<p>Just as everyone else said...keep it positive. My son had an excellent chemistry teacher a few years back who (gasp!) didn't use the textbook! (Except as a reference) He'd been teaching for something like 50 years and was a genius- he used his own materials (handouts) and did everything hands-on. My son LOVED him. (He's now a chem eng major.) ANYWAY, the upshoot is that this guy, who was new to this particular school, was not well liked by the "traditionalists" who liked bookwork, extra credit, book tests, homework, etc. It was sad. He ended up leaving, although I'm not sure what the circumstances were. Looking back now, he was one of the best teachers, if not the best, my son ever had. Hindsight is 20/20. </p>
<p>When you see someone doing something right, tell the world!!</p>
<p>In our district, there is a tendency to let the most senior, experienced and skilled teachers teach the higher level classes and the more inexperienced, less qualified teachers (coaches ;) ) teach the on-level or below level kids. I never thought much about this until a good friend complained about the difficulties her on-level daughter was having mastering geometry skills. She was paying for outside tutoring to keep her daughter from failing because the inexperienced teacher could not seem to 'reach' her daughter. After meeting with the teacher, my friend concluded the teacher had low expectations of her class and was therefore not motivated by a class full of C and D averages to be innovative in her teaching methods. My friend wondered why the better teachers couldn't teach the kids that needed the most help. Wow...good question. </p>
<p>So maybe it isn't a bad thing that a wonderful teacher with a bag full of innovative teaching tricks/skills is now teaching lower level classes. Who knows how many lives will take a different direction because of this 'demotion'. (And as I said before, maybe it is not truly a demotion. Maybe the administration has a need for this teacher's skills elsewhere.)</p>
<p>Thank you ldmom! I want to inject something in this discussion. First, teaching lower level classes is not "getting demoted"! As many of you know, a great 9th grade Algebra teacher is just as valuable as a terrific AP English teacher. To say that the Algebra teacher is a lower level teacher than the English teacher is wrong. Teacher pay within a school is based on education and years of experience. Having to teach a lower level class does not mean a decrease in pay, benefits or anything else. </p>
<p>Second of all, in the school districts that I have been involved in, the district maintains right of assignment. Essentially, once I am hired, they can assign me to teach anything that I hold a license for. I am currently a middle school guidance counselor. My certification is for grades K-12. If they decided next year they would rather have me working at the primary school with grades K-2, I would have to do it or quit my job. School districts need to have flexibility to move people where they need them. I think that everyone is jumping to conclusions here without any facts. ldmom has a very good point. Perhaps this teacher's talents can be better used elsewhere. He is not be "demoted". He is being reassigned and the fact that the other teacher's mother is on the state board may not have anything to do with the decision to reassign both teachers.</p>
<p>When my S had the new teacher for Honors Chem. all the honors kids were failing her class. People were up in arms flooding the school admin. with calls. I thought I would do my part by sending the asst. principal an email expressing my concerns. I specifically requested that my email be kept confidential. He replied to my email saying thea she was a great teacher and everyone would be fine, blah, blah, blah.
Imagine my shock the following day when I received an email from the Chem teacher refuting every concern I had expressed as being the kid's fault and they should all just try harder. The asst. pricipal had forwarded my letter to the teacher and there was nothing I could do. I was really worried for my S. He basically taught himself the material from the book and came out with an "A". The teacher was fired at the end of the year because she failed over half of her students. If the admin. would only listen to the kids...</p>
<p>No, I didn't pursue it further because I didn't want to rock the boat for S any more than I already (inadvertantly) had. S asked me to just stay out of it after that and let him handle it on his own, which he did.</p>
<p>I like what nceph suggested. And Soozie: I sure remember that story!</p>
<p>As for PackMom's story: I remember once talking to a principal about problems with a teacher. She told me that the teacher contract mandated that any written information received by the school district had to be put in the teacher's file.</p>
<p>I'm of the opinion you need more information and I am hesitant to go to bat for an adult (rather than a student). I've had a couple occasions where a teacher has come to me, outlining a situation and I'll agree it's an injustice - until I hear the other side. In one instance, a very well respected, excellent teacher had a disagreement with the school board and filed a grievance with the teachers' union. He whipped up the kids, on the basis of incomplete facts, and had tearful kids appealing to the school board to remedy the situation. The 'situation' was that he was entitled to, and did receive, an extra stipend for teaching a course that conferred college credit. I personally thought his selective recitation of the facts was dishonest and I resent it when adults in power use those that are powerless (either because they're students or haven't been given ALL the facts) and I try very, very hard not to be a victim. This is just one small example of the kind of thing I've witnessed almost annually. </p>
<p>As for the valedictorian 'risk' - I find it sad, but understandable, that kids worry about losing that status, but there are many ways to lose it (course selection, bad performance on a test, etc., performance of other students rising) that I would hope kids don't have that be a governing principle in their lives. There are threads on here that discuss the value of being val (some schools award scholarships with that as the sole criterion) but it should not be a guiding principle in life. Speak up IF you feel it's the right thing to do. (After determining what the whole story is.)</p>
<p>I've tended to be someone who stands up for what I believe in. I'm proud of that. However, at times I've spoken too much and too quickly--especially in the school environment. Also, I've learned that situations can and do resolve themselves quite well on their own without a crusade from me.</p>
<p>Let's remember that no one yet knows how good the newbie will be. It hasn't yet happened that the new teacher is doing a horrendous job. How can anyone be sure s/he won't be just as good as the other teacher, connections or not? The nice thing about AP classes is that there's a standardized test at the end. The administration will have the benefit of an objective measure they can use to judge for themselves how well the new teacher performs.</p>
<p>I would send a general letter of praise for the current teacher. I'd even avoid the word "support," as that suggests you've taken a particular side in the current situation. I'm not sure you have enough facts to be justified in doing that.</p>
<p>I have sent letters to the principal and even CCd administration when teacher or staff member was particulary helpful.</p>
<p>I find that when I have a problem- it ultimately works in my favor- if I am not just seen as a complainer! ;)</p>
<p>However- per employment issues- we don't know all details.
Some teachers may want a "demotion", say step down from head of dept.
Being head of dept requires lots of extra meetings and responsibilty.
Some schools have a perspective that they rotate that position.</p>
<p>Its fine to write a letter with specifics why a particular teacher has gone above and beyond, but a new teacher shouldn't be assumed to be dogmeat.
Yes new teachers, may be slow to get going, and need additional support, but we all were new once, with good communication, the new teacher can assimilate quite nicely into the school</p>