Work...Ahhh!

I’ve had an EXTREMELY crappy week at work. Last year I volunteered (HUGE mistake) to become a local school trainer for this major software program used to write Individual Education Plans. For those of you that don’t know Special Education jargon, an Individual Education Plan is the government paperwork used for each student that receives any type of special education support. Here is the shortest way I can sum up what may become the death of me:

1. I got trained (small nightmare…computers crashed and delayed training for two hours).
2. I trained my fellow teachers at my school (HUGE technical nightmare).
3. I gave them the manual and the chain of command to follow if there is a question/problem.
4. I continued to relay software updates and FAQ via email and handouts.
5. My fellow teachers (myself included) HATED the new software…now it is getting easier.
6. I get word that my school is asking customer support questions that have been covered in previous emails and handouts.
7. This in turn, makes me look like I am not doing my job of passing along the most recent info…lovely.
8. Staff now officially dislikes me and thinks I am a mean bitch because I tell them to look in their manual and notes before coming to me for help.

People are acting like children over trivial things that should not even be an issue. I know I can sound like a bitch and everyone is stressed about this new software and Martha’s absence. However, the people that I work with used to be very close until this school year. The tension is ridiculous. When I walk into a room it becomes silent. Gee….I wonder who they were talking about. I have never wanted to completely pull away from a group like I do now.

I have been so wrapped up in helping everyone and listening to everyone complain about how behind they are that I did not realize the new teacher I am supposed to mentoring is stressed to the max. She felt like she could not ask anyone for help because everyone else is stressed too. God, what a great mentor/role model I am. Hopefully I can get someone to cover my classes soon and spend some time helping the new teacher.

I guess I have been brushing the little things off and now I have let it boil up inside of me. For instance, taking responsibility for work that was not mine just because I did not want to get into a confrontation with them. I should have just said what was on my mind then. God I am so PISSED and HURT that I could just bitch about this all night.

I haven't even mentioned the stress that one of my students is going through...it's a really sad situation and that's putting it midly.