I’m a librarian in an elementary school. My day starts at 7:30 am every day so that students can come by and swap out books. My school has tons of readers, so as soon as I open those doors, I have at least 5-10 walk ins in those first 10 minutes alone. I have been doing this for 16 years.
Several years back my district added 15 minutes to the school day, but gave us no raise. So, now the teacher workday begins at 7:50 and ends at 3:50. Admin said if you are on duty at 7:30 in the morning, you can leave at 3:30 in the afternoon as long as you’re finished with all of your responsibilities (aka afternoon duty). Well, since I got there every day at 7:30, I would leave right after my duty (love that word) which is around 3:40. I’ve been doing this for about 4 years now. Well, we got a new Assistant principal who wanted to show me, I guess. She emailed me told me that the day ended at 3:50 and began at 7:50. “Classroom teachers” are allowed to leave early is they had morning duty. I need to cease leaving early and adopt that schedule. If I need to leave early I need to get permission from admin. Understood. Lima Charlie.
The next day I had a sign on the library doors that the library will open at 7:50 in the morning and close at 8:00 for walk-ins. I did this for 2 days. My existing AP came in with the new AP (who said not a word during the exchange with my old AP whom we’ll call Heather. She asks me why the library is closed. I told her I was told to shift my schedule, so I did. Heather then asked, “So your kiddos won’t be coming in before school?” Yes. That’s correct. “Well, that means you can’t be pulling out of that parking lot at 3:30 anymore.” The only reason I would leave early was I have duty every day. I truly believed I had that privilege. “Okay,” she says.
I want to take a moment and remind you that this whole thing is about me leaving no more that 10 minutes early every day. 10 minutes.
Exactly one week after the initial email, here comes the principal. She says she’s been hearing from parents that the library is no longer open before school. I told her the same thing I told the APs. She said there was a “misunderstanding” and to go ahead and open the library in the mornings. Okay.
Then I get the. Follow up email that I am to open the library at 7:30 but my day still ends at 3:50. And I am to come back inside the building after duty.
So, after all that, my day is now 7:30-3:50. And Heather has spoken to me since. I literally asked her a question and she ignored me. This professional educator is giving me the silent treatment. I’m not kidding. This is the same woman who moves teachers she doesn’t like down to kindergarten. And moves kinder teachers she doesn’t like to a testing grade like 3rd. She hopes they’ll put in for a transfer. She can’t do that to me, so she nitpicks me about anything and everything. So, I guess ignoring me is her way of punishing me. Ya. Right.
I have 1 more year till I can retire from education. One more year.