Pink slipped teacher

cbutler0045 · April 2015

So I'm a first time mommy, first year teacher, and was pink slipped Friday. Any other teachers out there receive a pink slip? I know it happens all the time and I was expecting it, but it still stings and makes me nervous. I wonder who will want to hire someone for next year when they'll have to leave 2 months into the school year for maternity leave. Also makes me wonder if I should even try to find another teaching job for the next year as well.. I love teaching, but it's stressful and with a newborn I can only imagine how much more stressed I will feel. My boyfriend says he'll work his ass off if I just want to stay home and take care of baby for the first year, but we are already tight on money as it is and I can't really imagine just living off one income. Also, if I do begin job hunting should I hide that I'm pregnant during interviews if possible? Really any advice/support helps!

leighann1 · April 2015

If I were in your position, I would start applying for jobs. I would not advertise the pregnancy, as that should have no bearing on whether they hire you or not.

If you can't find a position or decide it would be best to stay home, you could always try to get tutoring jobs for supplemental income. Good luck!

LiveNLove44 · April 2015

I am finishing my seventh year of teaching and I work with new teachers through our instructional coaching program. I also partner with a local university to improve their teacher preparation and support their teacher grads. From my experience, you have a lot of options!

First, are you able to reapply for your position? We have a large district in our area that does this each year to non-tenured teachers and they all have to reapply. I know this sounds ridiculous, and I can't tell you why, but it's common.

Second, you could consider next year a good opportunity to take on long-term sub positions so you avoid needing to take an unpaid maternity leave in the middle of a new position. You could look for LTS positions for September (my DD was born at the beginning of Labor Day weekend, so I had a LTS in my position Sept/Oct). You should look for positions in a district where you'd like to eventually teach so you can get to know students and staff and begin to network there.

Third, in our district, we have subs who could literally work every single day of the school year because we request them and they're good. We know they'll follow the plans and they are excellent at communicating with teachers when they're gone. You could sub in several districts on a day-to-day basis and network in a couple areas rather than just focusing on one district.

Last, you could apply for a new position, knowing that you'll need to take unpaid leave when LO arrives in the fall. This is not worst-case scenario, but it might make you question whether a non-hire had to do with your pregnancy or not. They can't legally not hire you for that reason, but it doesn't mean it won't cross your mind. Now is actually a prime time to apply. Some districts are looking to fill positions for people who take sabbatical, too.

In terms of benefits, make sure you look into what you'll need when fall rolls around and set it up as soon as you can. Obviously, your coverage will shift if you aren't fully employed in your current district.

I worked with a teacher two years ago who was unable to find a job in the spring and summer, but when fall rolled around, some districts opened up positions in the middle of the first semester. You never know when they'll open, so keep your eyes open. Do you have a website where teaching jobs in your state are posted? I'd love to help you if I can!

koriemo · April 2015

Good luck! I am also a teacher, and I wanted to find a new job this year, but decided not to because I am pregnant! I LOVE my job, but it is at a private school so I make 1/3 less than public school teachers in my area, the commute is 45-60 minutes, and I teach 4 different subjects (sophomore and junior English, reading remediation, and creative writing).

A position opened at a middle public school 5 minutes from my house. It's part time, but I would be making nearly the same amount as I make now, and the cost would actually even out considering the commute is so much less, and I would only have to teach one class.

To be honest, if you can make it work, I would take a year off! Sub before and after you have the baby to make ends meet.

LiveNLove44 · April 2015

Also, maintain and update your application packet now (letters of recommendation). Request letters from any colleagues who you think will do a good job. Let them know your situation and ask for their support. Even if you work in the same district next year, it never hurts to have updated letters of recommendation! If you have an administrator from whom you could ask for a letter, that's a great idea, too!

mommygrams0730 · April 2015

When I was pregnant with my 3rd I was pink slipped bc I was a title teacher and even though I knew I would be hired back in August it was very hard to take.

I applied for several other positions in my district and was hired for a part time kindergarten position the last week of school. I never said that I was pregnant and I knew I'd have s new principal in the fall than the one who hired me bc he was retiring. I was so nervous about being pregnant and I didn't even tell him until I was about 26 weeks pregnant....which was like the week before school started. In January it switched to full time, but still part time with 2 kids and 1 on the way was stressful, plus I was due in January when it would switch to full time. I taught summer school that summer to make extra money. Anyway my principal was totally awesome about it. My long term sub ended up being a retired teacher from the school, and as soon as I came back she went to another maternity leave position for s teacher across the hall from me.

When I was hired in the district almost 4 years ago there was also hired and she was due around October and very obviously pregnant so I don't think all districts will count you out if you are showing during interviews,

Sorry for the novel but I wanted to share that things do work out. I was so sad to be leaving my school when I got pink slipped, I had so many colleague friends...but the school that I'm at now is even better. I'm so glad that I'm where I'm at, I love love love teaching kindergarten and I couldn't be happier. Things will work out, and I agree that you should apply and see what's out there.

TL;DR- I've been there, I ended up in an even better teaching position.

billie_80 · April 2015

I am also a first year teacher and was actually hired as a intern program luckily I was hired again this year and have finished my internship program not easy since a bulk of the testing was during my morning sickness phrase but I agree with a previous poster I have heard of lots of pinked slipped teachers getting their jobs or a teacher job within the same district so I would just apply and see what happens! Or just take sub jobs until you decide what to do. I was scared to death of getting a pink slip this year I was the last hired at my school this year so I waited until after the deadline for pinkslips to tell my principal!

alz88 · April 2015

Can someone please explain what it means when a teacher is "pink slipped". I'm in NZ and its not something I've heard of

LiveNLove44 · April 2015

@alz88, a "pink slip" is when a non-tenured teacher is "not renewed" as staff. Sometimes it's done to all first and second year teachers until they reach their third year when a district maintains them as tenured staff. Other times a teacher might receive a "pink slip" because they are not fit for the position in which they were employed. I think that's the easiest way to explain it!

AmyElizabeth1530 · April 2015

I am inn the process of applying and interviewing for my first teaching job now. Lucky for me I've been with the school as a sub for the past 2 years and the principal really wants me as their PE teacher. Fingers crossed I get hired on even with them knowing I'm due at the end of October.

Boonhilde · April 2015

I'd hide my pregnancy at an interview if I were you. I'm sorry you were pink slipped. DH is a math teacher and got the slip too.

s&jeggerton · April 2015

If you're worried about income maybe you could help out as a substitute teacher.

alz88 · April 2015

Wow that's crazy, I wonder if we have a similar system in Nz!

JAZsax · April 2015

I am also a first year teacher! I have not received my contract for next year quite yet, however I have thought about if I don't. I think I would sub for a year, just because it would be hard to find a job. I know that employers aren't supposed to discriminate like that, however I have a feeling it would be more difficult to find a job. But you never know, it's all about finding the right fit! Best of luck to you!

sev1126 · April 2015

The same thing happened to me. After calculating out the cost of daycare and realizing how short paid maternity leave was (my district only offers 6 weeks full pay) we decided that even though it would be tight, I am going to take next school year off then apply next spring. When my principal told me I was losing my position the first thing out of my mouth was, "no one is going to hire a pregnant person" and I started to sob. Since then, almost everyone has told me what a blessing it is to be able to stay home without the pressure of having to return to work. My plan right now is to fully embrace raising my baby and learning how to pinch and save, including breastfeeding and later on making my own baby food and using cloth diapers if needed. I'm really scared but this is my first so I'm trying not to look at the financials and rather see the silver lining. My husband and I are already saving, no baby moon for us, but I think the trade off will be worth it.

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