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Thank you so much for your responses. It has been real hectic the last few days. I think everyone is on target and I'll answer by defending myself while i explain. I came into teaching after about 25 years as management or owner of small businesses. The businesses usually were dependent upon cash flow and everything possible was fixed in house. I constantly lloked for potential problems and remedies. I developed a quick ability to convert to an asshole when dealing with companies or people I needed to do something to solve a problem. I thin k you see where this is going. I CANNOT stop doing that now that I'm teaching. I begin with reasonable, legitimate questions or concerns and after weeks turning into months of non response or negative answers, I became more and more agressive and demanding. However again, nothing I asked for was wrong. I did research and contact various sources for information on my ideas for solutions in an unofficial capacity but I was accused of overstepping my authority. The clincher was when a board member attended a faculty meeting and gave out his cell number and told everyone, "I know many of you have problems with the sup and dont feel safe talking here in public. If you want to call me, I'll talk with you, go where you want and we can try to help." Six of us did and the sup went crazy. She has used it against several dispite the fact the member invited us, she was there and said nothing, we were discussing issues of alleged mismanagement and the Policy Manual specifically states it is a violation of policy to take reprisal against an employee for doing so. Last Sunday, I received a hand delivered letter from the sup's husband stating the "Administration" was recommending to the Board I be given a non-renewal notice. I requestd it be held in public Monday morning. At the packed meeting Wednesday, at the last agenda item the pres read the topic and stared at me. After a few seconds she blurted aren't you going to say something?" I asked her if the accusations were to be first presented. She yelled, "You put this on the agenda!" I wanted to say if that was so lets just take it off, but I thought it was inappropriate. I soon found out I should have. As I stood up she hit a timer and said, "You have 2 minutes!". A 75 year old lady, Mary Ellen Pepper who works in the cafeteria, jumps up and yells, :Thank isn't fair! You have to give the man time enough to defend his job! I dispensed with the formalities and went straiht to handing out some archived emails I'd pulled up of some of the sup and my coorespondences. After a minute, the exec sec interrups and states for the record she also had given the board copies of the documents, I stated these were new. DING Times up yells the pres. The exec pleads to give me time for the interruption, so I'm granted 30 seconds more. Then the pres says we need a motion. The others ignore her whil they read. One whom I talked alot with sayd we need to finish reading this and then discuss our views as the pres kept pressing them. One member states at one point, "I had the pleasure of having one of my daughters in Mr' Clause's class last year. She had struggled with math but I'm happy to say she is now excelling because of Mr. Clause's teaching. But didn't we discuss his behavior when we met to hire him?" The other Board members and others looked quizzical and she added you weren't on the Board then. The pres said, "Shows history". Eventually, one member made a motion. The pres started going ahead with a role call vote until the exec sec reminded they needed a second. No one spoke. The pres stared real hard at the lady who's daughter I taught. She was also recently elected as a County Sup. The exec sec siad you can let the motion die, you could table the issue, or you could make another motion. The pres said (and she didnt even know she could have seconded it LOL) We will need to meet again and decide then. A motion was made to meet on Monday at 6 and passed. No motion to table. The next morning, I met with the sup and head teacher for an informal oportunity before I were to file two grievances. At the meeting I added a third: Violation of my confidentiality by discussing executive session discussion when I was hired. The other two were violating the no reprisal policy and unfair denialf my winning the teacher of the year award from my peers. I offered a solution: She drop the non-renewal, I drop all grievances, the contract be offered and I dont sign it. I told her I was in the second interview process at two school districts already. Today we met again after she spoke with her attorney and she turned down my offer and denied all three grievances. She admitted I had tied for teacher of the year but had chosen the other teacher over me. No one except the sup had seen the ballots before. Teachers had come to me and told me they had voted for me and couldn't see how I had lost. and the head teacher confirmed she had counted the ballots. It turns out, the sup had let three long term subs vote. One who was no longer teaching bt had returned o being an aide. I got 6 certified teacher votes, the other 3 plus three subs. The sup offered me the opportunity to resign and provided a form and stated I needed to have it signed and turned in by Monday at 8 so they could change the agenda of the executives session to accepting a resignation instead. I said I would need to talk to my attorney about it. I think I might have a civil suit against the Sup. At first I went and submitted in writing my request it be a public hearing agin. hen I had a second thought: I will not resign using her form letter. I will write my reponse and grievances in my resignation letter explaining my previous offer to the sup and her refusal o accept it. I will remind them of my 15 years of volunteer service and my excellent record in the classroom and ask if ruining my carrer and potentially keeping me out of the classroom is in the best interest on the education of our youth. I will close stating I hope they do not accept my resignation and do not pass the non-renewal and instead allow me to turn down the contract offer placing no harm to anyone.

