Teachers... WWYD re. Maternity leave?

PamelaC

DC #3 is due in September, about 1-2 weeks after the start of next school year.  My preferred option for maternity leave would be to take my 8 weeks paid maternity leave and then stay out for the remainder of the school year (unpaid) which would give me almost a full year home with my new LO and this would make me very happy.

What worries me is that doing this would cause me to drop below one of my colleagues in my department seniority.  It would put me 4th from the bottom.  Around here teachers are losing their jobs left and right due to budget cuts... It is not a good thing to be at the bottom of the seniority list these days.  Granted, I wouldn't be last on the seniority list, but I can't help but worry that it could come back to haunt me down the line.

 Other teachers out there.... WWYD?   

Venuschild

If you plan on teaching later, after the year is over I wouldn't do it.  If its not a financial hardship and you don't mind being a stay at home mom then go for it.  If you are tenured/ permanent would you still have a job in the district just not at that school?  We call that getting excesses out in my district.

sydsmom04

That would be a very difficult position to be in. However, I also would put my priorities first which would be my kids. This is a once in a lifetime chance. If you can afford to stay home I would do it in a heart beat. I know how much you would battle yourself about the decision though. It is tough. 

PamelaC

Venuschild:

If you plan on teaching later, after the year is over I wouldn't do it.  If its not a financial hardship and you don't mind being a stay at home mom then go for it.  If you are tenured/ permanent would you still have a job in the district just not at that school?  We call that getting excesses out in my district.

I'm tenured and my exact position would be held for me for the following year.  We would never be able to afford for me not to work so permanent SAHM is not an option. 

A&AinMN

If you can afford to stay out the remainder of the year and you are tenured, then I'd do it. What do you teach? I'm due at the end of September and am thinking of staying out til after the holidays.

erbear

If you want to stay in teaching, I wouldn't take the chance.

eunruh69

no way would I do that.  nothing against our impending child but I know I'm not made out to be a stay at home mom, regardless of the financial hardship it would place on us for me to be out an entire year unpaid.  I would also miss my students to much to do that.  I will have 23.5 days to use and we are currently saving enough for me to take four weeks FMLA should I need to or want to. If baby comes right on time, my days will take me to halloween, then the four weeks would take me right up to Thanksgiving.  I'd come back right before Thanksgiving break, then have two and a half weeks before Christmas break.  I am constantly talking to baby asking it to have a due date a week later because not only would that get me out of marching season so therefore I wouldn't miss my Drum Line's most important competition, but it would work out a LOT better leave wise.  whatever will be will be but I know I will be returning to work after a month or two.   way could I leave my students & not have the security of knowing my job is still there upon my return. Good luck!

jussagirl02

I am due September 12th and I am trying to figure out the same thing.  Right now, my hubby and I are thinking I would stay out through the holidays, but I would love to stay home the entire school year, but we aren't sure if that's possible.  I teach in AZ so we don't get maternity leave at all (only our sick days), and there is no tenureship.  I *might* just take a year leave...at least we have some time to decide!