Any teachers?

kreb18 · March 2016

I'm a teacher, and I've been thinking a lot lately about maternity leave. Just wondering what any fellow teachers are planning to do with a baby coming in September!

ducks6 · March 2016

I'm a teacher but I live in Canada so the situation is different than in the US. I get 1 year paid maternity leave (government paid at 55% of my best weekly salary) and can take a second year unpaid. I will be taking a year for sure. After that, I will either go back or wait an extra 6 months depending on daycare. My board will guarantee me my job for up to two years, no questions asked. I can also go back early at anytime as long as I give them 6 weeks notice.

steminist · March 2016

We'll be moving over the summer, so I'll probably take the year, too. I know that pregnancy discrimination is illegal, but I can't imagine I'd have an easy time finding a job to start at a new school in August, only to leave by mid September. If I were staying here, though, I'd probably just take the standard maternity, then come back to finish the year.

newmomtobeLA · March 2016

I am! I was originally in the october group but my doctor recently told me I will be delivering in september. Our schools have a mid-august start date so I am planning to go as long as possible and then possibly take off all the way to thanksgiving break.

KimmySchmidt · March 2016

With my first (who was born in late August) I took my 6 weeks paid, and then an entire school year unpaid. Then I quit to take a part time job closer to home. Then I got pregnant again. This time I don't get any time off, paid or otherwise, as a part time employee. However, they just listed my job as a full time position for next year. If I were to be hired, I could work for the first two weeks of September, and then take 6 weeks paid and the rest of the school year off. Since it's technically a new position, I have to reinterview, and I'm basically assuming I'm going to be discriminated against. Come May, (interview season) there will be no hiding my pregnancy.

Ah825 · March 2016

ducks6 said:

I'm a teacher but I live in Canada so the situation is different than in the US. I get 1 year paid maternity leave (government paid at 55% of my best weekly salary) and can take a second year unpaid. I will be taking a year for sure. After that, I will either go back or wait an extra 6 months depending on daycare. My board will guarantee me my job for up to two years, no questions asked. I can also go back early at anytime as long as I give them 6 weeks notice.

Ugh Canada is amazing!!!

Ah825 · March 2016

I am a teacher.

right now I plan on working as long as possible (due date is September 17th) so literally I hope to work until the 16th or whenever I go into labor....it will be nice to meet the kids and have them know that I am their teacher.

i have about 6 weeks of sick days saved up that I will use, and hopefully be able to dip into my 2016-2017 sick days to get an extra 2 weeks paid off. So at the worst, in hoping 8 weeks. Though I would like to ideally come back after thanksgiving break. We can't afford for me to not work.

however! I have multiple sclerosis, so I think I will be eligible for 1/2 my for an additional amount of time. Lots of options, lots of choices, just so many unknowns at the moment!

audi681 · March 2016

I am a teacher. I took a year maternity leave, but got pregnant during my leave, so I recently quit so we can move closer to family. I'm going to try to sub come 2017, and hopefully get my foot in the door for the 17-18 school year.

I always thought that SAHMs had it all... "Living the dream." I love my son more than anything in the world, but I am sooooo bored. I daydream about work, adult conversation, professional responsibilities, and of course, a paycheck with benefits!

Prncesta · March 2016

I'm a NYC teacher. I'm planning on going back I. September to meet my kiddies and then work until I pop...ill be taking 6 weeks (paid) and then another 6 weeks (unpaid). With my first, I took the whole year and I was soooo bored and I didn't feel human so with this guy we've decided it's best for me mentally and financially to go back to sooner...finding a sitter for two kids, now that's a different story

estellegetty · March 2016

I'm a teacher in NYC too! I'm due September 8th so I won't be going back to start the new school year which kind of freaks me out since it will be my first year ever not having a "first day of school" hahaa!

I plan on taking my six weeks paid and then up until February 1st unpaid. I would have loved to take the full year off, but it just doesn't make sense for us financially.

It it is going to be really hard on my students having me come back so late in the game and that's what upsets me the most. It's not easy for seven year olds to say good bye to one teacher and hello to another. Hopefully my replacement will be amazing and I can pick up where they leave off.

Ugh...now I wish we lived in Canada!

ducks6 · March 2016

Ah825 said:

ducks6 said:

I'm a teacher but I live in Canada so the situation is different than in the US. I get 1 year paid maternity leave (government paid at 55% of my best weekly salary) and can take a second year unpaid. I will be taking a year for sure. After that, I will either go back or wait an extra 6 months depending on daycare. My board will guarantee me my job for up to two years, no questions asked. I can also go back early at anytime as long as I give them 6 weeks notice.

Ugh Canada is amazing!!!

There are definitely benefits to living in Canada. DH is American and we met abroad but decided to settle in Canada (where I'm from) partially because of the benefits of living in a social democracy.

