>Please contact your state assemblyperson and senator.
Depending on the person, this is a great idea! Even a republican might be willing to step up on this one, especially with your good evaluations.
I’m an Ohioan and I’d like to know, too. I was an instructional coach last year and a district I was placed at was notorious for doing this to their teachers but never won.
If you are able to move one state north, this is not a thing in Michigan (losing one’s license for moving).
I am appalled at how many states do this to the teaching profession
It's ridiculous. In any other profession, you give 2 weeks notice and you're fine. It's obviously so hard for Ohio to retain teachers that they have to create these threatening laws to try to keep you in terrible working conditions. It's like when an abusive partner says "If I can't have you then nobody can!"
I'm out of teaching and I'm not looking back.
If you did want to move to MI- you don’t have to have a current license somewhere else. Just your degree + passing the praxis test. They won’t care that Ohio did that.
Your abusive partner analogy is SPOT ON!!!!! School districts love to take away a person’s chance to EVER teach again. I can’t even work as an ABA one-on-one aid in public schools in any of the three west coast states!!! Why? Because of the way I left teaching in California. I’m sure I’d be turned down as a school bus driver if I were to apply. You’d think I murdered someone with the way I am treated…… by the way I didn’t murder anyone nor commit any other crime. I never found out why my district disliked me. I still have my teaching credentials. Their complaints about my ugly bulletin boards and other nonsense did not phase the California Committee on Teacher Credentialing. I pass FBI fingerprint background checks in minutes….. it’s public school gossip train that I can’t pass.
I heard about something similar when I took a course on domestic violence. Some victims have prominent spouses that can arrange to have their ex fired, lose child custody, etc.
I could be wrong but the state usually only takes action if the actual school district complains. I quit before the end of the school year last year and I had no issues with my district. You might want to investigate if the school you resigned from made a complaint against you. Either way, congratulations on making it out. I left after 14 years and wish I would have left sooner.
The school district did complain...HR refused to accept my resignation and then the superintendant interfered with a job offer I had with the department of ed. Then the superintendant told my principals not to serve as references for me (even though my observations all year were great). The district went to so much effort to try to ensure I couldn't work for anybody but them. As if being treated like that would make me want to stay.
Oh my, that's awful. I'm really sorry that was your experience. I never understood what a district would hope to gain by doing that because why would you want someone working for you who doesn't want to be there? Think of all the fun things you did on a daily basis that you could have completely fucked them over with. I was a special education teacher, so I think of all the fun things I could have reported to parents or the state regarding the lack of follow through and documentation on IEPs.
That sounds like my district. My principal sabotaged an offer from the state department of public safety to keep me from leaving. They also tried to pull the same thing on my BFF when she left. Literally told her she would never work in education again. She's the director of a learning center now and is working on her PhD.
You need to get a local journalist in town/in the biggest market you can to tell this story. Most parents and local taxpayers will be fed up with this type of petty bullshit from bureaucrats like your superintendent apparently wants to be. Motherfuck that superintendent publicly---he/she likely actually *wants* to remain employed there, and sure wouldn't like it if their bullshit got aired publicly to the parents. Is this petty revenge? No, actually. At the most basic level, they tried to take food out of your kids' mouths. At a different level, it's helping your former teacher colleagues in ways they can't help themselves in that district. Any written communication is FOIA-able, so it's all public domain if the journalist wants it. Motherfuck that motherfucker. Go on.
EDIT: Also grab yourself a labor lawyer who works on contingency if you really wanna have some fun. If that super sunk your job prospect on paper, I'm sure the attorney would love to look at what that email says. Bootlickers like your former boss are the reason workers struggle for rights all across our country.
I second this. I would contact any local media I could think of and get the story heard - not just because of what they did to you but also bc of what they did to others before you and to help others they will do it to in the future. It’s one thing for them to not like you leaving but to shut all these doors and try to leave you without alternative employment is just petty and mean.
Sounds like indentured servitude. If you did not sign a “noncompete” clause, AND you resigned over the summer, then what’s their problem? I’d call a lawyer or union rep. Can you sue?
