Stumbling Through Work
Working in education is to stumble through your everyday! We love what we do, but staff, families, policies, regulations and sometimes even the children make us quit everyday then come back the next day. Just remember, you are not in this alone.
Stumbling Through Work
Firing, Hiring, and Not Pulling Hair
Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to the field, this episode offers honest perspective on navigating workplace challenges with integrity. Follow the podcast to join this ongoing conversation about the realities of education work.
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Welcome to Stumbling Through Work where educators figure shit out. I'm your host, jerek Hough, and I'm here to explore and share the complexities of our work and let you know you are not alone. Before we start, though, please follow this podcast and share episodes with others. You can find me on my website, wwwjerekhuffcom, where you can find links to my social media and where I share information and tips for educators. Now let's jump into today's episode. Hey team, welcome to another episode of Stumbling Through Work where educators figure shit out.
Jerek Hough:Today in our news corner, a story comes to us from Anki Iowa. Bright Beginnings Preschool in Anki has canceled all teacher contracts for the 2025-2026 school year, leaving parents and teachers scrambling for answers. Connie Hill, a parent at the preschool, expressed her disappointment and is now searching for alternative options for her child. Hill and other parents received an email last week stating quote in response to an internal investigation prompted by concerns raised by some of our teachers, the Staff Parish Relations Committee has made the difficult decision to rescind all current teacher contracts for the next school year. Unquote, hill said she and other parents still have questions. Quote we have the right to know and it seems to be very hush-hush and it doesn't make any sense unquote. She said the email assured parents that at no point were children unsafe, emphasizing that the care and well-being of every child remains the school's highest priority. That the care and well-being of every child remains the school's highest priority. It describes a decision as a step towards creating a healthier and more sustainable foundation for our preschool ministry moving forward, lead pastor Mike James explains that the issue stems from unhealthy workplace dynamics, but he could not provide further details due to personal confidentiality. A teacher who requested anonymity shared her shock at the announcement, saying it was like a punch to the stomach. Quite honestly, every teacher that works here really loves this place of employment. We love the families we serve. We pour our hearts and souls into this job. She added, I really enjoy working with my kids. It's my heart. It fills my bucket professionally. Personally, I'm not sure what I'll do next year. Jane assured which is the pastor assured that the student experience at Bright Beginnings was positive and that the teachers maintained a good attitude in the classroom. He confirmed that the preschool intentions to remain open for the 2025-2026 school year. So let's break this down. This doesn't make any sense to me and this is why. So it says Connie Hill, a parent at the preschool. As a parent, what do other people working got to do with you? I don't understand, because nowhere in this did it say they were closing down. It just said that they're basically getting new teachers.
Jerek Hough:When she goes on to say we have a right to know, no, you don't. You do not have a right to know, lady, that's just you being messy and nosy. You want to be all up in these people's pocketbooks trying to figure out when they work and when they're not, who's going to be there? Now I do understand you want to know who's in there with your kids, but that's not where this is coming from. You just want to be nosy and I can tell wherever this is in Iowa. It's a small little ass town and so y'all want to be gossipy and tell everybody business. I already know that. I grew up in one of those places, so I get it.
Jerek Hough:And then when lead pastor says it stems from unhealthy workplace dynamics but he cannot provide further details due to personal confidentiality AKA these teachers and staff is messy as hell and we need to get them out of here. That is the only time you clean shop If it had nothing to do with the safety of a child. They messy. And you just said we're just going to round up the girls and go over there and just take them on out. Let's just sum it up, it is what it is. It's like a punch to the stomach, quite honestly. Every teacher lies. She lying, she a whole lie. Anytime someone says we love our families, we serve Girl, you said I haven't thought about that. Answer no, you don't. You a lie and the truth ain't in you. And then, well, you know the preschool intends to remain open for the next year. Yeah, I'm sure it is. Just not with y'all. To me this was none of the news, business, nobody business. This sounds like y'all ain't have nothing else to do in that little ass town but then report some news like this just to be messy, for people like me to find it and then sit here and talk about it.
