Making Waves

I am making waves, in many ways.
I have made the very active decision to fight the policies that have been established that prevent my wife from having access to the health care insurance that the spouses of other employees of the district I work for have access to.
I have encountered many barriers in the past, but have always been concerned with losing my job, or things been made more difficult for me at work. It was done in the past, before I even thought about making waves.
My current school district has determined that their definition of a spouse is the definition of a spouse as defined by the federal tax code. Awesome, right? I mean this is the first year that we have been able to file our taxes as a married couple. So, by federal tax code definition, we are now married.
I bring this up to our HR and receive a response that says thanks for bringing this to our attention but:
Regulation xxxx expressly states that “when a conflict arises between . . . School Board regulations versus state . . . statutes . . . the state . . . statutes will take precedence.” The  State Constitution currently defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Therefore, we cannot currently provide health care benefits to same-sex spouses.
What this wonderful human being did, however, was leave out some information. In every place the ... was typed, a reference to the federal statutes and regulations were referred to. 
After taking this response in for a couple of days, I did respond. 

I thank you for your reply, but further request clarification on this issue.

You have quoted Regulation xxx as the reasoning behind the inability to cover my spouse. However, you did not quote the regulation in its entirety. 

The regulation actually states: 

Plan benefits and provisions are governed by the proposal issued by the successful 

vendor, as amended in negotiations, and by School Board regulations. However, when 

a conflict arises between plan provisions or School Board regulations versus state or 

federal statutes and regulations, the state or federal statutes and regulations will take 

precedence. 

Using your response and evidence for denial, you are stating that our district is choosing to ignore the conflict between policy and federal regulations. 

Our district clearly stated that the definition of spouse, as determined by the federal government, is the definition that it uses. The precedence has already been set that federal policy and regulations rule in the matter of the definition of a spouse. 

I look forward to having a better understanding as to why the district has chosen to ignore the federal policies that are in place.

I am now awaiting a response. I have already been in contact with two school board members and the individual I have communicated with had copied the head of HR, the school board member, and one other individual, so it was only right I copied them my response. I also blind copied my immediate administrator so as to not have her blind sided by a response from the higher ups later. She is, thankfully, very supportive and entertained by the blatant disregard of the entire policy given during the response. 

I not asking for a handout, I am asking to be treating equally and respectfully. The health care premiums will be paid by me, not by the district. 

We were fortunate enough to get some time away during my spring break. This picture is from out beach trip and reminds me that there is a light house to help guide me, even in the worst of of storms, I just have to do my part of the work and look for it. the light house only guides me, I have to get myself into the calm waters of the harbor.

Summer break?

That is such a play on words. Really.

What does summer break really mean? For a teacher, many things. For the most part, it does mean that I do not have to go into class every day or see students. A great benefit. However, this does not mean that I am not working. It does not mean that any teacher is not working. In fact, most teachers are working over the summer break.

For instance, I am able to take advantage of this off time and take professional development classes. I have already attended a full week of class already. I will be teaching AP Economics in the fall and needed to attend the week long training. I can check that one of my list.

I am scheduled to attend a session at the Holocaust museum. I am not so sure I want to go, honestly. Those are some extremely long days and I don't know if I am for it.

I am also scheduled to spend two days at Mount Vernon. I am looking forward to that.

Meanwhile, I am taking an online class that will require me to submit assignments every other day or so. A pretty steady stream of work. While do this I also need to get my planning for the school year done. I am off to a pretty good start, but there is much to do still to prepare for classes to begin.

We took on the challenge to have one of my nephews here for a visit. Wow, what a challenge. He has kept us on our toes. We are hoping to help him catch up with some missing school skills, but there are several other things we are noticing he needs help with.

To add to our already busy summer, we are also going to be moving. It is a positive thing, it really is. It just isn't something we are looking forward to... the actual physical part of moving. The new place, we are so looking forward to. 

School Year In review

The year is coming to an end and I am beginning to take stock in the past year. What has gone right, what has gone wrong? What can I change, what should be left alone?

Coming to a new district I have had to take a look at the type of teacher I am and try to adapt to the new culture of this area. The students that I come into contact with are different and I have to be able to move with that. To be flexible.

As I take a look in the mirror at the year that is passing, I will take a hard look at my teaching and my classroom management and reflect on it. It can be difficult, but I know that in order to be a better teacher,  will need to improve what I am doing.

When do I stop and feel comfortable?

Ever feel like you are forgetting something?

Ever felt like that for a long period of time?

Welcome to my life. Daily, I feel as if I am missing something, forgetting something, and feel like I should be rushing to get something done. When does this feeling end? How do I get it to end?

Change isn't easy

Internally I feel that push that the school year is coming to an end soon. It isn't. At least not as soon as my internal clock feels like it should be. The differences between the school calendars is messing with me. Testing days are just finishing, retest days are approaching, and school should be ending shortly after. However, classes here at my new campus go on for an additional three weeks. Change isn't easy on the internal calendar.

I worry about the summer. It is the first time we have had to put money away to have money for our summer living expenses. I only have two more paychecks before we have to use the money we have been putting away. I worry about it. We have to make sure we have enough money for our living expenses and have money for the extras we try to do over the summer.

It will be a change. I also have to prep for next fall. New classes, new responsibility. 

Tired

It has been a long couple of weeks. Feels like same bs, just a new location. Playing politics isn't fun and I am not very good at it.

How do I know who I can trust? I don't. I am always needing to watch what I say and who I say it to. Do I have to be fake all the time? Is there anyone i can be real with and not have some backlash over?

I am mentally exhausted, which takes a physical toll. which takes a toll on my abilities to handle everything. I seem to feel tired way more often than I should. Taking vitamins isn't helping.

Thoughts of a teacher on April 28

When I began to teach I was full of energy, excitement, and hope for the impact of my chosen profession. i began teaching thinking and believing that I could have a major impact on the students that I would come into contact with.

I enjoyed the content area that I had chosen to teach, that was never been an issue. I enjoyed trying to figure out new ways to engage the students, to help them learn the material, and helping them find that it is possible to be successful.

What has happened to that excitement? What has happened to the belief that I can make an impact on the students I come in contact with? I don't like not feeling excited about that I am doing. The feeling that it is pointless to be in my classroom creeps into my thoughts more and more.

The students that I am in contact with have changed. There are difference in the students of my past and the students of my present. Changes that i am still learning.

Where has the love for my subject gone? Some days, I feel as if I am just phoning it in. I can place some of the blame on it being my first year in a new school and a new district. I have had to be on auto pilot while learning the the new school. the new district, the new area, and getting use to the new location we live in.

I question if i will find this missing link. I sincerely hope I do. I have been trying to adjust to my new schedule. It allows me to do more for me. I get enough time in the day that I am able to be more than just a teacher. This is new for me. Before this I was never able to do to much during the school year. I had always been so busy being a teacher that i had known very little outside of that. I was always a teacher.

Why am I a teacher? I have to admit that there are now days that I ask myself this question. I remind myself that the first year is the toughest, that it will get better. However, the doubts surface often.

As I get use to the subjects, the people, the students, the area, and everything else that is new, I believe it will get easier and I will fill more connected with teaching again. That is the hope and I am wondering when will it happen.

The school year here seems to have dragged out. There aren't many breaks and the year goes three weeks longer that I am use to. That is physically and mentally demanding.

I had hopes that I would adjust quickly, but just as I think I am adjusting, something new is thrown at me and all of the gains seem to be wiped away and I feel as if I don't know what I am doing here. When will I fully feel comfortable here? When will I feel as if I belong here? Will I ever?