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Post by Kymberlee on May 11, 2015 12:12:46 GMT
I'm an itinerant teacher for the blind and visually impaired. I am not assigned to a school; I travel from school to school to see my students. State testing is coming up this week and a principal has asked me to test two of my kids that get special accommodations. I have no problem doing that as I want to make sure my kids get what they need and I want to help the school out if I can.
Here is the problem…the principal has decided I need to be trained to administer the tests which is dumb but whatever, I'll do it. I've never had to be trained before to administer these tests. So the problem is that the principal has absolutely no respect for my time. She sent me a meeting notification last week on Monday afternoon for a training session on Tuesday from 4:30-5:30 at the school. Well, I couldn't make it due to a physical therapy appointment. She sends me a nasty gram back with some snide comments about being a team player. Apparently a few teachers couldn't make the last minute meeting so she sent another meeting late Friday afternoon for another training session tonight from 4:30-5:30. Again, I can't make it due to other commitments. I'm not trying to be difficult, but if I need to stay 2 hrs after contract hours, I need to have a little more notice so I can schedule after school activities appropriately. Am I off base here? I have a late afternoon meeting at another school (IEP, can't be rescheduled) as well as another PT appointment (could be rescheduled) and plans this evening with friends. I'm frustrated because I don't want to look like I am being a PIA.
FWIW, the principal had several training sessions before school last week but failed to invite me.
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freebird
Drama Llama
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Posts: 6,927 
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Post by freebird on May 11, 2015 12:16:22 GMT
I would tell her exactly what you told us here.
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smginaz Suzy
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on May 11, 2015 12:17:14 GMT
You're not off base. Perhaps reply with some suggested dates/times that will work for you, or advise of how much notice you typically need based on your other commitments.
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on May 11, 2015 12:18:12 GMT
Her lack of planning should not constitute your emergency. Advance warning should be a given.
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Deleted
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Jul 5, 2024 15:49:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 12:51:14 GMT
Her lack of planning should not constitute your emergency. Advance warning should be a given. This. I highly doubt this was just dropped on her desk at the last minute. Either she knew and sat on it for a bit or it was her job to know and she didn't do her job. I'd politely let her know where you stand and is provide her with several options that DO work for you. |
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Post by hdoublej on May 11, 2015 12:55:54 GMT
Her lack of planning should not constitute your emergency. Advance warning should be a given. This. I highly doubt this was just dropped on her desk at the last minute. Either she knew and sat on it for a bit or it was her job to know and she didn't do her job. I'd politely let her know where you stand and is provide her with several options that DO work for you. I agree with both tincin and carblover443. |
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Post by ScrapsontheRocks on May 11, 2015 12:56:28 GMT
Her lack of planning should not constitute your emergency. Advance warning should be a given.  Spot on ! And another of my favourite sayings: You teach people how to treat you. You are not off base at all. |
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on May 11, 2015 14:37:07 GMT
I agree with everyone else. For her to notify you at the last minute and expect you to attend is ridiculous. She could offer you several dates in advance and let you choose one that works, if it is that important to her.
Her lack of consideration for your time and your situation is appalling, especially since you attend to the needs of students at other schools as well.
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Post by eebud on May 11, 2015 14:40:50 GMT
I agree with telling her what you said in your OP. I would also add that you have heard that there have been some training sessions scheduled before school. I would ask if there is another coming up before school that you can attend.
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CeeScraps
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Post by CeeScraps on May 12, 2015 0:20:23 GMT
If it is state testing the state is saying that Test Administrators must be trained. She forgot you.....we had that in my building. I worked with the staff on their breaks or prior to school to catch them up. I gave them a mountain of paperwork and a list of you tubes to watch.
Then, after all of that I went over what they were responsible for and the procedures that had to be followed.
So, it's not right, but it truly may be out of her hands. You could ask what you could do independently to qualify for giving the test.
