THE ONE WHERE I WAS PUT ON A PLAN OF ASSISTANCE

THE ONE WHERE I WAS PUT ON A PLAN OF ASSISTANCE

1988-1989: Argonia Public Schools K-12 Library, 9-12 Speech/Theatre

1988-89 School Photo

A taboo topic among ALL Teachers is the dreaded PLAN OF ASSISTANCE. A POA will contain suggestions and changes that a classroom teacher will need to make in order to continue teaching and eventually be granted tenure. A POA that is used properly can be a great tool that can really help a struggling teacher. A POA can also be used to get rid of a Teacher that Administration simply does not like. In this blog entry I will tell you about my POA. Perhaps if my school district would have mentored me my first year I could have avoided a POA my third year? I am not embarrassed to tell you about my Plan of Assistance.

Ostracized at enrollment

THE YOUNG NEW PRINCIPAL

We got a new Principal the fall of 1988 who was maybe 3-5 years older than me. The new Administrator took a dislike to me early on.  I had an extremely challenging student my third year that was doing some pretty inappropriate things in my classroom. I would report the kid to the office and nothing was done about it. After the issues with this student began I was put on a Plan of Assistance. I did not understand? I had two years worth of ROCK STAR Teacher reviews from my previous Principal. The worst incident of all with this student was when they used their own blood and wrote me a satanic death threat. I was terrified. I remember being so scared that Brad slept on my coach at my apartment to protect me. The entire incident  was laughed off in a “boys will be boys” manner. My Dad had told me to start documenting everything that happened to me. 

My Plan Of Assistance

Another incident that happened to me was when the prop room was cleaned out and turned into a coaches office. No one bothered to ask me if my drama students were using any of the items. I had found some stage makeup and had planned a lesson on some basics with my students. Imagine my shock when walking my students to the prop closet only to discover that everything in it had been discarded. Did the brand new (favored) football coach have something to do with this?

In January of 1988 our English Teacher Mr. Smith mysteriously left our school. I never did find out the circumstances of his leave. A fresh out of college Teacher was hired to replace him. She was treated differently as a first year teacher than I had been. She had been assigned a mentor, had curriculum in place and seemed to be favored by Administration. The “rookie” mistakes that she made were not scrutinized as critically as mine had been. Reflectively I think it was good that our new English Teacher had been assigned a mentor and given guidance in the spring of 1989. It’s something that would have TRULY benefited me in the fall of 1986.

My Principal as well as a School Board member simply DID NOT LIKE ME! I had until the end of the school year to fulfill my POA. Without guidance/support I was working my POA to the best of my ability. I had made changes with my discipline and truly felt that I was improving.  In early February I was told in confidence (by someone I will not name) that the Principal had absolutely no intention of granting me tenure. The ball was in my court and it would be a “look good” move if I resigned before my Principal and the School board decided to not renew my contract. I turned in my letter of resignation and it was approved at the following board meeting. 

My Letter of Resignation 

I arrived at work when the bell rang in the morning and I left at the end of the day when the bell rang. I spoke to no one except Julie Stone and Susan Neal when she subbed.  I hate, hated HATED my last semester in the Argonia public schools.  I applied for other jobs. I was not having any luck and strongly suspected that the Principal was not giving me a positive job recommendation?  Finally on my last day in the Argonia Public Schools the Larned Public Schools offered me a contract for a K-8 Librarian position. I had 5th-12th grade Library Media certification but would need to begin at WSU the 12 hours necessary to become K-12 LMS certified. I started those classes in June. I found a very cute rental in Larned and moved there in August. I knew I would miss Brad Johnson but I was excited about my upcoming new job. 

Reflections on my three years in the Argoina Public Schools. My first two years I was left to sink or swim with no guidance or help from anyone. My third year, my Administrator used some of my flaws to get rid of me. Those flaws could have easily been corrected had I been given guidance and a mentor and a chance. I wonder if that “newbie”  English teacher from 1989 is still teaching? As for the popular football coach he moved on to a more successful program and has made quite the name for himself.

Look for my next blog entry on 6/5/21 entitled

THE ONE WHERE I  LEFT BEHIND TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL 1989-1990: Larned Public Schools K-8 Library, 8th Grade Literature