Jerek Hough:But moving on to our next story, it comes from Orange City, florida. An Orange City woman was arrested Friday morning on child abuse charges involving a preschool student, the city's police department said in a news release. Officers on Monday responded to the Emos Lutheran preschool on Valas Avenue. That's complicated Down to the schoolhouse. That's what we're going to call it Down to the schoolhouse. So officers on Monday responded down to the schoolhouse physical abuse of a three-year-old. The child's mother contacted police after her daughter said her teacher, zeta Bela, had pulled her hair. The mother did not initially act on the claim, police said, but became concerned when her daughter expressed fear about returning to school and said the teacher was mean. The teacher was mean. The mother also told the school's director, who was able to obtain surveillance video that showed Bayla aggressively approached the child, grabbed her by the arm on two occasions and later pulled the girl's hair. Police said Bayla is facing a child abuse without great bodily harm charge.
Jerek Hough:Okay, so let's break it down. What the hell is? Aggressively approached the child. I need someone to explain that to me. Did she sashay towards her? Did she charge towards her? Did she lunge? I need to know what the hell. Aggressively approached the child and then grabbed her by the arm on two occasions. See, this is why y'all have to be watching these teachers. You have to be watching and listening to these teachers because they're the ones that say and do things that are out of line and you have to be aware of what's going on.
Jerek Hough:And for me, if I hear something that is inappropriate, I'm not addressing it later, i'm'm addressing it now, I'm addressing it on the spot. I had a teacher maybe about this was made about a month ago and I just happened to be at a school and I heard her. She was talking to me, it was maybe about a five-year-old and they did something. And she all I hear is and see, this is why you? I said uh-uh, nope, I don't know what she says, but I said no, no, no. I said miss fill inank, I ain't gonna say her name, I ain't gonna shame her like that because she's not in the news. I said Miss so-and-so. I said no, unacceptable, we're not doing that. And she just looked at me and I said that is not how you want to do it Next time. This is how you want to address that situation. I don't remember what happened, but I told her how to do it because I heard the whole thing happen. Someone needs to be there watching and understanding what's happening. These teachers are going through so that they're not making these mistakes.
Jerek Hough:And then for this lady, this grown woman, to be pulling on a child's hair, that sounds like an episode of Somebody's Housewife. To be pulling a child's hair is the most juvenile, ridiculous thing that I've heard in a while. You're facing pending charges because you pulled on somebody's ponytail. At the end of the day, that's what it is. You pulled on somebody's ponytail that, at the end of the day, that's what it is. You pulled on somebody's left bang and now you got a charge because that child was irritating you, because a three-year-old was being a three-year-old and irritating you. I, I, I just don't understand y'all. I just don't understand these people. Just I just don't. But okay're gonna move on and we'll be right back.
Jerek Hough:We all want our schools or programs to be the best and, although every school is different, all successful programs have the same fundamentals. Best Practices for High-Quality Preschool, afterschool and Enrichment Programs by Jarek Huff share standards to foster a high-quality program. These tips will help you put your best service forward, focusing on your children, families and communities. Best Practices for High-Quality Preschool, afterschool and enrichment programs by Jared Huff is available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle. Hey team, welcome back. Today. We have three Reddit stories for you. The first one is what would you do?
Jerek Hough:I am a pre-K teacher in the state of Nevada for 15 five-year-olds. Okay, you around my parts, you around my neck of the woods. My assistant director is putting me in a very sticky situation regarding ratios. I have one child who is almost four and a half years old. This child is still toilet training In my classroom. I do not have a changing table, so we take the student to the bathroom and change them while they are sitting on the toilet. What? Today I was alone with 11 kids total in my classroom. The student to the bathroom and change them while they are sitting on the toilet what? Today I was alone with 11 kids total in my classroom. Perfectly fine. As per state ratio, the ratio is 1 to 13 for 5-year-olds. Actually, the ratio is 1 to 18, but I'm guessing you meant 4-year-olds, so 4-year-olds is 1 to 13.
Jerek Hough:The problem occurred when she wanted me to take my entire class and have them sit outside the bathroom in order to change my student's diaper. My specific issue is I cannot accurately change the child and monitor the 10 other children properly, as they are out of my line of sight completely. My director agrees with me that a staff member should come back to monitor the other students while I change to child who is still training. However, as soon as my director is off site, I am told to do the solutions stated above. If you were me, excuse me, if you were me, how would you handle this situation? I mean, a couple of things come to mind. One why do you have a four and a half year old that's not potty trained? That is the first sign of something is developmentally wrong with that child. But I don't know the whole situation, so I'm just going to take this at face value. That is a lot. But you know what, what I tell teachers when they're in those situations, you make everybody go to the restroom. It's a whole fun activity where they're going one by one. So as you're changing one, they're all coming in and doing what they got to do. And I get it is not convenient, it's not the best, but sometimes it just is what it is. But I'm more concerned on why this child is enrolled into a not development appropriate class. There's something going on there and I don't know what it is, but anyways, we're moving on to the next, to the next statement. There's something going on there and I don't know what it is, but anyways, we're moving on to the next statement.
