LACK OF SUPPORT

What a difficult year this has been! The lack of support from administration in general has been very disheartening.   

After 10 years in Glen Rock, I'm actively seeking a new job in a different district (a lateral move as a teacher). I do not feel respected or supported by GR administration or the BOE. 

  We’ve all had different challenges within our professional life during the pandemic. I felt that there was a lack of trust between teachers and BOE members and administrators. The “inclusion” of staff (unpaid) for summer committees to work “together “ and hear all sides for development of logical solutions was the first of many times that those involved were only for appearances sake and the superintendent was always going to do what he considered “best” without any consideration for varying levels of health and safety concerns in a crazy situation. Like we’re being punished for protecting our family members. It used to feel somewhat better in that family comes first. We’d all benefit from learning about others situations and showing that you’re supported instead of threatened. 

  The district does not do enough to public and privately praise GR teachers. There are no goodwill gestures from the superintendent or the BOE. The superintendent promotes a climate that is counterproductive to one of the prevailing ideals of education that Staff and superintendent and the BOE are all supposed to be working together in order to provide the best educational environment possible. Instead Superintendent/BOE inform staff at the same time as the parents and seek parental input from the HSA before even approaching staff with the idea.  

   I’ve been in this district for over 20 years. What is going on now is completely immoral and scary, to be honest. Teachers are being targeted, being spoke to so rudely and unprofessionally. It is not the same place compared to years ago. Morale is extremely low, this district is a place I come in to, teach, and leave as soon as possible.
 

Morale is terrible, teaching suffers when everyone is so fearful. No one feels supported.

My particular building lacks effective leadership. It trickles down as the more seasoned staff has to pick up the slack for many holes in the system.
 

I am very concerned with the poor morale that seems to be on a downward trend, and at the lowest point ever. We are losing good, talented teachers to other districts. Teachers feel they are not valued or respected by this administration. Given the taxes that residents pay, the schools are dirty and in disrepair. There is not enough teaching space…This is an unsafe space for…students, but in all the years I have been here, and all the renovations the schools have undergone, not once has any administrator thought or cared to address it. Yet the district will pay millions of dollars to upgrade the ball fields. I've been sharing [teaching space] with [another] teacher for lack of a proper office. She had to work all this year trying to teach on Zoom while [my] students were a few feet away. Is that the way to treat your staff? I don't think so.  

 

While Dr. Regan was my supervisor I felt supported and that she was helping me become a better educational leader and teacher. When I returned from my maternity leave and had a new supervisor, he barely returned any of my emails or supported my work. It was very disappointing. I have worked in this district for 9 years and think it is pathetic that my immediate supervisor did not even respond to my letter of resignation. I think that is extremely unprofessional. I am leaving the district for a role that is not presently offered in Glen Rock but would have stayed if the climate and opportunity to grow was in Glen Rock.

 Teachers have families too. We were dealing with the same difficulties - having a spouse out of work, a family member sick, our own kids were home from school needing supervision and help with online school.  We did our best to provide a normal school year to our GR students regardless.  Public knowledge of Covid-19 in Bergen County and its ramifications for the workforce including educational institutions unfolded rapidly.  At the same time, there was an exodus of leadership at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.  We lost a Director of Guidance, HS Principal, MS Principal, Curriculum Director and Director of Special Services.  The loss of this experienced team of administrators is unprecedented in GR.  It is also unusual to lose as many teachers as we have in a short time - especially of their own choosing.  The goal at this point should be stability and relationship building between new administrators and the teaching staff. 

  The teachers are tired and overworked. They need to get rid of lunch duty for teachers and give that job to aides. In a normal year, it’s very draining and takes away from the stamina a teacher needs to put toward teaching their actual classes.