From Chelsey Harris:
I am a former HCPS special education teacher who worked as a Special educator at Joppatowne High School. I moved from Michigan after college to pursue my teaching career in Harford County. I was told by recruiters that all of my state tests as well as my teaching certificate would transfer to Maryland with no problems.
When I accepted the job at JHS, I was also told that JHS was one of the only high schools in the county that qualified for teacher loan forgiveness. Teacher loan forgiveness is a federal program that forgives up to $17,500 of federal student loans after you serve five consecutive years in a high need school. This program is an incentive for a difficult job in high needs schools.
After my five years at Joppatowne High School, I pursued a job in another school district because I literally couldn’t afford to work in Harford County anymore. I filled out my loan forgiveness application and sent it to Barbara Matthews only to receive my application back saying I was not a “highly qualified” special educator. Not only was this the first I had heard I was not considered highly qualified, I was also being denied the $17,500 of student loan forgiveness from the federal government. I was devastated, upset, and feeling absolutely helpless.
I began asking colleagues about their experiences, and six other special education teachers that I know personally have been denied teacher loan forgiveness for similar reasons. None of us knew we were not considered highly qualified and all of us were denied the $17,500 that was dangled in front of our faces only to be stripped away.
I asked Barbara Matthews, Howard Kutcher and even Mrs. Canavan how a special education teacher is highly qualified to teach special education in Harford County… No one could offer a response, instead the question was continually ignored. Students who are in a self-contained classroom are not being taught academics at the level of a general education student where they would need a certified math, English or history teacher to deliver the content. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in special education and a minor in elementary education and passed state tests in both areas. Ms. Matthews even gave me the number to call someone at the state level who informed me that special educators highly qualified status is determined by each individual district.
I am not quite sure why Harford County is so reluctant to sign our loan forgiveness applications? It is not money out of their pockets. Teaching in some of the Title 1, Route 40 and high needs schools is not a walk in the park, and I believe the teacher loan forgiveness should be given to the special educators in Harford County. If I am not highly qualified to teach special education in Harford County, than who is? Who is qualified to teach self-contained special education? Why was I allowed to be a teacher of record or administer the ALT. MSA if I was not considered highly qualified?
In addition, why would HCPS fly me to Maryland, pay for food and hotels while recruiting, than pay for my move to Maryland if I was not highly qualified to teach special education? Perhaps HCPS and the board of education need to sit down and reevaluate their definition of highly qualified for special education teachers so we can get the loan forgiveness that is rightfully ours. This is just one more way HCPS does a huge disservice to their teachers. It seems as if HCPS does more to hurt their teachers than help them.
After five years with no step, the least they could do is sign the line to give us something we deserve. If there are any special educators out there who have had a similar experience while trying to obtain their teacher loan forgiveness, I highly recommend contacting Mrs. Canavan, Dr. Kutcher, Ms. Matthews, Mr. Burbey or even go to the board of education because something has to change.
I was also denied loan forgiveness for the same reasons and worked at the same high school. It’s really sad.
Teachers who work in special education classrooms do some of the hardest work in our schools. They should not be penalized for working with students who are not at grade level- that’s in inherent part of the job. Give these teachers what they were promised. They’ve earned it! Shame on you, HCPS.
Harford County administrators only look out for themselves – not students, teachers, or parents. It is that simple. They are a mean spirited group of unaccountable personnel that are excessively vindictive. Buyer be aware of this group!
Another teacher complaining, What else is new
Another troll bashing teachers. What else is new?
Dear Want some cheese with thst whine,
Thank you for taking time out of your day for such a valuable, meaningful comment. It’s unfortunate that your closed mind can’t grasp that this letter is actually not meant as a complaint but is being used to allow the public to see what HCPS is doing and continues to do to their employees. Hopefully you never have a child with special needs who needs assistance from one of us “complaining” teachers. Thank you for your contribution to this conversation.
We the public don’t care. We know there are criminals employed in the school system, we know great teachers are being treated like shit. We know all of this and don’t need iteration after iteration.
Its like a broken record with you people.
Thousands of other private, local government and federal employees in Harford County share their 1st world working problems just as you.
Thank you for your input, however this is not another concern bashing not getting a step of pay increase or what not. Special Educators throughout the county are actually being denied something that is supposed to be given to us from the federal government. If you were supposed to have $17,500 of your student loans forgiven and you were not being denied the money for reasons unknown to you, then wouldn’t you be upset?
