It’s summertime and the job boards are full of openings in education.
Some teachers are getting promotions. Others are moving with their families. Some though feel like they aren’t valued and are leaving.
Eclectic Middle School English Language Arts teacher Jenna Mead feels administrators and the central office are too focused on hiring new teachers. She has been in Elmore County Schools for 17 years. The last seven years she has moved classrooms four times, twice in one year and the number of subjects she has taught is countless. The debate unfolded before the Elmore County Board of Education in a public meeting.
“So much focus is on hiring new teachers that the veterans like me are overlooked,” Mead said. “I saw good teachers leave our building forever this year and coworkers tossed around into new subjects. Their personal battles weren't considered.”
The National Education Association reports 44% of veteran teachers feel burned out. The next closest category of government workers is 17%.
“That is veteran teachers like me,” Mead said.
Last school year Mead moved back to sixth grade and she said it saved her from burnout.
“I feel I have found my purpose in transitioning kids from the elementary to the secondary mentality,” Mead said. “I am excited for what’s to come — or was.”
Mead was fighting a transfer from teaching sixth grade ELA to teaching seventh grade ELA at EMS. She is fighting for her own well being and did it in front of the Elmore County Board of Education as principal LaTresia Robinson said Mead was needed yet again in seventh grade. It is something Mead feels has been earned after spending so much time caring for students and co-workers while placing her own mental health and family aside. She had already resigned as the school’s volleyball coach and from the 21st Century Afterschool Program.
“I have done everything for the benefit of others,” Mead said. “I’m standing here in front of you for the benefit of me and others.”
Robinson has been principal at EMS for the last two and half years. She has worked there for 13 years. Robinson said Mead is an excellent teacher. As a seventh grade ELA teacher Robinson said Mead’s students did OK when tested. Their scores had increased 3% over a year.
This past school year Mead moved to the sixth grade when a mentor retired. Her test scores skyrocketed. The growth score alone increased 54%. Students included those who were well behind in reading and improved greatly according to Mead.
It was at a time when EMS’ report card score went down from 82 to 75.
“My opinion is that it is failing,” Robinson said. “In 13 years that I have worked at Eclectic Middle School, that is the first time we have received a ‘C.’ We have worked tirelessly over the last school year to figure out methods and strategies we could use to increase student achievement, growth and attendance.”
Mead said she can better mentor other teachers and help students staying with the sixth grade. Even with the other sixth grade teachers leaving, Robinson feels Mead should be moved to the seventh grade and teach the same students for a second year in a row.
“She has the momentum with them and has good relationships with our students,” Robinson said.
Mead said she wasn’t told much about why Robinson was transferring her. It wasn’t until Mead called the central office she was told of her rights to speak to the board about the decision to transfer. Moments later she was called to the office at EMS and given a letter stating the transfer was necessary because the school had lost a teaching unit funded by the state.
It is a scenario Mead doesn’t agree with.
“Our classrooms are full to the rim with kids,” Mead said. “Why are we losing a teaching unit anyway? We have kids transferring in every week. This situation does not add up.”
Robinson said she had screened and interviewed applicants twice before making the move to transfer Mead to seventh grade. The first applicant turned down Robinson’s offer. The second applicant didn’t check out on references. The position was advertised again and the same applicants applied. Robinson said she felt Mead’s certifications were best suited in the seventh and eighth grades.
Mead implied sixth grade teachers are easier to hire than seventh grade teachers. Her transfer would ease the situation in finding more teachers at EMS.
Mead is certified to teach sixth through 12th grade ELA and physical education at all grades.
Robinson said Mead told her discipline was an issue with the sixth graders moving on to seventh grade. Robinson told the board office referrals had increased for the class from 31 to 49 this past school year but 63% of the referrals involved only eight students.
Mead wrote four of the referrals. One student had eight referrals and Mead wrote one. Another had 12 office referrals and Mead wrote two. Another student had two referrals with one written by Mead. Another student was referred to the office early in the school year by Mead but was not a discipline problem the remainder of the year.
“[The students] love and respect her,” Robinson said.
Mead is fearful for standing up to the transfer. She believes many other teachers haven’t done it for fear of retaliation.
“The biggest issue that I will face is possible repercussions for speaking out regardless of the outcome,” Mead said. “When teachers witness a coworker speak and then are treated poorly, they tend to keep their opinions to themselves and go into survival mode. I respect that. They have to take care of themselves.
“Teachers, especially veteran teachers should have a voice, feel respected and feel safe.”
The board discussed the possibility of Mead’s transfer in executive session. When it returned to regular session, the recommendation of transfer failed due to lack of motion.
It means the board publicly didn’t show support for Mead or Robinson.
For now, Mead will remain in the sixth grade classroom at Eclectic Middle School teaching English Language Arts.
