I know there are a ton of sites online that explain how to write one...but I am preparing to deliver mine tomorrow and I'm not sure about the method of delivery.

I am transferring schools and school systems.

Which would be better...
To hand my Principal the letter and sit there while he reads it.

To meet with him, explain I am transferring, then hand him the letter.

To meet with him, explain I am transferring, no letter.

Do I even need to write a letter?

Just background info...I'm transferring in the fall, I have to finish my year out at my current school, and we are leaving on good terms. The only reason I am telling him this early is because the job fair is Friday and he needs to know before then.

When should I tell my students also?

Help!

3/30/2008 11:28:30 AM

meet, explain, hand letter

3/30/2008 11:29:54 AM

wait till a friday, email letter at 3:15ish, then leave early for the weekend

3/30/2008 11:31:15 AM

sit down with him and discuss it


get his blessing, etc.


then deliver the notice.

3/30/2008 11:32:14 AM

So meet and then give him the letter at a later date?

I hate to say it..but I don't need his blessing... I already got the job at the other school...Interviewed Monday, found out Wednesday.

I'm transferring to a school that is closer to home. I am not unhappy where I currently teacher but I think I could be happier....esp. driving 35 minutes each way being cut to 15.

3/30/2008 11:37:52 AM

When I did this I met and explained, then discussed transition/end date/etc. The written notice should be more or less a formality, just indicating formal notice of the last day.

3/30/2008 11:39:41 AM

as far as explaining it, do they really have the right to know details?

and I don't see why you'd need their blessing. They wouldn't need your blessing to fire you.

3/30/2008 12:18:59 PM

Actually if you're meeting him you tell him to his face.

3/30/2008 12:25:24 PM

isnt that gonna be bad for the kids?

i thought teachers were in it for the children and not for themselves. why not just wait till summer?

3/30/2008 12:40:37 PM

she said she was finishing the year and transferring in the fall....

3/30/2008 12:51:20 PM

Do like the guy on half baked did when he quite the pizza place.

3/30/2008 12:58:26 PM

you don't NEED their blessing, of course. However, there's a level of formality and respect that you should show them, as they've given you the opportunity that you've enjoyed at your current place of work.

the lesson here is simple: don't burn that bridge unless you absolutely must do so.

you can leave WITHOUT pissing them off.

[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 1:08 PM. Reason : and don't pull that "YOU DON'T NEED MY REASONS" bullshit. ]

3/30/2008 1:06:45 PM

i transfered within the same agency...


I just wrote that was what I was doing...gave them two weeks(they said it was ok to just do a week because I had to move to the east coast) I left on VERY good terms and they fully supported my decision(much better opportunity for career growth).....you never know when that can come in handy in the future....



[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 1:42 PM. Reason : w]

3/30/2008 1:37:05 PM

When I moved schools I just talked to my principal about it so she could find someone to take over for the next school year. She had me fill out a form saying I wasn't coming back, but I didn't write a letter.

I didn't tell my students until the last day of school. It worked best that way for the kids- they didn't have to worry or be upset. And when I told them, I explained how important it was for me to move closer to home.

3/30/2008 1:49:26 PM

meet with him and discuss your intentions then hand him the letter after you are finished for documentation purposes

3/30/2008 2:02:03 PM

Quote :

"isnt that gonna be bad for the kids? i thought teachers were in it for the children and not for themselves. why not just wait till summer?"

I am transferring in the fall. I wouldn't transfer in the middle of the year. That is tough on the kids and on me.

And as far as me being in it for the kids...I think being well rested and happy makes you a much better teacher so we have to keep ourselves happy. I am moving to a better school where I can teach other subjects and have some room to grow professionally.

And yeah, I think I will tell them the last day. It's going to be hard to keep it a secret though. My students just did their schedules and a lot of them were like, "LOOK!! I'm going to have your class in the Fall!!"

3/30/2008 2:19:29 PM

I don't think the kids will really care for more then a day....

3/30/2008 3:31:33 PM

When you do your formal meeting discussing why you're leaving, don't say anything bad about your employer. It's easy to, because you can let out all the things you've kept to yourself, but don't be tempted, it will come back to haunt you when you need a reference.

3/30/2008 4:18:08 PM

I don't think the kids will really care for more than a day....

3/30/2008 11:07:49 PM

when I leave my current job, which will hopefuly be soon, I plan on just saying an opportunity I can't pass up was offered to me.

I definitely won't mention why I didn't want to work there anymore and was open to new jobs. I don't plan on needing a good reference from them in the future.

3/30/2008 11:44:54 PM

Quote :

"I QUIT THIS BITCH "

3/31/2008 12:42:14 AM

Quote :

"you don't NEED their blessing, of course. However, there's a level of formality and respect that you should show them, as they've given you the opportunity that you've enjoyed at your current place of work. the lesson here is simple: don't burn that bridge unless you absolutely must do so. you can leave WITHOUT pissing them off."

