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Post by houstonsandy on Aug 8, 2019 21:46:37 GMT
I work for a small private (family owned) school. The school was founded 50 years ago. The lady that founded the school passed away last year. She has two daughters. One has been the off site book keeper for several years and the other just popped in occasionally and was mostly just in charge of handling our International students. When the founder passed, daughter number two took over the role of "director". She is bat shit crazy. She didn't do much the final part of the school year after her mom passed, but this year she wants to be in charge of every aspect of everything....even things she has no knowledge of. Over the summer they built a new front to the school...to modernize it and provide more professional looking offices for the two principals, the admissions director, and the director's daughter who comes in a few hours a day as social media director (along with her under 2yo who runs amuck all over the place....) The new offices were not designed with any sort of function taken into account. She only wants there to be a desk, a desk chair, and two visitor chairs. One principal had to fight to get a credenza added, the other had to beg to get the hutch top for her L-shaped desk. No filing cabinets will be allowed because they are "ugly". The reception desk is in the lobby of the new offices. There was no provision for a copier. The copier will be down the hall past the cafeteria.
They put the entrance buzzers on the wrong doors. So the main door from the parking lot can't be buzzered open. Instead it must remain unlocked. So now, to retain security to the rest of the school, the two doors leading out of the office area and into the school area must remain deadbolt locked. So any time anyone wants to exit the room into the school area, or if someone wants to enter the office area from the school area....the receptionist must go unlock the door with her key and relock immediately. I don't envy that job....and I don't know what happens when she is not at the reception desk. ie: down the hall making copies? at lunch? restroom break?
The staff got to move into their new offices last week. They were then told they could not personalize their offices with anything like lamps, pictures, ect. They will have school made promotional pictures for the walls so that there is a theme between all the offices. She wants nothing on the desks except the phone and laptop. Now...lets get to my office. I got to move to one of the older offices down the hall inside the school area. I deal with financials, student records, student medications, employee records.... I had to fight to get one of the tall four drawer filing cabinets. Remember...they are ugly...she did not want it where it could be seen. She finally relented when I she realized that all the student files ect had to be put somewhere! So...I reminded her many times over the summer that I had to have the filing cabinet that LOCKED...because I often have hundreds or even thousands of dollars of cash and checks turned in for deposit, all the ritalin, and employee hiring records that have ss numbers, banking info, ect. Welp...I got the non locking file, and the locking one went into the copy room (which is on the opposite side of the building from me.) After asking if we could switch them, she said no...it was too much of a hassle to do that. Instead, I should just keep all my stuff in the copy room one and every time I got money or checks...walk down there to lock it up. And lock up the meds and walk down there to get them every time it is time to dispense a dose.... Uhhhhhh.....no. So her alternative solution was to keep the stuff in the unlocked file cabinet in my office and just lock my door every time I walked out. And if there was a person in my office? and I have to walk down to the copy machine? I should ask them to stand out in the hall so I can lock my door while I am gone.... Uhhhhhh...no. So I ordered a bar to install on the file cabinet and now it locks ...but I had to pay for it myself. Well worth the $38.00 in my opinion though. Friday I decorated my stark walls. Put up a bulletin board and some pictures. Today I got a text from her saying I should not have done that...she is going to stick those ugly promotional pictures in MY office as well apparently. Sigh....I thought that was only for the new front offices that people/visitors/parents would actually be in! Not mine behind the locked doors and down the hall past the cafeteria and library!
But the craziness doesn't stop there. She went in and set up all the teacher's rooms for them and they aren't allowed to move anything. She put the desks where she wanted and the rugs and tables and everything. Teachers can't move anything! She is telling them they cannot bring anything personal from home. And she wants to dictate how and what they store in the little storeage cubbies and bins. Only markers are allowed in here....only this in here....nothing but a workbook on your desk....This is going to go over so well.....lol She also wants to take on the job of deciding how the larger grades are divided into two sections. Not by skill sets or learning abilities...but by making sure her all fo her grandson's friends are in the same classroom together.
