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July 2015 Moms
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Teaching ladies, I need your guidance!

LeannFranLeannFran member
in July 2015 Moms
hey teaching ladies! Hopefully many of you are on summer break. Which only means that one job is "over" and the other begins! Prep for next the school year! I am due at the end of July and am anticipating taking 8 weeks off. This is no problem for the district that I work in. That being said, I am interviewing for a new position in two different districts. I'm a huge believer in the first couple weeks being vital to the rest of the year. I am a big pusher for positive reinforcement and for being proactive about classroom management instead of reactive. So my question to you, how do I convince these new districts that I am going to be a great addition to their building even though I will be out for the first 3 weeks of school? Any parent input is welcome as well! I realize they can't not hire me because I'm pregnant but let's be honest, it's less than ideal!

I should add that one of the districts is the same district I live in and will be sending my children to. TIA!
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Re: Teaching ladies, I need your guidance!

  • audi681audi681 member
    If you get an interview, bring a portfolio of your current room and the accomplishments you have made over the year. That is your time to really blow your sparkles and rainbows over yourself. I would take pics of your classroom management system, maybe have some current parents write letters to attest to your student's behavior improvements over the year. 
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  • Emeraldeyed315Emeraldeyed315 member
    Technically it is illegal for them to ask about your pregnancy...SO, I wouldn't bring it up in the first round. :) If you get through to final rounds or an offer, then it's time to explain your desires of a leave. 
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  • LeannFranLeannFran member
    I know it's illegal but I feel like I need to be transparent, even if it bites me in the end. Do you think it would be ok to just let there be an elephant in the room? I guess I haven't even considered not bringing it up and discussing my plans. @Emeraldeyed315
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  • mommy1922mommy1922 member
    Good question! I'm due July 5th wish means that if my baby comes on or after her due date, I'll need to miss at least two weeks of school which worries me. How do I begin the year after everyone else?? I want to be there to set MY tone for the year instead of playing catch up... But my first priority is my daughter, so if I must miss, so be it!
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  • mommy1922mommy1922 member
    Good question! I'm due July 5th wish means that if my baby comes on or after her due date, I'll need to miss at least two weeks of school which worries me. How do I begin the year after everyone else?? I want to be there to set MY tone for the year instead of playing catch up... But my first priority is my daughter, so if I must miss, so be it!
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  • Emeraldeyed315Emeraldeyed315 member
    LeannFran said:
    I know it's illegal but I feel like I need to be transparent, even if it bites me in the end. Do you think it would be ok to just let there be an elephant in the room? I guess I haven't even considered not bringing it up and discussing my plans. @Emeraldeyed315
    I think it is completely ok to let it be the elephant in the room. They need to be interviewing you based on credentials. If they are unable to do that, and got lost in 6-8 weeks of a 25+ year career it is their loss. Focus on your teaching and your overall career, not a few weeks. When it's time to bargain in the hiring process/last few interviews is the time to negotiate. 
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  • LeannFranLeannFran member
    Thanks for the support and input ladies. I've been talking to my husband about this a lot & with your input I think I'll wait to see how things play out and discuss plans when/if I get called back for later interviews. I'll keep you posted
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  • sarahlynn42sarahlynn42 member
    I'm due July 6th and I already put in for 8 weeks maternity leave. I don't plan on going back until the very end of October. I say don't feel guilty about it. You only get this time once with your child. Beginning of the years come every year. I plan on doing the same things in the first couple weeks I get back that I would if I were there from the start. I'm a very dedicated teacher but family always trumps the job.
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  • eclohoecloho member
    Not going back till after New Years & then only working 1/2 time. 7 years into teaching, burned out, & look at working 1/2 time as a stepping stone in the way out of the profession
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  • werhaneewerhanee member
    One of my coworkers took the first three months of the school year off and came back to a sub that didn't have very good classroom management. On her first day back she went over rules and procedures like she would have on the first day of school and it all worked out fine. I agree with the previous poster I would bring examples and artifacts of your classroom management plan maybe a list of procedures or behavior action plans. Good luck
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  • LexCarolLexCarol member
    I'm a high school math teacher and I have been in the position of starting in the middle of the year when a teacher left mid year, it can be difficult to establish classroom management and routines esp if the students have been without it but the most important thing is to remain consistent. I strongly reccomend reading "the first days of school" I believe the author is Wong. It stresses establishing routines and has a section on teachers coming in or just wanting to change routines after the year has started.
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  • DagooDagoo member
    I'm in same boat (w/o a choice). No reason, loosing all my days, let's just say the principal targeted a few people she didn't want there anymore (incl my evaluator who had more exp as an admin than her). In any case, so far I've only had 1 interview and have a few more scheduled next week. I don't plan on bringing up when I'm due until I evt. get an offer. I will probably only be able to take 2-3 wks off as I'm due 7-29. Again, out of my control, but when you loose all your days from 1 district for no reason whatsoever, and have to start somewhere else, and get docked any days I do take. Oh well, we'll see what I get offered and when it starts/baby comes
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  • turneryturnery member
    I am a teacher and just interviewed for a job starting Septemeber and I will be off the whole school year next year. I am due July 3rd and very obviously pregnant. I did the entire interview and then brought up the fact that I would be off for maternity leave because I thought it needed to be addressed. I felt much better clearly the air and not just pretending like it wasn't happening.
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  • turneryturnery member
    Oh and that day I found out I got the job.
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  • LeannFranLeannFran member
    Thank you ladies!!! I had my interview and final round interview. I didn't feel it was the right time to address my pregnancy and maternity leave. The first interview was over the phone so there was no need to bring it up. For the final interview it was obvious that I was pregnant but I genuinely didn't feel it was the right time to bring up maternity leave or my EDD. (I interviewed with the principal and whole grade level teachers). Even as the principal walked me out, my gut was telling me to hold off.

    Later, I spoke with my friend who is great friends with the principal and she said the principal was asking a lot of questions about my pregnancy. In my "thank you/follow up" I addressed my pregnancy and my intentions for the beginning of the year. My friend told me I was basically going through formalities since the principal loved me from my phone interview but now that she knows I'm expecting things slowed down :(. She already went to HR about hiring me, but that was all before she knew I was pregnant. I'm sure she will find some legal reason to not hire me. It would be super disappointing to not get the job because I'm carrying a miracle & it doesn't fit into the principals plans. I'll keep you all updated!!
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  • LeannFranLeannFran member
    **UPDATE**

    The school district said no. Said I had a terrific interview and the team loved me but "too many years teaching experience". Let me translate that "we don't want to hire you because you're pregnant". My friend who's friends with this principal already told me that HR approved me at the step I was at..this was all before she knew I was pregnant...sigh. Back to the grind at my current district. It's not the worst thing of course, I have a job, a healthy son, a healthy LO growing (and taking over) in my belly and a loving, caring husband. But I'm quite disappointed that I won't be teaching in the district my kids will be in..thanks for your advice and support ladies!
    image Lilypie Maternity tickers Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers Daisypath Anniversary tickers
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