Nixa School District

"I started working for Nixa High School for the 2019-2020 school year, and I couldn't have been happier! The culture of the school was supportive of all its staff, and gave us many opportunities to bond, from pot luck days to baby showers! I felt blessed to be a part of this highly rated school district...until I was transferred to an elementary school (K-3rd grade). It wasn't a good fit at all, esp. considering all my professional development during the Covid shutdown dealt with high-school aged students. My supervising teacher was very unpleasant from the beginning, and gave me no clue as to the lesson content prior to school starting. After about a month, I was given a review (which is typically done during the second semester), and told I had one week to make 100% improvement. Needless to say, that was an impossibility, esp. when constant schedule changes were part of that week. I was told that if I resigned, they would give me a good reference; however, I'm not a quitter, so they fired me. I appealed, but was denied the opportunity to bring witnesses on my behalf, so the ruling stood. I love kids, and I love teaching, esp. with special needs' students, but I dreaded going to work every day at that school. Being the oldest Para at that school and having a handicap parking permit, I was still expected to run after 2 kindergarters, even after telling my supervisor I was unable to run due to deformed feet. I felt I wasn't treated fairly by my supervisor, the principal, and the H.R. administration. I don't recommend Nixa Schools any more."