Oh, Boy, Decision Time

[omorka]

It's pretty much official - RR is going to be leaving us to become the district's Secondary Coordinator of Mathematics. I'm incredibly sad to see her leaving - she's been a mentor to me, and more, for these past five years. Having said that, I think she'll be absolutely incredible in the position, and far more effective than AH was. Some intelligent things might actually happen.

But now I need to face the Big Question:

Do I want her job?

On the one hand, I think I'd be decent at it, and I think after a couple of years at it I'd be quite competent. Someone needs to do it, and I can't think of anyone else in the district who meets all three of the following qualifications:

1) They wouldn't suck.

2) I wouldn't be driven crazy having to work with them.

3) They might actually apply for it, since it doesn't involve a pay raise.


On the other hand - I don't want to leave the classroom, and the specialist position does not have classes of her own, although she is supposed to come in and teach "model lessons" for the other teachers on occasion. Worse, this is happening in the middle of a school year in progress. I can NOT justify to myself ditching the three Pre-AP and one AP sections I have already in progress, especially since the likely result would be their being taught by a long-term sub from whenever I left until January. I'd be sacrificing a year's worth of students for the sake of the department, and I really don't think I can do that. Even if the New Guy thinks I should.

Maybe I can talk DD into applying for the job and then retiring in a couple of years at the correct place in the school year for me to apply for the position over a summer . . .

(Sekrit msg for memeslayer, phoenixstarfire, or quantumduck: if a better alternative doesn't present itself, I may find myself in search of a reading very shortly . . . any of y'all up for it?)

Comments

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

Apply for the job. You can always walk away later if you hate it, but such an opportunity is unlikely to come again.

In military circles, an officer who declines an opportunity to accept greater responsibility usually never gets a second opportunity, ever. Things are a bit less rigid in education, but the principle is the same; if you don't apply now, your failure to do so may be remembered by those who would decide on your fitness for such a position in the future.

One other thing to consider, more for your sanity than your career; seriously consider which you'd hate more, leaving the classroom or having the district bring in someone from outside who likely will be a second coming of Dr. Dipshit?

Good luck, whatever your decision.