Yesterday we had a professional development day as our first quarter came to an end. Overall the day was structured with quite a bit of freedom so we could meet with our department and grade level. Since Pierz is a smaller school there is typically one teacher per grade level per content area. This means I am the only 8th grade English teacher in the building. My frustration has been increasing every year due to being voluntold to take on new classes or switch grade levels every single year. During the meetings yesterday it came to light that a new class that I am teaching this year more than likely will not be offered next year. This means that yet again I will be asked to teach something new, develop curriculum, and let my work from the last year go. I am getting so burned out. I want to deliver the best content possible to my students but if I don’t have a chance to refine, reflect, and remediate, I don’t think I’m going to be able to. Aside from all of that, it takes time and effort to put together standards based engaging lessons with the right amount of technology. Perhaps it’s the busy time of year or the fact that I feel like I am the one getting the short end of the stick, but is anyone else feeling the same? Or experiencing something similar of switching grade levels and therefore content? P.S. love my kiddos but I don’t get to enjoy them or what I am teaching with all the extra “stuff” happening . . . . 
Amy Jindra
Just another St. Cloud State Sites site
Education can do this to people. I can sympathize with you. I taught 8 different classes and upwards of 20 different book in my first 4 years, split between two different districts.
I also understand why you wrote your “P.S.” but you shouldn’t have to. Because I began to wonder if the admin cared about the kids. Those of us in the classroom are there for a reason. By moving you around — and presumably talking about test scores — they might be the ones who’ve lost sight of what it’s like in a classroom.
There is something to staying fresh with your material, but the option to teach the same content 3-4 years in a row is really valuable. There just comes a confidence with teaching something many times.
In closing, I am concerned about the state of education. There are all kinds of changes happening in both technology and test scores. Kids have more going on than ever before. There will always be extra “stuff” happening