You got a verbal promise but did not get anything in writing?
If so, shame on you.
If not, file a class action lawsuit for breach or contract and misrepresentation.
So we should just stop fighting and complaining for payment that was promised to us when we signed our contract (not verbal…I still have the print out of STEPS). Good thing others in history didn’t take your advice to stop pushing when others said “we’ve heard this already”…
The Teacher’s should file individual lawsuits for breach of contract with a demand for the money they are not receiving by the breach and for legal expenses……..
Can’t put your name on it don’t write it.
Lifelong resident of Harford County for five decades. I have never seen HCPS in worst shape then it is now. The administration is at war with the teachers; started with Tomback and now Canavan has taken it to a whole new level. The teachers on the front line feel undervalued and attacked at every turn. The worst pay scale in the state is only the tip of the iceberg. Canavan and her cronies are done. There is no respect for them by either teachers or the community.
Why did you get into debt in the first place?
Do you expect the taxpayers to pay for your education? Should we pay for any of your other loans? Do you want to pay my mortgage?
Have you looked at the bubble created by student loans?
What do you think about the government deciding who gets loans forgiven and who does not?
What do you think about all the loans being forgiven? Someone will still have to pay. It is called shifting the burden.
Did you investigate the Common Core curriculum to determine what you were getting yourself into and how you would be negatively influencing young, innocent minds?
Did you ever look outside of government run schools to determine your options if you truly wanted to teach special ed students?
How do you feel about the enormous volume of drugs these students are prescribed to comply with an environment that is not in their best interest?
Have you wondered why there are so many of these students and what’s the cause?
Does it make you angry that parents spend more time on sports fields instead of school board meetings? Why should they bother? They think education is free?
Why aren’t the teachers being bold enough to say they are tired of being controlled, micro managed, and reduced to test moderators?
Dear Student,
Since you had so many questions, I copy and pasted them to ensure I can answer all of them for you.
Why did you get into debt in the first place? Not that it is anyone’s business why I got into debt, I am more than willing to tell because I have nothing to hide. I in fact had to get into debt, not by choice, but because I WANTED an education. My parents were both laid off when I began college due to the state of the economy in Michigan, so I had no choice. I worked two jobs in between taking a full schedule of classes to pay for my rent, car and cost of living.
Do you expect the taxpayers to pay for your education? Should we pay for any of your other loans? Do you want to pay my mortgage? No, I do not want to pay your mortgage, however, I am not the one who passed the legislation of Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Actually, the federal government did that, so I am just asking for something that was promised to teachers who worked for five consecutive years in a Title One School.
Have you looked at the bubble created by student loans? Yes, I have looked at the “bubble” created by student loans. I am hoping your parents are affluent enough to pay for your college education or else you will also have to take out student loans if you are planning on attending college. Some people care about getting an education and are very passionate about their future careers, therefore have to use student loans as a means to get from Point A to Point B. Not everyone is lucky enough to have education handed to them by their parents.
What do you think about the government deciding who gets loans forgiven and who does not? I think the government chooses professions that are giving back to the community to forgive their loans… nurses, teachers, EMT’s, firefighters, police officers to name a few. All of those people have or will have to help you, a family member or community member at some point in your life. You may not have respect for those professions as a person, but they are selfless professions that often times have to put others needs in front of their own and their families.
What do you think about all the loans being forgiven? Someone will still have to pay. It is called shifting the burden. Student loan companies make more off interest than they do the actual loan. I have been faithfully paying on my student loans for seven years now, however, the amount being paid is mostly interest. Have you also looked up education in other countries? It is not nearly expensive. College education and student loans are a huge corporation in America that is outrageously over priced and a huge money making machine.
Did you investigate the Common Core curriculum to determine what you were getting yourself into and how you would be negatively influencing young, innocent minds? When I graduated college, The Common Core was not introduced. When I graduated college NCLB was coming down the pipeline and was being implemented. I do not control what I am required to teach students, I can only do my best to make the curriculum meaningful and provide students with meaningful, teachable moments.
