Am I over-reacting? (really long!)

daisies05 · June 2009

DD goes to a daycare center, and has been for six months (she's 9 months old now). About two months into her time there one of the main teachers left (after having been there for five years). I had a couple of discussions with the asst. director (who's there every day) and a phone call with the director (who floats between other center locations) because they didn't send any sort of notice home that the teacher was leaving, nor did they send anything home to welcome the new teacher (and let parents know).

They thought I was crazy and said no one had ever asked for such a thing before. That they feel it's more personal for the parents to introduce themselves to the teachers, etc. I tried to point out that I do drop-off and only see certain people at that time and would have no idea that there was someone new etc (my husband does pick-up).

So, the result was they created this staff profile sheet about two month later with bios of all the teachers in the center. Great. I wasn't asking for that, but fine.

Fast forward to this morning. I dropped DD off a little later than usual and while I recognized the teachers, I didn't know any of the assistants. As they were starting to separate the room (there are two infant rooms, but they're combined until enough babies show up in the morning), the teachers stayed in one room and the assistants (that I didn't know) were setting up the other room.

I have less of a problem with not knowing all the assistants/floaters when they're in the room with teachers I do know. But when they're with my kid by themselves, it bothers me. I tried to bring this up to the asst. director this morning about not knowing the people and she replied "so and so has been a floater for three weeks" - like that was plenty of time for me to meet her. When I brought up the note going home part she again thought I was crazy.

So, am I crazy? Do you get a note when there's a new teacher in DC's room? Or when a teacher leaves? Would it bother you to not know who's watching your DC?

I really like the teachers and think the quality of care is good overall - but the management is just the pits.

Sorry this got so long - if you're still reading thanks!!!

krub · June 2009

Our daycare lets us know. One of DS's teachers left mid-year, so they sent an email and let us know she was leavning and who was coming. They didn't give us much info, but it was nice to know it was coming so that I could talk to my DS about it. And, it's nice to be able to call a teacher by her name when you pick your DC up. And, honestly, I'm not about to stop a teacher in the middle of the day to introduce myself and I don't always have time for that at pick up/drop off. They learn quickly enough that you're your DC's parent, but it's not as easy to figure out who they are.

crysas81 · June 2009

I don't know what's normal (or protocol) in daycare (dh stays home) but I would want to know who's taking care of my child. How fast is the turnover there? I mean, maybe assistants come and go...

crap, sorry I can't be more help. I just do know that I would like to know whio is caring for my child.

daisies05 · June 2009

I don't think the teachers change much, and that's why I'm more concerned about knowing when they come/go.

But the assistants tend to float between all the rooms (infant - pre-K) which makes it harder to keep track of them. And while they aren't new to the center, they could be new to the infant room (where DD is).

Sigh. I think I have to get over it on some levels, but I think the center should be doing more too.

Thanks for the feedback, I know I wrote a novel.

KathrynMD · June 2009

our daycare is kinda hit or miss w/ this stuff and I call them out about it. IMO - no one/no where is perfect and they are all working on their system. We've gotten notes from the teachers themselves saying that they will be on vacation X week, which I thought was really nice, but then a few weeks ago, they changed DD's room and didn't tell us - UMMM HELLO?? When I called the director about it, she was like, OH, I asked all teh teachers and they said they had told all the affected parents. Really? Because DH drops off before DD's regular teacher comes and I usually pick her up right after the teacher leaves - so it we sometimes go over a week w/o one of us seeing her regular teacher. She apologized for the "system failure" and told us she would be sure to send us a note or letter when anything else like tha happens.

madhatter2003 · June 2009

we get notes any time there is a staff change. And if it's the direct teacher they make it a point to stop us on either pick up or drop off and tell us in person as well as send a note.

noonecarewhoiam · June 2009

Personally, I think you're over reacting. But then again, half the staff at DS's daycare doesn't know who I am, because DH usually does drop off-pick up.

azuremama · June 2009

We haven't had any turnover in the main teachers, so I'm not sure exactly what they'd do. I wouldn't have a problem if they didn't send out a note, as long as they informed us somehow. Wouldn't your dh tell you there was someone new? I'd want to meet her, but I wouldn't mind leaving work early one day or going over during lunch to do that. I don't see why a written note is necessary.

