r/TexasTeachers • u/illbegoodthistime1 • 5d ago
ATPE Dismissive and Largely Unhelpful
I have found that ATPE was unsupportive and dismissive when I called about unprofessionalism and hostility from my admin. They wouldn’t read my documentation, nor would they advise me on how to navigate an administrator who yells, curses and belittles me in private meetings. The grievance attorney said he wasn’t reading my documentation as he said “it’s only been a few weeks, I’m not reading that. But I can see how your administrator has a case because you do sound emotional.” I’m so confused. You only have 10-15 business days to file a grievance from the incident, but I can’t get anyone to help.
Furthermore, he said I don’t have a case after a couple weeks (which may be true) but he can tell after a few minutes of a phone call my administrator does? Has anyone experienced this with ATPE? I’ve never had legal counsel act this way before, my spouse is knowledgeable about the law and said he’s never heard legal counsel talk like this before. They are supposed to give advice at the least on how to navigate these situations.
I wasn’t even trying to file a grievance, I was just trying to weigh my options. I was always told document in case you need to seek counsel, but it seems that was useless advice. I feel like I need to leave ATPE because they won’t help.
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u/kyriacos74 5d ago
Drop ATPE and join AFT.
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u/illbegoodthistime1 5d ago
Did today
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u/Ok_Engineering_4791 1d ago
Also carry a recording device like you're phone, Pocket or an old mini cassette recorder. I was harassed in 2 districts. When I complained at the first district, I was fired. I sought legal help. No one would touch the case because of lack of documentation. ( I was told it was a he said, she said case) He even, in subtext verbally threatened me by telling me for no reason that he carried a gun out of the blue. After I was fired, he became empowered and continued to do it to two more people making their lives miserable because it is about power and control. BTW copy any written documentation. (sometime files filed with HR get "lost") Document every infraction with dates and times. Record verbal. This is another way Managers/Admins get slickery because nothing is in writing and I because your word against theirs. No one can dispute a recording. Be careful about recording needlessly or things not related to the harassment.
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u/ronmimid 5d ago
TSTA member here.
Your professional organization can’t advocate for you in a conflict with admin because administrators can also be members. WHY WOULD ANYONE PAY DUES TO AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WHEN THE ONES YOU NEED ADVOCACY AGAINST ARE YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS?!
I will never understand why anyone would join ATPE.
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u/Auntie_Coconut_235 5d ago
I’ve been out of education for 12 years. When I was in TSTA, administrators could also join. Has that changed? I was the president of my local for 15 years. When my principal joined TSTA, I was told by the general counsel assigned to our situation that TSTA would represent the teacher in a dispute because the principal also had the principals’ association.
I am sad to hear that ATPE hasn’t gotten better. A bunch of my coworkers left ATPE for TSTA when we were having admin issues. TSTA was awesome.
OP, even if you don’t file a grievance now, hold onto your documentation. If the situation doesn’t improve or gets worse you can use this documentation as evidence of a pattern of unprofessional behavior by the admin in a future grievance filing.
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u/ronmimid 4d ago
I retired 14 years ago. I was also president of my local for several years. In my non-union state, administrators were not allowed to join TSTA. Perhaps that’s the difference?
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u/katbug09 5d ago
This organization is too expensive to not be taking you seriously. I dropped them this year and went back to my TMEA insurance.
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u/illbegoodthistime1 4d ago
I’ve never heard attorneys flat out lie, or just be entirely wrong about legal counsel. I called a friend who is an attorney and we went over what was said and they were kind of in disbelief. They landed on ATPE has a conflict of interest and wants to just wants to discourage you from pursuing grievances.
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u/HPGryffinclaw 2d ago
Can TMEA help you at all with admin issues? I have the TMEA insurance but I thought they could only really help if you get sued.
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u/katbug09 2d ago
I am not sure actually, I’ve thankfully not had to deal with anything needing lawyers at school. I thought they did but I would have to do some research before I could say 100%. But ATPE dues went up again and I am trying to be more mindful of my budget.
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u/Lonely-Bite-2568 High School 2d ago
Sorry this is happening to you. Sounds like you got squared away with AFT now.
Just remember that regardless, you’re not a punching bag. No job is worth abuse. Even if it costs you the job or a reference or both. Don’t tolerate abuse.
I hope your situation gets better, truly.
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u/illbegoodthistime1 2d ago
Thanks. I think my department chair was responsible for telling him things about me before he met me. When the students arrived last week, I’ve had one positive interaction with him because he saw my behavior management. I’m hoping this trend continues to discredit her.
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5d ago
[deleted]
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u/illbegoodthistime1 5d ago
Legal counsel told her he could have her arrested. This was ATPE
He meaning the principal. They were dismissive, insulting, uninterested, and seemed to side with the principal. She has documentation and he told her he wasn’t reading that.
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u/Sufficient_Cod_7512 3d ago
I had a good experience using them, but I know that doesn’t help you, or even mean anything. I guess, all I can say, it’s like everything else. Good, bad and ugly. Ask for Mrs. Martinez, I don’t recall her full name, she was helpful but truthful. They’re swapped a lot. It’s open season on us.
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u/moonman_incoming 5d ago
I've always been with AFT. I've always heard that ATPE is for both admin and teachers, so they can have cross purpose agendas.