bad reference from principal

I am really sorry to hear this and I genuinely feel for you. It can be such a strange and lonely time of year for non-permanent teachers: the feeling that everyone else is heading off into their blissful summer with a safe job to come back to in the autumn. Let me reassure you that you are not alone.

I can try to reassure you on two counts. Firstly, if you have not been made aware of any problems with your performance then they cannot invent these now as a reason for not keeping you on. The likelihood is that the allocation has simply gone against you on this occasion. Secondly, you'll meet very few rpts who haven't moved around so principals are more than used to it. You are not the problem - the system is.

Having said that, the one thing that you cannot control is the telephone conversation that will occur between your current principal and a prospective new employer. You need to request a written reference from your current principal as soon as possible and if you have any reason to believe that there is an issue, you should discuss it with the union. But, as a default, please don't think negatively and don't blame yourself. This is looking like a good summer for recruitment so hard and all as it is you need to keep your spirits up and start applying. Mind yourself.

Look, you know if something is amiss and to be fair to those of us who want to help you, please don't give us a drip feed that we have to adapt our answers to fit.

You say you kissed a male colleague. On the face of it, if that person did not complain, I cannot see a problem. Context is everything. Did it happen at work? What do you mean by a kiss? Frankly, I'm not interested in a full blown description! I've hugged and kissed a colleague on the cheek before when they were returning from a bereavement for example. But it would usually be someone I was close to. On the whole, I wouldn't make a habit of amorous gestures in the workplace because it's not really appropriate and it's not your private space. If it happened on a night out, and the other person had no problem with it, I can't see there being a problem.

You imply that you're a lively person in the staffroom. I've never regarded that as a sacking offence! Just as long as you have the respect and social intelligence not to dominate the place when others are trying to have a quiet conversation when you walk in. With retirements over recent years, many staffs are now much younger than they were and the staffroom atmosphere will reflect that. I've always thought that principals value a good atmosphere in the staffroom and we haven't sworn an oath of silence! Ultimately, you know what the situation is here. If nobody has ever approached you, don't drive yourself mad seeing plots where none exist.

The awful thing is that I've seen hours disappear where they seemed so safe. I've been on the receiving end of it myself. It's terrible but you have to move on and put yourself out there. The SEC experience is gold dust!

There may well not be a great deal wrong with your teaching. But. You are only teaching two years so you have no security. It may be that you are the one in the weakest position in terms of your contract, so you are first out. It may be that by chance the most efficient way that subjects can be covered is by letting you go rather than someone else, timetabling is extremely complex. There may be other reasons, or there may not. You have nothing to lose by asking for advice, as has been suggested.

edit: sorry OP my reply overlapped with your latest post.

skittle 26 wrote: »

So basically I asked him in early May would I have a job next year.he replied with I don't know til the redeployment process is over.i wanted to apply for jobs that were coming up so I asked him would he be a referee.he said he would.niw I knew he didn't like me due to a numberfof interactions went out if his way to not say goodbye walked past me etc ignored me s couple of times.so basically then there were a number of rpts that began this year and I'm the only one not being renewed. He told another girl that she woukd have a sixth year english this year which is mine.so anyway he advertised jobs and told me and the maternity leave people and the dips to apply.all for the same jobs.
so I'm going in Friday to take away my books and put in test results.
So from all your advice this is what I will do
1.thank him for the year
2.ask him for feedback areas I could improve in
3.was there any problems with my interactions with pupils parents staff. (Is this too pushy or direct)

Thanks everyone for replying it has helped me calm down because I felt really embarrassed and sad over the whole situation.

Hold on. Are hours in your subject area being advertised and have you been told you can apply for it? If so, why are you being let go? If you have a contract in the school and there are hours available in your job I can't see why you would be let go and told to apply for the job again. You should not have to interview for hours that exist in your school when you are already working there.

skittle 26 wrote: »

Thank you so much for replying.first of all there are two retirements this year with one of both if my subjects . Secondly numbers are increasing year on year.there are a number of things that ive been thinking I kissed a male teacher on the staff or else maybe I'm too giddy i was always laughing and joking I made several friends in the staffroom probably too popular and believe me this is a first in my lifetime and I'm in my late teenties
1.I'm just wondering should I take him off as referee?
2.could I ask him out what it us that I did
unfortunately I didn't join a union as this is only my second year teaching.
3.he doesn't give written references only generic ones would that do
Just any guudance would be appreciated I feel like a failure.
my subject knowledge is excellent and I'm an experienced examiner of seven years but to be honest I've begun to think is it my teaching. I've good control I loose the cool ocassionally and roar but its seldom.the kuds and parents were fond of me.
I'm jyst worried it will hamper my job prospects woukd I be better off to just wipe off the year off my cv.im sorry bout the long post just so worried and confused.

Don't take him off your CV as a referee - Most principals do not give bad references.

You could ask him about what you did but I'm not sure there is much to be gained.

Now that's the kind of collegiality we all dream of. I'm pleasantly surprised that the Principal relented. I've heard of other cases where the intervening colleagues were basically told that it was a management decision and to back off.