I agree. She should be able to deal with it. That is what has built it up to a problem. Honestly right now I am worried about my health. I have not felt this level of anxiety since I was 35 on the Town Council dealing with similar stupidity and bias. I am going to offer a resignation which is totally against my spirit, my nature and my heart. I cant help me being me. My bro in law in OK said it right, "Of course you couldn't help but fight her, you're a Clause!"

Her husband is an ex sheriff. She cannot stand anything resembling insubordination or questioning of her decisions or authority. I do that. She has planned all year to get rid of me.

I have decided to place the best interest of the kids and the district above mine. If I fail and do not convince the Board to do what I think is the best and either accept my resignation or the intent to non-renew and I don't get the job I'm currently in the running for as a consequence, I hope I can sue the living life out of her. At that point she has caused great damage to me and my family. Then it really becomes personal.

OK Here is my long winded first draft of my resignation letter. Suggestions for edit? Will my scorning words magnify the justification to terminate me, or will they have humanity and let me move on quietly?

Madame President and Honorable Members:

It is with considerable regret I extend this request for your consideration to accept my irrevocable resignation as eighth grade teacher effective on May 22, 2009 from employment with the xxxxxxxxxxx School District. I base this decision after strenuous deliberations and know writing this letter is in the best interest of the District and especially the children we educate here and children elsewhere. I respectfully request you consider the entire letter before making your final decision.

I have had little sleep since our meeting of a few nights ago. The words spoken struck deep within me in both pleasant and painful ways. Like with most adults, I do recognize my strengths and weaknesses. The level my determination had reached to express my "cowboy" style opinion or attitude as you expressed to me did make an impression. The appreciation I felt from words spoken by other teachers and by several of you truly warmed my heart. The knowledge that five certified teachers here at Ehrenberg voted for me as Teacher of the Year meant more to me than any other experience here outside of some letters written by students after they left last year. Six teachers if you count myself. I know I worked as hard and faithfully as I could for both the students and the District.

One thing spoken did cause me some difficulties though. When Mrs. I stated she remembered discussing something about my "behavior" when I was being considered for hire. All members look puzzled as did everyone else. Mrs. I clarified she was the only Board member left serving from that Board. Mrs. C answered, "Shows history." With all due respect, I have never had any discipline problems at any employment or elsewhere that would have been being discussed at that executive session. I assume Mrs. I was referring to grievance I had processed at my previous district of employment. It had nothing to do with discipline, only my request for my extended years of long term substitute teaching to be considered in my placement on the salary schedule.

Additionally, I recently was informed by five xxxxxxxxxx teachers they had voted for me as Teacher of the Year. Assuming eleven ballots were cast as we have eleven certified teaching positions, it appeared I had won. In discussing this with Mrs. P and Mrs. B, I was told the three substitutes who had or were serving in long term positions also voted. They confirmed I had six votes as did the winner and one person received one vote. Mrs. P had decided who to name from those votes. I felt that was not properly handled. I mention this as evidence that I do work well with most people.

Lastly, I feel I have been retaliated against for my attending a meeting along with several other teachers to discuss actions of Mrs. P and concerns we had about the District in response to an offer to do so by Mr. R. We felt strongly the actions constituted mismanagement. At my most recent evaluation conference, I asked Mrs. P how I could improve the only two marks concerning policy she had consistently scored as "needs improvement". She hinted about not organizing meetings with teachers. I was confused and stated the Board directed me to work on the PE schedule. She said that was not what she was referring to. I then remembered the meeting with Mr. R. She confirmed that. I asked if she felt that was in violation of policy. She said yes. I asked if was Mr. R wrong in making that offer when she was in the room. She said yes. I asked why didn't you let us know then it was wrong? She said she didn't want to go over her boss. I asked why didn't you let us know later. She only shook her head. I asked if she has informed Mr. R of that since then and she said she had extensive talks with him about it.

When I discovered Mrs. P kept a confidential file on every teacher in her office in October of 2008, I requested to see my file. She would not give it to me in violation of my rights. My wife begged me not to file a grievance and I did not. I asked if there was anything she held that would be considered negative of me. She said no and showed me a few of the evaluations I had received in it. I asked what else was there and she said emails. I asked for a copy of anything in her file that concerned me. She provided me a few items the next week. In that was no mention of the two incidents that occurred previously now listed as reasons for my non-renewal.

