That Time of the Year

At my school, it's THAT time of the year. If you've ever worked in a charter school, you know what I mean. It's mid-year review time.

In the middle of the school year, or there abouts, charter schools and their teachers start to do the "what's happening next year?" dance. You see, charter school teachers generally work under year-to-year contracts. So every year, decisions are made about who will be on the faculty the following year. These discussions usually happen about now and continue until any hiring is complete...hopefully before the end of the school year.

What are the possibilities?

Many teachers are asked back to continue the hard work they've been doing. Contract negotiations usually happen later. These teachers start to discuss with administrators whether they will be teaching the same subjects, grade levels etc. Teachers generally get some kind of input in this process.

As charter school teachers tend to be young, some will decide that they aren't coming back. Most people who choose to leave on their own do so for the same reasons. Some move to different cities, usually because of significant others' job or schooling needs. Others need a break from teaching and decide to change careers or go to graduate school. Others are just ready for a change and decide to apply to other schools (suburban, charter, district). A rare few move up the ladder into administration. Others are starting families and plan time off.

And then there are the dicey ones - the teachers who aren't asked back. Budgetary concerns are sometimes the cause. Other times, shifting student numbers are the reason. Some teachers aren't asked back because they aren't particularly good at their jobs - or they really are terrible.

In any case, this process - deciding who will be on staff next year - is a swamp of rumors, gossip, secrecy and detective work. I always feel like the last to know what's going on, but I bet others feel the same way. And even if you're staying, it's sad and concerning to see your colleagues leaving, for whatever reason. I'll be excited when everything is decided and out in the open. Then, we can start worrying about hiring (if necessary) and planning for next year.