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Aug 3, 2023 4:27:05 GMT
That's...weird. I think I'd pop in for a face-to-face meeting.
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Post by Merge on Aug 3, 2023 4:46:28 GMT
Can you email the principal and cc the superintendent and/or the school secretary? Even if it’s just a hey, making sure someone sees my email and it’s not going to junk. And you should have a school issued email address by now right? We have a guidance counselor who is horrendous about communication and he is never in his office. I have begged DD to let me switch but she won’t so if I email the guidance counselor and I don’t hear back in 3 days I email again and CC the head of the guidance dept and magically the GC responds that day. Thanks, it’s a huge, urban district and I just transferred between schools within the district. There really isn’t any way to email someone above his head. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 3, 2023 4:59:59 GMT
Thanks for validating me, all! This is all made more difficult by the fact that I’m in Australia currently, so phone calls at the right time are difficult. And I won’t be able to go up there face to face until the Friday before we’re supposed to report on Monday.
I’m sure the chaos in the district brought on by the state takeover is not helping matters. But it’s still just weird.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 3, 2023 10:43:38 GMT
I'm wondering if it is like in business and it's the school secretary who is really the mastermind behind the communications. She might be the one who mostly checks and responds from his email and it's possible you are going to junk. I would try to message her if you can.
But I validate that this is frustrating.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 3, 2023 11:18:08 GMT
It sounds nerve-wracking given the history involved. I don’t blame you for wanting to verify it all. Hopefully you’ll get it straightened out soon. I like the idea of contacting the school secretary as well.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Aug 3, 2023 11:25:59 GMT
Thanks for validating me, all! This is all made more difficult by the fact that I’m in Australia currently, so phone calls at the right time are difficult. And I won’t be able to go up there face to face until the Friday before we’re supposed to report on Monday. I’m sure the chaos in the district brought on by the state takeover is not helping matters. But it’s still just weird. I was just going to say, I would call, but if you are in Aus. I guess that's not feasible. Here most of the comms are from the principal's secretary, so could you email her and ask what is going on? |
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Post by librarylady on Aug 3, 2023 12:39:54 GMT
Since you are on vacation, I'd make a phone call and discuss with the school secretary.
Otherwise, I was going with the suggestion to go over to the school and meet face to face.
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Post by annie on Aug 3, 2023 14:31:22 GMT
My principal is the same. Two years ago I kept track of how many emails I sent that went ignored the second semester. She ignored 8 of the 10 emails I sent. SO UNPROFESSIONAL. She always says how swamped she is with emails and to just "send it again" if she missed something.
In your case, I can certainly understand the stress this would bring! Especially not seeing your name on the new hires. I would try to reach out to the head secretary and/or instructional coach and verify things are ok and get your information.
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Post by underwatermama on Aug 3, 2023 15:14:47 GMT
Yes, check with the office manager/secretary. You may need to be added to the distribution lists, etc.
My passive aggressive way of telling someone that they haven't responded is to add SECOND REQUEST to the subject of the email. I've never done that to my boss though.
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,885
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Aug 3, 2023 15:40:39 GMT
I would be concerned too. It's very unprofessional of the principal. I hope you get a response today!
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,677
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Post by Rhondito on Aug 3, 2023 15:49:40 GMT
Thanks for validating me, all! T his is all made more difficult by the fact that I’m in Australia currently, so phone calls at the right time are difficult. And I won’t be able to go up there face to face until the Friday before we’re supposed to report on Monday. I’m sure the chaos in the district brought on by the state takeover is not helping matters. But it’s still just weird. Can you connect to WiFi and call? |
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
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Post by katybee on Aug 3, 2023 17:23:51 GMT
My principal last year was the same way. She didn’t even contact me after I was hired to welcome me. I got the offer call from the head of HR. I had to email her (awkward) to find out what grade I was teaching. Her email responses were curt, at best. I thought for sure she didn’t want me. Come to find out, she was one of the people in the interview and she picked me. And in person, she was great. As the year went on, this was a pattern. Emails almost never answered or answered weeks later. She was extremely unorganized and scatterbrained and probably ADHD. And a brand-new principal. She was passionate about the kids and her staff, but kind of a nightmare to work for.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,183
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Aug 3, 2023 17:41:32 GMT
That would make me more than a little anxious and I’d find it hard to shake the uncertainty I’d be feeling.
I agree about contacting the secretary or whatever title is used for that position. It might be one way to get on the email lists, and to get started figuring out when you need to be there.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 3, 2023 17:56:13 GMT
Thanks for validating me, all! T his is all made more difficult by the fact that I’m in Australia currently, so phone calls at the right time are difficult. And I won’t be able to go up there face to face until the Friday before we’re supposed to report on Monday. I’m sure the chaos in the district brought on by the state takeover is not helping matters. But it’s still just weird. Can you connect to WiFi and call? This. |
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,516
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Post by ellen on Aug 3, 2023 18:04:19 GMT
I would probably make an effort to make a phone call to the principal’s secretary and explain that you aren’t getting the emails for teachers and that you’ve been trying to contact him about your schedule next week. The secretary at my school runs the place. You signed a contract. You work there.
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Post by Merge on Aug 3, 2023 20:29:48 GMT
Thanks guys. I don’t even know who the principal’s secretary is. I decided to email the AP today and ask for help. If I don’t get any response from him by Monday, I’ll figure out the right time to call the front desk.
Also - got a list from the district of my stupid yearly online compliance course requirements, so they at least think I’m employed! Those things have really chapped my hide since I started working part time. Full time teachers get a comp day in exchange for the roughly 8 hours we spend on these each year. Part-time teachers don’t get the comp day. We just put in that time for free. 🙄
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,872
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Post by tracylynn on Aug 5, 2023 0:36:25 GMT
Was thinking about you! Any update?
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Post by Merge on Aug 5, 2023 0:43:33 GMT
Was thinking about you! Any update? Yes! Update in OP. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 5, 2023 0:49:44 GMT
Good update!!
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,630
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 5, 2023 1:14:45 GMT
awesome update - yay!
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 5, 2023 4:04:22 GMT
Glad you still have a job!
Our principals are 11 months and have Juky off, but that would have irritated the crap out of me
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Post by dewryce on Aug 5, 2023 7:29:20 GMT
Glad everything worked out!
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