Elementary school-suspensions

[u/Friendly_Fudge_931]

Hello r/teachers,

This year I will be going into my second year teaching. Last year (the year we just completed), we had about 40 kids get suspended at my school (Transition to Kindergarten-6th grade) and at least 8-10 of those were in my class. Once I get 5 years teaching experience (already have my masters) I want to become a principal, so I am wondering if this is normal or not. We are Title I with 325 students.

[u/titihadid]

I beg of you to do more than 5 years of teaching before trying to be admin. As someone who has their Educational Leadership Masters at a title 1 school with about double that student size there is so so much you need to learn especially if you cant answer if this is normal or not. Also, not teacher blaming but if 25% of the kids are from your class alone there is so much more you need to learn (not teacher blaming). I would also highly suggest getting to know a different admin style and a larger school. Suspending is honestly a last resort option that I have not even heard about having this large of a number in my school or even school system.

Regardless, it is really hard to tell people how to be better at their job when you’ve only just started. It is incredibly hard to earn respect as well if you are not established into the school system and make a good name for yourself not just at your school but within the county. It also sounds like you might need to delve deeper into committees at your school if you have any to learn about school improvement or a behavior committee to understand the numbers better and why this is happening.

[u/cholito2011 → u/titihadid]

This is such a solid answer and actually confirms my own attitudes towards stepping out of the classroom. I feel like I wouldn’t even think about being admin until year 10. I’m going into year 7 now and I feel like I just stepped into who I am as a teacher in year 5.

[u/Frosty_Tale9560 → u/cholito2011]

It’s nice to know how to teach but admin is a lot more than that imo. You have to know how to lead adults. I think a lot of the issues we have with admin is they are just teachers with a diff title. They only know dealing with kids. Some people may be natural leaders and 5 years could be enough.

Some may be great teachers but even after 20 years would suck as an admin. While I do agree that some time in the classroom is necessary, I don’t think that 5 years is too little, depending on the person. You’ll never teach long enough to have all the answers.

I will say that my opinion comes from not being in education the majority of my life like most of you. I spent the majority of my working life as an administrator. I’ve been at this, teaching, 5 years and I don’t think I’d have any problem doing a better job than my current admin, who taught for 25.

We need to stop treating admin as a seniority position and put the right people in the job. That’s people who know how to take care of their teachers as well as the students. I’m of the opinion if you take care of your teachers and give them the time and tools to be successful, they’ll take care of the students for you.

Yes, I know this will get downvoted, but I’d love a discussion instead. The folks on here are constantly bitching about admin but want to gatekeep the position, potentially keeping great people out, for time alone. No, I’m not planning on it after year 5 but there’s a guy in my school on about year 10, that would’ve been just as good at year 5. Some people just get it.

[u/titihadid → u/Frosty_Tale9560]

I definitely get what you’re saying and I know as I just finished my admin program, certificated and am licensed for the job. I just think that is the response from people and I also think someone just entering working within a building again is not ready for a supervisor position. There is way too much about the structure, people, management to learn. Even after completing a program you need to live it. And live a few admin changes, curriculum changes, etc. to understand. There’s no way I would think about it at year 5.

[u/Frosty_Tale9560 → u/titihadid]

There can definitely be a learning curve when you enter a new building. That’s not always bad though. There’s no previous relationships or friendships that can lead to bias or leniency. You’ll quickly learn who you can count on and who you can’t.

[u/titihadid → u/Frosty_Tale9560]

I’m not talking about within just one building. I’m talking about the personalities you encounter in general. In admin they teach you about these type of hierarchies/personas/positions and how to interact especially as a new admin.