The Face of Pink Slips

Yesterday I attended a meeting for all employees in my district who received pink slips. There were 169 people who received notices for 120 positions to be eliminated. They are elementary teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers and counselors. Many were like me and had received their 4th pink slip in 5 years. For a few, this was their first experience.

As I looked around the room, it was sad to recognize so many who I have seen year after year. The CTA lawyer knows us by name, as do the CTA representatives who guides us in the process. We are the veterans, the ones who know the process as well as the CTA representatives and could probably run the meeting. We have riden the roller coaster of emotions, calculated how many people have less seniority than us, looked to see who could potentially bump us out of our jobs, attended hearings, fought to save our positions and worried about our futures. We are the face of pink slips.

One thing that it is important for the public to know about these faces is that they are not just the newest, most inexperienced teachers. I have taught for 12 years total and know some of those going through layoffs have taught longer than me. We are not new teachers. We are not inexperienced. We have received awards. We have served on committees. We have coached sports. And...we had the misfortunate to come to our district at the wrong time - right when the budget crisis began.

A kindergarten teacher who has been in the district since August, 2004 received a pink slip - that is 8 years of service to the district. And yet, because our budget has been decimated by cuts from the state and declining enrollment, she is on the chopping block. Both a husband and a wife received pink slips because they came to the district at the same time. Can you imagine what would happen to them and their children if they actually got laid off? Pregnant women are on the list. Single moms are on the list. Real people are affected by these cuts to education. It needs to stop.