Edit: Quote fail

pilotswifey · March 2016

Another teacher here! I'm planning on going back when we start in mid-August. I'm not due until the 27th, so I'm going to work as long as I can up to that point. I'm then hoping to be off until the next semester starts in January. That *should* be 12 weeks of school days, so I'm hoping that works.

Only 6 weeks will be paid, but I didn't have any benefits with my son, so 6 weeks is better than nothing.

Who knows if my district will agree to this. Fingers crossed!

RedMar · March 2016

Teacher here too! I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do. At this point, since I'm due 9/9, I do not plan on starting the school year. I'm aiming for 12w off (same I had with DS but since he was born in June, it wasn't until November that I came back and he was 5 mos old). This time it will be trickier as LO will be only 3 mos and I'm not feeling good about leaving the babe that young.

marialevinson · March 2016

I had my DS at the end of July and took 8 weeks. I didn't think I could go back but once I started it was nice to have a routine again. I plan on taking 8 weeks again so that'll put me coming back at the beginning of Nov which means holiday breaks will be right around the corner!

noelani42 · March 2016

I teach in California...this baby is due right around the same time of the year when my 1st was due...like with her, I will work the first couple weeks of school to meet my kids and set my routines....there's an extra component thrown in this time because I actually took a job at a brand new school opening up so demands will be a little greater. In California, we get 12 weeks paid (100% until we run out of sick leave, then at about 75% afterwards). I will be taking the full 12 weeks and going back in late November.

sid464 · March 2016

I have my own business and work from home now, but I was teaching when I had my first daughter. She was born in July, and I took off until the mid-year point in January. The sub definitely didn't do things the way I would have liked, but it was what it was, and I wouldn't have traded the time off. You just do the best you can with what you have. I feel like having a baby was amazing for my teaching career because it taught me to not stress about the little stuff at work, really shifted my focus.

BernieRae · March 2016

We can't afford full time I nfant childcare so I won't be teaching next year. I hope to sub one day a week starting in January if my husband can arrange a set day off in his schedule. I teach preschool and I'm hoping a 2 or 3 day part time position will be open the following fall. Good luck next year, fellow teachers! Of course it will be hard to leave so early in the year, but I'm glad that it will work out for many of you. We really deserve to have this time to care for our babies and recover from birth. It's so important. And really January can feel like starting over sometimes anyway so it's a great time to return.

newmomtobeLA · March 2016

noelani42 said:

I teach in California...this baby is due right around the same time of the year when my 1st was due...like with her, I will work the first couple weeks of school to meet my kids and set my routines....there's an extra component thrown in this time because I actually took a job at a brand new school opening up so demands will be a little greater. In California, we get 12 weeks paid (100% until we run out of sick leave, then at about 75% afterwards). I will be taking the full 12 weeks and going back in late November.

We get 12 weeks paid?!?! This is news to me!! All I've heard is 6 weeks paid. I'm a California teacher as well...where did you find information about 12 weeks. I want to research this ASAP!

Jillybear82 · March 2016

I teach at a non-public, non-profit school, so unfortunately my maternity leave will not be paid. I do have some sick time, and vacation time saved up. Our school is year around, but we have a one week break the beginning of September. I am due September 25th, and am hoping to give myself a week or two before off, and then return after about 8 weeks.

ccreagh · March 2016

I teach 8th grade English in Illinois. The first day of school is 8/15 and I plan on working right up to my due date (9/10 but doc says it's likely I'll go early as I'm considered high risk). Then I would love to take 6 months--which is what I took with my son (had him in March and then I had the Summer). I would really like to take the full year but we haven't really figured out the finances yet. I just don't see the point of going back to work in March and paying for 2 kids in daycare when I'll probably be making next to nothing money wise after only working for 3.5 months out of a whole school year. Lots to think about.....

missfoxyleide · March 2016

I'm a teacher in CA...I'm in a tricky situation...I've been teaching for awhile now but this is my first year at the school where I'm at now. I signed a temporary contract and was my temporary status was supposed to changed to probationary but wasn't for some reason that I still don't really understand so I will be released at the end of this year, however, as the school district figures out their needs and how many openings they will have, I am keeping my fingers crossed that they'll have an opening for me to return to. I'm supposed to know for sure in May but I'm kind of nervous...I really don't want to have to look for another job as this district pays for our disability insurance that gives us 75% of our salary while on leave...not to mention that I really like the school and people I work with.

Ah825 · March 2016

I'm so worried my long term sub is going to suck. I work in a high needs inner city focus district with a heavy ESL population. I am very behavior management focused with lots of tough love. If you give the kids an inch, they take a mile. I don't want to walk into chaos after my leave!! Nervous about who it will be and if they will have the passion and drive.

