Had a run-in today . . .

I haven't blogged about her but there's this new teacher taking over a mat. leave at my school that I simply can't stand. Honestly she drives me nuts. I like to think I am easy to get along with and very open-minded. I know not everyone will know what they need to do and the way things are run. I have no problems sharing what I know to make the transitions easier. But she comes across VERY pushy and VERY demanding. Last year we got a part time spec. ed teacher specifically for the class she is teaching now because of the high numbers and the massive amount of needs in that room. The class isn't as big this year but it still sits at 32 with about 10 IEPs. That's a lot. I was always under the impression that the spec. ed teacher was to work as resource support for those struggling students. However, today as I was talking to the spec ed. teacher she told me she will be teaching math on the days she was there. Huh?? Why are YOU teaching math? That threw me for a loop and I told her I didn't think she should be doing that as she was meant to be resource support not the classroom teacher. Well, she went and told Miss know-it-all who practically jumped down my throat. She thought I was accusing her of putting her workload on the other teacher. I told her I didn't think that but I was under the impression Shannon was in the room to specifically work with struggling students and not to team teach. They told me the principal approved their plan so I said fine. If that's the way she wants things to run, what can I say? Later I went and spoke with Liz(the principal) and she did say they talked to her about their plan but she also said she never considered things the way I saw them. I guess she was under the impression that Shannon was more with that class to "help"take over some of the workload and they just called the position spec. ed. I told her that is not how I saw things going down. A large class is one thing but the main differentiating thing about this class is the number of high needs students. So she is looking into it and we may need to all sit down to discuss what that "spec. ed. " teacher's role is and what is best for the students in that classroom.

Gosh I kinda surprise myself at how . . . hmmm what's the right word . . . pushy I've become. A couple of years ago I wouldn't have said anything. But I've learned that sometimes you have to be pushy to stand up for what you believe is the right thing. A number of times I've been told to do this and that, and while I knew it wasn't part of my job and was actually taking away from my role as a special education teacher, I would do it. But someone needs to speak up and say that's not right! Those kids need someone to working closely with them and not be made to take on something that was never part of their job description.

K, so that was big vent for today.