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Post by bc2ca on May 12, 2015 0:26:41 GMT
I'm an itinerant teacher for the blind and visually impaired. I am not assigned to a school; I travel from school to school to see my students. State testing is coming up this week and a principal has asked me to test two of my kids that get special accommodations. I have no problem doing that as I want to make sure my kids get what they need and I want to help the school out if I can. Here is the problem… the principal has decided I need to be trained to administer the tests which is dumb but whatever, I'll do it. I've never had to be trained before to administer these tests. So the problem is that the principal has absolutely no respect for my time. She sent me a meeting notification last week on Monday afternoon for a training session on Tuesday from 4:30-5:30 at the school. Well, I couldn't make it due to a physical therapy appointment. She sends me a nasty gram back with some snide comments about being a team player. Apparently a few teachers couldn't make the last minute meeting so she sent another meeting late Friday afternoon for another training session tonight from 4:30-5:30. Again, I can't make it due to other commitments. I'm not trying to be difficult, but if I need to stay 2 hrs after contract hours, I need to have a little more notice so I can schedule after school activities appropriately. Am I off base here? I have a late afternoon meeting at another school (IEP, can't be rescheduled) as well as another PT appointment (could be rescheduled) and plans this evening with friends. I'm frustrated because I don't want to look like I am being a PIA. FWIW, the principal had several training sessions before school last week but failed to invite me. It may not be the principal deciding you need to be trained, but the state mandating it. I would be annoyed at her attitude and lack of respect for your schedule. |
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on May 12, 2015 0:28:57 GMT
If it is state testing the state is saying that Test Administrators must be trained. She forgot you.....we had that in my building. I worked with the staff on their breaks or prior to school to catch them up. I gave them a mountain of paperwork and a list of you tubes to watch. Then, after all of that I went over what they were responsible for and the procedures that had to be followed. So, it's not right, but it truly may be out of her hands. You could ask what you could do independently to qualify for giving the test. This is true in ohio |
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Nicole in TX
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Post by Nicole in TX on May 12, 2015 0:33:30 GMT
The state is requiring that you be trained, not the principal.
And the principal may be getting instructions from the central office regarding the training.
If spouted that off to my principal I would get a letter in my file.
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Post by Kymberlee on May 12, 2015 1:23:08 GMT
I've actually administered the tests prior to this year with no training, but I'm cool if that is the rule. Other schools might not have followed the rules as closely as this principal is doing. She did forget me which is understandable. I'm itinerant so I'm pretty use to getting things last minute or being forgotten I'm just peeved that she isn't respecting my time, and gave me an attitude about it. Lucky for me this isn't my direct supervisor so I can tell her to pound sand without worrying about a reprimand. Just kidding...I would never do that even if I really, really wanted to.
Thanks for for the validation. I was thinking it was just me being a PIA for not rearranging my schedule at the drop of a hat. I think this particular principal is kind of an a-hole to her teachers so I thought that might be clouding my ability to be flexible about the whole thing. In her defense, testing coordinator for an elementary school of 1300 students can't be an easy job. Yuck! I hate testing time.
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Country Ham
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Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on May 12, 2015 2:06:04 GMT
How much time elapsed between the principal asking you to test those 2 students and his/her request for you to take training? If you were only just recently asked to test these students it truly might be a last minute thing to train you.
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Post by greenlegume on May 12, 2015 2:13:33 GMT
In every state I ever taught in with state testing, it was the state mandating that anyone who administers or proctors HAD to have the training. Every year. Every test (sometimes multiple times per year). I think once in all my years of teaching and countless testing trainings, did I get more than 24 to 48 hours notice. Neither did anyone else that I taught with.
And sorry, you're not getting much sympathy from me when you think the training is wasting your time. Every other teacher and staff member is having their time wasted just as much as you, but you don't have a problem with it until you're having to administer a test. Classroom teachers don't ever get a break from all this hassle. If you don't have to put up with all this for every single test like everyone else who's in a fixed spot, you should consider yourself lucky.
