Any teacher mommies out there?

robleselizabeth · July 2015

this is my first baby, and we are so excited, but I'm wondering once I return to teach in August how things will play out at school as far as when I will have leave, when I should get a long term sub... It kinda stresses me out! Any advice? Thank you!

momo525 · July 2015

I'm in the same boat as you. As I am also a FTM I've never had to go through the process before from the pregnant woman's side, but I have been a long term sub for someone else (granted it was only for 6 weeks as she was due closer to the end of the year). I plan on talking to another teacher at school who has been through it before, and will be going through it again this year. The teacher I subbed for left AMAZING plans, and everything was already copied and organized by week. I know I won't be able to be as detailed because I plan on being out for much longer (until the end of the school year), but I do think I will start planning some things very early on in the year so I don't have to worry about it as much as my due date gets closer and life gets crazier.

Each school district/state is probably a little different in how they deal with maternity leave, long term subs, etc. So definitely check with someone who has been through it before at your school if you can!

jeannebean82 · July 2015

Me! Obviously in your exact same boat too. I plan on working right up to my due date (and if it comes and goes with no baby, then up until I go into labor). This is only so I can get the most out of my maternity leave. I will have a long term sub lined up with all lesson plans completed for a seamless transition. With my first kid, I only needed to take the last 3 weeks of the school year off. This time it'll be the last 2-2.5 months off (I don't plan on returning for the last couple weeks of school). You can either leave loose instructions for your sub and have them do the bulk of the planning/prep, or if you're a control freak like me, leave crazy detailed lesson plans, all handouts copied, and each minute of every day accounted for so even a monkey can successfully run the class. The second option is obviously a LOT more work on your part but in my experience, most subs are mediocre at best.

BookChick · July 2015

I am in this same situation - first time Mom and a teacher. I am going to wait until I get through the first trimester and then connect with others in my building who have had babies during the school year and ask my administration lots of questions.

mommygrams0730 · July 2015

Another teacher here! I had my 3rd after getting hired into a new position and was a little nervous because the principal that hired me retired and no one new I was pregnant when I was hired.

Anyway my principal took care of getting my sub, he asked if I was ok with having a retired teacher from our school and I was fine with it. It was nice because she had taught the curriculum and I really didn't have to plan too much. She actually took on another maternity leave the week after I came back.

I took off almost 10 weeks last time (January baby) and I think at least 2 weeks were unpaid, but I felt like it was too long. I'm only going to take off 6 weeks then come back and finish up the last 6 weeks of school before summer break. We have a nanny that comes to our house and takes care of our 2 that aren't in school so it's much easier to go back to work knowing baby is still at home. I don't have all that much time saved up because I used it all on my last maternity leave, I think I'll have to take 1-2 days unpaid this time around. My husband has a ton of sick days so he'll have to use them if our nanny is sick or uses one of her paid time off days.

laurenk8t · July 2015

*raises hand* I'm an elementary school counselor, and I've only told one teacher friend at my school who is sworn to secrecy. My district will hire a sub, and I plan to take the rest of the year off (due March 10).

TamboPowell · July 2015

I am. My first bane was born in October and I had to go back in February. Taking more time than FMLA allows means I would have to pay my benefits. Yikes! It was horrible but it got easier, like people said. This time I'll have to come back end of may. Yuck.

TamboPowell · July 2015

*babe

katy0990 · July 2015

I am also a teacher and have been wondering how all of this would go, but I have not wanted to tell anyone until after the first tri. This has all been helpful!

JLaVO888 · July 2015

Wow! So awesome to see so many other teachers on the March BMB. I am in the same boat as a FTM but know of a few good subs at my school that I am going to talk to first thing in August. My biggest worry right now is dealing with MS while at school and also having to use the restroom so much. Thankfully, I have an awesome coworker/friend right next to me who always keeps an eye on my class when I need her (although I haven't told her the big news yet). I am hoping over Christmas break that I can get a great sub binder ready so that I will be prepared incase I have to take leave sooner than my due date. Anyone else feel so lucky to have a March due date? I think it is a teacher's dream due date!!

katy0990 · July 2015

JLaVO888 said:

Wow! So awesome to see so many other teachers on the March BMB. I am in the same boat as a FTM but know of a few good subs at my school that I am going to talk to first thing in August. My biggest worry right now is dealing with MS while at school and also having to use the restroom so much. Thankfully, I have an awesome coworker/friend right next to me who always keeps an eye on my class when I need her (although I haven't told her the big news yet). I am hoping over Christmas break that I can get a great sub binder ready so that I will be prepared incase I have to take leave sooner than my due date. Anyone else feel so lucky to have a March due date? I think it is a teacher's dream due date!!