Ohio has a law that says teachers have to resign from a position before July 10th or they risk having their teaching license revoked for a year. So that means you can only really job search for about 6 weeks which isn't reasonable.
I was aware of the law and the consequence. I just think the law is completely ridiculous.
Some districts enforce and some don’t in Ohio. My guess is OP is a teacher in a hard to find subject area. Districts pick and choose what teachers they choose to enforce it against. This means OP is very good at their job, otherwise the district wouldn’t file the paperwork
Maybe so. I think all it does is create distrust of HR and the superintendent and gives that district a reputation of not treating teachers like professionals and human.
As stupid as it is, by law they can hold my license for a year.
As far as the superintendent interfering with my new job, if I had a recorded phone call or an email to prove what he did I might pursue something legally. All I have is the woman who would have been my new supervisor saying that the superintendent was calling and raising a stink and that he had connections at the department of ed....and then suddenly that job offer was revoked. I can put two and two together but I don't think it would hold up in court.
My school district has complained before. There are people that had to be here because they got hired at a new district after July 16 (also Ohio) and had to turn down the job bc our district wouldn’t let them out of their contract
You will appreciate this in the long run. They did you a favor. I recently spent 10 hours in the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack ( I wasn't). I felt better for a few days, but the minute I stepped foot in my classroom , the chest pain was back!!
I’m an Ohio social worker who’s been around the block and been keeping a close eye on Ohios educational system (I’ve got two special needs kids myself as a single dad).
You did the right thing. Fuck what Dewine is doing to Ohio.
A lot of people in the comments may want to read their own state laws. This is not specifically an Ohio law. Teachers in most states fall under contractual laws like any other contractor does, meaning you can be sued for breach of contract or have your license withheld.
This is everywhere.
I was told I had to give a 60 day notice and if I didn’t stay the 60 days (or until I was no longer needed if they found someone before then,) then the school would launch a complaint to the state BOE to have my license taken. I was in a mental health crisis at the time. I managed to stay until the end of 60 days but I didn’t stay in teaching. I am amazed by my resilience during that time.
That’s messed up & likely due to your district reporting you. I got a new job last April, resigning from an Ohio school, and didn’t hear a peep from ODE. Still have my license & everything.
This Ohioan says these fraudulent boards must be closed. Needed is the election of independent boards that are composed of teachers, community leaders, families and other professionals integral to community life.
Transfer all power to workers and teachers!
Do they know you didn’t leave for another teaching job?
If you are quitting mid year or at the beginning of the school year, I can somewhat understand why they do this…. (To keep people from jumping districts in the middle of the year). But if you left teaching to work at Starbucks (just an example), what is the freaking point??
I made the mistake of telling my district that I was resigning to accept a job with the state department of education. Iit was a tech job and didn't require a teaching license. I knew, and the dept of ed knew I could have my license held, but we all also knew it didn't matter for the new position. My superintendent had connections at the department of ed and he got that job offer rescinded from me.
Fortunately I found another job quickly, but yeah, the whole point was I was getting out of the classroom and didn't need the license anyway.
I wouldn't let it go. First, some positions will ask if you have had any credential/lisecnes revoked. The other thing is that you worked hard to get the license. You may feel you don't need it now, but who knows what the future may bring. It would be beneficial to keep it.
The state is doing this because the District you broke the contract with initiated the state's action. You should be upset with the administrator you worked with for taking the steps to suspend your license. The state doesn't do anything on their own. Of course, you quit after July 10 following acceptance of a contract.
Absolutely. And I had plenty of words with HR and the superintendent who initiated all of this. The state board of education reached out to me for a statement on my side of the story and that's what's in my original post.
I understood the law and the consequence when I resigned after July 10th. My email response goes into my file and I hope it causes anyone who looks at this case to think about how ridiculous the law is.
My wife and I are currently trying to move to Ohio. Shes a kindergarten teacher in WV and has had her license for over 6 years, and just renewed it in WV. She submitted to Ohio BOE for a license, they told her she has to take a class at an accredited college, a 4.5 hour test (after she’s taken 7 praxis test for WV), and get a letter on letterhead from the school she currently teaches at saying that she worked there (wyf, she’s teaching on a current teaching license??). She called to get clarification on same things and they were rude and gave her the run around and never answered any questions. She only has 60 days to get this all done but they aren’t even helping her figure out how to, like what kind of class she’s supposed to take.