TNgoldengirl · March 2016

I'm just a 2-day a week MDO teacher, and since school doesn't start until the first of September, I won't be coming back at all. I may have considered it if we had a baby program, but ours doesn't start until 2yo.

rawarr · March 2016

Not to change the subject, but do y'all plan on telling this year's kiddos about your pregnancy?

diagonalley · March 2016

I plan on working until baby comes, which I'm hoping will be around my due date this time which is 9/20 (if compared to my first, I won't even get to start the school year) so yea, hopefully I get a good solid month in. Then, I'll use my 14 days paid time, which is all I'll have since my son's illness earlier this year wiped out all my days, and hope to take off until this one is AT LEAST 5 months old, which is how old my son was when I went back (so sometime around February?) Ideally I'd LOVE to take off the rest of the year, I just don't know that we can swing it financially.

steminist · March 2016

@rawarr The "Teenagers- advice needed" thread covers this, though the title was a bit cryptic! I'll likely tell near the end of the year (May) when I start to show more. Otherwise, I figure they don't really need to know. I've been lucky to be mostly symptom-free during class time, and I don't want it to become a distraction to the flow of my lessons. My students already love to have lengthy discussions about anything and everything they can to get out of learning physics that day...a baby would just pile more fuel on that fire!

rawarr · March 2016

@Jabreen Thanks, I saw that thread already, but it unfortunately doesn't really help. What about those of you with younger elementary students?

kreb18 · March 2016

I teach first grade and actually told my students this week. I'm 15 weeks along. Some of my students already knew, as they are children of coworkers. I wanted to go ahead and tell them before it got spread around and then they'd be coming to me and asking.

estellegetty · March 2016

I teach second grade and I told my students this week when I turned 15 weeks along. They were so excited and so were their parents. It was getting hard to hide this big old blump that is growing into a real bump!

noelani42 · March 2016

@newmomtobeLA This is a new law signed by Jerry Brown...went into effect January 2016...can't believe your district hasn't informed you of it yet! It's awesome!

noelani42 · March 2016

@newmomtobeLA The law is called AB 375...it's really great news for mom and dad teachers... you get up to 12 weeks using sick pay, and afterwards making sub differential. You can take all 12 at once, or split it up and use it any time in the first year...

noelani42 · March 2016

@rawarr I teach 3rd and told my kids last week...a few of them said "Duh! You're tummy is sticking out and you've been rubbing it!!" Who knew...

Ah825 · March 2016

I plan on telling my kindergarten students after our sprint break- I'll be a little over 15 weeks. I think they will be really happy and excited. Other parents already know of previous students because of Facebook/small town- so it's only fair my students know as well! Plus- hopefully they will be sweeter?? Haha @rawarr

gorf1979 · March 2016

I'll return in the year. I'm due 9/16. We do t k IQ when our first day will be, and won't know until mid summer. We're building a new high school so they are going to delay as long as possible.

I currently have 4 sick days, and will get 6 more next year. So 10 days will be paid. I'll take the rest of my leave unpaid. With my last I took 5 weeks. I'll do the same with this one. They do t get me a "real" sub for leave, so I still have to grade and plan. It's just easier to be at school.

JuliaDeeS · March 2016

I don't know what to do! I graduate this summer with my masters in speech pathology. I live in rural ND and the speech therapist at the local school is retiring. I am the only applicant for the job and I doubt they will get any others. But, we don't start until the end of August and I'm due September 1st! It seems wrong to start a new job on maternity leave!! Also, the current therapist is full time and I'm really only interested in part time. I will just have to see how it all plays out!

SLou24 · March 2016

I'm not a teacher but I work in a college on a teachers schedule (August-end of May). Unfortunately I don't think I can continue doing my job after baby, just due to erratic and long hours, weekends, nights, etc. I plan on taking that first year off, then hunting for a new job after that

audi681 · March 2016

@JuliaDeeS I need to move to rural SD! I live in the metro area outside of nyc and there can be up to 400 applicants for an elementary Ed position.

smgentry14 · March 2016

I teach middle school math, and Hubby and I debated for quite a while about whether I should go back to work next year... with the cost of living being so affordable where we live, we decided that we really don't NEED my income to make ends meet so I won't be retuning to work next year. I've always wanted to be a SAHM, and I'm so glad living in a smaller city allows us a lifestyle that can accommodate that.

As for telling my students, I could tell that my 8th graders were getting a little suspicious so I decided to tell them before they left for spring break last week. I was 12 weeks when I told my kiddos - the 6th and 7th grade classes had NO idea, they were very excited and had a lot of questions... the 8th graders said "yeah Miss, we guessed that a couple weeks ago."

JuliaDeeS · March 2016

@audi681Come on over! We have a huge teacher shortage here!

RedMar · March 2016

At first I was kinda bummed about having a sept baby, but now I have time to get ready over the summer and to bond with my son. I sense a lot of mommy guilt the first couple of months post partum. I just worry DS is going to resent me for this

widgetsnm · March 2016

I teach at a private university. They wont hire me for fall semester because of my pregnancy. So... I'm out of luck!

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