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Mrs Pondo is a high school teacher who had been promoted over the years to director of faculty. The school has made that role redundant and she has protected pay for three years (and they've given her a boatload of other work to do in place, along with her heavy teaching workload and break duties (because the school won't hire dinner ladies)), but she's at breaking point and desperate to get out to just be a teacher again, and forget all the management nonsense - she's happy to help, be an active, contributing part of the team, but the current SLT is so toxic, she wants no part of it elsewhere. So - how does she go about applying for jobs that are hierarchically lower than what she does now, any tips to explain without slagging off the school she wants to leave?
Her department has achieved the highest grades in school for the last 12 years, BTW, with her as teacher, HoD and finally DoF, without there ever being a specialist teacher in her department besides her, since she made HoD (he says, with a touch of pride 🙂 )
I think she would just say pretty much that no? While she's found the role rewarding etc now that has gone it feels like an opportunity to return to the classroom full time where she feels best suited.
Cheers, maybe it's just that simple and we're overthinking it! 🙂
She gave it a go, she didn't like it, she wants to get back into proper teaching and can afford to take a slight pay cut for a more fulfilling role(I'm assuming there would be a pay cut involved).
I think just being honest would be fine.
Depending upon her age, it's worth having a chat with a pension advisor via her union. A couple of colleagues who have stepped back from management roles have had to jump through a couple of hoops to preserve pension values.
I have done this - best thing I did in my professional career! Admittedly it was about 20 years ago now and in Scotland which has a different education system. Still there are parallels. I was very stressed, two school age children, aging parents as well as the job. I had tried for further promotion but had not been successful and had just reached a point where something had to give.
I applied for two ordinary teaching posts in High schools and got the second one. I had said on my application form that, after reflecting on my career so far, I'd realised that classroom teaching was what I enjoyed and what motivated me so that's why I wanted to return to it. Nobody questioned that statement at either interview. I still remember the feeling of a huge weight lifting off my shoulders after a few weeks in my new school where all I had to do was teach. I did loose out on my pension though - I'd been promoted for 16 years and so paid more in for all that time. However I kept my sanity and more or less enjoyed the last 14 years of teaching until I retired at age 60. That was 5 year ago now.
I suspect that you might be over thinking this - It was just not an issue for me.
All the very best - teaching is not easy at any level and what is an acceptable work/life balance changes at different stages of life.
I did this, pulled back from a HoD role covering five art and design specialisms to 0.8 fte classroom teaching. It did help that I was the only subject specialist (Product Design/3D Design)
desperate to get out to just be a teacher again, and forget all the management nonsense – she’s happy to help, be an active, contributing part of the team, but the current SLT is so toxic, she wants no part of it elsewhere
This sounds familiar although in my case it was as much the day to day running of the department that started to overwhelm
It was such a relief, although I was lucky in the group of people I worked with. However It did affect my pension but that was the part time element rather than the reducing role as I was old enough to be on the old more generous pension scheme, so it would need careful consideration. The TPA and the union were very helpful answering questions.
Not teaching specific but wanting to retreat from management is common in any profession.
Remember the person reading the application has probably trodden a similar path to management. Some days, they probably wish they were back teaching/on the tools/hands on/whatever. They’ll understand!
I work in a big college. We employe a number of staff who have had more senior positions before. That probably includes me.
I'd say in general we are just happy to have good teachers. I have one colleague who is delighted to be just teaching but occasionally finds the lack of control difficuilt.
I'd also get her to look at roles that combine teaching and CPD. That is my role. I get some remission and the chance to work on things that are different each year. But still spend most of my time teaching. Not to much day to day grind keeping things going like a middle manager
I've just finished planning lessons for next week. I missed the deadline set for 3.00PM Thursday but managed to chat with the technician who prepares the practical session.
I'm on MPG nowadays having stepped down from higher responsibilities and tbh it was the best decision ever. Previously Head of Learning of Upper School, also defacto Head of Science.
Now, with just a short time left in the career I am just loving the job.
It takes a long time to realise what is important. Teachers are paid a decent amount in the grand scheme of things.
how does she go about applying for jobs that are hierarchically lower than what she does now, any tips to explain without slagging off the school she wants to leave?
It was very straightforward for me. I just explained that I was sat pissing about with a spreadsheet one day and realised I hated it and could be teaching instead, I like that.
I have one colleague who is delighted to be just teaching but occasionally finds the lack of control difficuilt.
I found this whilst working in the same school but after moving schools it's fine.
Thanks all - we ARE overthinking it, then! 🙂 Very reassuring to know it's not an unusual thing. 🙂