teaching a 6th class

In my district you get paid a whole lot extra to teach a 6th class. My AP sent an email out a few weeks ago to myself and 4 other teachers in my department , asking who would like to teach a 6th class. They needed two people. I answered right away saying that I would and my AP responded back asking if I still would if I have to teach 6, 7, and 8th grade Spanish ( I usually only do two levels each year). I said absolutely! So I didn't hear anything back, so I sent an email out to my colleagues asking if they heard anything. Apparently all of us wanted it. One of them taught a 6th class last year and so I thought she was out and that the two other teachers that are have seniority over myself and the first teacher would get it. WRONG! The person that got it last year got it AGAIN and one of the senior teachers got it. I'm so ****** that the same teacher got it! I don't think that's fair at all. And I want to ask my union rep if that's even allowed. I'm actually senior to this particular teacher that will have a 6th class 2 years in a row. What are your district's policies in situations like this? What are you thoughts? I'm so mad because I was so ready to take on the challenge and was so excited because of the extra income. DH and I could really use it. . Now this particular teacher will be earning extra money two years in a row! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Message edited 7/29/2007 7:37:44 PM.

Re: teaching a 6th class

Did they give it to her because she already had the class and therefore was experienced in it? What do you normally teach, I don't understand why you would get paid more to teach 6th grade?

Re: teaching a 6th class

Re: teaching a 6th class

no, I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. It's not 6th grade . In my district ( I think it's pretty similar in others, but not sure) each secondary teacher has 5 classes a day. I teach Spanish and therefore could teach 6, 7, and 8th grade. Because of enrollment , my school needed 2 Spanish teachers to take on an Spanish extra class. You get paid more for teaching that extra class. She is no more qualified than the rest of us to take on an extra class.

Re: teaching a 6th class

ohhhh i see i see, i didn't know you could do that.

I am sorry.

Re: teaching a 6th class

From my experience, the person that has already done it will get first "dibs" or preference to doing it again the following year. Why?....I have no idea, but that seems to be how it works!

Re: teaching a 6th class

im not sure about the seniority thing... i think sometimes seniority is more of a courtesy than an actual rule and really only comes into effect when they need to excess or move teachers...

however, maybe the schedules just worked better with the other teachers?

Dh had a 6th class last year and was one of the youngest members of the departments... the extra money was nice... however we are sure going to miss it this year!