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resignationletters/qt/resign.htm

3/31/2008 3:56:40 AM

Quote :

"I don't think the kids will really care for more then a day...."

If pawprint is a good teacher then that is an absolutely not true. When I set my schedules, I planned it around teachers more than classes.


And if at all possible leave on good terms.

Meet, discuss, letter. At the same time.

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 5:42 AM. Reason : .]

3/31/2008 5:40:17 AM

+1 to meet, explain, then letter.

Quote :

"as far as explaining it, do they really have the right to know details? and I don't see why you'd need their blessing. They wouldn't need your blessing to fire you."

While they may not have the "right" to know details, if you're leaving on good terms, no reason not to tell them why (in a manner highlighting the positive aspects of the new job and omitting the negative aspects of the current one). It's going to be taken a lot better to have an actual conversation with the principal than to just hand over a brief letter.

3/31/2008 9:07:58 AM

think of it this way


youre supporting the cottage industry of substitute teachers by creating jobs

3/31/2008 9:21:49 AM

Even if you don't particularly in depth in the details, you should give them a face to face conversation. For example, your reason for leaving could simply be that it seems like a better fit personally, for professional development, etc. I wouldn't take it as an opportunity to list all the negatives about your current job.

3/31/2008 9:30:49 AM

so, 2 weeks notice.

is that 14 days (work days)

or 2 work weeks, 10 days.

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 9:46 PM. Reason : ]

3/31/2008 9:43:07 PM

10 business days

always use business days

3/31/2008 9:50:23 PM

Quote :

"she said she was finishing the year and transferring in the fall...."

i apologize, pawprint

i totally missed that. i think i misread and thought it said you were leaving on friday. it makes a lot more sense now, i couldn't see another school encouraging that kind of behavior and pulling a teacher.

3/31/2008 10:17:40 PM

^^thanks

3/31/2008 10:19:44 PM

4/5/2008 3:50:45 PM

It went surprisingly well. I met with him and just explained and then peaced out at the end of lunch....So now, June 13th and I'm OUT!

4/5/2008 9:04:36 PM

Principals are used to losing teachers every year for any number of reasons. They're not gonna be offended.

4/6/2008 11:27:27 AM

Quote :

"i couldn't see another school encouraging that kind of behavior and pulling a teacher."

Wake Cty allowed my little sister's teacher to leave mid-year to dedicate herself full-time to opening a new charter school slated to open in the Fall. The kids didn't find out until about a week before, and she just disappeared. All of the kids were devastated for weeks, and the new teacher completely changed their environment. I thought it was very distasteful of her teacher.

Anyway! Meet with the principal, discuss... and if you know an official end date, then present the letter at the end of the meeting. If you don't, wait until you do-- that way it will be officially in writing, not just a verbal agreement.

4/6/2008 9:49:11 PM

So I got official confirmation from the new job that I can start whenever I like. I have to give two weeks notice here, so should I do that tomorrow making it effective monday, or will first thing monday be ok?

I'm sort of nervous about it...I always have that sense of loyalty that leaving them will put them in a bad spot...especially after only being here 10 months.

6/19/2008 11:02:39 AM

Do it ASAP. If it will help them out and if you can manage it give them a 3-4 week notice. Give them a little more time to fill your spot.

6/19/2008 11:08:07 AM

they're getting two weeks. Thats all thats required, and I need to go ahead and get into the new position for financial reasons.

6/19/2008 11:56:29 AM

Do it tomorrow. They'll bee in a better mood anyway since it is Friday and you won't have to worry about it all weekend long.

6/19/2008 1:39:21 PM

you want to give him the letter to keep in your files so it doesn't look like you just up and quit without notice. it basically looks good on your part to say you gave notice.

i would meet with him, explain to him your reasons for leaving, thank him for the opportunity to work at the school and the experience you've gained, and then give him the letter for him to keep in your files.

when i turned in my resignation last fall, my boss wasn't the office then (he came in late) so i left the letter on his desk. he ended up not talking to me for the last 2 weeks i worked there. it made things very difficult.

6/19/2008 4:59:20 PM

I hope there's no hard feelings and they're like "don't worry about your two weeks, you can just go."

I need that paycheck!

6/19/2008 10:51:31 PM

now the question is do I give it to them at the beginning of the day or as I'm out the door.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND GUYS, OH YEAH I QUIT.

6/20/2008 8:59:31 AM

shortly after lunch

6/20/2008 9:24:51 AM

well that went well, my supervisor seemed happy for me.

I don't think the assistant dean of the department will be as thrilled though. They're already hiring for a programmer, and now they'll need a new web editor as well. He wanted someone who could commit at least 2 years when they hired me. I had no intention of leaving after 9 months, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

[/blog]

6/21/2008 10:37:51 AM