Dear Editor:
After reading the article in the News Tribune titled "Trouble at School" July 20 written by Kris Hilgedick, I am writing in support of Ryan and Buffey Prenger's statements. Thanks to them for speaking out. It takes courage.
I taught for more than 20 years in six different districts across Missouri. As an experienced classroom teacher in districts both larger and smaller than JCPS, I consistently received top evaluations from my administrators. Lest you think I was a job-hopper, I only changed school districts due to moving for my husband's career. The last 10 years that I taught, I was a co-worker of Mrs. Prenger at Cedar Hill Elementary. I chose early retirement in 2010, due in large part to the same issues she listed, ("constant barrage of initiatives, programs, committee assignments, projects, and miscellaneous requests to do tasks in new ways").
From 2004-2010, I was targeted, micromanaged, retaliated against, unappreciated and generally overwhelmed. I worked hard every single school day, as well as evenings and weekends, doing what was good for my students. And it was never enough. The undue stress was making me physically sick.
No matter the spin Penny Rector puts on the Jefferson City district's statistics, the facts show that six out of 18 classroom teachers left Cedar Hill at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. That is 33.3 percent - considerably higher than average. As Ryan Prenger put it, "they are escaping. That's a lot. And that's just this year."
I applaud the JCPS School Board members who are asking questions and inviting public comment. It is a start to making positive changes. Companies, businesses and schools do well to listen to their trusted employees, and to make improvements where needed. I fully understand why currently employed teachers cannot sign their names to letters, for fear of retaliation. I hope Superintendent Mitchell will read another former employee's story, because I am gladly signing my name.
When teachers perceive they have morale problems, then low teacher morale does exist. There is a simple solution to the problem.
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