Whatever happened to "the most qualified"??

So, it's hiring time with the school board. When I first became a teacher I really thought that you would ge a job depending on your qualifications, references and perhaps some good lesson plans and activities displayed in your portfolio.

I thought that since we were unionized, everyone would have a fair chance at every job posted. My illusion has been shattered. Even in teaching it's who you know and what you do to kiss someone's ass.

A really annoying supply teacher, more affectionatley known as "Loopy" got a temporary contract at our school. Yes, she is seriously loopy!. I even spoke with the VP about how I did not want her to supply for my classes again because she doesn't acutally follow the plan that I leave. She decides to do whatever she wants to do. Very annoying.

She first started supply teaching in February when another teacher went off on medical leave. Said teacher was having a very rough time with her pregnancy. Loopy told us she was only here for 2 weeks, "But, you know how medical leave is"...Right in front of us! Who A) knew the situation as to why teacher was off and B) are good friends with teacher who was off.

Loopy left that class in such a mess that the teacher who was off and is now back had a bit of a challenge to get them back. Fortunately this woman is a competant teacher, and has done so quite successfully. That class was out of control when Loppy was at the helm!

This is the type of person who knows how to work the system. She sends the office staff flowers once a week. Now, I agree that the office certainly deserves those flowers for all the hard work they do, but coming from someone who had only been at the school a week seems weird. How could they not see through this blatant attempt to shmooze?!?!

After only a week at school she also volunteered to do the following:

1) Coach a team. Great, thanks, but there are NO school sports that only run for 3 weeks (the original contract term)

2) Agree to help out at a school dance but never actually show up. (again, how this got by Admin I'll never know)

3) Help out with student council. She sat in for one meeting and told everyone how she was going to take it over next year!! (more on this later)

Then Loopy got another contract as a father went off for 2 weeks paternity leave. Again, she states, "Well who knows when he'll be back." Ummm, probably after his triplets come home from the hospital. And, oh guess what? He's back at work.

As for student council, the current teacher is moving to another country at the end of the year. She knows this (sadly). The other day Loopy walks up to him and says, "Guess what? I'm your job!" WHO DOES THIS?? Especially when there are 2 other qualified teachers on temp contracts who have been at the school longer who also want the job.

She's always hanging out in the main office to "get noticed" by admin. I just kept hoping that the more time she spends with them, the more they'll see what she's like. Apparently not, she is so working the system.

So, as it stands, my pleas went unnoticed. Since we are unionized, there's a limited amount of things we can actually say or do to affect her employment. Even my Department Head's hands are tied. (And she's the one who was first off on medical leave and had to come back to the mess!) Loopy is at my school for at least the next 6 weeks. Grrrr!