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40 years in same school system, dedicated or lack of motivation?
Posted on 8/17/16 at 6:51 am
Posted on 8/17/16 at 6:51 am
Open house was last night at my son's school. His principal mentioned that she had been with the county school system for 40 years. I had to wonder if this is a sign of dedication or is it a lack of drive or motivation that she hasn't moved on or tried something new?
What does the rant say? Up vote for dedicated and down vote for lack of motivation.
What does the rant say? Up vote for dedicated and down vote for lack of motivation.
13
Posted on 8/17/16 at 7:05 am to Landmass
Having been in my profession for 25 years, it is probably a mixture of both. After about 12 years, you sorta lose yourself. Before you know it, you are like those old people who used to get on your nerves with all the "back in the day" stories.
After time, we grow less ambitious as a whole and you find significance in other things.
My opinion... and yes, it means very little
After time, we grow less ambitious as a whole and you find significance in other things.
My opinion... and yes, it means very little
Posted on 8/17/16 at 7:21 am to Landmass
I agree it's probably a combination. I don't think the lack of motivation to try something new is a bad thing as long as that person is dedicated to what they're currently doing.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 7:29 am to Landmass
Maybe she really likes living there and the natural product of that and working in education means she stays in the same school system. I wouldn't attribute dedication or lack of motivation to it.
FTR, in my experience principals stay in their schools for a hella long time. It's the sweet spot between the shitty pay of a teacher and the shitty work of a higher level administrator.
FTR, in my experience principals stay in their schools for a hella long time. It's the sweet spot between the shitty pay of a teacher and the shitty work of a higher level administrator.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 7:40 am to Landmass
quote:
Open house was last night at my son's school. His principal mentioned that she had been with the county school system for 40 years. I had to wonder if this is a sign of dedication or is it a lack of drive or motivation that she hasn't moved on or tried something new?
It is simply impossible to make any sort of judgement based on the length of time she's worked in the school system.
As far as a lack of motivation goes, well she almost certainly didn't start out as a principal. She probably started as a teacher and worked her way through the ranks, which shows some motivation.
Even if she were still a teacher, you still can't judge based solely on years. Career rewards can come in ways that are not measured in financial terms. Many teachers simply love to teach. I've got a sister-in-law that's been a Kindergarten or first grade teacher for 18 years. She doesn't want to be an administrator, she simply loves to teach young kids just starting out in school. She's been named teacher of the year in her system several times over her career (as recently as a couple of years ago) and is usually the teacher selected to mentor new hires just starting their career. Is she unmotivated simply because she doesn't seek a promotion?
Some people simply love their jobs and find that reward more important than a title or bigger check.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 7:42 am to Landmass
Can be some of both. Back in the old days, you got hired on with an employer and stayed with them your entire work life. Doesn't happen much today. Employers also don't want those kinds of long term employees.
Probably wouldn't happen in the private sector at all.
Probably wouldn't happen in the private sector at all.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 7:48 am to PrivatePublic
Your post made me think - It is possible that women look at this differently than men. 
Maybe a couple of ladies on the board will chime in
Maybe a couple of ladies on the board will chime in
Posted on 8/17/16 at 8:40 am to kywildcatfanone
The job of an educator is pretty much the same no matter the system.
If you are in a system close to your house and they treat you fairly there is little incentive to go to another system.
If you are in a system close to your house and they treat you fairly there is little incentive to go to another system.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 8:40 am to Landmass
Depends on the district I imagine. Here you essentially lose money in your retirement if you retire after 27 years of service. But that could obviously be offset by the increased pay from an assistant principal position to principal. There's some principal positions here that people usually retire from and the people hired in typically have 20+ years of experience because of the quality of the job.
On the flipside of that, there are some positions in PLA (Persistently Low Achieving) schools where a state audit will remove a principal after about 3 years without "enough" of a turnaround. And I believe up until this year, state law dictated that those principals removed cannot be a principal in the state of Kentucky again. Which is really shitty if you were persuaded by the district to take a principal position at a shitty school to "help" but the population you inherit is so far under their benchmarks it's almost impossible to meet in 3 years. This also typically results in principals who knew they were likely going to be removed transferring to another position or retiring if they were far enough along in service.