Did you ever look outside of government run schools to determine your options if you truly wanted to teach special ed students? I have looked out of government ran schools, however, my goal is to help students who may not have an opportunity to receive fair, or equal educational opportunities, which is why I still continue to choose to teach in Title One schools. Students who are able to afford to go to schools such as Chelsea in the suburbs or Maryland or JEMICY (not sure how to spell it) or other educational institutions that are not ran by the government,tend to come from more affluent families that are able to pay for top notch services. I intend to help the parents and students who come from less fortunate families gain the life skills and self advocacy skills necessary to help them succeed in life outside of school.
How do you feel about the enormous volume of drugs these students are prescribed to comply with an environment that is not in their best interest? I am not a huge fan of drugs, however, I feel that if a student needs medicine to help them focus, that is not my place to judge or prescribe. I am not a doctor. I do feel that a change of diet and structure could help students avoid medication, but I am not the parent and can not decide if that option would be best for the students lifestyle or the student. As I said, I can not prescribe as I do not have a degree in the medical field.
Have you wondered why there are so many of these students and what’s the cause? I can not say for sure the increase of students who are prescribed medicine for ADD and ADHD… that is what I am assuming you are speaking about. However there are numerous factors that I believe play into the cause of increased diagnosis of ADD and ADHD which would be increased screen time, changes in diet and nutrition over the years, less time spent outside playing and being active, as well as the demand for working parents and less time spent actually parenting children. Sometimes, it is just actually a medical diagnosis as well.
Does it make you angry that parents spend more time on sports fields instead of school board meetings? Why should they bother? They think education is free? Everyone should be entitled to a Free Appropriate Education. Education should not be an issue of class, everyone should have the right to an education. Making people pay for education would eliminate a lot of innocent children from getting an education. I can not do anything about parents who care more about their children playing sports than sitting in classrooms or going to board rooms. I can say that perhaps it is those parents hope of some day wanting something better for their children and hoping their children will one day make it to the big league for monetary reasons. Or perhaps those parents didn’t have a good experience with school, therefore don’t feel comfortable or as if they will be heard in board meetings. I try not to judge others or parents because we do not know what they are thinking or what trials they are facing. My job is not to judge, but to help others.
Why aren’t the teachers being bold enough to say they are tired of being controlled, micro managed, and reduced to test moderators? I am pretty sure if you have read articles from the dagger, as well as articles from all over the United States, you will see this being preached. However, you also have to keep in mind that teachers want to keep their jobs, to feed their families, and pay for their bills. Many teachers are afraid to speak out publicly for fear of retaliation. You have to look at the big picture. Yes, we sometimes are sheltered by the union, but we can not necessarily change what legislatures bring down the pipeline or what we are mandated to do. Teachers are tired of all of the above, but we are also dedicated to our students, families and communities we serve so we do our best to make the curriculum we are giving meaningful and help the students as best as we can.
Says the student who’s sitting in a 800,000 house and having their parents pay for everything. Can I have that silver spoon now.
A lot of people are generally money stupid. Spending problems mostly, not earning problems.
What I also mean is that, a starry eyed college kid will go into debt $50,000 dollars instantly for their education and start a job at $40,000.
That makes NO sense. Add to the fact YOU know that the job/employment field you are going into (public school for example) don’t have much for “raises.” Yeah, you get a state pension if you stick it out long enough.
I wish I were a starry eyed student who got to spend all of their student loans on partying, clothes and other fun activities, however, I actually HAD to take out student loans to pay for my education. With the economy at the time in Michigan, both of my parents had been let go of their jobs. I worked two jobs while in school to pay for rent, books, car, etc. but my loans paid for my education. When you’re in college, you don’t realize that you are not going to get the steps promised on the pay scale, or anticipate “life” happening. I still work two jobs on top of teaching and go to grad school. I’m not asking to get things handed to me, but the teacher loan forgiveness is an incentive to keep teachers in high need schools, a place where not many last or want to teach. Just my thoughts…
Man, you can barely speak English, but you are full of opinions. How about getting a job? You can write on your resume “full time internet troll”.
Me?
I made $190,635 dollars last year after taxes. I had a career choice to make at 18 and it’s worked out great. I worked my way up from the bottom.
I have no college education, and I’ll be retiring before I’m 45 years old.
I’m definitly bragging now, because I’ve worked for every penny without complaint.
Its okay if you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll see me as a Walmart greeter down in South Carolina’s when I move.
