I hate bad days at work. I know they happen, but I really don't like them at all. Today was a bad day. This time (for once) it wasn't because of my students. It was because of other professional adults like myself.
Back in November, I was asked to step in as the team lead for all of the Algebra teachers. It's not a paid position but something that would look good on a resume. I work with an interesting group of Algebra teachers. We all have very different personalities and very different priorities in life. Some are overly social, some are too quiet, some like comic book heroes, some like drinking every night, some are brand new to teaching, some did not choose teaching as their first job choice. We're just different. I'm okay with different. I am not okay with immaturity and incompetence.
We have one teacher who never says word. He never offers an opinion. He never volunteers to help. He doesn't reply to emails. He's just there. We have another teacher who's pregnant. She blames everything on her pregnancy even though she acted like this before she was ever pregnant. We have one teacher who cusses like sailor and is a very "over the top in your face I don't care what you say it's my way or the highway" type of person. We have a brand new teacher who is still getting certified through the alternative certification program. We have another teacher who is the man of few words. Literally, a few words. If you ask him a yes or no question that's all you will get - yes or no. No elaboration or explanation, just simply yes or no. And then there's me. The team lead who is a perfectionist and people pleaser. I get along with everyone. I may not be a fan of everyone, but I get along with them. I am not friends with any of them outside of work. I don't even think I'm facebook friends with any of them. Now that's sad - lol!
Anyway, today was a bad day. We meet as an Algebra team every Thursday morning during our conference period. We typically discuss upcoming lessons/concepts, teaching strategies, how to better help the kids, test questions, etc. Today's meeting felt like a disaster. No, it was a disaster. We had to discuss the questions for our upcoming test. Well, the teacher who is "my way or the highway" was not in a good mood. She was very short, rude, and snippy. She argued with everything that was said. She is usually one of the two people that give their opinions, and I'm thankful for that. However, today she wanted to give her opinion but then argue with you when you offered your opinion. It made me so mad. No one else really speaks much at our meetings except for myself, one other teacher, and this "my way or the highway" teacher. Of course, I'm usually the one that conflicts with her because I've taught Algebra 1 for the past 6 years (seven if you count this year), and darn it, I have an opinion about what I'm teaching too. Instead of listening to what everyone had to say, she just ignores them and continues to push her own thoughts/opinions.
Today she just ruffled my feathers. She usually doesn't bother me because I can make myself ignore her. But there are several of the other teachers who are intimidated by her attitude towards them and towards people in general. This was one of the instances where you could see everyone else just shut down because she was acting so over-the-top. So instead of sharing with the group, they just talk among themselves and we get nothing accomplished. Bottom line, she needs to learn when to shut her mouth. The sad thing is we had two back-to-back meetings right after Christmas break when she wasn't there, and they were probably the best meetings we had all year. I will say this... she works hard and takes care of her business which is why I can rely on her to help me get stuff done. But after today, I just want to be done with her. I seriously left our meeting so angry that I wanted to cry. Have you ever been that angry? Then I just beat myself up all day for letting her get to me. Oh, I guess some info that you might find interesting is that this lady used to be the team lead, but now I am. There were reasons unrelated to me as to why our principal removed her, but still. Good news is she asked to teach a different subject next year and they granted her request. So I will not have to work with her next year.
I just hate bad days.
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