Too much

[nafmeadmin]

I currently am the director of bands at a small private school in Ohio. In addition to teaching 5-12 band, I have been required to handle the high school yearbook, computer classes, and be a class advisor. The yearbook has been the worst situation as I am not truly certified nor do I really know what I am doing. After a parent complained about how bad I was doing, my administrator has been breathing down my neck about it. In turn my teacher evaluation was great in all areas except this class. I am looking for a new job, as I would just like to teach music and not have to worry about something I am not truly wanting to do (the yearbook). I also heard that the school is considering cutting elementary music up through 3rd grade next year due to decreased enrollment. Contracts will be coming out in two weeks. Is it still okay to sign my contract (as it is due in 10 days) and resign from the position if I happen to find a new one? I am just at my witts end, and I in turn am not able to give my all for my band students, which is what frustrates me the most.

[nafmeadmin]

Fellow ohioian! Dont worry about resigning after signing the contract, go ahead and sign it!

[nafmeadmin]

One other question, I’m assuming your pressured into doing these extra-curriculars? Having a job is great, being happy is better. Is there someone whos done these groups before that you could talk to? Yearbook and computer classes are huge for anyone let alone someone who hasn’t been trained in those disciplines.

[nafmeadmin]

I pretty much was not given a choice. I am not able to just teach music. I made it clear I would not like to teach yearbook, and was told I might have to teach something else the first time, and the most recent time I was pretty much told I was stuck with it. Any person who taught technology has been cut due to budget cuts in the past couple of years. In addition to the computer classes and yearbook, I handle jazz band that meets before school and I teach 4th grade music during my prep period two days a week, which means I do not see a prep period at all those two days.

[nafmeadmin]

There is a rule stating how much prep time you have to have in ohio. I always remind myself I signed the same contract as other teachers, worth talking to your union rep about. Is the school sending out proper noticifcation about highly qualified with that computer class? After 30 days I believe they are supposed to send a letter to parents stating your not qualified to teach it. Get your 3 year or 5 year and go after this, hard to do it on a 1 year contract.

[nafmeadmin]

Unfortunately, since it is a private school, there is no union, meaning I am on my own. This is my third year of teaching here, so that is why I am looking to go elsewhere that I can actually settled into. Being newly married, the salary is not cutting it, being well under what I would make at a public school. They tend to ask teachers to teach subjects that are not part of the teacher’s specialty.

[nafmeadmin]

Any other thoughts on this subject?

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