The Decision

So on Friday my boss asked me to leave my intervention job and take over at the end of January for a 4th grade teacher who is going on maternity leave. They would get a sub for my position and then everyone would return at the beginning of March. The problem is I'm just starting to connect with my caseload of kids and I'm making some great strides. The kids I work with are the type that don't do well with change and take a LONG while to warm up to people. They like consistency and I've grown to love them all. I would still have some of them if I take over for this 4 grade teacher but the one's that I truly love aren't in that class.

Secondly, I am tutoring 2 days and doing homework club 1 day starting in January. I know that there is no way that I can take over a fourth grade class full time, train my replacement and make sure she's doing EXACTLY what I need/want her to do, and do the after school homework club and tutoring. My plate is really full right now and I can't take all that on. I also can't give up tutoring and homework club because that is one of the only ways we are getting extra money. I can't rely on someone else to train my person because if I have to return to my job 6 weeks later there are certain things that just have to be done and content that has to be taught. It would pretty much be me making the plans.

Thirdly, I feel as though they shouldn't have waited this long to start freaking out about not having this worked out ahead of time. Also, the teacher has been telling the kids and the parents that the replacement is going to be someone they know because they had someone in line for the job but it all fell through. So the teacher doesn't want to look like an a** if they get someone off the street to take over that isn't a familiar face.

Lastly, the teacher and I have totally opposite teaching styles and I'm not the type of person to take over for someone and just go along with what they have established. There are changes that would need to occur and I don't think she'd appreciate me changing her classroom. I can't deal with disorganization and she's the queen. The room isn't appealing to the eye and I can't surround myself with a room that sucks for 6 weeks. The kids don't behave very well but I can deal with that given some serious reteaching of the expectations and a consistent behavior plan but I just don't think I'm up for this challenge at this time.

I have to let my principal know tomorrow and I'm just going to say financially I can't swing it because I can't afford to give up tutoring and homework club and I can't "do it all." I have to look out for my well being and sanity.