Today we found out that she installed cameras around the school and has been watching the videos. Found out because she went to one of the principals (D) and apologized profusely for me being so rude to her yesterday. D. was like.."What are you talking about? S. wasn't rude to me yesterday..." "Oh...I saw it on the video....she was rude to you....and I'm so sorry". D. once again told her she was mistaken...all I did was ask her to take care of sending school records to a new school that one of our former students is registering at because I had to leave for the day and had used up my allotted 10 hours per week that I am allowed to work during the summer so I wouldn't be back till Monday or Tues and didn't want to wait that long to get it done. She was fine with it.
But now we know she watching videos of what we are doing and saying. (D called me at home to let me know what she had seen and heard so I could "be prepared" in case she mentions it next week)
I updated my resume today....its time to leave crazy town!
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,501
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Aug 8, 2019 21:59:55 GMT
I am going to bet that you aren’t the only one updating your resume. That sounds miserable... for staff and students.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,172
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Aug 8, 2019 22:12:55 GMT
There needs to be a mass revolt by the teachers. Setting up their rooms? Not allowing anything to be moved? Ridiculous.
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 8, 2019 22:14:00 GMT
Yes, I would find a new job ASAP.
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 8, 2019 22:17:24 GMT
Yeah, I am pretty tolerant and fear change enough that I could put up with a modicum of crazy, but that is nuts. I can’t imagine micromanaging employees, teachers and children that way. I wonder how many teachers will stay, and then I wonder what will happen to the enrollment if she doesn’t change her tune?
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,907
Aug 14, 2015 21:47:17 GMT
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Post by pilcas on Aug 8, 2019 22:19:36 GMT
I would be quitting and letting her deal with the mess!
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Post by needmysanity on Aug 8, 2019 22:21:31 GMT
That's beyond crazy...I would be updating my resume also.
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Post by librarylady on Aug 8, 2019 22:23:50 GMT
Yes, I'd be sending out resumes.
I worked 2 years for a principal almost that bad. I only worked the 2nd year there because I didn't have my MLS finished. When I did, I was out of there. I won't share my stories, but she did some of the things yours is doing.
In the meantime, I think ALL of the staff, yes ALL of the staff, should begin calling her multiple times per day to ask, "May I do ___?" Since she wants to manage everything, let her manage EVERYTHING!
Johnny needs Ritalin, may I give him his Rx? May I go to the copy machine? I need a restroom break, just letting you know I am leaving my room. Mrs. __ wants to know about __, may I call her? Can we have recess now? Is it OK to begin to move my class to the music room/art room/gym?
I'd also find the camera in my room and manage to either unplug it or cover the lens. Or cut out some scratched, very scratched plastic and put it over the lens so all her video is very poor quality. (File folder type product)
I'd also get out of there ASAP!
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Post by Merge on Aug 8, 2019 22:33:23 GMT
Yiiiiikes. Are you still in Houston? I'm super curious to know where you work. 😂
To answer your question, no, I wouldn’t put up with that for one second longer than I had to. I had a principal a while back who wanted to dictate decor and placement of every little thing, and he had a teacher revolt on his hands pretty quickly.
Good luck!
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Aug 8, 2019 22:37:04 GMT
No, I wouldn't put up with that long at all. But I wonder how long that will all really last once school starts and she has hundreds of kids in the building all day. Right now she has tons of time to worry about posters and watch surveillance videos, but all her spare time is about to be taken up with discipline, parents, meetings, etc, etc, etc.
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Post by annie on Aug 8, 2019 22:38:25 GMT
WOW! Yeah, get the heck out of there.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on Aug 8, 2019 22:40:18 GMT
Nope... AND... call the fire department. The locking doors is a fire code violation. Imagine if she was sitting on the toilet and a fire broke out.
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Aug 8, 2019 22:53:42 GMT
I’d retire before I started.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 8, 2019 22:55:15 GMT
She sounds like a child playing school.
