CEA Survey of Teachers to Gather input for the CUSD Board of Education (March 2002) - Responses to "You may use the back of this page to describe your experience as a CUSD teacher for the Board of Education."
15 Years in District: I live in the same rent-controlled apartment in San Jose that I have lived in for 18 years. I have just about given up any hope of owning a home. As a single parent, I am grateful for having found a rent-controlled building, even if the rent is not especially inexpensive. I depend upon my medical benefits, both for my child and for myself. They have provided me with some peace of mind over the years that, even as we scrimp and save to make ends meet, our medical needs can always be taken care of, as long as I work in this District. Please do not take this away!
The 3.87% COLA raise is a modest request. Without realistic cost of living adjustments, there is no way I can continue to live in this area. I will be forced out! I do not relish living out my retirement years in the same shabby apartment.
I love teaching! I grew up in Cupertino Schools, inspired by my own excellent teachers to enter this noble profession. The emotional satisfaction, the appreciation from loving students and supportive parents - these feed my soul! But I must look to the long-term burdens brought on by a lifetime of low salary and ever-increasing workload.
Teaching is a calling. Teaching is an exciting, creative professional pursuit. Teaching should not be a battle to survive financially, year-in, year-out. It should not be an expectation that teachers sacrifice the welfare of their own families in order to subsidize the long-standing, fine reputation of CUSD.
Show us that you value us as human beings, as family members, as much as you value us as District "assets." Please help to get a decent raise and to retain our essential benefits.
5 Years in District, Grades 1-3: I feel that Cupertino teachers are underpaid and overworked. I do, however, feel supported and well trained. I think the least the district can do is give us a cost of living increase.
4 Years in District:
Positive: I LOVE my school and my school community (co-workers, parents, students, etc.).
I am very supported by my teaching peers and my principal.
I love working with kids.
Obviously I work with kids because I care for them and want to positively affect their future - I don't do it for the money, and I know I won't make a lot of money teaching - I just want to make enough to live decently.
Negative: I don't feel as if the district is as supportive as it should be of its teachers. I want to be treated as a professional and respected as a professional. If you add to our workload, try to take some (district) away or offer time or compensation for increased workload. (Workload = I work until 4 or 5 most days. I work at home 2 to 4 hours. I also work on weekends often. I often work during some or all of my lunch period. I am okay with this when it is ultimately for my students, but I don't want this workload to be because of all the things the district piles onto us.) Keep their promises and be honest and flexible.
I want more communication between board members and teachers.
My contract issues - 1) I can't afford to be docked pay by the district for health benefits. 2) I can't afford to be docked pay if we don't get our contract signed by October. 3) I need a cost of living raise that's appropriate. I am single with a huge school debt and personal debt. I drive an old car. Rent is expensive. I live month to month and can't seem to get ahead.
2 Years in District, Grade 4: Last year I lived in Sunnyvale and was able to rent a 1 bedroom apartment under the below market rate program. I paid $885/month, and was grateful for this opportunity. In July the BMR parameters changed. The apartment that used to cost $885 now increased to $1150. With the salary I receive, I was not able to meet the new rent increase.
Cupertino and Sunnyvale have comparable BMR programs. I checked! I am very good at living on a strict budget, but even with my organizational skills with money, I still needed to move into an apartment with a roommate to make rent doable.
Although BMR is a good program, in theory, I still need to make more money per month to really benefit from this program.
Experience as a CUSD teacher: I do believe that the personnel at the DO are excited and willing to implement change. As a teacher, however, I feel the leadership is ultimately very weak. I believe the DO should have one fundamental purpose and all our new programs, ideas, and resources should be working to fulfill this purpose. However, I feel, we have many fundamental purposes implemented by many people, each going in their own direction. I am left feeling confused, distracted, and scattered. Many good ideas only have a half effort put into them because they are competing with other good ideas for the same spot. I crave strong leadership. I believe CUSD is a good district, but good is not enough for me. We can, and should be spectacular.
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. All students learning, whatever it takes!
(No entry on years, grade): My feeling is that CUSD must answer to the state. Our grievances should be much broader in scope and should address taxpayers, Sacramento, and the California educational system as a whole.
The District has a budget that operates in a margin of error that is substantially less than that of any business in the private sector. I do not believe that anyone wants to deny teachers a comfortable living, including the district.
Our problem is compounded by where we live. The cost of living in the area is disproportional with any other area due to the line of work that most people are in. We are in the heart of Silicon Valley. A COLA of 3.87% is just as laughable at 5%. Neither figure solves our financial problem. It is not my point to say that this is okay. However, I believe that the district is interested in working with teachers to overcome this problem.
An "us versus them" attitude will not serve our interests.
(No entry on years, grade): 1) Students are repeatedly placed in my class with a few days notice and without consulting me. 2) My experience is that the district is much more concerned with bureaucracy and paperwork than the good of the students.
17 Years in District, Grade 2: I have been a teacher in CUSD for 17 years. In the last 4-5 years the turnover in the DO has changed the feel, flow and cohesiveness of the District. I feel the DO and the Board are living off a District reputation that has outlived its worth. This saddens me very much. Our leadership doesn't lead or respect us and in turn we are losing respect for them.
