Posted by:
Nancy Barlow
Lay-offs. Budget cuts. RIF’s. Whatever your district calls it, it’s never good news.
This spring, novice and seasoned educators alike will find themselves in that unfortunate position of getting THAT letter. You know, the one from Human Resources that says your contract is not being renewed for “budgetary reasons.”
I’ve gotten that letter. Twice. In four years. (Why did I change careers, again?) It’s not fun. But I have some tips that will get you through the part that I call “Unemployment Purgatory.” It’s that time between receiving THAT letter and the end of the school year, which, in most cases is several weeks.
1. Don’t panic. Panic does not make one think clearly. It clouds your thoughts and makes you dysfunctional. And you need to be able to muster up your best brainpower in these coming weeks to avoid #2, which is...
2. Don’t burn bridges. Don’t burn bridges. I repeat, don’t burn bridges! Way easier said than done, I know. Sure, letting off steam helps, but be very, very careful where and how you do that. Avoid venting at school and public places. Do NOT vent online, including Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. Just...don’t. It’s different for the rest of the world, where when one gets laid off, you get to say your goodbyes and leave. The goal here is to smile through the pain and project professionalism, especially in front of the students, parents, and Web 2.0. Help yourself by steering clear of the Bitter Bettys/Bitter Bobs of your school (you know the type I’m talking about); they will only feed negative emotions, waste your time, and suck your energy.
3. Be there for the students. Once the lay-offs become public, parents start talking. The younger students will not completely understand what’s going on, and could get upset by the news. Reassure them that you will be here the rest of the year to see them off to the next grade. Young or old, the students may start to ask questions like, “Are you coming back next year?” Deflect them as best you can, but be honest. With a smile, say, “I don’t know yet, but I’ll be ok” – then change the subject.
4. Know thy unemployment procedures. In the US, know when and how to file unemployment in your state, BEFORE you need to do it. The Human Resources department in your district should be able to point you in the right direction. Look through your state’s Department of Labor’s website - most are helpful and some even let you file online. Gather previous employment paperwork, as most states need at least 18 months of your work history to file an initial claim. (By the way, as much as you want to tear it up, hang onto THAT letter. You’ll need it for various things having to do with unemployment and health insurance coverage.)
5. Be optimistic, but stay realistic. You may end up getting recalled or rehired, but don’t put all of your eggs in that basket. There will be optimistic friends, and even optimistic administrators who will tell you not to worry, they’ll be recalling people, it happens every year, etc. They are probably trying to be helpful and genuinely want you to stay. But this is the time that you need to be realistic. Until you have a signed contract in your hand, you need to start to accept the idea that you might not be coming back. And that is hard. Very hard.
6. Do as I say, not as I do. I’ve been teary in front of the students. I’ve gotten terse with a Bitter Betty. The best I can do is to be reflective of the whole experience. If it happens yet again, perhaps I can do one step better than I did before.
The bottom line is, be prepared to make a graceful exit. You want colleagues, students, and administration to remember you as a professional. It will take every fiber of your being to stay even-keeled. Just know that eventually the roller coaster will stop, and you will be able to get off.
Watch for “Surviving Unemployment, Part 2: The Job Search for Educators,” where I'll discuss ways to use new technology to increase the chances of finding a teaching position.
About the Author:
Nancy Barlow, aka The Teacher Geek, is a teacher, blogger, unemployment survivor, runner, compulsive list-maker, coffee addict, and sticky-note hoarder. You can find her at www.theteachergeek.com, @theteachergeek on Twitter, and in her home in Ridgefield, CT, surrounded by kids’ toys, unfolded laundry, and giant stack of teacher books on her nightstand.