How to tell the principal you're feeling overwhelmed...

I'm getting to the point where I think I'm going to break. Every time I check my e-mail, or walk down the hall, I feel like I'm getting something else thrown at me. Another meeting, another presentation to prepare for, another set of e-mails I need to send. I feel like I'm getting so much stuff to do beyond the classroom, that I don't even have time to plan or grade.

My before school planning time is being taken up my meetings, my during school planning time is being taken up by meetings. And two days a week I have a after-school program in my room, which makes planning then nearly impossible.

How can I bring this up to my principal without sounding like I'm incompetent. I just know myself, and I know when I take on too much, that everything ends up being a disaster. And I don't want that to happen, especially not in my classroom responsibilities.

Thanks for any advice you may have.

Re: How to tell the principal you're feeling overwhelmed...

Hey Deb,

Are you being asked to do these extra things or are you forced to do them?

I feel the same way- I get "picked" to do commitees and meeting cause I'm the "young teacher" and the vets already know they have a captive audience in me because Im not tenured yet.

I dont know is VA is different than my district but contractually we are supposed to work 8:40- 3:55 and have our 30 min lunch and 40 min prep period that cannot be taken away from us. All the extra stuff is volunteer work- which does help me look good on my yearly reviews but if it ever became too much for me, I would sched an appt with the Principal and explain that you cannot commit to anything new or that you need to relieve yourself from 1 or more obligations in order to be the most competent teacher you can be.

Re: How to tell the principal you're feeling overwhelmed...

Are you tenured? If so, I would bring it up to an AP or chairperson. If not, I would talk to a co-worker in a similar boat to see how he/ she handles it, but I wouldn't talk to your principal b/c it may make im/her think you are inefficient.