Salena Gray Jegede of Snellville, who worked as a teacher for three years before switching to a job training first- and second-year educators with a nonprofit, said policy isn't always reality when it comes to using performance to retain the best teachers during times of lay-offs..
State law grants tenure to teachers who have finished at least three consecutive years of full-time teaching and have an “expectation of continued employment.”
Jegede said she saw districts use that law to get rid of new teachers in a roundabout way, not renewing their contracts instead of officially counting them as laid off.
Some parents think the same, especially those who became more involved in their local schools after the economic downturn led to more layoffs.
Kerry Ridgon of Douglasville said two teachers were especially helpful with her twins, now in the fifth grade. One taught her daughter in second grade and then her son and daughter this year, each time pushing them and other students beyond their expectations.
The children ended up eager to learn more, much as they did with a new science teacher who was similarly engaging this year. Yet she said both teachers are being “re-assigned,” – possibly to new roles or possibly out the door – partially because they are among the newer educators.
“If either one of these teachers does not find a home in this district, that’s when I’ll raise my pitchfork,” said Rigdon, who works part-time in accounting. “My children have gotten the benefits of having these teachers. My friends, neighbors and community should have that same opportunity.”
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