Title I HS to private Catholic school?
Hello! I am a fourth year teacher at a Title I, urban, very small district. It has a lot of issues and our single-HS district is arguably one of the poorest run schools in the district due to ineffective leadership.
There's a lot going on right now. My department is very dysfunctional and has been since I have been there. Lots of turnover and changes, first year teachers, and an incompetent department chair. There's also some weird interpersonal drama that has gone unaddressed for around 2 years. The chair is leaving and there is talk that they may install a SPED person as chair instead of someone from the department. I am the most senior member and my work speaks for itself, but that isn't really the point here, though it is a rather prickly subject for me.
Recently I did a phone interview with a Catholic school principal. It was a great conversation but I am reluctant to leave my state retirement system and go to a private school. I emailed him and declined an in person interview. He called me and asked me to reconsider, and we discussed some of my reservations.
Reader, it feels very good to be wanted. My current principal has never been in my classroom to see me teach in 4 years, doesn't reply to email, doesn't say thank you, give accolades, etc. My school has tons of issues that supersede him, but he has made things very bad and I'm not sure how sustainable it will be. Combined with the department chair thing, I'm tempted to seriously consider other options.
Has anyone ever done this? The idea of going to a private school where I could actually teach instead of getting bogged down in the minutiae at my current school is exhilarating, and scary!! I also love my students and consider the work I'm doing to be important. Just looking for some words of wisdom, especially if you've made the leap yourself.