Jerek Hough:The payment processing changing is the next one. Our daycare was recently purchased by a new owner and as such they changed how tuition works. The old way was it is a flat rate monthly due on the first of the month. Now the payment has switched to a weekly breakdown which equals the old monthly payment. But now if there are five Mondays in a month, we now owe an extra week on the first of that month. Wait what? For example, march has five Mondays. When I pay tuition on March 1st, I would need to add an extra $350 because of that fifth Monday.
Jerek Hough:I spoke to others and they said it makes sense if we were paying weekly or on subsidy, but the total is still due on the first of the month, which has some people scratching their heads. Is there any reasoning for this? The only reason I can see is if it brings in extra funds. The days fluctuate between 20 to 23 days attended. Most of the students in the center attend on subsidy but we do not qualify and pay full tuition price. I'm just curious is this the norm overall or just something that seems odd to me? Um, girl, you didn't confuse me, and the reason why I say it confused me is because I mean at the end of the day you're still paying the same thing over the whole year. If there's five Mondays, then I mean that really wouldn't matter if you're paying for a month and if you're paying weekly, you're paying every week. It's not like the month starts, girl, you didn't confuse me. This just sounds like it's above your pay grade and I'm not great to hear and even argue with you about this. The rule is what the rule is, and either you can do it or you can't. And we're moving on to the next story.
Jerek Hough:The next one is advice needed from other directors. I'm currently the director of a preschool and school-age program at my local Y. I started a few months ago and I loved it. However, I need advice on how to manage my staff, specifically my school-age staff. There's so much drama, snarkiness, complaining, rarely any interacting with the kids, anything I try to change to make things better or easier. They complain about. I have preached how important, not preached. I have preached how important kindness is as well as building relationships with kids, and I've also given a lot of praise when I see them doing something right. What else can I do to push the importance of being present and being kind?
Jerek Hough:I'm struggling with being liked while also being respected. Present and being kind I'm struggling with being liked while also being respected. First, that last sentence. I'm struggling with being liked while also being respected. I don't give a damn if somebody likes me or not. I do not, because at the end of the day, you can like me or you cannot like me, I don't care. But you will respect me and that's the difference. And I tell my staff that, I tell my management team, my directors, district manager, I tell all of them that I'm not here for you to like me. I'm here to do a job and I'm here to be respected at the end of the day, because I know my shit and you're not going to tell me that I don't know what I know, but I can help.
Jerek Hough:Lady Panacathara, I'm not going to sit here and read her username because it's a lot, but I have the best advice that I can give you Fire their ass, fire them. They're gone. I'm not about to sit here and spin my wheels going round and round After I've sat up and told someone what to do, how to be better and I came from a truly caring place to make them better and you sit around and complain at me. Girl, it's time to clean shop. This sound like you knew. I think you're new and they're pushing back against you, but what I've always found best for me is, when I go into a new place, everybody has two weeks to show me who they are. Within two weeks, either you work with me or you don't. And you gone girl, go ahead and fire all of them. What you're going to do is bring in a whole bunch of new people and then have them start to train the new people and then fire them. And you keep it going. And, like I said earlier, everybody is hiring, so they'll be all right. People fire themselves. You don't fire them. They're not doing what you need them to do. They're your team, they're your employees. Fire them.
Jerek Hough:I love sharing information with educators and program administrators. I have had so many successes, but also so many failures in my education tenure. I want leaders to know what not to do, but, better than that, what to do, so I decided to write a helpful guide Best Practices for Center and Activity Directors. It's short and to the point. It's a compass to guide education leaders. These best practices will give you a foundation to lead your school program or organization. You can find Best Practices for Center Program and Activity Directors by Jared Cuff on Amazon or Amazon Kindle.
Jerek Hough:Okay, team, we're going to go over a parent complaint I once received and the complaint was normal. It was, you know, my child was hit by another kid in the classroom. Completely normal, all those things are developmentally appropriate. You know. We're teaching towards you know how to be better than that. All the normal jazz. But the parent also said that their child told them that a teacher told the other kid to hit them back. My rebuttal was let me look into this Now. I'm thinking now why did that kid sit up and say that Ain't nobody said that, ain't no teacher that told a kid to go hit that other kid back?