13 Years in District, Grade 3: When I came here, I felt proud to be a Cupertino teacher. We were supported by the DO and administrators. I now feel unappreciated and not valued. The district in the past 3 years has really done downhill in regards to treating us as professionals and doing things to help teachers.
9 Years in District, Grade 3: I feel that more and more responsibilities are loaded on us with nothing taken away. The times I've been to board meetings, I have been taken back by what I feel is inappropriate remarks or jokes. As a homeowner in this district I am very worried about the exodus of teachers to other districts. I know that the price of my home is dependent on the quality of our schools. I feel the board needs to address keeping the teachers and being able to attract new ones! As a teacher/Cupertino homeowner, I would like to see the board push the district to be competitive with other districts and honor the efforts of its teachers.
7 Years in District, Grades 1/2 regular ed, 2/3 ELD: I am overwhelmed! There is no way I could ever meet the demands this district has placed on us. I am unmotivated, underpaid, and demoralized. Why should I stay?
6 Years in District, Grades K-3: Disappointing.
5.5 Years in District, Grades 1-3: The back of this paper is not enough space to describe the unsatisfactory experience I have had in this district during the past 5-1/2 years.
5 Years in District, Grade 3: The communication between the District Office and teachers has deteriorated over the last 5 years. If there had been a good line of communication, none of this would have happened. Teachers feel forced into this because the superintendent doesn't listen or consider teachers' viewpoints in decisions. Dishonesty is rampant. I am so sad about all this.
4 Years in District, Grade 4-6: The district shuffled me around to 3 different schools in 3 years to serve their own interests. They had no regard for my welfare. I was not until I told them that I would resign that they stopped placing me in positions I was unhappy with. This district has not treated me with respect. I therefore have no respect for them.
6 Years in District, Grade 6-8: My primary job responsibilities are suffering and I do not have time to develop professionally because I am expected to manage several additional district-wide responsibilities which are not required of others in similar positions within the district and in other neighboring schools outside the district. These responsibilities are unrealistic and go unsupported by administration on site and at district level.
Administrators on campus are unresponsive and use poor judgement in crisis (high risk student) situations as well as student and school (teacher) support issues (especially conferencing).
8 Years in District, Grade 6: I have noticed a change in the district in the 8 years since I've been here. Where I used to feel the administration (school site and DO) used to be advocates for teachers. I now feel they have distanced themselves from the teachers. There had been so much personnel change at the administrative level and a negative shift in the feeling of comradeship.
15 Years in District, Middle School: As the years progress, teacher support regresses. More is expected for workload/time.
· Never money for bare necessities/supplies.
· Administration does not know how to evaluate teachers in a positive way - it is negative/harassing/nonproductive
· Principal never follows through with teacher requests/needs.
· Principal never on campus.
· Principal is more concerned about politics than students/staff. He kisses up to those above him.
· Teachers should not have to spend time fighting for at least a cost of living raise.
· Health/welfare benefits have gotten worse over the years.
· Class size is too big.
· Curriculum materials are not available.
· Teachers are not able to give input regarding courses offered at middle school - why are we teaching Japanese?
· Staff morale is very low due to principal's lack of interest and follow-through.
4 Years in District, Grades 6-8: This is my 4th year working for the Cupertino Union School District. I came to this district from Washington State with a Masters in Education and one year of experience.
My interview experience was quite positive. It helped that I came to the table excited about joining the district. I was in the district as a student from grades 2-8, and had a good understanding of the community expectations.
My first year's stress was compounded by the constant construction confusion and noise. Thank goodness that is now behind us, and I have a classroom all year - the mod-year move was quite challenging. First year teacher meetings answered a few of my questions; however, as a middle school teacher, I often felt the suggestions were not aimed at my needs…first year teacher meetings focused on a teacher working with (30 or so) children all day long, rather than 160+.
Each year had become easier, more enjoyable, less stressful - partly through experience, partly because the students and I have had a better working relationship each year.
Just this Monday I thought I might circle "occasionally stressed." Ha. Then the rest of the week occurred. Well, we all cope.
What pressures do I feel? Highlights of my long list include:
- Time enough to grade, prepare, teach, communiate with parents, design educational and interesting lessons and projects…and to stay healthy (if only sleep were not so very necessary…)
- Continual new requirements! I was clear in WA; I had to take more courses to get my professional clear in CA; now CLAD is required…what next?
Thank you for reading this. I am glad to answer any questions/discuss further.
(No entry on years, grade): Dear Board Members: When coming here many years ago (15), there was a feeling of pride working for the Cupertino District. When Bragg came from the outside, the whole feeling changed to an "us" against "them" feeling. Many of the best administrators have left the DO. Teachers are somehow made to feel "less than." (I was on the Supt. Advisory one year and found it very uncomfortable in the meetings - like we were being "shined on" by a car salesman.) I do not feel the board members are aware of how few experienced teachers there are left at our schools - how few mentors for the new teachers. New teachers are not staying! They are way stressed living up to our "Cupertino" standards and cannot afford to stay. Cupertino is in big trouble. Maybe the board is being "shined on."
"The emperor has no clothes!"
5 Years in District, Grade 7: When I started with CUSD five years ago, I was impressed with the way the veteran teachers spoke about their district. I was clear that the teachers respected the district and were respected in return. I too soon felt respect for, and respected by, the district. I was proud to be a teacher in Cupertino.
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