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Contract up in the air


All over the nation, education budgets are being cut. Teachers and other staff members are losing their jobs. Books and supplies necessary to educate no longer available to teachers. Classroom populations grow close to 40 students to start the year. It does not paint a pretty picture for the education of our next generation. Closer to home, I am unsure of where or if I will be teaching next year.

I knew it was coming - the meeting with the principal that reminds me that I am a first year teacher in the county without tenure. (It was only four years ago I had one in Orland, Maine because I was the teacher with the least seniority. OCS is closing its doors to students for good at the end of this school year.) Teachers are being cut across the county. A teacher with tenure with a position cut at the school s/he is currently at has first dibs at my job. She expressed to me her desire to keep me and the other teachers in the same position as me. I will know more on Tuesday.

I am at peace with the unknown of what next year will bring. Something inside of me has changed in the last year. I don’t feel the anxiety of wondering if we will be a household with no employment. I am confident that I will be working next year. Whether it will be in Benson or not remains to be seen.

Comments

  1. Mandie I can so appreciate your situation. My job comes to an end June 24 the and I have no idea where I will be working next year or even if it will be in education. I only know that I won't spend my summer worrying about what will happen I know something will. I hope that your situation turns out successfully.

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  2. Mandie--I have conferdence in you. You will be working next year. That is the person that you are. Take care. Love you. Marguerite

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