By the way, I drive a piece of junk 20 year old car.
you = douchebag that drives a 20 year old car.
What is your point – that kids don’t need teachers because you yourself are proudly and demonstrably ignorant and yet there was still someone else out there dumb enough to pay you? Tell me how this proposed race to the bottom is the formula to make America great again?
We need teachers willing to work for our kids and put their best effort into that work. It is awesome that some people are willing to do this while putting up your particular spawn for less than 190k/yr. I certainly wouldn’t and given the fact that a-hole policies and community thanklessness have now created a teacher shortage, your dumbass comment now means we are going to have to pay more the next time we recruit a teacher on the open market.
Good teachers ARE a scarce commodity. Especially good special Ed teachers who can fulfill all the NCLB IEP requirements that are requirements by law today. We cannot be a district that hire people by lying about what we will pay them because as this article illustrates, the result will simply bite us in the ass the next time we try to hire a teacher. The board needs to fix this before we are defending ourselves against a class action lawsuit because I don’t trust that a moron like you will be able to correctly defend our mutual interests in court.
If you say so….
Sure and that is why you are trolling here.
KEYNESIANISM or Keynesian economics — look it up.
It is destroying every aspect of America from cradle to grave and is rampant in education. Students are taught in a vacuum. They no longer think. Parents don’t care. Football is more important. Teachers are tied to their tenure.
You are so focused on parents being more worried about football than academics, but how does this tie into the subject that is stated in the article at all? The letter I wrote is simply about student loan forgiveness being denied by HCPS to former and current special education teachers throughout the district. It has nothing to do with football, or parents. I am not sure why you are fixated on that point, when the article says nothing about either. Perhaps you could write a letter to the article about parents being more worried about football than grades, and it would get published in the dagger, and you could make all your points in the letter so the public would be able to see them.
Chelsey,
You are doing yourself a disservice by responding to all the trolls here. Please don’t think that you will find any meaningful discourse here, or convince them of your position. They simply aren’t able to think critically enough to understand the ramification of their position.
I thought your letter was well stated and supported. It’s ridiculous that you are having to go through this.
THAT SAID, I feel like you should have had some commitment at the beginning of your tenure.
Also, the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program says very clearly what a “Highly Qualified Teacher” qualifications are.
Program:
“You may receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness if, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the school where you were employed, you were
a highly qualified full-time mathematics or science teacher in an eligible secondary school; or
a highly qualified special education teacher whose primary responsibility was to provide special education to children with disabilities, and you taught children with disabilities that corresponded to your area of special education training and have demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the curriculum that you taught.”
Qualification:
To be a highly qualified teacher, a public elementary or secondary school teacher must
have obtained full state certification as a teacher (including certification obtained through alternative routes to certification) or passed the state teacher licensing examination, and holds a license to teach in that state, except that when used with respect to any teacher teaching in a public charter school, the term means that the teacher meets the requirements set forth in the state’s public charter school law; and
have not had certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis.
In addition to the above—
An elementary school teacher who is new to the profession is considered highly qualified if he or she also
holds at least a bachelor’s degree; and
has demonstrated, by passing a rigorous state test, subject knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the basic elementary school curriculum (which may consist of passing a state-required certification or licensing test or tests in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the basic elementary school curriculum).
Do you meet the above requirements? If so, then appeal the decision. If not, then I’m sorry but you should have know about it already. This literally took <5 minutes of searching…
Yes, I did research what was considered highly qualified, and in Michigan where I moved from, I am considered highly qualified. I have a major in Special Education with a minor in Elementary Education, and passed state tests for both. HCPS sets their own guidelines for what is considered special education in HCPS, so apparently I do not meet the qualifications of their specific guidelines. When I moved from Michigan, and inquired about my credentials, I was told everything transferred over. Apparently, my highly qualified status did not.
Chelsey…exactly what “No One” said. It does no good to respond to trolls.
You’re obviously a very intelligent person who is passionate about helping the most needy kids. You deserve to be better treated. My advice is to leave HCPS for a place where you will be better appreciated and better rewarded; there are needy kids everywhere, and they will be well served by someone like yourself. HCPS is simply not in the habit of rewarding its teachers in any way. If anything, they like to flex their muscle just to show the teachers who is in charge. I’m sorry you experienced this, but you are definitely not alone. Good luck, best wishes, and thank-you for all you do.
