I encourage you to request copies of my employment information and internal written communication from Arkansas Arts Academy. It’s all accessible via the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. You will see that I didn’t object to (or fail to anticipate the need for) rehearsals, concerts, or preparing activities for my students. I objected, specifically, to THIS weekend – because it was poorly organized and being run in a corrupt manner. I learned, after the fact, about the state laws regarding additional days, etc. But just because I didn’t know the school was breaking the law doesn’t mean they weren’t breaking the law! Sounds like your school might be breaking the law, too, if you’re in Arkansas.

Edited to add: Here is a link to the Arkansas law that literally requires schools to assign first-year teachers a mentor. I had an official mentor for a while, but then the school promoted her, and I didn’t have a mentor any more. (All first-year teachers, licensed or not, charter school or not.)

    Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay

    Written by

    Former professional violinist and public charter school teacher. Current stay-at-home mom and agitator for change.