A groundswell of support has occurred over the past two days since Joplin R-8 Early Childhood special education teacher Brooke Iseli revealed in a Facebook post that she was told just before the beginning of parent-teacher conferences last week that her contract was not being renewed because she had taken too many personal days following her daughter's cheerleading activities.
Iseli has taught in the district since January 2005.
In the comments to her Facebook post, she said she was told that taking more days off than she was allowed was a violation of the Teacher Tenure Act. In the Joplin R-8 School District, teachers are allowed two personal days and eight sick leave days. They are not allowed to use sick leave days as personal days.
This is Brooke Iseli's story in her own words:
I’ve been with Joplin R-8 since January 2005, I was 23 years old. I have my Bachelors in Elementary Education grades 1-6 and Special Education K-12. I have my Masters in Reading Specialist. I’m certified to teach in 4 areas: elementary education, special education, early childhood, and mild/moderate Behavior K-12.I was told on Thursday one hour before I was meeting with my first parent teacher conference of the evening that my contract was not being renewed. It’s not being renewed because I need more than 2 days off this year to be with Riley for her competitive cheer schedule (I needed 7 days) and the district no longer allows docked days.
So Joplin R-8 is taking away my career because they no longer allow docked days. But hey, I can come back in 3 years when Riley is no longer cheering.
I get asked all the time from people with kids in college if it’s worth becoming a teacher. Why would I say yes if they will take away your career if you need more than 2 days off (personal days) in a 10 month time frame?! These are people’s careers, not 9-5 jobs.
Not to mention we are in a nationwide teacher shortage with non-certified “teachers” teaching in classrooms. Will I go back in 3 years? Probably not. I don’t feel safe going back to a district that will take away a career from someone without a second thought.
The comment section features support from many of Iseli's former colleagues, many of which note her reputation as a stellar, hard-working teacher.
Though Iseli has been told her contract won't be renewed, according to her Facebook post, the Joplin R-8 Board of Education makes the final decision.
21 comments:
I do not understand why can't she take off days with - NO PAY - like you can do in most any Business - If she gives Proper Notice so a Substitute Teacher could be used - Oh Yea, this is because Joplin R-8 is another Bureaucratic Government Agency - with a Stupid Board of Education, a Stupid Group of Administrators, Superintendents, and Principals - and Policies and Procedures that will Never make any Sense - - Where is her Teacher's Union - and all the Dues she paid in for 20-Years? As usual not there when you truly need them to represent you - This Teacher has Tenure - What is the True Cost to lose an Experienced Teacher vs hiring another one - -
We ask ourselves - Why are Teachers Leaving - Why is Missouri Ranked 31st in Education in the Nation and the US Ranked 13th in the World - Because our Education System is run by Incompetent Bureaucratic Individuals - Just like all Government Agencies - whether Federal or State - and you see why we are having to dismantle the Department of Education and adapt a Better Teaching and Learning System in the US - Because what we have been doing for Decades and Decades is Not Working - -
Why wasn't the Local Principal Suspended for allowing Mouse Feces in the Kitchen that Children's Food was being prepared and then served to them -
Joplin Schools is nothing but corruption and failures in leadership positions. I'm ashamed to be an alumnus of JHS and once I'm certified to be a teacher I'm avoiding this district like it's the plague.
There are uncertified special education teachers at JHS - also missing a lot of days. Will they also be non renewed ? Why did a veteran teacher who came out of retirement to teach math at North leave before semester ?( that was a student behavior issue which was downplayed).
Do better school board! You are heading down the post-tornado Huff 2.0 highway
If teachers are allowed to take all the days off they want without pay then where are we going to find subs to replace them? Can’t Find enough now! Years ago teachers never took off that I remember. How can you run a business or school when people come to work when they want to Also each day they take off without pay has to be figured in their retirement doesn’t it? I question if this is the only reason why she wasn’t offered her contract back ? And I do not know this lady or the school district just wondering. And no I’m not against attending your kids activities!!
Seems like she’s been there long enough to be tenured which requires a process for dismissal.
She didn’t have tenure because she left the district and came back this year. She would get tenure again the first day next year.
She's not being dismissed.
She's just not being rehired for next year!
Every day she missed, no students learned. Subs don’t teach. They try to maintain.
JHS needs renamed to Huff Athletic Complex (with school in back)
Not to mention time off for Thanksgiving, Christmas break, Spring break, other holidays and summer break.
Sorry Karen, a deal was made. That deal was broken, by you. Apply in 3 years when Karen Jr. is done Karening.
I offer a thumbs up on 3:57's comment. Spot on.
You signed a contract. You should have followed your contract. You put living vicariously through your daughters cheer ahead of your career. You only have yourself to blame.
The teacher's "union" is weak in Missouri.
One of our children was involved with club sports and traveled extensively. My wife and I both had careers and would attend when we could. When our schedule did not agree with travel times, we enlisted the help of teammates/parents to step in. In short, we did what we had to do to make everything work.
Teachers , especially with sick kids, have a very difficult time some years making sure they have enough days ( a good round of this year’s flu that swept through households is an example) - but no one has mentioned that there is also the ability to carry unused sick days to the next year. There are plenty of sick days when you don’t burn through them . For instance, if you only use two days during one school year the next year, you will have eight days that you can carry over. As far as personal days- Just because your daughter is involved in cheer or your son is involved in something else doesn’t give you the right to not come to work. Shortage of subs is in every district and teachers are frequently having to cover their class and someone else’s . Or paraprofessionals are pulled in order to cover classrooms. It’s also valuable to teach your child that as a professional you will have adult responsibilities and you can’t be there for every event they have. While it would be nice if teachers could use days anyway they wanted to use them, this is not a new policy. It should not be a shock. You signed a contract to teach from August to May. Even if this teacher was willing to be docked, it may have been the lack of commitment that was a problem. Any employer will expect who they hire to have good attendance. The communication was poor at best & it could have been addressed much sooner.
Well in my corporate job, I have so many alotted PTO days. After that if I miss and it's unexcused I can be facing termination. It's a balancing act of parents sharing duties. Your job pays for your kids activities. You want to be a supportive parent and invest in your kid, you also need to show your child what it looks like to be a responsible adult and fulfill your obligations. My parents missed many activities for my sister and I as ai grew up because no work, no activities. You have to figure out the work/life balance. This attitude is just going to teach your children entitlement.
She's been a Karen since at least middle school. Not much changed in 30 years.
How does a grown educated woman not understand a contract? Maybe she needs to go back to school.
I missed many things with my kids while providing for them, you do what you have to do, not what you want to do. I owe I owe it’s off to work I go… she must have never heard this
Let me assure you that administrators don't get docked when taking off for personal reasons!
Post a Comment