Hello #teachers out there. If a "you can be it by default" HoD position falls in your lap, but the reason it falls is due to questionable SLT management decisions... Do you take the job?
I have many red flags but is "doing it for the money" worth it?
All comments appreciated. @edutooters
@jellycrystals @edutooters can you work with the SLT? Are those red flags going to cause you to fail/ leave/ burnout?
@grant_h Current HoD contract terminated for next year with no explanation as to what they were/were not doing. New HoD appointed (via nepotism) and started to hire/decide for the next year despite current HoD still HoD. Promoted HoD then saw a deputy position so applied and then got that, leaving science HoD position empty. As the school is having a mass exodus of staff (a lot of International schools have this happen every 5 or so years) I would be the only other science teacher who has experience in the school as it is almost a full department re-hire. I like some SLT and am not scared to say how I feel, but the red flags are fairness/treatment based....
@jellycrystals sounds less than ideal, but you are there already, surviving. Would your line manager support you? That might be enough of an "us" bubble to survive, or even create a positive space.
@grant_h Yeah. Maybe. It is such a weird one. 5 people have said take the job, just for the CV. Some people said if I say no, I am likely to be knocked back for anything else because SLT are historically "spiteful"... I am still in my first year there (teaching 15 years) and just a mushroom who just wants to get my job done... Such a weird place to be.
@jellycrystals mmm. How different in style/work ethic are you to the original HoD? If it was a mess, the interim person doing stuff makes sense. If not, be afraid.
I think it comes down to your line manager. If you can work with them, or minimally, they will let you do the job, then give it a go. But don't set yourself up to fail. The personal and career costs would be high. Rather keep your head down until an alternative appears.
My R0. 02
@grant_h Thanks for hints. Current HoD was told to organise, implement safety and get consistency. I walked into a very organised, safe and fairly communicative department that had 3 staff not overly committing. (2 of them were playing the game to get promoted, and did, other is just old and refused change). Will see what happens in the meeting I guess!
@jellycrystals thanks, yes. My instincts from 10000km said that.