I agree that it is the perfect time to have a baby for a teacher. We talked about that when we started trying, but I never dreamed it would work out so perfectly!

laurenk8t · July 2015

I agree- perfect month to have a baby! A couple teacher friends of mine are due in August... I would be a nervous wreck if I weren't there to start the school year with my (school) babies

katy0990 said:

JLaVO888 said:

Wow! So awesome to see so many other teachers on the March BMB. I am in the same boat as a FTM but know of a few good subs at my school that I am going to talk to first thing in August. My biggest worry right now is dealing with MS while at school and also having to use the restroom so much. Thankfully, I have an awesome coworker/friend right next to me who always keeps an eye on my class when I need her (although I haven't told her the big news yet). I am hoping over Christmas break that I can get a great sub binder ready so that I will be prepared incase I have to take leave sooner than my due date. Anyone else feel so lucky to have a March due date? I think it is a teacher's dream due date!!

I agree that it is the perfect time to have a baby for a teacher. We talked about that when we started trying, but I never dreamed it would work out so perfectly!

JLaVO888 · July 2015

laurenk8t said:

I agree- perfect month to have a baby! A couple teacher friends of mine are due in August... I would be a nervous wreck if I weren't there to start the school year with my (school) babies

One of our teachers had her baby the first week of June so she had the whole summer with her. She is taking her leave starting in August. I would never want to come back to a classroom of students who started a year with a sub...even if it was a good sub.

zephyrlt · July 2015

I also am a teacher and am torn about whether to come back for the last few weeks in May. My husband just started a new business, so it might come down to whether we can afford to lose a few weeks of my salary. I am super excited that I do get so much time to spend with the baby between maternity leave and next summer. We are waiting to tell friends and family until the end of the first trimester, but I'm afraid I may have to tell my principal a little earlier than that if I have morning sickness and am running to the bathroom every hour!

robleselizabeth · July 2015

Getting things planned before is excellent advice! Thanks, and good luck!

robleselizabeth · July 2015

JLaVO888 said:
Wow! So awesome to see so many other teachers on the March BMB. I am in the same boat as a FTM but know of a few good subs at my school that I am going to talk to first thing in August. My biggest worry right now is dealing with MS while at school and also having to use the restroom so much. Thankfully, I have an awesome coworker/friend right next to me who always keeps an eye on my class when I need her (although I haven't told her the big news yet). I am hoping over Christmas break that I can get a great sub binder ready so that I will be prepared incase I have to take leave sooner than my due date. Anyone else feel so lucky to have a March due date? I think it is a teacher's dream due date!!

Yes!!! We planned this baby to a T so we could have the time off!

mb0112 · July 2015

I guess it depends on your school year, but mine seems too good to be true! Still very early and on summer break so I won't discuss leave with my principal til Sept, but hopefully I have this right: due 3/16 and there are 12 school weeks including that week through our last day 6/9. 13 calendar weeks minus one for April break. I have 53 sick days saved so I am hoping I can count the 12 schools weeks as leave under FMLA and choose to use my sick days to have it paid, maybe just one week unpaid, then paid through summer because that's how our checks work. Does this seem right? They can't refuse me from using the sick days and make me take unpaid, right? Private school, no Union, and we really need my salary!!

b1979s · July 2015

I am also a teacher. I teach fifth grade part time. I had my first baby October 2013 and we back full time after 12 weeks off. The following school year I decided I wanted to spend more time with my daughter and now job share. Best decision I've ever made. I get to stay at home in the mornings and teach in the afternoons. Plus all the responsibilities are shared so it's much less stressful.

As for planning maternity leave each school district does it differently. I had no say in my long term sub but it all ended well. I left two weeks a lesson plans and mapped out the other 10 weeks to make it easier on her.

I agree March is the perfect month to have a baby. Congrats to all of you!!

marly604 · July 2015

I am a special education teacher. My DS was born mid-August so I missed the first 4 weeks of school when he was born. I felt comfortable with that because my mom took care of him for the first 3 weeks until my SO became a stay at home dad. This time, I again will probably only take 6 weeks, or about that. Being a SPED teacher, I have a lot of paperwork due in May. With DS I was able to use sick time, and will do that again.

