You're Fired.

Those really weren't the words used, but they may as well have been.

My assistant principal came into my room saying, "Sometimes we've got to do these things." Things like what, I wondered.

Then the assistant superintendent of student services came in and asked what my lesson plans are like. I happened to have a copy of last week's plans nearby, so I handed them to him. He looked them over and was full of praise. "I like how you caught their interest by first showing a video clip. . . Wow! Look at all of the detail you put into your plans." Truly I don't believe my plans look any more or less wonderful than anyone else's.

Our small meeting soon grew to include our new superintendent as well as my principal. The superintendent asked me how I felt about teaching lower grades. I asked her what she meant and she said, "Well really I mean how do you feel about subbing or being an aide?" She said this like these were two wonderful options to teaching.

I understood what she was getting at. I asked her if she was demoting me. The answer was yes. WHAT?! I asked her if I could speak to her in the hall. She obliged.

Once we were in the hall I loudly asked her why she was doing this to me. She asked me if I understood that students could hear me and I told her I didn't care. She went on to say that the district had told her they needed to cut the budget by $7/hour. She decided that could be done by getting rid of me. I was beside myself. I didn't know what to say or what to do.

Then I woke up. It was time to get ready for school.