Recently, I wrote about being in conversation with my soon to be principal, now the assistant principal. We were talking about what my role might be for the 2017-2018 school year. I expressed my interest in the Dean of Students position, and he communicated how he wanted me to move to the athletic department. The current AD was hired ten days before the school year and is highly under qualified for the role. I have been asked to move from SPED to Athletic/PE DEPT to help. However, instead of demoting the current AD for underperforming, I have been asked to move in and mentor him through his troubles while working underneath him. I played sports in Atlanta my entire life, worked alongside an AD after graduating in 2010, and played baseball in college. The current AD grew up in the north, does not have a degree in business or education, and did not play sports past his Junior year in HS. Personally, I find it insulting that I am being asked to work underneath and mentor a person who is in a position that I could easily do.
I hate the position that this puts me in because I love sports and I do not want the Athletic Dept. to suffer any more than it already has but I do not want to be taken advantaged of either. If I made this move, I would be taking on more responsibility and not receive a pay increase. While money is clearly not everything to me (I am a teacher), I do appreciate being valued. I also have a problem with being asked to do someone else's job and them still being my "supervisor." It doesn't make any sense to me. I love sports, but despite my love for sports, I am leaning toward staying in SPED until I can obtain a leadership position.
Davy, I admire your commitment to your values and I agree with you. Thinking long term, and not in the immediate future, your role as the person's mentor may not gain you the recognition your talents warrant. However, if you continue to thrive within your current role, as they have obviously seen you do, then perhaps the right position will open up for you. Speaking from a special education perspective, your knowledge of the field will give you ample advantage over other candidates. We have been interviewing for an AP for the past 1 1/2 months and only two of the 12 people we interviewed had any special education experience.
ReplyDeleteI hope the upcoming school year brings more opportunities for you.
Davy, I agree with your decision and applaud the way you handled the situation. I'm not even interviewing for this particular position and feel your pain about being basically disrespected. The right opportunity will come for you. From the sounds of this one, it may just not be for you. You can take your talents somewhere else. I wish you the best.
ReplyDeleteDavy,
ReplyDeleteI too can see why you are frustrated. I'm wondering if you expressed these concerns with your principal or if you feel that is even something you would feel comfortable about. I wonder if he sees this as an opportunity for your to take on a leadership role, but does not see how insulting it is in different ways. That would be a tough conversation to have.