BFTP: If your position is eliminated, who will suffer?

Tragedy strikes the best. But examine this report for the stereotypes:

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/06/parsippany_laying_off_a_teache.html

What does the picture say?
What does the principal value the most?

Throughout my career, I've always hoped that if my position were eliminated, other people would really suffer.

I know, that sounds vindictive, mean-spirited, even vengeful, but it's not.

If you are offering services truly important to your boss and staff, and your position goes away, people will suffer. The more important the jobs you've been doing, the greater the agony.

The beginning of the school year is a good time to reflect on what priorities we give the tasks in our jobs. Which ones will others miss; which ones will only YOU miss doing?

 

Original post June 2010.

Comments

[Annette]

I didn't lose my position, but I lost my assistant. I'm alone now, trying to do everything. So, should I make them suffer? Or should I work overtime and bend over backwards to provide the services all the teachers and administration are used to? I want her back. I don't want them to think that it's easy for me to do both jobs (because it isn't). I want to make them suffer, in a way.

It's a dilemma...

[Tim Stahmer]

The converse of this is that your job goes away and no one cares, or worse even notices. Some days it seems as if that is the district's attitude toward most of what we do.

However, we also tell our tech integration trainers that their ultimate goal is for no one in their schools to need them anymore. Confident in the belief that they will never get there. :-)

[Doug Johnson]

HI Annette,

This puts you in a tough spot. I would make sure admins know what is not happening for kids as a result of her absence. (Books not being available in a timely manner, you not being able to teacher or plan with teachers, etc.)

Hope the year is a good one for you despite the lack of staffing,

Doug​

Hi Tim,

Yes, a good parent, teacher, and admin is always working to make their children, students or department members independent of them. But I also think good admins push people in new directions and we will always need those pushers.

Doug​