With these concerns in mind, I approached Mrs. P, with Mrs. B present to clarify any misunderstanding between us about the concerns and a proposed solution. I suggested in the best interest of the children, District, Board members and myself we all drop any grievances and non-renewal intent. I do not accept the contract and I am employed elsewhere. No one is harmed.

We met the next day and my proposal was turned down. An offer to resign was counter proposed.

My initial thought was to hold this meeting and I write this letter to allow the public to hear my feelings of injustice. After a few seconds, I shuttered in that thought. I could not put this District and Mrs. I in that spot. I would not be a cause for additional attorney fees and discord here. It simply would not be in the best interests of the school. I was finally able to put my internal "cowboy" persona at bay. I told Mrs. Cu to rip up that request. I was also shocked to learn the meeting had been changed to Tuesday night. My wife is beginning a surgical procedure and I will accompany her. We have had our request for that sick day set for awhile. Therefore, I requested it be reverted to Monday. Please accept my apologies for not being at the hearing Tuesday as a result.

Honorable members, I have served in volunteer capacities for the benefit of youth for fifteen years prior to teaching. I have served four years as a Town Council member. My opinions have always riled up someone who has different opinions, but I have never been accused of dishonesty or anything criminal or with harm intended. If the action of non-renewal is completed, it is in essence taking away my opportunity to provide this service I've chosen to do as I get older. I strongly believe we need more teachers who instill a fighting spirit or drive to do what is right. I would hope teachers do more than teach subjects, but build our patriotism and spirit of a stron work ethic.

My resignation is sincere. However, my wish is you turn it down along with the intent to non-renewal. I sincerely wish to be able to remain in the teaching profession. As you all are fully aware, the potential action being considered could limit or even eliminate that opportunity. Is what I have done deserving of that consequence? Regardless of your decision, I will not sign a contract, nor will I do anything to hurt this District or community. I had hoped Mrs. P would have made this choice; however, I believe you can sort through the information without bias.

As directed by Policy G-5900, I request this letter requesting my irrevocable resignation be considered by you, the xxxxxxxxxx School District Governing Board at your special Board meeting to be held on April 14, 2009.

Sincerely,

Thanks. I don't have enough time. Plus that was what I did last time. The complaint about my activity regarding administration is primarily that I interfere with her ability to get things done. If I go full tilt against them like I normally try, I'm afaid it will magnify that image. My blood pressure has dropped 30 points since I wrote my response. I edited and submitted it to the exec sec. She is driving by here tomorrow and will pick up the signed copy. I am always opimistic. I will give two to one odds they take my proposal and allow me to just not sign the contract offer. Any takers??

Sorry folk. I have been busy and yes, I am still fighting Veronica. However, as predicted, the Board accepted the resignation w/o reading. But I am talking to an attorney. Seems I need to exhaust the grievance procedure through the school system before I make a case. I had two informal meetings with her and then filed the level one formal grievance. She did not respond within the 5 day required, so I filed levels 2 and 3. I did both as she is both my immediate supervisor, Principal, and Superintendent. Level 3 is to the Board. They dont have to address it until they are ready. Most likely they will deny it, although they might recognize the problem is not one sided. However, that is good. I can then proceed with a civil suit if I want. Now, I probably wont pursue it if I get a good position and she doent try to screw with employers telling them I'm an ass or something.

The job hunt looks very good. I have a second interview Friday with an online school. Sounds like easy money to me. About three or four high school math positions are posted each week on the state web site.

Finally, I have one huge thing I'm probably going to open up which will probably get her fired. Its a real personal thing for one student about something that occured last year when a sub was watching two classes (Not one of mine then, but the student is mine now). The Superintendent never told the mother what happened. This mother is one of those super protective that will probably rip the Super's gead off when she finds out. Problem is, the poor student who will be subject to alot of embarrassment and the other student involved have been pretty good this year.

As a parent though, I would want the teacher to tell me.

Alot of kids and a teacher stayed or went home today with flulike symptoms.

The level 3 grievance before the Board is set for next Tuesday night. I told the mother of the incident from last year with her child. As I was driving away from school, the mother was walking up to the office. When I told her vaguely what had happened, I asked if she had spoken to the Superintendent about it and she said no. I said her not being informed should result in the Super being fired. Rabblerouser me then went to a few of the teachers who really have a problem with her (and have been constantly complaining) and told them NOW is the time to get rid of her if they want to and if the Board doesnt fire her, then the Board needs to go.

On the job front, two more schools contacted me. The 2nd intervies with the online school went well. I think I'd klike a job from home with no lesson plans to make. Time will tell.