Stormiewinter · July 2015

I am a first grade teacher. This is my second time going through the maternity leave so I am feeling a lot better (first time around was so hard. I was put on bed rest 8 weeks before DS was due and went into total panic mode. In the end ds was born 4 weeks early and I was still able to stay home with him 3 months. In our district you only have to work one day in the month for it to not count as fmla). Unfortunately I am still not caught up with my sick days so taking 3 months I will have to take 3-4 weeks unpaid. Ugh! We are required to report a pregnancy by 4 months so I will tell my district then. Pretty excited about the date I will only have to go back for the last month and my mom will stay with us so we won't pay for child care.

meg_2006 · July 2015

Meee! I plan to work up until my due date if I can. I bought into short term disability a couple months ago, so I'll get 3 months off paid, and then I plan to use my 2 weeks of personal/sick days to cover the rest of the year. So if all goes wel, I'll have 6 months off with baby! Crossing my fingers that I don't get put on bed rest.

With DS I just gave the long term sub the scope and sequence for the class. It was up to her to prepare the lessons, activities, get the grades in, etc. I also met with her to explain my classroom procedures. Makes an easier transition for the kids.

zephyrlt · July 2015

@mb0112 hopefully your school district isn't like mine! I am only allowed to take 6weeks of paid maternity, regardless of how many sick days I have saved up, and I have nearly enough for 6 months! One silver lining for me is my school is only Monday through Thursday, so I'll have every Friday off with the baby.

bcr3926 · July 2015

I am a teacher as well. I teach fourth grade. We are due March 1st with our first baby. My plan is to work right up until I absolutely have to take off and then take the rest of the school year off.

mb0112 · July 2015

@zephyrlt that's terrible! With all those days saved up you should be able to use them! What state are you in? Here in MA I think our state law specifies 8 weeks unpaid (concurrent with FMLA but covering some workers who couldn't be covered with FMLA) and employees can use the sick time if they choose. I've been assuming I could stack all my sick days to fill almost my 12 weeks of FMLA so I hope they let me!

Does your district allow people to use more than 6 weeks sick leave for other things like cancer treatment, major surgery, etc? My understanding is they have to treat pregnancy the same but I'm still new to this. Even if you have to go back after 6 weeks the Fridays are a bonus.

mrsmommya · July 2015

Another teacher! I am moving to third grade this year so not only planning a long term sub, but also for something I have never done. I am hopeful to get an experienced sub (we have a teacher who retired 2 years ago) and only plan for half of the time and have him/her take over the rest. I am due at the end of March and will also be taking the rest of the year off. My school gives 4 weeks paid and then we can use our sick days. I am going to use some sick days and may have to take a week of no pay. Easter will give me a free week too to be off and get paid.

I plan to tell my principal around 10 weeks-ish. I at least want to start school without everyone knowing because I don't want a lot of attention when school starts.

zephyrlt · July 2015

@mb0112 I'm in Nevada. I was told I get 6 weeks paid with a vaginal delivery and 8 weeks if it's a c-section. I'm allowed to take the full 12, but half of it wouldn't be paid. Oh well, one slight cough from the baby and I'll be calling in sick that day! We also have some crazy school calendar where our last day of school next year is May 27, so hopefully I just have to go back for a few weeks. It would be nice to end the year with my students. I'm at a middle and high school, so I've taught my seniors since they were in middle school!

mb0112 · July 2015

That's not a bad deal overall. Laughing about the slight cough from the baby. I think short term disability is an option for me but it would only pay 60% salary 6 weeks or 8 for c section. I'd much rather use all my sick days at full pay to take me into the summer months!

kself037 · July 2015

I am a teacher, and FTM still trying to figure out how everything works. We do get to pick our long term subs so I am already investigating my options. It is so nice to hear from mommas/teachers that have gone through this before. I bought into short term disability insurance knowing that we would be trying to get pregnant this year so I am going to use that and then hopefully save up sick days to take off whatever extra there is left until summer, although I may go back for the last week or two. I teach kinder and I feel like they are my "babies" and we do a graduation so I'm thinking I'll want to be a part of that.

