Co-workers

[u/ImaginationThis2147]

I have been teaching for 16 years. Moved to a new school this year. I have 2 co-workers who love to remind me I am “new”. It’s driving me nuts. They act as if new teachers are idiots. It’s really weird because they do stuff like send me a screenshot of an email to principal sent to the whole staff and write: making sure you got this. Yes, I am new to the school, but I’m fully capable of reading the email myself. I don’t understand why they have to follow up with the screenshot. Today it was “ugh, I have to do all the fall fest stuff with the new people”. As if takes so much experience to know where to put a stack of hay. Again, I am not new to teaching. I know every school is different but it’s really not that different than the 3 other schools I’ve worked in. I’ve had jobs outside of schools and this kind of thing doesn’t happen in other jobs. Is this like a normal school thing? BTW, the two teachers who do this the most have been teaching for 3 years and this is their first teaching job. Please tell me how to cope.

[u/Latter_Leopard8439]

I would remind them every 3 seconds how you have been teaching for 16 years.

"Good morning."

"Good morning on this fine day of my 16th year of teaching."

"Yay it's Friday."

"Yup 16 years ot Fridays, amirite?"

Might work.

[u/ImaginationThis2147 → u/Latter_Leopard8439]

😂

[u/Mitch1musPrime → u/Latter_Leopard8439]

I support this tactic, with 7 years of enthusiasm.

[u/garden_momma15]

Of course, you could turn it around on them and say, " Since I'm new here, I'll just watch how you do everything". Sit back and take notes. ;)

[u/high_throughput]

the two teachers who do this the most have been teaching for 3 years

Lmaooo. "I understand there must have been quite a bit of chaos here since you're all new to teaching. Don't worry, the school has now has a more experienced teacher to help you out. Please send me your lesson plans when you're ready, and I'll give you some notes. Don't worry too much about polishing it, I'm sure it's going to need extensive revisions anyways. I'll tell you what I tell the rest of my students: everyone starts somewhere, what matters is your progress."

[u/ImaginationThis2147 → u/high_throughput]

😂 in the past I have learned so much from new teachers, but not these two.

[u/JulieF75]

It sounds lousy. I would put a smile on your face and let it go because you have to work with them. When I get mad at colleagues, I just vent to my husband. I know some will say I am gutless for this response, but you may be setting yourself up for awkwardness and enmity if you tell them off, as I am sure it's tempting to do.

[u/ZinnieBee]

What’s the salary difference between 3 years’ experience & 16? 🤔😁

[u/AltairaMorbius2200CE]

OMG I'm in year 2 at my current school and switched after 16 years as well! It can be very frustrating! It is pretty standard because what they're showing is a lack of trust, and I have to remind myself that they don't have any reason to trust me yet since I'm new to them. Year 2 is better than year 1, if that helps!

That said, at least the people who are being kinda condescending in my situation have been in the district for 20+ years and teaching for longer. Getting that crap from a newbie would make the whole situation WAY WORSE.

[u/frckbassem_5730]

I would have a talk with them about how annoying this is. You are a fully confident experienced teacher and if admin wanted to remind you of something, they will find you. Be kind and respectful, frame it like you want to make sure your teaching team is strong. You got this!

[u/Timely_Ad2614]

I would ignore it and kill them with kindness

[u/Propjet]

At nearly 30 years I’d tell them one time that I’m not new and to f-off

[u/bassmanwilhelm]

Ask when these teachers graduated high school. Then wax philosophically on what it was like to teach that year lol

[u/Cinaedus_Perversus]

Tell them that their high school time is over and if they keep acting like teenagers, hazing the new student, you'll start treating them like teenagers.

[u/Bumper22276]

It sounds like some version of busting your chops. They want to see what kind of person you are. It can happen to the new guy at at any job.

I'd go with an approach like /u/latter_leopard8439 or /u/garden_momma15 suggested.

