SHAWANO, WI- Ready to tell their stories, two outgoing teachers in the Shawano School District explained to the board, administration and the community their reasons why during community comments at the Shawano School Board Meeting Monday.
Staff frustration has been rumored for quite some time now, and for the first time, those who decided to leave the district are speaking.
Lead’s Charter School Teacher Betsy Henning and Instructional Coach Kris Going both took time to give their reasons on Monday. Henning put in her resignation notice and Going put in a notice for early retirement.
“I was proud to join the Shawano School District in 2008,” Henning said. After singing the praises, she said what the last few years has brought.
“We took on so many new initiatives, a piling on those changes on top of all the existing responsibilities was ridiculous. ”
Henning listed all the changes that teachers and staff had to undergo. “We started with a new literacy program, a new math program, replaced technology,” she said. “We made the last minute switch from Google to Microsoft as well as utilizing a new platform.” She said it was difficult even with the experience she has.
“Lately I have not been able to manage my stress, because of all the extras that have been added,” Henning said. “Teaching in this district is too much.”
Kris Going has been an instructional coach for the last 15 years. She said when she requested early retirement due to the toxic environment and have too many initiatives at one time, she was shocked when it was encouraged for her to do it.
“I was told that it would be in the best interest of the district financially to do that and that it would be presented to the board,” she said. “That hurt, it still hurts.”
Going personally thanked all the teachers who helped her kids achieve what they did in school and helped them get to where they are now, and thanked many by name, listing about two dozen teachers and staff members.
“They would not be there without the staff of the Shawano School District.”
In Henning’s speech, she went on to list what she feels the problems are. “No one feels valued anymore,” she said. “The past three years under this new administration has been chaos. Problems and issues have been minimized.” She added that staff get a reactive response from administration rather than a proactive response.
Going closed out her portion by reading off a poem that she wrote called “Where were you?” The poem addressed all the concerns that she felt the board did not have their back on.
She then asked the board if they will make some changes. “We need you to visit the classrooms. We need you to talk to the teachers and students,” she said. Going also added that need one initiative at a time, a fair compensation package, small class sizes, transparency and communication and to be listened to and respected as professionals.
Henning closed out by saying her plans have changed in the last few years.
“My plan was to retire in the Shawano School District,” Henning said. “But the events of the past three years made me realize that it is not worth it.”
Both Henning and Going were met with a standing ovation from the nearly 75 students, teachers, parents and community members in attendance.
Comments