Here is the situation.
My ex-partner's current partner ( he left me to be with her 5 years ago) has received a promotion and so her old postition as Head teacher English is available. It has gone out to Expressions of Interest and she is encouraging me to go for it.
At first I was thinking that I didn't want to fill her position, that if I could get a head teacher's position I could do it on my own. It is only a RELIEVING position and is for the rest of this school year, starting mid-May.
People have been telling me for years that I should become a HT. And I was for two years when my school had a position for a HT Mentor position. I wasn't demoted, it was only ever going to be a 2year thing and then I resumed normal duties. Lately I've been wondering if I should start preparing myself for a faculty head job. At times I think I could do it, I get so frustrated by the improvements I could see that could be made but that I can't do because I'm not the HT. There are a lot of HT out there with less experience with me and who I believe I am more capable than.
The problem is at my school nobody ever gets a chance at being Relieving HT when the current HT relieves for the Deputy. It never goes to EOI, always directly to this one woman with any of us knowing before it is a done deal.This is what is actually happening at the moment.Nobody else was asked, given a chance or even told that it was about to happen. So, it is highly unlikely that if I stay where I am that I will get the experience I need to be a HT.
Applying for this relieving position in another school would get me the experience I need. There is a possibility that the HT English at my school will get a Deputy's position, and failing that doesn't have that long left before retirement anyway. If I had some experience I might stand a chance of getting that position when it becomes available. Or I could apply for substantive HT positions in other schools.
I meet the criteria for the job, it would only mean an extra 15 minutes of travel each day, and I would be paid a HT salary. The faculty are apparently friendly and functional. A friend and colleague at my school thinks that I would have a good chance at getting it. The programs etc are already in place so i wouldn't be undertaking any grand changes etc.
On the downside it would mean leaving position as Year Advisor for the year, and leaving my classes. I have an Advanced class in year 11 and a top year 10 class who I would feel like I was deserting. I don't know how it would impact on my WW journey, I hope not at all.
But I'm not very happy where I am either. It is not the happiest of places, and is actually the hardest school I've worked in. Not because of the students, because of the staff etc.
I really am just not sure if I should do it or not and would appreciate any advice. I'm thinking I could at least put the application in...
Belinda
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I think you should go for it! You sound like such a wonderful teacher and this would be such an opportunity for you. I know there are reasons holding you back but you should at least apply. You are coming so far with your weight loss and confidence why not reach for the stars with a brand new job opportunity.
ReplyDeleteIf you stay because you can't leave certain classes behind, you'll never get away from there! You deserve to be in a happier place. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteHi Bel,
ReplyDeleteI say go for it, as Deb said there will always be reasons to stay. I'm a big believer that whatever decision you make will be the right one because you will make sure it does! A change could be exactly what you need and who knows what other delights a new path might hold!!
Ps - glad to see you got the book thing worked out ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm of the opinion that it never hurts to express an interest or "throw your hat in the ring"... you can always turn it down if you do get it and change your mind! Good luck!
ReplyDeletexo
I for sure think you should go for it! It cant hurt to at least apply. Then if you get it.....then that is the time for decision making..but if you never apply you will never know. I know what it feels like to feel like you are deserting a group of kids.....I felt that way when I left my tiny school in Canberra..that NOBODY wanted to work at...tough kids...to move all the way to Manila...sometimes I still wonder if I did the right thing...but I am happy and I am doing what I want to do....I say go for it! The worst they can say is no...the worst you can say is no...the best that can happen......you end up having a great new job that you are really good at!
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