We also have floaters that go between rooms and I don't always know them (although many of them, I do). They're usually only in there with the regular teachers. I think if you trust your daycare to make hiring decisions, not knowing all the staff personally shouldn't be an issue. What are you going to say, that you don't want a certain person to be in your child's room because you haven't met them yet? Maybe an in-home would be better because you always know who's there?

EastCoastBride · June 2009

Thisis your child. Of course you want to know who is taking care of them! I think a simple announcement w/ each staff change isn't really asking all that much.

tosababy · June 2009

We do not get notes when new employees rotate in and out, especially floaters. I think you're overreacting a little. I trust our center and the people who run it. Therefore, I trust their hiring decisions and understand that there may be employees who I don't get to meet (for example, someone who comes in from 10-2 for lunches).

It sounds like you have issues with the management. Maybe that's really the problem ...

jlw2505 · June 2009

My center typically does not notify us of the staff changes of someone leaving or someone new starting in anmy formal way. They do newsletter every so often that will sometimes highlight new teachers or within the program (preschool, toddler, etc) you may get a letter but there is nothing formal. We also get email updates every so often. I know the teachers try to keep the parents up to date and are typically pretty forthcoming with that information and will leave a note in your box. I have never had an issue but I am almost always the one that does drop-off and pick-up and I see all the staff, not daily due to schedules but I see the main teachers a few times a week for each of my girls. We recently had a change with the teachers in my older DD's room (2 teachers swapped rooms) and we got an email about it but then again, some teachers have left and we have not been notified. I always introduce myself if I see a new staff member from my kids rooms or any room as I want to get to know everyone at the center.

Mrs.Beans · June 2009

We have had one teacher leave, and she told us herself that she was going. We were friendly with her and she told us about going back to school to complete her teaching degree, etc. If she hadn't let us know, I would have expected someone to.

On the other hand, I do not know all the floaters that cover lunches/early & late / etc., mainly because my H does most of the drop offs and pick ups. Every so often when I am there to pick her up, someone I don't know will say "Bye, C!!" in the hallway, and while I admit it's strange to have a complete stranger singing out my daughter's name, it doesn't really bother me. So in answer to your post: yes, they should absolutely keep you informed of the main teachers. But I think it woul dbe impossible to do this with the floaters and PT'ers, just becasue the very nature of their job doesn't lend itself to any formal introductions, etc.

daisies05 · June 2009

Thanks again for the responses - it's good to get input and other perspectives.

I think you're right in that I have issues with the management in general. The teachers are great though, and DD seems to enjoy it. I think I also have guilt that she has to be in daycare at all too - which makes me more easily irritated.

Anyway, thanks again!

MegGary · June 2009

Our centers teachers have all been there for at least 10 or more years. The infant teacher has 17 years in. I do know that if she left I'd want a letter to know this & one to tell me who the new one was.

I don't think your asking for too much by requesting that. Just because it has never been asked for before doesn't mean that it's a crazy request.

gypsywitch · June 2009

Personally, I do think thats a little over the top. most centers have people come and go so often they wouldn't be able to keep up with that. My DD is in a center, and there are caregivers in her room often that I don't recognize or personally know...I just assume they're standing in for the regulars, or like you said, floaters. I trust that the daycare hires qualified caring people and that I don't need to keep tabs on whose coming or going. DD ALWAYS seems happy with whoever is taking care of her, and if your child seems happy, I wouldn't worry about it.

cfsinger · June 2009

yes we do get a note and they do give us a head's up in the morning

Mrs.McLovin · June 2009

If there is a change in the regular teacher in the room, then they need to let the parents know about it. With all of the crap daycare sends home in DS's diaper bag, I would hope they could send a little note. Luckily, none of the regular teachers have left his room.

It would be really hard to know all of the floaters. But it is not unreasonable to ask for a list of all of the floaters if you wanted to see that.

Snucci · June 2009

I think you are over reacting big time.

Our floaters are pretty consistent but I don't expect to be told there is a new floater in a room. My DH and I are very involved and chat with the teachers in both our kids rooms every day (he drops off and I pick up). DH sees the lead teacher more than I do b/c they are usually gone when I pick up.

It would be nice to receive notice that a teacher is leaving or arriving. I don't think we get notices. My DD just switched rooms but in her other room, the assistant teacher was gone one day and I found out that she switched rooms for the summer. The girl that replaced her was a floater but I know her and like her alot.

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