Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Possibly A Ray Of Sunshine

I met the new principal today. I was happy to see that he was not wearing a suit. He's young (probably 40). He seems nice and not too full of himself but only time will tell.

I heard him say that he is not going to make too many changes. That was my opening.

"New Principal, the announcements are too long and too often. This morning they were disturbing to my AP students taking a test. In the afternoon, my class is difficult and the lengthy announcements make it even more difficult." To which he replied, "I agree. If things don't change please speak to me again in a few weeks."

Maybe there is some hope.

12 comments:

17 (really 15) more years said...

Fortunately for you, you won't be in the system that much longer to see what he's REALLY like. I have learned that it takes a good 3 years before the gloves come off and you find out what new administrators are all about.

Anonymous said...

Scene: Faculty Meeting

New Suit: I won't be making any changes.
POD: Announcements are too long and disruptive
New Suit: I agree.

As New Suit and AP walk back to office...
New Suit: Who the hell was that already stirring the pot?
AP: Old Suit left you her folder on your desk.

You see...they are all the same!!

Schoolgal

Pissedoffteacher said...

I know that. It's just wishful thinking! 17 is right--I will be long gone before he can really do anything.

I'm lucky. The APO and the AP Guidance actually like me and they work pretty close to him. I'm sure Suit already gave him the lowdown on teachers like me.

Anonymous said...

If that really is the case and he has been given the "lowdown" on you based on what they know, have a lunch with him one day. Tell him what you know (or at least enough for him to realize where PackEmIn HS really is) and tell him what you can do. I'm sure he'll listen to someone who's been there for a while, especially since he just got there, and the only advice he has is that of the previous tyrant -err- principal.
Just give it a shot. There could be hope yet =)

--Pink Floyd

ChiTown Girl said...

I hope things take a turn for the better for you now :)

Pissedoffteacher said...

Pink Floyd--Principal's go to school to learn how to stick together. The word of a teacher would never be taken. They all think we are useless individuals put on earth to serve them.

In an idealistic world, your idea would work. It will never happen in a public hs.

CaliforniaTeacherGuy said...

Well, at least the guy isn't wearing a suit! Isn't that a tiny sign of hope?

Anonymous said...

Is he from Leadership??? Does he come from a NYC high school?

Schoolgal

nbosch said...

Did I miss it? Why is Suit leaving in the middle of the year (other than the obvious?)

Pissedoffteacher said...

Suit left mid year because he could not imagine the school being able to open without him.

FidgetyTeach said...

You didn't mention if new principal is from the Dictatorship Academy or traditional.
I'm just curious.

Anonymous said...

Our new principal also came in (this is Year 3) saying he would not change much at first. And it's been true, but slowly, slowly now...

Also, he took the top union complaint and more or less removed the underlying cause.

And also, he took the top two staff complaints... one of them he took a long time to look at, and look at again, and again... committee, and another committee, and on his own... and we are just now (2 years forward) addressing it... but honestly, it's been a tricky one.

But the other was those damned announcements. New principal loosely banned them, and replaced them with a memo to Attendance Period teachers, with the 5 or 10 announcements that need to be read that day. We sometimes go days without hearing a single voice on the PA. And we like it that way.

Jonathan