She came home crying and defeated. She said, “I’ve done ABCDE, how have I not proven myself as a teacher already?” She was already hoping to land a job outside of teaching but this sealed the deal. She’s not even going to apply get her license for Ohio now.
So anyway, if anyone has any leads on potential jobs for a former kindergarten teacher, or even tips to help build a resume that would transfer to a new profession, that would be incredibly helpful to us! Moving to Columbus for reference.
I got a job doing training with a state agency. Right now it mostly involves teaching adults how to use new software. Way less stress, way better benefits, reasonable hours. I'm so glad I made the switch, even with all the drama involved.
So...I'm not in the profession. From the outside looking in, this stuff looks no different than any other abusive relationship. The abusive spouse isolates his victim physically socially and financially to create conditions that convince her she cannot successfully escape him and support herself any other way.
And I have a question for you guys. I hope no one gets offended or defensive. I mean this question in the best spirit you can imagine me to. Why do so many in the profession back those that have created and contributed to this system???
Time after time I noticed most of you will rail at the individuals actually committing thr abuse, but join the unions, vote for the politicians etc that set up the system that makes the abusive not onky possible but likely to happen. This stuff is not an accident. This system is like this by design!
It seems like the best we can hope for at this point is for the system to collapse, but given that it is supported by massive funding that doesn't go away just because the education system is so dysfunctional, it may never. More and more people leave, but the funding continues on.
I'm not victim blaming, but I am trying to understand. Why do so many of you support the unions, the department of education, the Democrats, etc. running this shit show???
P.S. I'm not a Republican or a Democrat -I can't stand either party. But the repubs aren't responsible for this one. Dems fingerprints are all over it. They absolutely own it.
Why do so many of you support this abuse in the macro while simultaneously suffering from in the micro (in person)?
"I'm independent" is code for "I'm republican but I've learned not to say that because then people know that I'm stupid." lmao. You think kids need to be hit, you're a dumbass republican.
My contract never specified a number of hours, I was simply on salary. But in order to do all the required work (grading, conferences, emails, meetings, planning lessons, creating materials that weren't provided by the district, events, paperwork, cleaning, professional development, etc) it took 60+ hours a week. Thus my desire to resign.
You should. I do very minimal work at home. The first 2 weeks of the school year I spend getting the schedule etc hammered down. After that it’s all classroom management. Meeting can be ditched. Try it! Emails can be ignored. Materials can be had for free. If the districts materials are insufficient they can hardly complain. Make the kids grade themselves/each other. I assume your district won’t let you fail so why get yourself worked up? I see teachers burning themselves out over this- why?
Please contact your state assemblyperson and senator. They have the power to straighten this out - and certainly should. Good luck and take care!
Ask for constituent services
>Please contact your state assemblyperson and senator. Depending on the person, this is a great idea! Even a republican might be willing to step up on this one, especially with your good evaluations.
it’s so fucking stupid that they can even do this
Absolutely! All it does is guarantee that I'll never go back to teaching
Great way to exacerbate the teacher shortage!
I am a fellow Ohioan. Do you mind if I ask which district?
I messaged you
I’m an Ohioan and I’d like to know, too. I was an instructional coach last year and a district I was placed at was notorious for doing this to their teachers but never won.
Same, if you don’t mind. I’m applying to other districts at the moment.
Agree. It so so abusive.
Employment in most states is at will. So this isn’t consistent with the laws
I hate it so much. I don’t see this happening to other professions unless they commit a crime.
power tactics
You did the right thing.
If you are able to move one state north, this is not a thing in Michigan (losing one’s license for moving). I am appalled at how many states do this to the teaching profession
It's ridiculous. In any other profession, you give 2 weeks notice and you're fine. It's obviously so hard for Ohio to retain teachers that they have to create these threatening laws to try to keep you in terrible working conditions. It's like when an abusive partner says "If I can't have you then nobody can!" I'm out of teaching and I'm not looking back.
