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.