Today, I just got back from speaking with my program specialist. I took off on the last period of the day, checked out of school 40 minutes early and made my way to the Board of Education. Now, a program specialist is set in place to help you. Each subject should have their own person that comes out to your school, gets supplies, listens to grievances and even advocates for you when needed. My subject doesn't have a specific person that is knowledgably and specialized the craft that I teach. Their certification is in something entirely different. Let us say for the purpose of this post, my subject matter is weaving baskets. Well my program director is certified in music. Catch my drift??? Both are fine arts, yet differ.
Well long story short I went to the Board. I told them, I'm not getting students with the interest and talent in my class. I can't win contest and build a program if I'm not getting any interested and talented to students. They didn't even sit down to hear me out. My program director was fidgeting with her purse trying to get out the building. She hasn't visited me at my school once since I've been teaching. She basically said, it is like that everywhere. We've spoken to principals about "dumping" kids into these classes. My thing was she didn't even try to here me out. She told me, "You'll just have to start out very simple with your class. Remember your class is supposed to be fun."
I said, what are some things I can start out with? She didn't know. A program specialist is supposed to know. She didn't even offer to come visit my school. If I were a specialist and had a teacher who needed help, I'd come visit the school and observe their teaching. See what pointers I could give. What supplies they might need. I think my specialist is hoarding money too.
I am the one initiated the meeting. I sent an email with everything we've done so far, and just asked how can I make this better. Well let me tell you it took her over a month to even answer back.
She later told me, I hope you don't give up. I wanted to be like b!tch I just might pick my sh!t up and leave like a thief in the night.
Well long story short I went to the Board. I told them, I'm not getting students with the interest and talent in my class. I can't win contest and build a program if I'm not getting any interested and talented to students. They didn't even sit down to hear me out. My program director was fidgeting with her purse trying to get out the building. She hasn't visited me at my school once since I've been teaching. She basically said, it is like that everywhere. We've spoken to principals about "dumping" kids into these classes. My thing was she didn't even try to here me out. She told me, "You'll just have to start out very simple with your class. Remember your class is supposed to be fun."
I said, what are some things I can start out with? She didn't know. A program specialist is supposed to know. She didn't even offer to come visit my school. If I were a specialist and had a teacher who needed help, I'd come visit the school and observe their teaching. See what pointers I could give. What supplies they might need. I think my specialist is hoarding money too.
I am the one initiated the meeting. I sent an email with everything we've done so far, and just asked how can I make this better. Well let me tell you it took her over a month to even answer back.
She later told me, I hope you don't give up. I wanted to be like b!tch I just might pick my sh!t up and leave like a thief in the night.