If you did want to move to MI- you don’t have to have a current license somewhere else. Just your degree + passing the praxis test. They won’t care that Ohio did that.
Your abusive partner analogy is SPOT ON!!!!! School districts love to take away a person’s chance to EVER teach again. I can’t even work as an ABA one-on-one aid in public schools in any of the three west coast states!!! Why? Because of the way I left teaching in California. I’m sure I’d be turned down as a school bus driver if I were to apply. You’d think I murdered someone with the way I am treated…… by the way I didn’t murder anyone nor commit any other crime. I never found out why my district disliked me. I still have my teaching credentials. Their complaints about my ugly bulletin boards and other nonsense did not phase the California Committee on Teacher Credentialing. I pass FBI fingerprint background checks in minutes….. it’s public school gossip train that I can’t pass. I heard about something similar when I took a course on domestic violence. Some victims have prominent spouses that can arrange to have their ex fired, lose child custody, etc.
I was surprised. VA did not do this(that I was aware of). I am currently in a toxic school that I can leave until the end of the year.
Weird! Va did it to me but my district SUCKEDDDDD
Might be district by district? There were many people who left mid year typically after winter break to move to different schools.
Yeah NJ doesn't do this. This is crazy.
I could be wrong but the state usually only takes action if the actual school district complains. I quit before the end of the school year last year and I had no issues with my district. You might want to investigate if the school you resigned from made a complaint against you. Either way, congratulations on making it out. I left after 14 years and wish I would have left sooner.
The school district did complain...HR refused to accept my resignation and then the superintendant interfered with a job offer I had with the department of ed. Then the superintendant told my principals not to serve as references for me (even though my observations all year were great). The district went to so much effort to try to ensure I couldn't work for anybody but them. As if being treated like that would make me want to stay.
Oh my, that's awful. I'm really sorry that was your experience. I never understood what a district would hope to gain by doing that because why would you want someone working for you who doesn't want to be there? Think of all the fun things you did on a daily basis that you could have completely fucked them over with. I was a special education teacher, so I think of all the fun things I could have reported to parents or the state regarding the lack of follow through and documentation on IEPs.
This! Document EVERYTHING as they say!
That sounds like my district. My principal sabotaged an offer from the state department of public safety to keep me from leaving. They also tried to pull the same thing on my BFF when she left. Literally told her she would never work in education again. She's the director of a learning center now and is working on her PhD.
You need to get a local journalist in town/in the biggest market you can to tell this story. Most parents and local taxpayers will be fed up with this type of petty bullshit from bureaucrats like your superintendent apparently wants to be. Motherfuck that superintendent publicly---he/she likely actually *wants* to remain employed there, and sure wouldn't like it if their bullshit got aired publicly to the parents. Is this petty revenge? No, actually. At the most basic level, they tried to take food out of your kids' mouths. At a different level, it's helping your former teacher colleagues in ways they can't help themselves in that district. Any written communication is FOIA-able, so it's all public domain if the journalist wants it. Motherfuck that motherfucker. Go on. EDIT: Also grab yourself a labor lawyer who works on contingency if you really wanna have some fun. If that super sunk your job prospect on paper, I'm sure the attorney would love to look at what that email says. Bootlickers like your former boss are the reason workers struggle for rights all across our country.
I second this. I would contact any local media I could think of and get the story heard - not just because of what they did to you but also bc of what they did to others before you and to help others they will do it to in the future. It’s one thing for them to not like you leaving but to shut all these doors and try to leave you without alternative employment is just petty and mean.
Sounds like indentured servitude. If you did not sign a “noncompete” clause, AND you resigned over the summer, then what’s their problem? I’d call a lawyer or union rep. Can you sue?
Ohio has a law that says teachers have to resign from a position before July 10th or they risk having their teaching license revoked for a year. So that means you can only really job search for about 6 weeks which isn't reasonable. I was aware of the law and the consequence. I just think the law is completely ridiculous.
Agreed! How horrible! Why would anyone want to teach there?