Jerek Hough:So I go to the classroom, find the teacher. I'm like, hey, let me tell you, I just had a conversation with the parent and this allegedly happened. And she looked at me and she's like, no, that didn't happen with me. But remember, yesterday I left early and so somebody else was in here. I was like, okay, let me figure out who it was.
Jerek Hough:So it was the assistant director had, came in the last 20 minutes of the class, went to the assistant director. I said, hey, did anything happen with so-and-so yesterday? She was like no. I said, yeah, there was an incident, incident. I spoke to mom and she goes oh yeah, I actually forgot about that. Yeah, it was a little incident. And I said yeah, because the way the story is going is that you well, she thought it was the teacher, didn't know it was you, but you, as the assistant director, had told a child to go hit another kid. Y'all do, y'all know.
Jerek Hough:This woman looked at me with both of her eyes, into my eyes, and she said yeah, I did. I told that kid you know what. You need to go get your lip back. That was one of those moments where my brain was moving really fast and I was thinking okay, how do I handle this? So I said excuse me, and she's like yeah, I told him to get their lip back. I said and you found that acceptable? And she's like well, yeah, I said, but girl, you got kids. And I mean she got a whole truckload of kids, she got a litter of kids. She's like out here trying to repopulate the earth. And my brain just can't fathom. So I said if you were the parent in that situation, how would you feel? Trying to make connections I'm trying to do the coaching thing she opens up her orifice and says well, sometimes they just got to learn, and that's what she said, and I'm going to come back to that part of the story later. Well, I can go ahead and sum that part up now, just letting you guys know.
Jerek Hough:In the next day she was gone, but I had to follow up with the parent. So I called the parent because I'm a great follow-up. That's the best thing you can do if you work in any form of education is to follow up with the parent. So I followed with the parent and I twisted the shit out of that conversation because I was not admitting that that conversation happened. And so what I did, what I said was because I am a twist master, I can be in a spin room. What I said was just letting you know. I followed up with the conversation. I talked to all parties that were involved and I actually just went around with the entire school and spoke with everyone and let them remind them of our policy, of how we handle those, how we handle those type of situations, that we do not believe in corporeal punishment, but it's a redirection and making sure we're all on the same page so that, even when things like that allegedly happens, we are aware, because we don't want that stuff coming back to you and mom was like oh okay, see how I did that, see how I didn't lie. And I followed up with exactly she said. But I threw some other stuff in there to throw her ass off Because I was not admitting that I had a teacher say to get your lip back. There was no way that I could say that with a straight face. She was gone right after that. But the way I spent that story, that's how you should spend a story. If you know someone that needs to learn how to spin a story, send this episode to them so they can hear how I just did the twist up on that and we'll be right back.
Jerek Hough:If you're trying to tour and enroll new families or create a foundation for a high quality program, or just be a better leader, the Best Practice Series books by Jarek Huff found on Amazon can help you in your program. Hey, team, as leaders, one of the things that we have to do is interview and hire. Today's interview question is describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. Now, if you ask that question and the answer that you receive is well, my boss told me to complete my job and I was like, whew, that's a lot of shit. So I just went to work and didn't come back.
Jerek Hough:Do not hire that person. Do not hire that person and some of y'all will hire them out of desperation. But this question is ultimately about behaviors, because past behaviors do predict future behaviors. The answers that you would like to have would be something like I found the best thing to do is to take a look at what I have to do and prioritize, keyword prioritize or sound. They said something like um, you know, I found that this is not everything that has. I found that everything does not have to be done immediately and some things are more critical than others. You see how, how well I flow with those, because I'm a good interviewee. But those are the type of answers that you want.
Jerek Hough:You do not want to hire someone that then told y'all they went to lunch and didn't come back because some of y'all still will out of desperation and it don't make sense to me. Stop doing that and setting yourself up. It's like you hire them and you wish for the best. Stop doing that. That's all that I have for you guys this week. So have an amazing week. Don't pull any children's hair. Don't tell a child to get their lip back. Fire people if you need to and, as always, don't hire out of desperation. All right, I'll talk to y'all later. Bye, that's it for today. If you like this episode, it would mean so much to me if you left a rating review and subscribe to the show show. I'd love to hear from you. You can visit my website, which is in the show notes, to contact me, and I hope you have a great rest of your week and speak to you all soon.
