TUSD get your act together!

I have GOT TO VENT!

TUSD had a big layoff I guess because of funding I think. Well, 2 weeks ago they got the ok to hire back teachers! Ok... school starts MONDAY! Hello! Don't teachers need some kind of preparation to teach these kids!!?!! Well, as a parent that wants the best education for her kids and wants her kids treated CORRECTLY in the classroom I have some serious issues!

I just went to meet the kids teachers today. We never got a letter in the mail stating who there teacher was and I found out why! Because they didn't have any teachers! They had (1) 3rd grade teacher and (1) new teacher as of *** 2 weeks *** The one they had already, called on Tuesday and said "I'm sorry, I'm not going to take the job" SO! They asked a girl that just got out of college with a teaching degree, student taught a year or so all different grades, to be the teacher. My issues: she was going for a totally different field of work within teaching (yes she told me this) AND she is pregnant, due in March. Which means there is going to be a lot of subbing going on in poor Shane's class. Her only experience is student teaching. She has NO year "program" you know, since she just took the job on TUESDAY! Today is THURSDAY! Don't get me wrong, she was fabulous with Shane, she is so sweet and kind and excited to teach. But it wasn't what she was out to do for her career, she took it because it just became available! The other teacher hasn't taught in over 6 years! AND never taught 3rd grade before! Those were my options for Shane. Thank goodness he had taken 3rd grade already! If it weren't for that I'd be a real mess! I think his teacher will be fine but I am not one that settles for fine. I want Shane to get the best. I guess in this situation he'd be getting the best right?

1st grade! Oh my. There is one teacher that has been there forever and is settled and structured. BUT is a bit rough with the kids and has a reputation for being mean and scary! I met her, she seems ok to me, very strong and has a direction that she sticks to, which is great. I love that. But that's not the teacher Seth got. He got another new 2 week notice teacher. She seems great, Seth loved her BUT... she has never taught 1st grade before. She has on the other hand been teaching for several years at another TUSD school in central Tucson. I'm not too concerned with Seth either since he passed 1st grade top in his class. I think this teacher will be fine, it's just that everything is so rushed for them!

** by the way the only reason Shane and Seth have to take 3rd and 1st grade again is ONLY because TUSD doesn't care how smart your kids are or advanced. They only care about their birthday. SO because of their birthday, they have to be with the kids their own age. I'm ok with that to some degree and the kids are ok with that, they don't seem to mind at all. I think Seth will be bored in 1st grade with the learning part of it but with the social part he'll have a blast. Shane I think it will be just find for him to get a stronger foundation of math. That could never hurt.

So we are leaving things as they are. I think with my option for Wheeler teachers, Shane's is the best with what I've been given and Seth, we will leave because it's not as pressing for him as it is for Shane. Seth is way advanced in Math as it is and reads at 3rd grade level easy. There are no worries for him. 3rd grade is an important foundation for future Math and I just hope Shane gets a strong one with this new teacher.

I guess I feel a bit better. I just wish we had some other options BESIDES home school, I can't teach home school especially pregnant! We could drive them to a different school but then we're back to the driving issues. I just don't want to do that again. Gale Elementary would be my other option for TUSD but after talking to Daniel we decided to just leave things as are and figure out what we will do for next year. HOPEFULLY move to VAIL! Yah right. That is going to take a MAJOR MIRACLE! I do believe in miracles!

One last thing: We leave for the DEPECHE MODE concert tomorrow morning and we can't wait!