Reflecting back on a bad situation…

I have a difficult task before me.  I get along very well with my principal.  During the last school year, I sponsored a dance team that was second to none.  Unfortunately, the band director was unhappy with the addition of the group.  Through his students, band parents were encouraged to start a petition to have the team disbanded.  Parents openly called the young ladies names and made negative comments aloud about their dress at the games.

My principal did not miss a beat!  Not only did he come to the aid of the dance team, he openly supported them in front of the band members.  This support lasted the entire school year and has fused a bond between my principal and the parents/students on the dance team.

My assistant principal is a different story.  She is very pleasant in nature, and I simply adore that side of her.  Professionally, I am at a lost to understand the motivation behind her decisions.

I am gifted certified and have been for two years.  I completed this grueling certification process because I feel myself getting burned out from teaching regular English classes.  Having students who will challenge me as much as I challenge them would be a treat.  Instead of allowing me to teach the gifted classes, they were given to another teacher who was not certified.  To add insult to injury, gifted certification was not listed on the schedule next to my name when it was distributed last school year.  I went to another assistant principal to discuss the matter.  PROBLEM NUMBER ONE.

At her insistence, the other teacher has become gifted certified.  I thought that we would share the load of teaching the honors classes for the next school year; however, the other teacher will again teach the six classes of gifted students.  I spoke with my union representative about the matter.  PROBLEM NUMBER TWO.

At the end of the school year, I have several opportunities to speak with the assistant principal about my concerns.  Her door was open, but I walked pass each time without asking if I could speak with her about this.  PROBLEM NUMBER THREE

I learned so much from Kristin Gilger.  I plan to request a conference with my assistant principal and implement some of the suggestions.  After all, I have not to lose and everything to gain.

Cynthia Brown
Woodland High School
Stockbridge, Georgia