Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.
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Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
By: Alexander Russo / May 19, 2009
A teacher whose school is being closed writes in to describe her experience at the recent Job Fair:
"I was one of the teachers to attend the job fair or as I like to say,
"Cattle waiting for slaughter" My school is closing this year due to
low enrollment. Our scores are good, our 8th grader made it to city
for science fair, 3rd place in writing, and AVID certified as well as
an Illinois Spotlight School.
"As I was at this so called fair I noticed
that when we turned in the resume to get in it was NOT checked to see
if a person was certified. There were a large if not more than half
there, College students and teachers from out of the district and even
out of state. Whatever happened to the teachers that were losing their
jobs like myself being given job offers before non CPS people?
"I have
been since 21 working for CPS and am on my 18th year. I have been at
the same school for 8 and the one before that 10. I would hope that
says much about my teaching. I was extremely disappointed with the fact
that it was like veteran teachers were being put out to pasture. I was
under the assumption that these fair were for only CPS employees, but I
guess I was and idiot to think that."
Anyone else there see the same thing or have any insight onto the supposed CPS preference?
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
a seasoned principal uses the contract to get rid of bad teachers. If it did not work, there would not be any teachers removed or disciplined or given warnings.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Agreed.
The process is massive and overwhelming to a principal who cannot or does not provide valid feedback and supervision to a teacher whose inadequacies are then revealed to others. Leaders who do not make their criteria and work product requirements clear, or do and then apply them inconsistently, with favoritism or bias have only themselves to blame if employees behave in a way that endangers the educational process, the school family or the students.
The three main reasons that inadequate teachers are not disappeared are because -
- the principal hired the teacher and cannot bring himself to admit he made a mistake, lest other hiring and leadership decisions are then examined and called into question,
- the reason stated above, that the principal does not understand the educational process or care enough about it to take the time to remediate or write up teachers who are not teaching children well.
- (and now listen fellow teachers..) the principal fears or has already been cowed by the disapproval of the teacher's friends, who are in sympathy for the teacher as a friend instead of a professional colleague who needs to be held to a minimum standard of performance and accountability in spite of personal problems, need, instability, etc. If the teachers do not act up in this way, then a coterie of parents, some of whom have complained about the teacher the loudest, then sometimes become ashamed and rush to the teacher's defense.
FINAL FOOTNOTE - often, when principals do feel sorry for a teacher who is not performing but cannot afford to lose his job, that teacher is put in a postion away from children, which then pisses off a [i]different [/i]subset of the faculty population.
In other words, even when an educational leader understands that a teacher needs to be remediated or removed, his hands are often tied by the very people who are complaining about the principal's incompetence or lack of leadership...
A Vet who's seen it all
Tenure is Misunderstood
Really, before you spout off about tenure you should at least understand it.
a) Tenure does not equate to job protection. Tenure is merely a process, mutually agreed upon by both employer and employee, by which a veteran teacher may be dismissed. For further reference, you can read Article 39-5.1 - 39-5.8 (p. 94-95) of the current Agreement between the Union and the Board and 105 ILCS 5/24 A-5. It is not complicated.
b) Tenure is not a teacher/union issue. It is in fact an *agreement* between the Union and the Board of Education. So, any discussion of tenure must address both the Union's and the Board's support of it.
c) The Union does not protect bad teachers. The Union protects due process. And that process is, again, agreed upon by both the Union and the Board. The Union can grieve procedural improprieties relating to an evaluation but there really aren't provisions in place for grieving the actual content.
d) Tenure does not protect bad teachers. "Bad" teachers may be fired through a relatively straightforward and reasonably expedient process. Read the contract - it isn't rocket science. Contrary to popular belief the process is not overly complicated and does not require the so often invoked mythical massive amounts of paperwork.
Why is the concept of tenure so difficult for some people to grasp? Why are so many confused on even the most basic understanding of what it means? Why do so many opponents of tenure simply get it completely wrong?
There's no excuse for ignorance and/or deception when accurate, factual information is so readily available.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Ha! Ha! Ha! You are hysterical! You cite "the problem of the union protecting bad teachers"????