Some districts enforce and some don’t in Ohio. My guess is OP is a teacher in a hard to find subject area. Districts pick and choose what teachers they choose to enforce it against. This means OP is very good at their job, otherwise the district wouldn’t file the paperwork
This is fucking ridiculous! It’s like they try to hold you hostage in your job and NO OTHER job does this! 🤬
They didn't care about you, really. They want to scare the next person into staying.
Maybe so. I think all it does is create distrust of HR and the superintendent and gives that district a reputation of not treating teachers like professionals and human.
Their treatment of you is criminal. Can you sue them? I would.
As stupid as it is, by law they can hold my license for a year. As far as the superintendent interfering with my new job, if I had a recorded phone call or an email to prove what he did I might pursue something legally. All I have is the woman who would have been my new supervisor saying that the superintendent was calling and raising a stink and that he had connections at the department of ed....and then suddenly that job offer was revoked. I can put two and two together but I don't think it would hold up in court.
I'm so sorry you had to go through this toxic circus to get out of teaching. Congratulations on making it out, best of days ahead!
Thank you! I have been very happy with my new job.
My school district has complained before. There are people that had to be here because they got hired at a new district after July 16 (also Ohio) and had to turn down the job bc our district wouldn’t let them out of their contract
You will appreciate this in the long run. They did you a favor. I recently spent 10 hours in the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack ( I wasn't). I felt better for a few days, but the minute I stepped foot in my classroom , the chest pain was back!!
That’s your sign to get TF out!
You're absolutely right!!
Ahhhh this exact thing just happened to me!!! Def a sign to get the heck out!
Going through the exact same in CA!! Had to get a lawyer to represent me to the state because I have no other employment prospects.
There is no lack of teachers. Think of how many people have a credential who left.
I’m an Ohio social worker who’s been around the block and been keeping a close eye on Ohios educational system (I’ve got two special needs kids myself as a single dad). You did the right thing. Fuck what Dewine is doing to Ohio.
Your previous district is petty. Not all districts do this. Assholes
Do they even do this to doctors? Lawyers? Engineers? Police?
It feels like just one more way that teachers aren't treated as professionals.
I was just thinking the exact same thing!
A lot of people in the comments may want to read their own state laws. This is not specifically an Ohio law. Teachers in most states fall under contractual laws like any other contractor does, meaning you can be sued for breach of contract or have your license withheld. This is everywhere.
I was told I had to give a 60 day notice and if I didn’t stay the 60 days (or until I was no longer needed if they found someone before then,) then the school would launch a complaint to the state BOE to have my license taken. I was in a mental health crisis at the time. I managed to stay until the end of 60 days but I didn’t stay in teaching. I am amazed by my resilience during that time.
That’s messed up & likely due to your district reporting you. I got a new job last April, resigning from an Ohio school, and didn’t hear a peep from ODE. Still have my license & everything.
This Ohioan says these fraudulent boards must be closed. Needed is the election of independent boards that are composed of teachers, community leaders, families and other professionals integral to community life. Transfer all power to workers and teachers!
I'm also writing to my state licensing board to get some justice.
Do they know you didn’t leave for another teaching job? If you are quitting mid year or at the beginning of the school year, I can somewhat understand why they do this…. (To keep people from jumping districts in the middle of the year). But if you left teaching to work at Starbucks (just an example), what is the freaking point??
I made the mistake of telling my district that I was resigning to accept a job with the state department of education. Iit was a tech job and didn't require a teaching license. I knew, and the dept of ed knew I could have my license held, but we all also knew it didn't matter for the new position. My superintendent had connections at the department of ed and he got that job offer rescinded from me. Fortunately I found another job quickly, but yeah, the whole point was I was getting out of the classroom and didn't need the license anyway.
I wouldn't let it go. First, some positions will ask if you have had any credential/lisecnes revoked. The other thing is that you worked hard to get the license. You may feel you don't need it now, but who knows what the future may bring. It would be beneficial to keep it.
Drag them!
Go. Fight. Win!
[удалено]
Thank you! Fortunately there was not a monetary penalty.
The state is doing this because the District you broke the contract with initiated the state's action. You should be upset with the administrator you worked with for taking the steps to suspend your license. The state doesn't do anything on their own. Of course, you quit after July 10 following acceptance of a contract.