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Post by femalebusiness on Aug 8, 2019 22:59:12 GMT
Yes, I'd be sending out resumes. I worked 2 years for a principal almost that bad. I only worked the 2nd year there because I didn't have my MLS finished. When I did, I was out of there. I won't share my stories, but she did some of the things yours is doing. In the meantime, I think ALL of the staff, yes ALL of the staff, should begin calling her multiple times per day to ask, "May I do ___?" Since she wants to manage everything, let her manage EVERYTHING! Johnny needs Ritalin, may I give him his Rx? May I go to the copy machine? I need a restroom break, just letting you know I am leaving my room. Mrs. __ wants to know about __, may I call her? Can we have recess now? Is it OK to begin to move my class to the music room/art room/gym? I'd also find the camera in my room and manage to either unplug it or cover the lens. Or cut out some scratched, very scratched plastic and put it over the lens so all her video is very poor quality. (File folder type product) I'd also get out of there ASAP! I like how you think. My one driving ambition would be to drive her nuts. I truly believe in giving back what you get.
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Post by cropelf on Aug 8, 2019 23:10:07 GMT
IMHO
Locked doors...likely a major code violation. Wonder what a surprise inspection would find.
Money talks. Calculate how much it costs for you, and everyone else, to walk, unlock, relock, etc., every time, every day down the hall to accommodate her requirements. Probably a LOT of payroll wasted. Facts are friendly.
Love the idea of "following her rules" and calling for approval for every little decision. Kill her with kindness!
Just my two cents.
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Post by pierkiss on Aug 8, 2019 23:12:22 GMT
The teachers are going to revolt and they will do what they need to do to teach their students. They will not put up with that.
I would absolutely quit. No job should have to deal with that level of asinine control.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Aug 8, 2019 23:14:53 GMT
Isn't there like fire codes for that door situation? It sounds dangerous. Yea, no one is going to want to work there. yikes
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,594
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 8, 2019 23:17:47 GMT
Oh, my. Get the hell out of there!
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Post by Delta Dawn on Aug 8, 2019 23:26:01 GMT
Free drugs???
I had Ritalin and it worked but not great.
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Post by 16joy on Aug 9, 2019 3:22:45 GMT
I think a lot of people will be exiting.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 9, 2019 4:26:38 GMT
No way. I just couldn't. A teacher has the knowledge to what works best for their room. As long as they are following fire codes and other safety measures, they should be respected for the professionals they are.
Good luck!!!
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*Marjorie*
Full Member
Posts: 360
Location: Hawaii
Jun 26, 2014 16:43:45 GMT
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Post by *Marjorie* on Aug 9, 2019 5:31:54 GMT
Looks like she took a lesson from Mr. Trump.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,835
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Aug 9, 2019 10:40:05 GMT
Is this a private or public school? If it is private, you may not have any recourse. If it is public, I would be going over her head and informing the school district about exactly what is going on. It sounds like she needs to be removed.
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Post by cmhs on Aug 9, 2019 10:47:10 GMT
So now, to retain security to the rest of the school, the two doors leading out of the office area and into the school area must remain deadbolt locked. So any time anyone wants to exit the room into the school area, or if someone wants to enter the office area from the school area....the receptionist must go unlock the door with her key and relock immediately. I don't envy that job....and I don't know what happens when she is not at the reception desk. ie: down the hall making copies? at lunch? restroom break? Yep, big time no-no. Somebody needs to call the fire inspector ASAP.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,728
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Aug 9, 2019 10:55:47 GMT
Nope... AND... call the fire department. The locking doors is a fire code violation. Imagine if she was sitting on the toilet and a fire broke out. No kidding! Keyed dead-bolted doors locking all the students and staff in the school? That's terrifying.
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Post by jenb72 on Aug 9, 2019 12:48:30 GMT
That seriously takes micromanaging to a completely new psycho level. I'd hightail it out of there as soon as you can secure a new job. Good luck!
Jen
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 9, 2019 12:58:09 GMT
I'd be out.
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Post by monklady123 on Aug 9, 2019 13:00:54 GMT
Wow! I suspect she's going to be discovering the need to hire some new teachers before long. I've never heard of a principal telling teachers how they can and cannot set up THEIR classrooms! Except for things that are safety/county rules (such as nothing blocking the heat/AC unit, for example -- at my school teachers sometimes have to be reminded of this at the beginning of the year) everything else should be that particular teacher's choice. And good luck to her if she tries to enforce the "nothing on the desk except a workbook" rule. hahahahahaha - As a sub I've seen a LOT of teachers' desks and even the absolute neatest of them have more than a workbook sitting there! lol Yeah, I'd be updating my resume too.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 9, 2019 14:51:24 GMT
You should all walk out.
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