As a resident, taxpayer and voter, I am extremely disappointed to hear that the school board makes false promises to job candidates then hides behind loopholes rather than living up to the obligation. I expect better and am very concerned that the school boards practices will now cause taxpayers to have to foot the bill to defend the board in court if they don’t make this right. And do so quickly. We are far better than this.
I wonder if she would have had better chances of getting the loan forgiveness if she had stayed at JHS, instead of putting in her 5 years and jumping ship? If she had proven herself a worthy long term investment, the Admins might have been more willing to go to bat for her.
I highly doubt it because there are three teachers I know of who are still working in HCPS that were also denied. That is only people I know as I am sure there are many more out there. They can not come forward because they will most likely get in some sort of trouble.
Whether this lady is entitled to our money aside I just don’t know why the taxpayers should be in the business of paying for anybody’s student loans. There are just as many worthy professions out there aside from teachers so once again government get’s to pick and choose. Pay for your own education and this won’t happen. I do have to second guess the entire effort – so the taxpayers pay 3 or 4 times as much to mainstream disabled kids and then we pay off the education costs for teachers who specialize with the disabled. Whole bunch of emphasis and tax dollars being concentrated on a population with little expected return on investment. That’s the truth…as harsh as it may sound does it make more sense to spend extra dollars on really smart kids instead; kids able to contribute into the future? Of course it does.
Money Tree,
Your disposition on people with special needs make me absolutely sick. Hopefully you never have a child or family member with special needs who needs assistance because your viewpoint is heinous. Also, if you would look up Teacher Loan Forgiveness, more than special education teachers are able to receive the money. In fact, Math and Science teachers are also able to get $17,500 and any other teacher in a high needs school is able to get up to $5,000 forgiven.
So an engineer, computer specialist, etc. who can teach kids skills they’ll need to use every day in their employment lives can get $5000 and a special need teacher trying to stop the autistic kid from jumping on top of desks gets $17,500? I guess in today’s world that makes sense to somebody.
You, sir, are a disgraceful excuse for a human being.
I can think of no one who more deserves the heartache resulting from raising a disabled child more than a soulless, ignorant, delusional, low-IQ Dagger soapbox preacher like you, who clearly has a higher opinion of his intellect than any and all empirical evidence could possibly support.
i sincerely hope karma returns you the favor someday.
Many will approach the issue from a logical standpoint while those with children that have disabilities and those that work with them approach from a purely emotional standpoint. That hardly seems like a basis to unload insults on someone that has an opinion contrary to your own – but in today’s polarized world I’ve grown used to the lack of civility. It’s a pity that debate in America has devolved to one side making a point for debate and the other responding with insults. In that respect, The Dagger is a microcosm of America.
I’m right, and you are wrong. You are going to accept my answer and live with it, tool bag.
Chelsey, you are well served to be out of HCPS. But you should file suit. That seems to be the ONLY way HCPS does anything. If you can get a class action going, you might get bought off with a settlement because it seems to be a pervasive tactic to deny people a promised perk. It is a sad, but true fact that the impaired students and adults get the fuzzy end of the lollipop as you will see as you go through your career. I commend you on your dedication to the neediest of students. No matter what your income, you are rich in compassion and generosity. And don’t pay any attention to the flint hearted trolls who think the Dagger is their own personal blog. They only want to incite people with their selfish world view. Nobody cares about what they have to say, really. Now sing the Ginch song: You’re a mean one…
“No one could offer a response, instead the question was continually ignored.” So typical. This seems to be standard operating procedure for central office. If they don’t have a definitive answer, how can they give a definitive denial of your request. Just some more great news about HCPS that will do wonders for recruiting.
I’d take this to the real media. Someone who will force HCPS to respond. Does Tim Tooten still do educational reporting for WBAL?
HCPS has no credibility, its horrible, they have people in positions who are not liscensed, not qualified, no certifications. They don’t follow the LAw
Don’t worry, teachers are doing fine. We don’t take work home anymore and do less “optional” things. HCPS will get what they pay for. That’s the reality of it. Low moral…not honoring contracts…dumping more sh1t work for teachers to do that don’t impact what happens in the classroom. You get what you pay for. But it’s great. No rush to grade and not taking any work home anymore is nice. We will work our contracted hours and that’s it. I used to have 1-2 hours of work/planning every night or two, but now it will get done whenever. Teachers are starting to realize the county/Harco/whoever doesn’t give 2 sh!ts about it’s teachers and that attitude is trickling down. It’s an unfortunate situation HCPS has put students, parents and teachers in, but the reality is until teachers refuse to do anything extra, nothing will be done.