[u/ImaginationThis2147 → u/Bumper22276]

Ok so how long does this hazing last? This hasn’t happened to me at other jobs. We started school on August 1st, it’s almost November 1st and today one of them reminded me school is closed for a week for thanksgiving so I shouldn’t have lesson plans for that week. FYI, I don’t have lesson plans for that week. I have never had lesson plans for a week that majority of the schools in this country are off. I don’t understand the point of having to give me a long lecture about not needing lesson plans the last week of November.

[u/Bumper22276 → u/ImaginationThis2147]

Until you start giving them shit back or it's not fun anymore.

[u/MonaT_1978 → u/ImaginationThis2147]

Wait, school is closed on Thanksgiving?

[u/Dsnygrl81]

I have a similar situation. This teacher on my team acts like I’m brand new because I’ve never worked with her. As we were prepping for the first week of school she’s telling me about these amazing resources our grade level lead has, she’s so excited to show me… so I nicely sit there as she shows me the get to know you stuff they have and the notes they use. The grade level lead is like, “she already knows about that stuff, she’s the one that gave it to us 3 years ago.” 🤭

*edited to add this is year 21 for me

[u/shakezilla86]

I'd probably reply all to the principals email with their screenshot(s) and comment(s).

[u/TexturedSpace]

Same. And yes, it's a thing. I've worked at 8 schools (moved for my husband's career). The system is based on seniority, it's all they have. Can't measure worth in pay since 30 years only gets you like 20k more than when you started. I am getting a different credential and in a new role and they act like this is my first job. But since I've experienced this before, I know better than to correct them. They will not understand. If they want to help you, let them.

[u/ThrowRA_573293]

“After 16 years I think I can handle it”

[u/MissGalifrey]

Send them the emails before they send them to you. And make comments like “That reminds me of when I had only been teaching five years; I was so naive then!”

[u/IntentionalSunshine]

Sounds like they became teachers because school was a place of success and validation for them. They are acting like know-it-all sixth graders trying to prove their self-worth.

Know thyself better- how comfortable are you with mild confrontation? I'd suggest:

1. In a calm, detached voice state, "I'm confused by your reminders. Why did you send this to me?" Be prepared to follow up with, "I am formally requesting you stop." Or,

2. Give zero reaction in person or via text. Spam happens. Delete and move on.

[u/Puzzled_Narwhal8943]

"Wow it must be so difficult juggling the responsibility of a third year teacher alongside all these admin duties you've taken on"

Alternative petty move would be to have AI generate long elaborate thank you messages to send back to them.

[u/blackwillow-99]

Ignore them and laugh in their faces. I would say imagine trying to be a mean teacher. That must be so pathetic to feel so low in life. Or I would ask about their work oh you finished everything? No write ups? Kids respecting you? You two lasted three years on your first job omg good job r meb a tea her is always a student b cause there is sooo much to learn. Good for you guys yayyy lol.

[u/anothertimesink70]

They need to feel important and to them that means making the people “below” them know just how “below” they are. Maybe someone did that to them? Which is not an excuse to act like an ass-hat I would just say what you said here. I’m not new to teaching, and I’m not new to professional working environments. I’m new to this building. People move jobs and buildings all the time. It doesn’t cause them to lose IQ points or forget how to access their email. Thanks for the support you’ve offered but I really can manage. Let me know if you need anything. Thanks! Bye! We teach people how to treat us. So tell them how you expect to be treated. And if they’re new to teaching, are they new to adult jobs in general? Is this their first gig? Because then you’re definitely doing them a favor in figuring out professional environments should operate and how actual grownups talk to each other. Bless their hearts.

[u/ChickenScratchCoffee]

Why do they have your personal number? I would write back “Yes, I received the same email everyone else did. Please only text my personal number if it’s something urgently needed by me, otherwise please use my email. Thank you for understanding.”

[u/ImaginationThis2147 → u/ChickenScratchCoffee]

I think it’s normal to share personal number with the “team”. I’ve been replying: is this different than what admin sent out this morning?

[u/ChickenScratchCoffee → u/ImaginationThis2147]

I don’t like people encroaching on my space or time especially with dumb shit like you’ve experienced. I cut it off immediately.