Pinkslipped- but Still Smiling

Jennifer Carlson was laid off by the same school district that named her Teacher of the Year.

By Tony King

Jennifer Carlson is the teacher you wish you’d had in grade school. Smart, enthusiastic and dedicated to giving her students the very best learning experience, she’s the kind of teacher parents dream of meeting on back-to-school night. "I was born a teacher," says Carlson with a bright smile. "There’s nothing else I wanted to do."

After receiving her teaching credentials from Sacramento State University, Carlson started teaching Kindergarten and 1^st grade in 2003 with Sacramento City Unified. After four years, she switched to teaching 4^th graders at Heron School in nearby Natomas, where she “fell in love” with the 8^th grade students. As an elementary school teacher, she would do home visits with each of her students, and happily accepted dinner invitations from families who welcomed her into their homes. “I started teaching in sort of a rough part of South Sacramento,” says Carlson, “and that seemed to be a good way to bridge that gap between school and home.”

With that level of care and commitment, it’s not surprising that the energetic 28 year old was named the Natomas School District’s 2010 Teacher of the Year in May 2009. Here’s what is surprising: Carlson got a pink slip the very next month. She recalls having to go for County Teacher of the Year interviews just days after receiving the layoff notice and fighting tears throughout it. Last July, Carlson’s students voted her News 10's Teacher of the Month, and then, just days before the school year was set to begin, her layoff was confirmed. "At first it was discouraging," she says. "[Heron] hired back 14 teachers, and I was 15^th [on their list].”

So, right about here you may be wondering just how this outstanding teacher was laid off from the very same school district that declared her its best teacher. The short answer is budget cuts, but administrative protocol plays a role too. Heron’s Principal, Mary Patrick, explains: "Once the district gets to a risk/pink slip situation, then the entire process is regulated through the California Education Code, so [rehiring of teachers and staff] does go by seniority.” Patrick adds, “It’s kind of a flaw of the system when you see great teachers lose their classrooms. Seems criminal, almost."

Carlson entered the substitute teaching pool, and was eventually hired back to teach 4^th grade part-time, and she continued subbing in 8^th grade classes on the days she was open. But when another round of cutbacks and layoffs was announced, Carlson learned that her 4^th grade teaching position would be eliminated at the end of the school year.

“It’s really unfortunate that because of seniority, a lot of young teachers are being let go," says Carlson. "I’m not bitter at the school district—everyone’s facing budget cuts right now. I’m upset that the structure that’s in place isn’t working. [Teachers] who aren’t doing their jobs get to stay, and then you’re losing really qualified young teachers who want to be there."

In spite of it all, Carlson still maintains her upbeat and infectious confidence. "When I was laid off, I wasn’t afraid, because I was like, I’m born to teach. I’m going to have another job." Indeed, Heron’s loss is now NP³ Middle School’s gain. (NP³ stands for Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep.) Carlson is set to teach 8^th grade English full-time at the charter school, starting in the fall.

"I think this whole ordeal has worked out for me because I know I’m meant to teach," she says, still smiling. "If I just focus on that—and that there are always kids there that need me—then I’m always going to be doing what I love."

Tony King is a freelance journalist currently living and working in Sacramento. He’s written articles and reviews for several publications, including The Sacramento News and Review, Midtown Monthly and Sacramento Parent. For more of Tony’s essays and reviews, check out TheRubReview.blogspot.com.