Hey teachers....

SethandSara · March 2009

...when did you tell your principal? Before or after you got the contract for the next school year? I'm fairly new to the school and our principal isn't the most supportive, compassionate person in the world.

jeng329 · March 2009

I don't get contract from year to year so, I am not sure of the procedure.

When will you get this contract?

Technically, he cannot discriminate against you because you are pregnant, but I know schools are full of politics. If your boss is an ass, I might wait for the contract so he cannot mess with you. Depending on when that will be.

i*heart*him · March 2009

I was wondering the same thing. ?We don't get our contract though, until beginning of June and I will be 18 weeks then.

jdiaz79 · March 2009

I told me principal at 11 weeks (simply b/c of a health concern). If you are tenured, it doesn't really matter. I work in a large district, so my orginal plan was to tell the Board and the principal when my second trimester begins. Your principal cannot hold being pregnant against you. Also, your principal is most likely not the person who determines your employment. I would think about notifying the BOE, superintendent, principal in writing before the end of the school year and assure them that you will be returning after an "acceptable" maternity leave (if you are that is). GL!

gidget9898 · March 2009

What others have said is true. It doesn't matter how compassionate or understanding your principal is; you are entitled to maternity leave. Likewise, if your school district is similar to mine, contracts are good for more than one year (ours is good for 3), so you may want to look into when your contract will be up again for negotiation. However, in my experience with contract revisions and ratifications (I have been with my current district for 6 years), maternity leave is an area in which there is often little change. Do you have a union? If so, you may want to consult with your union president and/or building representative to find out exactly what your school district's policy is on maternity leave before speaking to your principal. This way you will have your facts straight in case he does prove to be less than compassionate.

Good luck!

i*heart*him · March 2009

We are a charter school and our contracts are yearly. ?I will be only taking 8 weeks off, but I was offered a different job in the school and I don't want my leave to affect me having it.

meandhe27 · March 2009

Congrats! I am not telling my school until after Spring break, I will be about 13-16 weeks pregnant...really I would like to wait until I am showing to talk to my principal...they can not descriminate because of your pregnancy...check out FMLA, the Family Leave Act. Also, talk to your union representitive...they know everything about your rights at your school and they have probably had this situation before. Good luck!

tak2002 · March 2009

I told today! He didn't even say congrats or anything...just asked me what my plans are for next year! I'm not tenured either and said that if I were offered a contract I would be returning. *sigh*

triplenine · March 2009

i told my principal at 7 weeks...because the secretaries figured it out - then the whole school knew in 5 minutes! but it doesn't matter not only b/c of fmla, but i am tenured and have no chance of being excessed. I work for NYC dept of education and am in the union too...that helps.

I didn't tell my kids until last week...5th grade... they were hysterical telling me how they knew i was gaining weight but were glad it was for a good reason! very funny!

Tonya_G · March 2009

I'm hoping to get offered a full time contract this year (I'm in a long term sub for a teacher who went on a year long maternity leave- word has it she doesn't plan on returning). I would like to wait until they offer the contract to me, but once they do, I'll be upfront as they'll need to plan for my own maternity leave. I've worked for this district for three years though, so I would hope they wouldn't screw me over- My boss has been very understanding over the past year when I had to deal with two m/c's during the school year.

MrsBunches · March 2009

I have to tell my principal about my return plans by April 15th (although he sent out an email that implies he wants to know this week). I'm at a pretty supportive school, although it's a small charter school and I'm worried that they don't have the money to be as flexible as I'd like. They also don't offer paid leave, I just get what the state gives for disability and FMLA. I'm tentatively planning to talk to him "soon" and see if there's any way I could teach part-time next year so that I don't have to put the little bean in daycare 5 days/week. We'll see how that goes.

SethandSara · March 2009

I understand that they technically "cannot" refuse to offer you a contract based solely on you being pregnant, but I also know that although that's what is supposed to happen, it doesn't always. An old boss of mine was very open with me about not hiring a lady b/c she was pregnant. I think that even though it's a law, people break it and won't admit to it. I'm in a small private school, no union, and our contracts are yearly. I was hoping to get everyone's opinion on this one. Thanks for all your help!

DiscusCoach · March 2009

I was a union rep for years here in CA. If you want to avoid any problems try and wait for the contract. Otherwise, it is important to know how long you have been there (how far along are you on tenure track)? Are you working from grant funds (ie Morgan Hart money)? How were your reviews?

A principal in CA can do a "non-re elect for the first two years where they do not have to give a reason for not re-hiring someone. That is pretty uncommon in year two.

caholland · March 2009

I used to work in a small private school as well...If I were you, I would wait for contracts if you don't think the principal will be supportive.

I have since moved to a larger public school with an awesome principal. I told her first thing on Monday. However I was so nervous that I said, "I have good news! I'm knocked up!" Yeah...real professional, right? She laughed though and agreed that it was good news.

1stTimeMommy2Be · March 2009

I just found out that I'm prego on Friday the 27th. Since I teach in Florida, with all the budget cuts, we won't even know if our jobs are still going to be there until May 18th when they let us know. I'm in my 3rd year (still annual contract), so I understand not knowing when to tell. I'm going to wait until post-planning so that I know whether or not I have a job AND so that I can leave for the summer without having to answer lots of questions haha... I have a great principal though... and I'm still worried to death! So I can only imagine :-S

AngelMell05 · March 2009

I'm at a Catholic school and I have not been given my contract yet. I'm waiting until I get that to say anything... I am so nervous that they will find out and let me go. I already have a letter saying I am offered a position there for next year but I just want to see my contract before i say anything.. ugh.. so stressful! Good luck!

SethandSara · April 2009

We got a letter of intent asking if we're planning on coming back next year, but not the actual contract yet. I heard recently that we might not get it for 4 more weeks! That's how it was last year any way. I hope it's not that long!

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