Sweetheart, you clearly have no clue about anything in CPS. The union doesn't protect ANYONE!
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
That doesn't fix the problem of the union protecting bad teachers, but I guess the issues are so multifaceted and complicated that every action resonates negatively within the entire system.
What concerns me is the teachers and staff that we are putting in front of our students, especially our at-risk youth. But the problems within the entire system seem to have a trickle-down effect.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
yes it is, because as an administrative issue, it would never be borught up and evenif it was, CPS would NEVER follow through with what was right or legal for the students.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
That's an administrative issue that should be addressed, but tenure is not the solution.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
for their students, or report reduced instructional minutes or NO minutes when IEP says 200 or report 35 students in a class should be fired? Wake up.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
What's good for Chicago's students is teachers that don't need priority to land a position at a school, and that don't need tenure to keep it.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
teachers for our studenst is one of the greatest benefits to students. This also creates and sustains a positve school climate. So the entitlement we vet teachers look at is the one for the students.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Job security is a ridiculous thing that some individuals think that they have a right to just because they work hard. Guess what, in nearly every profession there isn't job security, other than the security of knowing that you have the merit to deserve your place. The loose requirements for tenure lock incompetent and frankly, unqualified teachers into positions at failing schools that desperately need a good staff. All of this self-interest hurts the students in the end, the group of people you claim to support more than anyone. Interesting...
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Boy, I hope I didn't sound that arrogant and naive when I was a newbie.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
"New teachers are ready to teach for Chicago and to meet the challenges that others just want to avoid."
Shows how ignorant you are. That attitude will get you far in a school! Remember new teacher, by Il law you have to have an experienced mentor your first year. You need us.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
The system fails. There is no security for anyone. VT need to put their confidence in God and trust his direction for your life. Newbees need to exercise the same faith actions. Do the best you can while you can and let tomorrow take care of itself. Trust me, we'll all be better off. Less Stress!
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
New teachers are ready to teach for Chicago and to meet the challenges that others just want to avoid.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Welcome to the real world. This is the lament of all young folks. Can't get a job without experience. That's why you have to start somewhere. You can get a job, but not at one of the"better" schools. You can work at a school where you're probably scared of the kids or better yet??? How about one of the fabulous charter schools where you will have no job protection and significantly lower pay? But since you're such a great teacher and you care about the kids, then you'll do well. Why are you complaining about job security? You want that too, but after all you deserve it. Veteran teachers don't.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Your merits should win you positions!
How true, but sadly, not in CPS. Merit, quite often, has nothing to do with it. I don't think that any particular group should get preferential treatment, but a hiring system that is at least somewhat organized, honest, and based on merit would be a most welcome change, and it might even benefit the students.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
You face the same challenge as most every other person looking for work in any profession. There should not be guaranteed jobs for anyone. Your merits should win you positions!
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
and there is a teacher above who reports really great achievements for her school--and they are closing it?
Shame!
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
I hear you, but CPS is NOT the place for you. Sorry, it is not. and after 2 decades of dedication, I hate to say it, but I must because it will suck the life out of you and throw you away with little care. One good example: Look at the probation and turnaround schools SINCE 1998. Seasoned teachers thown out and brand new teachers brought in. What happened three years later? Those newer teachers were thrown out and brand new teachers were brought in. Now, the same pattern again and again. Let's say conservative-65-70% were good teachers, now they are gone--out. So you see, there is the problem--the reality. Again, I am sorry, but it is only right to warn you about this system of a down you so very much want to give to.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
maybe someone can shed light as to the difference between what you're seeing (discrimination against veteran teachers) and what you're proposing (discrimination against new teachers). it baffles me that in a world where the kids should be the primary concern, people are so concerned about job security. i'm not currently teaching - because i'm a new teacher and you can't get hired "without experience" - and i have to say that if they know someone better than me for the job, they can have it. it sucks that experience is what i evidently lack yet they refuse to let many new teachers prove themselves. but the reality of it is that it's a tough market for whoever you ask. and to be honest, i've seen many terrible, tenured and seasoned veterans sit at a desk for 6 hours and keep their jobs at the end of the year, while first or second year teachers who are going out on a limb to try new and exciting techniques get shafted just because of senority. it's dog-eat-dog and i don't think the number of years spent at a school or in a district are tell-all signs of how wonderful a teacher is.