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Post by Kymberlee on May 12, 2015 2:29:01 GMT
I'm not asking for sympathy, greenlegume. Usually, large trainings to admin insisted tests are a waste of my time because my testing situations are very unique. I do have to put up with it as much as any other teacher except I have to deal with it across ALL grade levels. I get to make sure tests are ordered in a timely manner for my third graders as well as my seniors in the form that is the most accessible. I get to argue with testing coordinators about why Johnny has to take large print and no, he can't take it on the computer. I have to make sure my blind student is getting the test in braille format and isn't taking it in read aloud because that is easier for the gen ed teacher. Oh, that test isn't available in braille and you need it in an hour? And by the way, testing window closes tomorrow so have fun with that 30 page test that when finished will be at least 90 pages brailled. It's even better when it is a hard copy, and all the braille has to be done manually. Yep, I got it easy. Whew! Thanks for enlightening me. I'm a lucky teacher alright. ETA: The BEST part is I get to do it in at least 8-12 schools all during a short testing window. |
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Post by greenlegume on May 12, 2015 2:36:42 GMT
I spent a few years teaching across all grade levels (Reading Recovery and Reading Specialist), so I hear you Kymberlee. I still think you don't have it worse than many, if not all, of your colleagues. But hey, if you believe you're extra special, and getting treated worse than everyone else then rock on. We may disagree on that, but I'm sure we both agree that the training is a total waste of time. Especially when it usually consists of sitting and reading huge portions of the Testing Guide/Manual to you out loud, even though we all got our own personal copies. It's not bad enough that the tests are a joke and huge waste of instructional time and all kinds of other resources. The pathetic training and all the crazy documentation of it is just icing on the cake. |
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Post by Kymberlee on May 12, 2015 2:44:43 GMT
I'm not sure what post you are reading, but I never said I was special nor would I not do the training I just think it is unreasonable to give less than 24 hours notice for a training that takes place after contract hours. I said training was stupid for the same reasons you just listed. Dang, you are prickly.
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Post by freecharlie on May 12, 2015 3:05:58 GMT
I refuse to do off contract trainings without at least a weeks notice. I don't have to put in non-contract hours and I don't get paid for them.
OP, in this case, it is probably more test protocol than administering training. You have to sign a doc that says you have been trained.
I would fault the sped teachers and the admin as well as someone at the district level should have schedules you to do the testing and make sure you were trained.
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Deleted
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Jul 5, 2024 15:49:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2015 6:43:21 GMT
I'm not sure what post you are reading, but I never said I was special nor would I not do the training I just think it is unreasonable to give less than 24 hours notice for a training that takes place after contract hours. I think 24 hours (or less) notice is unreasonable, too. But I can understand why greenlegume got "prickly" and thought that you were feeling like the only one being treated unfairly. She stated that she and all the other teachers she taught with dealt with this same scenario (24 hours or less notice) more than once. Pretty much constantly. I can also say that what she said is not unique. It's more like the rule of thumb with stuff like this. I think that teachers who can afford to draw this line in the sand because they have union backup are most definitely in the minority. I kind of wish educators would quit putting up with this kind of abuse, but I know why my educator family members always stayed and put up with it. Same reason they went into a low-paying, undervalued and often unappreciated field-love for their students. I absolutely hate that legislators and administrators constantly take advantage of this. I do a lot of wondering about what's going to happen when the inevitable shortage of quality, caring teachers really starts to hit hard and fast. |
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Country Ham
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Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on May 12, 2015 11:23:26 GMT
Don't forget though. When you said you couldn't do Tuesday (on Monday) they said that training was available on Friday as well. I wouldn't want to work OT for training on a Friday but that is 5 days notice. When did they ask you to test these 2 kids?
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on May 12, 2015 11:41:32 GMT
I think that teachers who can afford to draw this line in the sand because they have union backup are most definitely in the minority. I kind of wish educators would quit putting up with this kind of abuse, but I know why my educator family members always stayed and put up with it. Same reason they went into a low-paying, undervalued and often unappreciated field-love for their students. I absolutely hate that legislators and administrators constantly take advantage of this. I do a lot of wondering about what's going to happen when the inevitable shortage of quality, caring teachers really starts to hit hard and fast. I think what will happen is that more teachers will unionize. |
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Post by Kymberlee on May 12, 2015 11:50:18 GMT
I think you misunderstand, Country Ham. I was informed on Friday afternoon about training on Monday. Too late to reschedule an IEP that I had at another school as well a PT appointment late in the afternoon on Monday. The other teachers were offered a variety of training times in a timely manner…the principal forgot about me and never sent me a notice until the very last minute. I understand how it happened but when she got snippy with me about it, I got annoyed. I didn't go because I couldn't due to the late notice, but it is worked out at my school. I AM fortunate to have a supervisor that supports me. I'm not going to get in an argument over whose job is harder or who is required to do more with anyone. We all chose this profession for different reasons. We all work our asses off to make sure that each of our students get whatever they need to be successful. Classroom teachers do a difficult job, but please don't discount my hard work either. It is just different and because you don't see what I do on a daily basis that doesn't mean that I'm not juggling a dozen or more balls at one time the same as all teachers do. |
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Spot on ! And another of my favourite sayings: You teach people how to treat you. You are not off base at all.
Time to get off the internet!
