Jan 02 2008
Merit Hiring
I was reading Science Goddess’ “More Isn’t Always Better” post this morning and her thoughts took me down the road of introspection regarding my lack of employment this year. Her assertion that merit pay for teachers wouldn’t guarantee better teaching made my head nod vigorously in agreement, and made me wonder exactly what equation used for hiring here in “Mexico-North” is applied to new teacher applicants such as myself.
My info? College graduate, twelve years teaching experience, licensed/certified to teach in Alaska, New Mexico, Kansas, and even here, Texas. I have glowing letters of recommendation, an excellent résumé, and wonderfully gracious references. Resources? My own extensive childrens’ library, professional library, math/science/literacy/art/music manipulatives, classroom decor, puppets, puzzles, blocks, audio/visual teaching aids, computers (yes, I provide my own computers for my students) and even sleeping mats. Like most teachers, money for play dough, paint, glitter, glue, dress up clothes, and every small yet necessary detail for kindergarten explorations (sunflower seeds, cotton balls, snacks) comes out of my own pocket. I’m also not burnt out on teaching and I actually *like* children, both very valuable commodities.
After submitting résumé after résumé to school districts and having several interviews for kindergarten and other primary grade classes, I’ve not been offered a job. My observations as the parent of a student have had me cringing, shaking my head, venting, and vowing to move away from here as soon as Uncle Sam lets us. At this point I’m a fan of “merit hiring,” hiring someone who is the most qualified, who offers the most resources, and who has the most desirable background as vouched for by other education experts. I was, in fact, under the impression that hiring highly qualified teachers was a requirement mandated to school districts nationwide in our latest educational reform. But like everything else, “highly qualified” is interpreted very differently here.
Budget constraints rule the day, and the logic used in the Bordertown when trying to address the needs and requirements of NCLB (not that I agree with them) just doesn’t fit. The community is at least eighty-percent Hispanic, which makes not hiring me because I don’t speak Spanish an understandable decision. The need to communicate effectively with all students, build those bridges, and give the gift of multiple languages to students are all goals I respect and believe in. In not speaking Spanish, I am not the most highly qualified. Hiring a Spanish-speaking aide with whom I could team-teach isn’t an option here like it is in New Mexico however, perhaps because you really can’t get two for the price of one.
During one of my interviews, a principal asked if I had any questions for her, to which I replied “yes, how does your school utilize technology, and what resources are available to kindergarten students?” The response of the other teachers in the room was polite laughter, while the principal explained that none of the kindergarten classrooms in her school had computers yet, though they were waiting for some old ones to be donated by a military Academy class here on post (which my husband attends) this year. I then asked her if sharing learning centers amongst kindergarten classrooms would be possible since I had computers for student use that I’d be happy to share. “Oh no, that would be unfair, one teacher having computers and the others not. We don’t even have computer standards for our pre-k or kindergarten classes yet, just guidelines.” Totally missed my point and offer, but apparently the bottom line was that NO students would have computer time if all classrooms weren’t equipped. It’s all or nothing.
Several weeks after my last interview, I ran into one of the teachers who had been part of the interview committee at a fast-food restaurant. She remembered me and we did some chatting while waiting in line to order. She said she was sorry I hadn’t been hired though I was qualified and I had “done so well” during my interview, and said her principal had hired another applicant because she “wouldn’t cost as much.” She also divulged that the person hired was certified through an alternate licensure program that required she only complete a year-and-a-half’s worth of education courses and practicum experiences before being employable by any district here. Budget again. I’m wondering how much classroom money, if any, she was given to set up all of the learning centers necessary to provide appropriate educational experiences for her students. With her limited knowledge and experience with public education, would she even know to ask for funding? Perhaps “clueless” is desirable.
Hiring Spanish-speaking applicants with the least amount of experience (and possibly skill) and least amount of classroom resources doesn’t seem to be the best plan of attack when it comes to addressing this town’s interpretation of NCLB’s biggest rules:
1) All students must pass.
and
2) All students must pass in English.
Students are hit with monthly barrages of TAKS “practice” tests which take away from learning anything OTHER than how to take the TAKS. They are allowed to take the test in their “native language” until high school, when TAKS must be passed in English by all students, regardless of ethnicity or language experience.
Huh?