I got burnt out in my previous position because I was in a PLA school for 8 years and four state audits over that time with massive staff changes will stress you the frick out, but I could easily see myself working an extended time in my current position at a much better school (I'm in interventions for now). It's challenging but far less negative stress. And it makes all of the difference.
On the flipside of that, there are some positions in PLA (Persistently Low Achieving) schools where a state audit will remove a principal after about 3 years without "enough" of a turnaround. And I believe up until this year, state law dictated that those principals removed cannot be a principal in the state of Kentucky again. Which is really shitty if you were persuaded by the district to take a principal position at a shitty school to "help" but the population you inherit is so far under their benchmarks it's almost impossible to meet in 3 years. This also typically results in principals who knew they were likely going to be removed transferring to another position or retiring if they were far enough along in service.
I got burnt out in my previous position because I was in a PLA school for 8 years and four state audits over that time with massive staff changes will stress you the frick out, but I could easily see myself working an extended time in my current position at a much better school (I'm in interventions for now). It's challenging but far less negative stress. And it makes all of the difference.
This post was edited on 8/17/16 at 8:46 am
Posted on 8/17/16 at 8:47 am to Landmass
My mom just retired from teaching. She worked in 2 systems, and 4 schools. She retired from the county school system a few years ago and then worked for a private school for the last 8 years or so. Taught second grade pretty much the entire time and only retired for good because her parents' health is declining. She stayed where she was not out of lack of dedication or motivation, but because she loved what she was doing. She would have taught for another 15 years of she could. I still think she's going to volunteer at the private school in her free time.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 9:14 am to Landmass
Considering that there really isn't much above a principal so really no movement for him whatsoever. How is that lack of motivation? There really is no movement outside of horizontal in education.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 9:15 am to bird35
quote:
If you are in a system close to your house and they treat you fairly there is little incentive to go to another system.
Pay would be the change incentive I think. My wife moved from one county to another and the pay was about 20% different. Same grade level.
Also has same effect on your retirement.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 9:17 am to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Here you essentially lose money in your retirement if you retire after 27 years of service.
Agree, but that is what my wife did, she had 29 years, only 27 counted toward retirement, but she couldn't do any more. The stress was killing her.
We knew it would be less than working the 3 more years, but determined it wasn't worth it for our situation.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 9:48 am to Landmass
quote:
Open house was last night at my son's school. His principal mentioned that she had been with the county school system for 40 years. I had to wonder if this is a sign of dedication or is it a lack of drive or motivation that she hasn't moved on or tried something new?
What does the rant say? Up vote for dedicated and down vote for lack of motivation.
If it was lack of motivation, she would just retire. She has her years in.
With that many years in the same school system, she probably gets to run her school the way she wants.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 11:22 am to Landmass
quote:
What does the rant say? Up vote for dedicated and down vote for lack of motivation.
I think there is something noble about her dedication to her school and the community she serves. It's not just about money to some people.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 12:51 pm to Landmass
The Chalmette High principal has been at the school for like 30-40 years.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 9:55 pm to Spaceman Spiff
This is false. A principle can move up into a higher ranking position within the school board, and if he or she is good enough can run for supe position.
Posted on 8/17/16 at 10:50 pm to Landmass
Probably a pedophile or, at the very least, a cougar
Posted on 8/17/16 at 11:40 pm to Landmass
It could be that she really likes what she does, or it could be that she doesn't have a life outside of school. I'd bet on the former.
Financially, however, if this is MS we're talking about, she maxed out her State retirement percentage 7 or 8 years ago, so she's still earning her salary and contributing to the state retirement, but not benefiting from those extra years of work when she retires. Retirement-wise, she's essentially working for free.
Financially, however, if this is MS we're talking about, she maxed out her State retirement percentage 7 or 8 years ago, so she's still earning her salary and contributing to the state retirement, but not benefiting from those extra years of work when she retires. Retirement-wise, she's essentially working for free.
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