Sadly, I’m going to agree with you on this one. I still love teaching and still feel that I’m giving rigorous, well-planned instruction, but if I can’t get things done on my planning period, it waits until the next day.
And then you’ll cry about pulling 16 hour days when grades are due and you’re a month behind.
haha…yea…cause we care now. idiot.
Everyone is right. I am a douchebag, and a dumbass.
I did something about my personal economics. You either live in debt your entire life, stay passionate about your low pay job or change your world. Its really simple, especially when your current job has no way of ever being changed.
Time is ticking away. Its like the Predator that never stops coming for you.
The first day I settle down in South Cadalackey, I’m going to buy two corvettes at the same time.
Enjoy. I know I will be.
HCPS is a master at wasting money. They spent money recruiting teachers in Michigan and other states (which says something loud and clear in the first place) and then make no efforts to protect the investment. Think of the money recruiting and moving teachers from out of state, the money that goes into training new teachers, the tuition reimbursement, etc. Then there is nothing done to prevent turnover. From what I have heard, HCPS has needed twice as many of new teachers compared to last year That’s double the cost of all things associated with new hires. Then they are going to deny people their benefit of loan forgiveness to boot when they have met the all of the requirements stipulated by the federal government? (You know the federal government does this for nurses as well for those of you complaining about it.)
Call Omar Jimenez at WBAL. He’d love to hear from you about this.
For those that are familiar with HCPS policies and continued disregard for it’s educators contacts; then reading this article is sadly not surprising to you. Why dedicate your precious time to read an article that clearly doesn’t interest you, only to insult the concerns of the individual writing it? To the unaware and ignorant people who desire to write a negative comment, I politely request you to keep your mouths shut and step away from your computers I wish I had a solution to give, not only to this, but to the hundreds of employees who’ve fled Harford County in search of fair treatment. Find a way to support our wonderful educators enduring these increasingly unfortunate set of circumstances, or get out of the way.
What does your union have to say about this? Let me guess. “Nada. Too bad for you. Sorry, we can’t help you.” Poor Ryan. He can’t get HCPS to pay the steps or much of anything else for those who elected him. Usually I don’t feel sorry for HCPS teachers. They are getting what the contract calls for and believe it DOES NOT call for steps to be paid no matter what. I know teachers believe that but they haven’t read the ENTIRE contract Unfortunately Ryan Burbey and the union won’t do squat for you on this because first of all he can’t. Second, he has no influence.
But in this case you have been wronged. And the way to get redress is to sue. I think we have to many people ready to sue at the drop of a hat but in your case Ms. Harris you should sue everyone from Glassman to the school board to the administration to anyone in the system who ever refused your request and make long and loud and messy. Certainly the judge will remove some of the defendants from the suit but they have to spend time and money on legal counsel to make that happen and maybe that will wake them all up.
I haven’t figured out why there aren’t the “big” court cases vs HCPS.
Is it because you won’t win? Is it Going to cost more than the money you want to get back?
Yeah, everyone beats their chest until they are paying a lawyer $1,000 to just look at their “big” case.
Unless the plaintiff could show the defendant was acting outside their authority or office, the employer or board would provide their legal counsel. Which would just mean less money for teachers next year.
If your not happy at HCPS then QUIT!!! If you cant find a job in another county doesnt that say more you than HCPS. Teacher are nothing but a bunch of whiney BABIES!!!
“If your (YOU’RE) not happy at HCPS then QUIT!!! If you cant (can’t) find a job in another county (,) doesn’t (doesn’t) that say more you than HCPS (??? I got nothing). Teacher are nothing but a bunch of whiney BABIES!!! ”
Next time use English please….
What can I say I was taught by a teacher in Harford County
You mean you just don’t know that as an adult? Oh good lord. LOL.