Okay, so maybe it’s *just me.* Either I’m grossly underqualified because I just don’t see (nor understand) the big picture, or I’m grossly OVERqualified because I’ve noticed that there isn’t one.
Still, it would be nice to have a paycheck.
9 responses so far
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I have heard of schools having to hire brand new teachers when they’re over the amount they’re allotted to spend on salaries.
Yep, I’ve heard that here too- and that principals have to juggle where they want to use “emergency funds.” Do they buy more materials for the entire building, or pay more for a teacher with more experience? Materials for the entire building will win out every time I’m guessing.
I think you may be right – there is no big picture. At least not in some schools and some school districts. But, how sad. It’s amazing to me how often school districts take a short term view of things. It seems to me that it doesn’t make for very student-centered schools.
I’m SO sick of the “b-word” (budget) being tossed around by schools. (In fact, I think I’m going to have to post about that!)
The most important factor in the classroom is the teacher. Research has shown that over and over again. I know that districts don’t enjoy cutting programs and tightening belts. I know that, by law, they have to have balanced budgets. But you can’t skimp on quality teachers.
I’m a new teacher, and I am not locked in to having to stay in the same town I currently live. It’s a year now since I graduated Summa Cum Laude with mt M.Ed. in Elementary Education. I couldn’t believe I wasn’t offered a position for the current school year. I’ve given up on trying to determine whether I interviewed well or not. So, I just sub when I can and have a part-time retail job. I feel I have to stay in a school environment if I have any chance of getting a job in teaching, even though I could earn more money if I found a “regular” job.
For all the interviews I had, and for which I was never offered a position, I made contact inquirying as to how I compared to the candidate actually hired. Only 3 people bothered to respond. I got basically the same responses from all 3: “you interviewed well, we just hired someone with more experience”. Well, how the he|| is a new teacher supposed to GET experience if no one hires them. I had a life before teaching, so I can bring other experiences into my classroom that even some “experienced” teachers can’t. Is it because I’d cost more (with my M.Ed. instead of a BA)? Even for a new teacher, I think I have a good resume, and I am pretty sure I’d be a better teacher than some already in the profession. If I was bilingual (code for Must Speak Spanish), I’m sure I’d have a job – you always see openings for bilingual teachers.
Reading this also just reinforces my thoughts on border towns. I won’t do it. I remember going to school in El Paso when my dad was stationed at Ft. Bliss. I know there were Mexican National students who came from Juarez every day for school. In the last 20+ years, it has probably only gotten worse…
Science Goddess, I’ve got the title for your “Budget” post:
“Ba-DUMB-DUMB-Ching!”
Hi- long time reader, first time commenter here
I currently live and teach in TX, but in the DFW area. I feel your pain as I am originally from Michigan and spent a long time looking for employment up there- pointless. I know how frustrating this year must be for you. I can guarantee you that you would have been unhappy teaching in Bordertown, the schools down there are notoriously B-A-D! Any teacher who actually loves their job and works hard at it is typically ostracized in public schools (imo) and even more so down there because there are so few resources.
Up here in DFW where I teach you would get hired in a New York minute, bilingual or not bilingual. Yes, we do have a large number of bilingual teachers, many of whom are “alt certs” (alternative certified) but we also need just as many ESL teachers, which is what I am. Read more about TX ESL and Bilingual here: http://www.pre-kpages.com/esl.html
Not all TX districts are as technology illiterate as your Bordertown seems to be. I have a Smart Board, 5 computers in my room- (3 for students, one just for me, and one for my technology cart), a projector for the computer and smart board, and a document camera as well as 14 iPods for student use and one video iPod for me- all provided by the district. You can read all about it at: http://www.pre-kpages.com/technology.html
Sorry for the rant!
vanna/tx
my site: http://www.pre-kpages.com
my blog: blogs.preknow.org/
Vanna, thanks so much for the comment, encouragement, and links! What a terrific home page you have, and I’m looking forward to reading more at the Pre-K blog site- mind if I add it to my blogroll?
Yes, as you can imagine, I’ll be spending the next few months using my mantra “only-one-year, only-one-year, only-one-year,” as I keep my hopes in check for our new post, and my future school district! Look out World, here I come!
Absolutely, it would be an honor to be on your blog roll
I love your blog because you speak the truth from your heart, and you do it so well to boot. Someday you will look back on your time spent in Bordertown and think “it could always be worse”. My granny always said “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”