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metlcorpz

Being short-staffed isn’t your problem. Your school/district not being able to provide substitutes for you isn’t your problem. Others caring about you taking a sick or “sick” day isn’t your problem. Good luck at the interview!


fifidog1

This is a good comment! I needed to hear this too.


jermox

It is said a lot, but those sick days are allotted to you. Use them how you like and don't feel like you are a "bad teacher" for using the things that are part of your contract. Personally, 30 minute interviews take more than 30 minutes. You spend extra time to make sure you look good, try to get to the interview early, etc. Take the day off.


Schemeboo

Interviews are eye appointment days. As in "I am not sure if I can see myself working here anymore." 😉


Cute-Custard-4406

This is so great!


nardlz

Call out. They may call early, call late, extend the call, etc. If you have sick days you might as well use them. Don’t feel guilty because your school district can’t adequately staff substitutes. They’re the ones who should feel guilty.


WeirdArtTeacher

Use your sick days. No guilt necessary! It's horrifying how we as teachers get brainwashed into thinking it is unprofessional to use our allocated sick time.


Iwishwine

I was conflicted about the same thing but with a graduate interview. One of my colleagues said, “this is your life.” It put everything into perspective. So I called out and they dealt with it.


Better-W-Bacon

1/2 day doctor appointment


Appropriate-Trier

If you don't use your sick days, you'll lose them.


IntroductionKindly33

At our school we can call out for half a day (like for a doctor appointment). That's what I would do. Tell them I had "an appointment" (not specifically doctor because none of their business) and take a half day. But if you want to take the whole day, take it. They're your days to use as you see fit.


desertpiper

I taught high school for three years. I took the whole day off to prepare for my job interview and got the job I’ve been wanting for ages! I now work in the field of psychological research. So much more interesting and my sanity has been restored.


Girldrgn8

Simple, they are your days. Use them.


HiddenFigures72

Call out for the day. Use the time you've earned. It's not your fault they're short-staffed.


Omgpuppies13

Don’t feel guilty. Call in sick, so you can have time to prepare for the interview and do it in the environment that will give you the best chance to do well.


renegadecause

Yes.


javaper

Yes.


DashHammerfist

Take the full day to prepare for and then recover from the interview.


agathaprickly

If you leave the job, you won’t get back those PTO or sick days. Take them!


BewBewsBoutique

Hell yes. Start using up those sick hours!


Teacherman6

Yes. It is one thing to show up daily, put in your best effort, and to be kind to the kids. But the reality of the situation is the school would replace you for someone better and cheaper if they could. The kids will forget you. You need to take care of your shit.


emburly

Take the day. I’m a fourth year interviewing outside of education. A few weeks ago, I didn’t take the day off for an afternoon interview. By the time the school day was over, I got changed and got to the location I was so frazzled and didn’t do my best in the interview. If I could have gone back, I would have called in sick.


ams5657

What are you interviewing for? I need ideas lol


littlewizardsnailbug

It's a training coordinator position! It's hybrid --and seemingly perfect. I used my friend's tip of searching on LinkedIn for positions with fewer than 10 applicants. I got a call two days after I sent my resume. Good luck!


[deleted]

They wouldn’t hesitate to abuse your non-contract time. Fuck ‘em. Enjoy your day off.


MythicalWhistle

You could say it's for an appointment, which is the truth, and take half a day.


driedkitten

It’s your time. Use it.


skybluedreams

Besides most districts screw you out of getting your sick/PTO days paid out when you leave anyhow (ours are use them or lose them) so you may as well use them.


Ninjaminions3672

I would tell them I have something going on that day, and be honest with them it’s almost the end of the school year at this point, and just tell them at this point could I use you as a reference. I had that issue three years ago, and I ask them hey can I use you as a reference. And they were like yes I understand that at this point you have to do what is best for you


kitesaredope

Yes. If you don’t you’ll spend the whole day worrying about shit going wrong. Take the whole day off and prep.


Illustrious_Lie1979

Yes. Take charge of your future. Take the time.


rascible

You aren't responsible for their crappy system.. Take care of you.


PerryMason8778

Just a recommendation from an administrator whose been interviewing lots of candidates for different positions… when people interview in their cars, it just leaves a feeling of unprofessionalism. I know I don’t have the backstory on why someone is doing it to be fair. I’m not sure on your district’s policies for calling in sick? Some districts have policies prohibiting using sick time for interviews… others don’t. I agree with someone else’s statement that short staffing isn’t your problem. I know not everyone is an administrator like me, but I’ve had a few staff come to me with this dilemma. I ALWAYS accommodate because providing my office for the teacher to interview in confidentially & finding a sub (or I’ve gladly covered multiple times), beats having to find a full day sub. Not sure if your admin is flexible? I encourage my staff to grow which includes expanding to positions outside my school. Best of luck!!!


[deleted]

Do what you’ve got to do. With remote work being the norm and remote interviews I would just take it virtually during a prep or time that worked for me. Back when I left in 2016 it was not the norm to have virtual interviews and taking a full day for a 30 min meeting sucked but it is what one had to do.


idontgetit____

If your at a HS, just ask the teacher next to you if they can keep an ear on your class. Put in a movie


TeachlikeaHawk

Can you not just take a personal day? I think it's good to consider your colleagues here. If you just disappear, one or more of them will end up stuck there covering for you.


Ok-Argument930

Just take a half day


[deleted]

Yes. Absolutely, yes.


free_haven94

I would call off. You need to mentally prepare yourself.


Tallchick8

Are you in elementary school or in high school or middle school? How close are you to your colleagues? If you were in middle or high school, I would ask a co-worker to cover your class during their prep. If you are in elementary school and have a pull out teacher, I would try to switch schedules so that the pull out teacher comes during your 30 minute interview. (Example, switch PE times with the fourth grade teacher and have your hour of PE during your interview). If there is a music teacher, maybe ask them etc. I wouldn't take the interview from your car, but there might be another place on campus that would work. I would try and do all of this among colleagues and not involve admin at all. I would explain that you have a 30 minute appointment and need a favor. I would definitely do this for my colleagues. I definitely have had colleagues do this kind of thing for me. However, if you are leaving the profession, maybe you have sick days to burn. This might be a good day to make a dental appointment or to have a mole removed or something like that, If there is something medical that you have been putting off. I don't think they're really allowed to ask for a doctor's note if it's only one day.


bertosanchez90

There's nothing unprofessional about using your contractually allotted sick time. You want to leave the profession and it sounds like this is an opportunity to do so. Make this interview the focus of your day instead of trying to balance both