From: Tina Morgan
Date: Thu, 20 May 2021 08:36:36 -0500
So that makes 3 of us so far... Wynne, Paula, and me.
Pre-Covid the special subject classes were shortened to 30 minutes (versus
the usual 40-45) so that we could be assigned as academic interventionists
2 hours each morning. I hated every second of it.
This year my district has a hybrid/virtual schedule. Students attend
either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. The hybrid classrooms have 12 or
fewer students. They wear masks all day and have desk shields. The only
time they leave the classroom is for restroom breaks. Special subject
classes are pre-recorded and a link sent to the classroom teachers, who
show it in the hybrid classroom or assign it to the virtual students. The
rest of the time the specialists are interventionists or subs. I decided
in the fall that I could not stand the idea of another year of having to do
these interventions so I started making plans to retire. It's not that I
don't care about the academic success of our students - I DO. That's why
they should have true interventionists and not people like me - I don't
have the training, skill, or desire to do it. However, the
superintendent can be quoted in the newspaper that there are
interventionists at every school... and Joe Public doesn't know the reality
of the situation.
I've always thought it would make better sense to have the specialists do
enrichment activities with the students who understand the classroom
material. A teacher told me that the reason that's not done is because she
was told to keep the higher students because they're the ones who will
hopefully pass the state tests and to send the others to me because there's
really no chance that they'll pass the tests. Nice.
My district sent me an exit survey. I decided to be polite but honest in
my answers. One thing I told them is that if I knew I'd never have to do
interventions again, I probably wouldn't retire. Maybe one day they'll
stop this crazy practice. I just want to teach music.
I've applied to 3 area private schools. I interviewed at one - 30 minute
commute, grades 3-6 with an elementary choir that meets 2 days/week after
school, high school choir of mostly grades 9-10 who need a fine arts
credit... I removed my name from consideration because why do I want to
retire only to work harder? :D I have another interview June 10 at a
Catholic school about 2 blocks from my house. I haven't heard that they
have a music position available, but I don't know why the principal would
fool with an interview unless there's a possibility... I have a cousin who
works there who told me she died and went to educator heaven - it's by all
accounts a great place to work. There's an opening at another Christian
academy in town - I've sent my CV but haven't gotten a response, but found
out that the principal is also retiring and it's up in the air about if any
hiring will be done until the replacement comes on board.
I've been in this district my entire 32 years. When I first transferred to
this school 12 years ago, I was a violin teacher (even though I'm not a
violinist). This lasted 2 years. Another music teacher in the district
left and the music teacher from my school was sent to replace her and I was
assigned to do general music AND violin. We made this work for about 2
years, but it became increasingly difficult to do it all, so the violins
went in storage and I did only the music. In addition to me, we had a
dance teacher, a drama teacher, an art teacher, and a PE teacher who was
super supportive (she had a basketball skills team each year that performed
choreographed routines at Mississippi State basketball games). The dance
teacher transferred to another district and was not replaced. The drama
teacher has a gifted endorsement and was moved to gifted and the drama
program cut. The PE and art teachers retired 3 years ago but were
replaced, and a replacement has been hired for me. I'm sad to go for many
reasons, but not sad for others.
Thanks for reading my essay. I have to go proctor a state test.
--
Tina Morgan
tdmorgan7@gmail.com
Pre-K-5 General Music
Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School
Columbus Junior Girlchoir Director
Columbus, Mississippi
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