everyone should try harder. this is an important job. and if you're one of the lucky ones, you already personally know a principal that can just magically make position numbers appear for you. i hear that's another good way to get your foot in the door.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
it was a slap in the face to every dedicated teacher--so many of us who work so hard. And on the 60 day assignment--it has to be an OPEN position--not a leave. Principals are encouraged to hire anybody fast, instead of seasoned teachers. (We cost more and we bring to light that there are 35 students in the class.) This is clearly discrimination, but CTU does nothing about it.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
CPS job fairs are indeed cattle calls. Having attended half a dozen, I've given up on them. Actually, I've given up on trying to get hired in CPS altogether, except through postings in the E-Bulletin. Principal-based hiring is a great idea in theory, but in practice, the school office staffs run so much interference, you can never get in touch with the principals. The best you can do is send out a fusillade of "Hail Mary" résumés and then sit by the phone like a lovelorn teenager, hoping against hope to hear [i]something[/i] back from [i]someone[/i]. If there's a trick to getting your application noticed among all the rest, I haven't found it yet.
My best job fair story is the time I actually got one of those coveted two-minute interviews (which lasted [i]five whole minutes[/i] -- a great sign, right?) and left with instructions to call the principal on a certain day, only to learn when I did so that all interviews had been conducted and there wouldn't be any more.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
...if you are still for any reason untenured, and there are folks out there with anywhere from 3 to 10 to more years who, for a wide variety of reasons, many having nothing whatsoever to do with the quality of their teaching, never have been, you get nothing save for the opportunity to wait in line at the job fair...
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Please read "Appendix H, Reassignment and Layoff..." of the CTU Agreement, particularly "Section 7". If you don't get an offer on your own, you should get an interim assignment for 60 days, and you will have to make a good impression on that principal. Also consider brushing up on your grammatical skills and getting some help with your resume.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
the state legislature penalized CPS and CTU in 1988. ctu has been unable to restore the seniority rights that teachers in almost all other IL districts enjoy as part of their bargaining pact. madigan did this to cps/ctu, but ctu endorses his re-election every two years. with leadership like that, it's no wonder veteran teachers have no rights to their jobs when the school is closed.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
Here, the Chgicago Teaching Fellows people are allowed into the job fair to get in line ahead of everyone else. the whole setup is disorganized, dehumanizing and demoralizing.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
NYC recently mandated that teachers from within the district be given preference over teachers who have not previously worked for the district. There is much consternation on the part of the Teach for America and NYC Teaching Fellows crowd coming off their internships and expecting to get hired.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
When you are out of a job let's see if you feel the same way. I understand the principal hires, but that's who is at the job fairs or their assistants. When you send in a resume they get hundreds so chances are slim you will get picked from the pile.
If you work how can you stop at a school to bring your resume and make an impression?The point being there are so few jobs for teachers now so job fairs are the best way to get yourself out there
without competition from College students and out of town people. I stood in one line for almost two hours to interview at a school. The fair was only 3 hours. So when you are out of a job and have a mortage, car payment, children to support and need to put food on the table tell me what else can you do to find a job? I have checked online all year. If you are Science, Math or Sped then you have a chance. Good luck to all who are in the same position as me. There is no such thing in CPS anymore as job security. You could be next on the chopping block.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
The purpose of a school is to teach kids, not to provide jobs. A school can and should hire the person they feel is the best for the position regardless of where they come from.
Hiring Preference For CPS Veterans?
There is no preference for veteran CPS teachers. Hiring at the school-level is in the hands of the principal and has been since 1988. The Job Fairs, imo, are for everyone who is looking for a CPS teaching job--no matter where they teach or go to school now.