what happens if i decide to end my my teaching contract before school starts?
Question by L M C: what happens if i decide to end my my teaching contract before school starts?
I have just completed my first year as a teacher in Texas. I am not happy with the position, and it showed in my performance. I was extended a contract to teach next year in either March or April, and I signed it.
The administration knows that I’m not happy, and I communicated to them that I am feverishly looking for a new job. During my PDAS summative that happened on the last day of school, it was suggested that I would have the following school year to shape up or ship out.
I am having a diffucult time looking for a new job. I understand that I have up until 45 days prior to the next school year to resign my position without penalty. I believe that more jobs will open up as this time frame draws closer for all teachers in Texas.
What happens if I do find another position that I’m willing to take, but it’s during that 45 day period before school and I decide to break the contract? Or, if I find a position after the school year has already begun?
Best answer:
Answer by Trinity
I understand your position, which is not uncommon for beginning teachers. Keep in mind that your word is far more important than piece of signed paper. You entered into a contract to teach next year, but you would prefer to bow out of it, which is cool. Figure out when the last day is that you can give notice properly that you wish to terminate your employment with your district. If you find another position before that date simply notify the district in writing that you respectfully decline to return as you have decided to accept a position elsewhere “for personal/professional reasons” (being under fire by the principal with the shape up or ship out attitude is simply wrong, administrators are there to assist you by helping to remediate any weakness. Some administrators have no business in the positions they are…)
So… look for another teaching position, if you find one life is good. Should you not, by the time 44 days left rolls around, honor your contract and your good word and return to do the best job you can. Seek out master teachers who will be more than willing to help you during the year. Because bailing out on a contract can follow you, remember… new schools will indeed call your former administrators for references and you don’t want them to hear “the teacher bailed on us and left us in a bad position just prior to the start of school and was on probation for sub standard performance during the previous year.”
You’re in Texas… look for openings in the 4 corners area (CO, NM, AZ, UT) try Durango, Cortez and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Also, Aztec, NM is very nice. Beautiful area here, wonderful schools too. The right thing will come along, teaching is a very rewarding profession and once you find the right school you will enjoy getting up everyday and going in to your classroom. Not for the money, we all know that, but for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children. Remember… Jesus was a teacher (and look what he had to endure).
Good luck to you, one day you will look back on this time and view it as nothing more than a stepping stone that got you to where you really wanted to be. God bless…
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