Got a call the other day that one of my favorite teachers who taught Sp Ed at the middle school for 27 years passed away and another 7 at the HS.. She heard I was to become the HS principal and made an appointment with me on my 1st day. Mary Ellen G, a veteran Sp ed teacher at E Middle school introduces herself and says we have a common friend who I teach with and told me I should transfer to the High School because of me . I was flattered since I taught with her friend for many years. We had an opening in that department and thought let me call the superintendent and see if a teacher can transfer .. Well all hell broke loose because everybody thought I came in and recruited her. The Middle school principal ,Asst superintendent ,Superintendent ,Head of Sp ED, 2 board of eds member's .. I walked in the bd room and they were all sitting down.. My supe said " tell us about G asking about a transfer. I told them that she had come into my office and inquired about our open position. I never met her before . I told her I had no idea how many applicants we had and really don't know about internal transfers I would get back to her later. I called our Supe up and asked her.. Then an hour ago I was summoned to this meeting. I asked is " she that good or bad" They told me she was the best teacher in the district ..I replied " then I want her". You couldn't hear a pin drop.. I asked what are the districts and union rules on transfers. It was explained to me about internal transfers and teachers could do that..So I said then lets go thru the process. I have about 5 resumes I just looked at with over 30 applicants. Let me interview those 5 and then miss G .. the best candidate I will recommend to the Supe , I will set up a committee with our Sp ed department and faculty members.. " is that all.. I do not know or ever met Ms G or talked to her about that position before she came into the office" " Is everyone clear about that".. I was excused.. about an hour later I get a call from my supe" she said you handled that great..
Ms G did get the transfer and was my best Sp ed teacher. She retired two years ago. No wonder why everyone was upset. She did the senior prom,senior trip etc.. I loved her . So did the staff.. The rumor was I stole her from the middle school so I played along with that..
G taught another 6 or 7 years at the HS. I had retired and moved to Texas.. Two weeks ago she sends me a message in facebook after I sent a picture of me with my dairy queen blizzard after they had a real blizzard in NY. it was the sweetest message . She has retired and said the greatest thing she ever did was to transfer to the HS.. She wrote a short message and ended with " your favorite good Pain in the ass". I loved teachers that were Good pain in the ass's .They kept me on target. I always told me staff I want "good pain in the ass's ..
Upon graduating in 1980 she attended The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY and earned a degree in education. She went on to complete her Masters in Special Education at SUNY New Paltz. Mary E taught for 33 years at the Ellenville Central School District until her retirement in 2017. There she served as the President, Vice-President and Treasurer for the ETSRPA Union, as well as several negotiating teams.
what a great loss ... I was the one lucky to have you for a few years..and your were the best " good pain in the ass" and will always remember all the times we had together.. on your index card I asked you " what makes a good teacher// Your answers were I love kids...I want kids to succeed not only in the classroom but in life, Be fair,have a sense of humor and love kids,did I say that already.. reading that on that yellow 5'7 index card in your hand writing today means a lot to me and the 1,000 kids you taught .. RIP Mary E
Ms G did get the transfer and was my best Sp ed teacher. She retired two years ago. No wonder why everyone was upset. She did the senior prom,senior trip etc.. I loved her . So did the staff.. The rumor was I stole her from the middle school so I played along with that..
G taught another 6 or 7 years at the HS. I had retired and moved to Texas.. Two weeks ago she sends me a message in facebook after I sent a picture of me with my dairy queen blizzard after they had a real blizzard in NY. it was the sweetest message . She has retired and said the greatest thing she ever did was to transfer to the HS.. She wrote a short message and ended with " your favorite good Pain in the ass". I loved teachers that were Good pain in the ass's .They kept me on target. I always told me staff I want "good pain in the ass's ..
Upon graduating in 1980 she attended The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY and earned a degree in education. She went on to complete her Masters in Special Education at SUNY New Paltz. Mary E taught for 33 years at the Ellenville Central School District until her retirement in 2017. There she served as the President, Vice-President and Treasurer for the ETSRPA Union, as well as several negotiating teams.
what a great loss ... I was the one lucky to have you for a few years..and your were the best " good pain in the ass" and will always remember all the times we had together.. on your index card I asked you " what makes a good teacher// Your answers were I love kids...I want kids to succeed not only in the classroom but in life, Be fair,have a sense of humor and love kids,did I say that already.. reading that on that yellow 5'7 index card in your hand writing today means a lot to me and the 1,000 kids you taught .. RIP Mary E
