![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
That's it. Cleaned the room. Noted what needed noting. Handed in my keys.
There is just one thing to do yet. Father J asked if I would come in (for per-hour pay) and help them set up a network database program. I worked five hours a week for the parish and that is stopping as of today, so I said I would. The main benefit of this is I get to keep the laptop until then. Which is good because I have much cleaning up to do on that laptop. Nothing torrid, mind. Nothing even questionable. Files just tend to get put all over the place when you use a computer over a time and I want to make sure I burn copies of everything I can. Plus I don't want to leave any of my lesson plans or thought or whatnot on there. Because those are mine.
Turned in the keys and the principal asked if I was coming in tomorrow. I responded with: "Am I supposed to?". She said no and I left it at that. I think she would like it if I came in and did maintenance on the computers. Not going to happen. I had always worked full time all of that last week, even though it wasn't required and I came in at least once a week all summer long. Of course, past summers I was still being paid to do five hours of parish work a week so I had an obligation to be there. While it is true that I worked many more than those required hours, all that work was done because it was going to help me out in the fall. Besides, summer is the only time you can really do any hard-core computer maintenance.
Not this year. It is so not my dog. I put in all the days required of my contract. They want me to do tech work for them, they can pay me. 'Cuz I'm done.
Done.
As I told my mom, I'm not sad, just melancholy. The work I did was not only well done, it was good work. Can't be sad about that.
I said my good-byes. A couple "I can't believe they are letting you go" and "you did such a great job of preparing our kids" go a long way to boosting the ego and ease the pain of parting.
I've tried to be gracious and accepting throughout this whole situation. No bitter words. Didn't say snide comments (even if I thought them). Never spoke one ill-word about anyone to anyone. Was always -- always -- positive and faith-filled when talking to people about it. Was always positive and faith-filled when talking about my (lack of) plans for the future. Did everything asked of me up to the last day with a smile and quick turn around. Tried my best to leave all the important information in places where those in charge (who haven't a clue what it all means) can find it.
Going out to eat tonight with Wil and Myr and my folks. Celebrating Myr's graduation to seventh grade. Pizza and couple of drinks. Sounds good.
It feels sad to be leaving but it sounds good to be done.
There is just one thing to do yet. Father J asked if I would come in (for per-hour pay) and help them set up a network database program. I worked five hours a week for the parish and that is stopping as of today, so I said I would. The main benefit of this is I get to keep the laptop until then. Which is good because I have much cleaning up to do on that laptop. Nothing torrid, mind. Nothing even questionable. Files just tend to get put all over the place when you use a computer over a time and I want to make sure I burn copies of everything I can. Plus I don't want to leave any of my lesson plans or thought or whatnot on there. Because those are mine.
Turned in the keys and the principal asked if I was coming in tomorrow. I responded with: "Am I supposed to?". She said no and I left it at that. I think she would like it if I came in and did maintenance on the computers. Not going to happen. I had always worked full time all of that last week, even though it wasn't required and I came in at least once a week all summer long. Of course, past summers I was still being paid to do five hours of parish work a week so I had an obligation to be there. While it is true that I worked many more than those required hours, all that work was done because it was going to help me out in the fall. Besides, summer is the only time you can really do any hard-core computer maintenance.
Not this year. It is so not my dog. I put in all the days required of my contract. They want me to do tech work for them, they can pay me. 'Cuz I'm done.
Done.
As I told my mom, I'm not sad, just melancholy. The work I did was not only well done, it was good work. Can't be sad about that.
I said my good-byes. A couple "I can't believe they are letting you go" and "you did such a great job of preparing our kids" go a long way to boosting the ego and ease the pain of parting.
I've tried to be gracious and accepting throughout this whole situation. No bitter words. Didn't say snide comments (even if I thought them). Never spoke one ill-word about anyone to anyone. Was always -- always -- positive and faith-filled when talking to people about it. Was always positive and faith-filled when talking about my (lack of) plans for the future. Did everything asked of me up to the last day with a smile and quick turn around. Tried my best to leave all the important information in places where those in charge (who haven't a clue what it all means) can find it.
Going out to eat tonight with Wil and Myr and my folks. Celebrating Myr's graduation to seventh grade. Pizza and couple of drinks. Sounds good.
It feels sad to be leaving but it sounds good to be done.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-06-09 12:01 am (UTC)From:I am also in a computer lab in a Catholic elementary school. Music is my main thing, but they gave me the lab to fill out a full time position. Just reading this last post, it sounded sorta like I coulda wrote it, except that we have another tech guy "on call" for when problems get too big for me. But in our case, we have a lot of teachers leaving this year ( 8 out of 20!) so the principal has been getting steadily "colder" as the final days progress. Melancholy, I agree.
Might I ask - how long were you there, and what age levels did you teach? I had the whole shebang, K-8, and I'm leaving Monday after 5 years. What made you leave? I feel like I only got a piece of the story here, and I'd like to hear more.
Take care,
Laurie
You must feel relieved to have gotten done.
Howdy!
Date: 2005-06-09 06:52 pm (UTC)From:I've worked at the school seven years, almost full time, preK - 8th. I'm leaving because they want a certified teacher in the position. When I was hired, I was working toward a teaching degree. I was hired as part-time teacher and part-time techie. A three years in, I came to the realization that I really had no interest in teaching in a regular classroom position and none of the classes I was taking for and "education degree" were helping me do my job. The degree just wasn't cost effective or really going to help me. I still took tech-type classes to help out and all, but there was no teaching degree in the future.
The school knew because I told them about it. The beginning of last year I put it in writing. I heard nothing from them about having a problem with it until April 15, when they said that it's a teaching position and needs a teacher and that I'm not coming back.
The school is up for accreditation renewal this year and I think a teaching certificate would look good. Plus I think they need a higher number of catholics teaching and I'm not. *shrug* They got to do what they think is best. The only problem I have with the situation is the lack of communication. It would have been nice to know the end was coming a bit sooner than 45 days before the end of school. It's gratifying to know that are were quite a few parents who think that letting me go is dumb.
We are losing a large percentage of teachers this year, too: 6 out of 16. Two retiring, one left to have a baby, one to be a stay at home Mom, one because she's a new teacher and MN (where she's from) has easier licensing regulations. Then there's me.
I've read a lot of your recent posts and it's interesting to see the differences between small-town, WI and DC -- even if those differences are filtered through a Catholic School.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-09 08:48 am (UTC)From: