I (28M) teach at a high school that recently set up an exchange program with a partner school in Japan. Its a pretty big opportunity. The grant covers everything for two students and one teacher to spend a month there.
The selection process was supposed to be handled by a small board made up of our vice principal and a senior teacher, lets call her Sharon (50s F). They created a rubric for teachers who wanted to go: submit a cirriculum proposal, pass a basic Japanese language test, and do an interview.
I spent a few weeks putting my proposal together. Ive also been taking Japanese lessons for about a year on my own. As far as I know, I was the only teacher who actualy completed the testing and submitted all the required paperwork.
Last week the final decision was posted in the faculty lounge and my name wasnt on it. Sharon’s was.
That surprised me because she hadnt been at any of the testing sessions. When I asked her about it, she basicly said that since she chaired the board and had more seniority, they felt it made more sense for her to represent the school. She also said the testing requirement was mostly a formality anyway.
I didnt argue with her about it. Instead I contacted the district superintendents office and asked for clarification about the selection process. I sent them my proposal, my test results and the rubric, and asked why my application wasnt considered when it seemed like the listed requirements werent applied to everyone.
After that the district started looking into it. The grant apparently requires a merit based selection process, so once they saw the situation they removed Sharon from the program and put the exchange on hold while they review what happend.
Sharon is pretty angry about it. She told me I went over peoples heads and caused unneccesary trouble, and that I might end up costing the students the trip this year then proceeded to called me an asshole.
Some of the staff are also frustrated because the program might be delayed or even cancelled depending on the outcome of the investigation.
TLDR:: I worked hard for a Japan exchange and met every requirement, yet Sharon got it just because shes senior teacher. I reported it to the district, and now they re investigating and the program is on hold.
Am i the asshole here?
kinda sounds like sharon’s more interested in playing boss than actually earning her spot. i mean, rules are rules, right?
Well done, now report the latest interactions with her as well.
Might go through with reporting her for insulting me as well
You definitely should. Document everything and let her superiors know that she started getting personal with you after hearing about you reporting her. Let her have it. Let her know that she can’t get away with everything, she can’t get away with shitty behaviour.
NTA – it wasn’t you who cost the students this trip, it was her. People should never use their authority for personal gain, which seems like what she was doing. I hope the investigation resolves quickly and the program still continues!!
NTA.
there was a clear process and you were the one who actually followed it. but if Sharon could just ignore the requirements because she had seniority, then the whole rubric was pointless. i don’t really get all of that. but anyway, i see why you’re frustrated. if she can’t speak japanese, doesn’t know about the culture in any way, then why in the world would she be the one going?
Is it not a conflict of interest for a selection board member to select themselves? Nta federal grant programs have requirements for a reason. If those aren’t demonstrably followed, money is withdrawn, and future candidacy can be withheld entirely.
Not the asshole
NTA. If Sharon was applying for the programme, she should have taken part in the selection process and she shouldn’t have been one of the decision-makers. End of.
The lack of transparency, and the clear bait-and-switch around who gets to be considered for the job, are signs that Sharon and the vice principal cannot be trusted, so why on earth would you report a conflict of interest to them?! If you had, I know what they would have found: “We’ve investigated ourselves, and we’re pleased to say that we didn’t find any evidence of wrongdoing. In fact, we’re practically perfect in every way!”
Have a vote for the Mary Poppins reference.
Let me guess. Sharon can’t even speak Japanese. Am I right?
NTA. She just tried to use the program to get a free vacation.
NTA. It seems like you blew the whistle on a more senior teacher’s undermining the conditions of the program.
Rules for thee and not for me.
Either she’s entitled or she really does hold all the chips and your work relationship is going to be fubar
NTA. They set up a ruse to meet the requirement for the grant and then put her as the selection. The grantor would not be happy. You did the right thing. I hope it works out for you and the students to still participate.