firt impression possible new colleague

Are you part of a hiring committee or somehow witnessed this exchange? I think two weeks is on the longer side to contemplate an offer but have no idea of the bigger picture. Maybe you’re just venting? Surely there must be more to the story?

You know, it's an interesting dichotomy.

We say teachers should have better pay, more respect, better supplies and resources. We say women need to stand up for what they want and negotiate, especially during the hiring process.

Then a teacher actually asks for that, and we think she's pushy or crabby or has too high of expectations.

Maybe she's coming from a great job, so she's not interested in moving unless it's a perfect opportunity. Maybe she has been burned on not getting the same resources as teachers who have been there longer.

Good for her for speaking up on her expectations. Just because they are higher than what other people's doesn't mean she is wrong. If we all just shut up and take what we are given instead of asking for more, we'll always be way behind getting what we want. She will never have more leverage than when she is interviewing.

Good point, but my comments still stand if it's a man, just without the part about women needing to negotiate. If anything, they are more applicable if it's a man because teachers, who are mostly women, would generally be better off if they felt comfortable negotiating for themselves and not taking sub-par resources from the get go.

To me, there is a fine line between standing up for yourself and having a me, me, me attitude. We can’t always have what we want—in any area of our lives. It’s helpful to know that.

I don't think it's a "me, me, me" attitude to recognize that your physical workspace will not bring out the best in you. If a teacher, for whatever reason, thinks they cannot do their best work in the available workspace, it's best for all concerned - and especially the students - that they decline the position and move on. 

I wouldn't judge. I'd say they were self-aware about what they need to be effective. 

About the two week wait - I don't see the problem. If the district allows it, who cares? 

Salary, benefits and supplies are generally non-negotiable in public schools. You get what you get. I've seen schools stick a new teacher, or an older one they want to get rid of, in an oversized closet, and give the larger room to a teacher they know and like better. In a public school, there are very few things admin can actually do at the outset to make our job better or worse, but room assignment is one of them.

I think there’s a difference between advocating for your value as a professional and making unreasonable demands that aren’t related to that value as a professional.

I work in an old school building that is overcrowded in places and has some small rooms. I’ve had student teachers and others come in and say oh, what a shabby old school, why isn’t it as nice as the brand new school over there, look how small, omg you guys have trailer classrooms??? We keep the school in excellent repair and well painted and maintained but it was built in 1963 to meet the demand of a neighborhood that has since tripled in population. You can be an excellent teacher in this school because we will support and resource you and respect you and pay you as well as we can and give you professional development and a good collaborative work environment.

I had one employee after one year with us say, oh, I won’t move to that pod because I can’t work with this person or that person, I won’t work with those kids or that age, I don’t want any special needs and definitely no para in my room. Uh no. That’s not advocating for yourself as a professional, that’s demanding more than anybody can accommodate and making yourself look like a picky brat.

There should be square footage guidelines for classroom occupancy and unless it is exceeded or there are other facilities issues such as non working heaters, no running water etc I think being picky about that is unprofessional. It shows that you can’t flex to meet the needs of the class you have.