I am so lucky to have a good friend that I teach with (she is right next door) who looks out for my classroom and will be able to help the substitute plan if need be, however, I am also a control freak and would like to do as much planning and prep for the sub as possible. So much to think about!

mb0112 · July 2015

I don't want to freak anyone out just yet, but for teachers who are hoping to return for the last couple weeks, the law says your school can actually make you stay off through the end of the year. Your schools might have other rules that override this but here is that provision of FMLA explained under the section "limits on leave near the end of an academic term". I guess they figure it would be too disruptive to have you out for say 8 weeks then return for 2. Seems unfair though because I assume the extra leave they'd force you into would be unpaid...just something to be aware of before these scary talks with our bosses!

https://www.sasd.org/sdasbo/downloads/fall-2012/Special Rules for School Employees under FMLA.pdf

mommygrams0730 · July 2015

mb0112 said:
I don't want to freak anyone out just yet, but for teachers who are hoping to return for the last couple weeks, the law says your school can actually make you stay off through the end of the year. Your schools might have other rules that override this but here is that provision of FMLA explained under the section "limits on leave near the end of an academic term". I guess they figure it would be too disruptive to have you out for say 8 weeks then return for 2. Seems unfair though because I assume the extra leave they'd force you into would be unpaid...just something to be aware of before these scary talks with our bosses!

https://www.sasd.org/sdasbo/downloads/fall-2012/Special Rules for School Employees under FMLA.pdf

That may be the case, but I think most would be happy to have their own teacher come back to finish up the year.

My school goes with whatever the requested teacher asks for. Unless it's something crazy the board approves the leave of absence.

wpasm · July 2015

Also FTM, and starting a new position in January - worried about when I should tell my new principal as I am due only 2 months after I start. Any suggestions on when I should tell him?

adorebel · July 2015

I'm a teacher as well. I teach by semester, though, so I may just have to figure out a co-teaching situation for the spring where I design half the class and someone else takes the other half. I'm not sure!

Stormiewinter · July 2015

My district also only allows us to use 35 sick days for vaginal delivery or 40 sick days for c section. But if you were to go out early due to complications they will let you use additional sick days for a medical leave (my last pregnancy I used all 55 days I had). This is one of the only things that make me want to move home to Canada, every other woman in my family gets a whole year at 60% pay. I am so jealous!

ChristineBellina · July 2015

I'm in New York and we go to school through late June so I will have to go back to work for May and June. I am going to leave extremely detailed plans down to the minute so that when I come back in May, my systems will still be in place. I work at an inner city school teaching middle school ELA so I don't want to have to readjust the students when I come back.

wallberry · July 2015

I am still in school, my last semester of classes is this fall, and then I was supposed to student teach in January, but being due in the middle of the year, they are making me put off student teaching

kind of a bummer but it'll al work out!

TheRealVeronicaSawyer · July 2015

I'm a teacher in SC. I've taught fourth grade for 11 years. I love the kids, but I would like I teach 2nd grade. My DH and I began trying to get pregnant two years ago because I wanted my due date to be in March or April. It really is the perfect time for teachers to have a baby. Well, month after month, I still wasn't pregnant. My body just would not cooperate with me. After that, I didn't care when I got pregnant, I just wanted to be pregnant!!! After having a miscarriage in May, I just found out I'm pregnant again. We are just so excited but cautious as well.

rfweber13 · July 2015

Me too!! We miscarried in April and I am so excited to be pregnant again. I am thrilled to take leave in March and not return till August. I do plan to leave very detailed lesson plans. I teach MS and HS science!

oahough24 · July 2015

I am a teacher in PA. I teach high school life skills to students with moderate to severe disabilities. This coming school year will be my 7th year. This will be my first baby and my DH and I are so excited

My leave is going to be extremely difficult on me, my students and their parents though

lsgonzalez719 · July 2015

I'm a first time mom and a teacher too (going into my third year)! This thread is super helpful! I had a coworker last year give birth on St. Patrick's Day, and she took the rest of the year off, minus a couple of work days at the end. Since I'm due around 3/10, hopefully I'll be able to do the same!

edc8214 · July 2015

I'm planning on taking from my due date in March through the rest of the year plus a maternity unpaid leave the following school year. I will likely resign after that year to stay home then try to get back in part time later on when my kids are in school. At least that's my plan for now.

ecwk · July 2015

I teach grades 9-12 and I am so not clued in to the maternity leave I am entitled to! I hope to be able to share my good news with my colleagues in September and figure things out from there. I know in my district that maternity leave is unpaid, I assume I can use built up sick time or something...

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