Not only can you not write, you apparently cannot read (or didn’t bother to) either. She has left HCPS. Writing an article about a broken promise is not whining. She was promised tuition assistance when she was RECRUITED to come to HCPS. Now the county is reneging on the promise. She wrote a very cogent article and she has served the neediest of students in Harford County. I have personally seen how hard that job is. Not many can do it. She should get what she was promised that brought her here. To paraphrase Taylor Mali, makes a difference, what do you do? I challenge you to serve as a substitute one day, if you are qualified. I would wager you would be “whining” to beat the band.
And you know she was “promised” tuition assistance? How do you know that? It is amazing the blind trust people give out to those who write a letter. I don’t know the woman and I have no reason to believe or not believe her. But others just take what she says and never apply critical thinking to the issue and assume what she is telling you is accurate.
What I don’t get is, why not promise it to her? It’s what it’s designed to do- recruit teachers into Title I schools. Since the county doesn’t offer any incentives, why not use this? It doesn’t cost them a dime! Considering there are still vacancies in the county, it seems they can use all of the help they can get.
I had several family members work for HCPS. Why would I take a cut in pay to work for them?
Chelsey,
I don’t think it matters what HCPS told you or didn’t tell you when you were being hired. There is a Federal Regulation (34 CFR 682.216 – Teacher loan forgiveness program.) that dictates the loan forgiveness program. If you meet all the qualifications for loan forgiveness, as defined in the CFR, then you are entitled to have your loan (up to $17,500) forgiven by the Federal Government. The Chief Administrative Officer that certifies your application is just stating to the Department of Education that as far as HCPS is concerned, you meet the qualifications defined in the CFR.
I suggest that you write Maryland US Senators, Mikulski and Cardin, about your situation and tell them that you believe you qualify but HCPS is refusing to sign off on your application and will not give you an explanation as to why they will not sign it. Then they can explain to Mikulski’s and Cardin’s offices why they won’t sign it.
It’s a Federal program you are being denied; go to the Federal law makers to help you get what you are owed by US law.
Maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t qualify and was told why she didn’t qualify. Why do we all assume what she says is accurate?
You’re absolutely right; I don’t know if what she is saying is accurate. I don’t have a reason not to believe her, and I’m not suggesting she’s right or wrong. She’s obviously spent a lot of time on this, and she obviously feels as though she’s being denied unfairly. I’m just suggesting a way for her to get an official answer on whether she qualifies or not by going through the Feds instead of trusting that HCPS knows what they are doing.
I was told that I did not meet the highly qualified criteria that HCPS has set for special education teachers, which was HUGE surprise to me. I inquired what would make a teacher highly qualified in HCPS to teach special education self contained students and was continuously ignored. I would not have written this letter if I did not feel I should be receiving the Teacher Loan Forgiveness. In addition to feeling I was wrongfully denied, I also wrote this letter in hopes the Board of Education and HCPS would revisit their policies so other Special Educators were not denied the loan forgiveness for the same reason I was. If one person is helped in the situation, even if it is not me, than the purpose of this letter was served.
One of my teacher friends told me that it’s a direct outcome of the NCLB rules because it states students must be taught by a ‘highly qualified teacher”. What makes them highly qualified is a degree/certification in their specific grade level or content area. Most special ed teachers are not additionally certified (with all the extra classes needed) in all the subjects they teach. That’s why HCPS (and maybe other school districts?) high schools have CC classes where the special ed teacher is paired with the highly qualified subject teacher because they’re not allowed to teach on their own. It would probably add an extra 2 years of college to have to be a special ed teacher certified in English, Math, Science and Social Studies. But HCPS should definitely tell new recruits exactly what their status is in our county.
Thank You for this advice:)
Meanwhile…. Lots of school administrative/useless positions employees are sitting on their ass listening for foot steps so they can minimize minesweeper when the boss of useless positions checks up on them on their subterfuge attempt at “work”, all while making more money than an average teacher.
Bah Hahaha haha aha
Chelsy you picked the wrong forum to express your dissatisfaction with hcps. The mental midgets that comment here are miserable people.
Right, and your personal insult lifts you above their critique?
Please, “reply” and “tell me how it is.” You (like many others) type their disguist, buts its like a gruesome motor vehicle crash. You can’t help but to look at it, for the dead bodies. You want it, you yearn to see the butt hurt.
People like you just keep coming back for me, it turns you on to read stuff you don’t approve of.