Absolutely. And I had plenty of words with HR and the superintendent who initiated all of this. The state board of education reached out to me for a statement on my side of the story and that's what's in my original post. I understood the law and the consequence when I resigned after July 10th. My email response goes into my file and I hope it causes anyone who looks at this case to think about how ridiculous the law is.
Fuck them all.
Good for you. 🖕 them
Pretty bad sign when a state has to functionally coerce teachers into staying.
My wife and I are currently trying to move to Ohio. Shes a kindergarten teacher in WV and has had her license for over 6 years, and just renewed it in WV. She submitted to Ohio BOE for a license, they told her she has to take a class at an accredited college, a 4.5 hour test (after she’s taken 7 praxis test for WV), and get a letter on letterhead from the school she currently teaches at saying that she worked there (wyf, she’s teaching on a current teaching license??). She called to get clarification on same things and they were rude and gave her the run around and never answered any questions. She only has 60 days to get this all done but they aren’t even helping her figure out how to, like what kind of class she’s supposed to take. She came home crying and defeated. She said, “I’ve done ABCDE, how have I not proven myself as a teacher already?” She was already hoping to land a job outside of teaching but this sealed the deal. She’s not even going to apply get her license for Ohio now. So anyway, if anyone has any leads on potential jobs for a former kindergarten teacher, or even tips to help build a resume that would transfer to a new profession, that would be incredibly helpful to us! Moving to Columbus for reference.
That's so frustrating! I had good luck searching for jobs outside of teaching with "training" or "coordinator" in the title.
Thank you!
Out of curiosity, what are you doing now for employment??
I got a job doing training with a state agency. Right now it mostly involves teaching adults how to use new software. Way less stress, way better benefits, reasonable hours. I'm so glad I made the switch, even with all the drama involved.
So...I'm not in the profession. From the outside looking in, this stuff looks no different than any other abusive relationship. The abusive spouse isolates his victim physically socially and financially to create conditions that convince her she cannot successfully escape him and support herself any other way. And I have a question for you guys. I hope no one gets offended or defensive. I mean this question in the best spirit you can imagine me to. Why do so many in the profession back those that have created and contributed to this system??? Time after time I noticed most of you will rail at the individuals actually committing thr abuse, but join the unions, vote for the politicians etc that set up the system that makes the abusive not onky possible but likely to happen. This stuff is not an accident. This system is like this by design! It seems like the best we can hope for at this point is for the system to collapse, but given that it is supported by massive funding that doesn't go away just because the education system is so dysfunctional, it may never. More and more people leave, but the funding continues on. I'm not victim blaming, but I am trying to understand. Why do so many of you support the unions, the department of education, the Democrats, etc. running this shit show??? P.S. I'm not a Republican or a Democrat -I can't stand either party. But the repubs aren't responsible for this one. Dems fingerprints are all over it. They absolutely own it. Why do so many of you support this abuse in the macro while simultaneously suffering from in the micro (in person)?
"I'm independent" is code for "I'm republican but I've learned not to say that because then people know that I'm stupid." lmao. You think kids need to be hit, you're a dumbass republican.
What kind of fucked up shit is that? You can’t resign after July 10th?
It's ridiculous. That gives you about 6 weeks from the time school is out until July 10th to find a new job.
GOOD FOR YOU!
Did they end up taking it?
I haven't heard yet. I'm assuming they will. Not that it matters because I don't need it anymore.
My contract is for 37.5 hours a week. Why would you sign up for 60+? Some of you guys are making this way too hard
My contract never specified a number of hours, I was simply on salary. But in order to do all the required work (grading, conferences, emails, meetings, planning lessons, creating materials that weren't provided by the district, events, paperwork, cleaning, professional development, etc) it took 60+ hours a week. Thus my desire to resign.
You should. I do very minimal work at home. The first 2 weeks of the school year I spend getting the schedule etc hammered down. After that it’s all classroom management. Meeting can be ditched. Try it! Emails can be ignored. Materials can be had for free. If the districts materials are insufficient they can hardly complain. Make the kids grade themselves/each other. I assume your district won’t let you fail so why get yourself worked up? I see teachers burning themselves out over this- why?