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March 15 was the deadline for districts to issue notices of potential layoff to teachers for the upcoming school year. An estimated 14,000 teachers and more than 10,000 school support staff received the pink slip notices. (Source: California Teachers Association, the California Faculty Association, and the California School Employees Association.)
There are thousands of stories of dedicated and inspiring teachers who are facing potential layoff. Here is the story of Rody Boonchouy, an English teacher at Leonardo da Vinci High School, a magnet school in the Davis Joint Unified School District. Da Vinci High School offers an innovative, small learning community where students learn the technological, project-based skills required to thrive in the 21st century. Progressive programs like this are leading the way for meaningful education reform across the state and country. But they are often staffed by young, energetic, and committed teachers who are first on the chopping block because they don't have seniority.
The Davis Joint Unified School District is planning for deep programmatic cuts that could potentially result in the layoff of 20 percent of district teachers, including nine out of the 12 teachers, or 75 percent of the staff, at Da Vinci High. Rody received his pink slip on March 11.
Rody joined the teaching profession because of a genuine calling to lead, educate, and challenge students. His goal is to help them develop as critical thinkers and become prepared members of society. He did not become a teacher for the money, and it's certainly not an easy job. He is proud of the investment in programs that boost student achievement yet is now dismayed to see them dissolve due to budget cuts.
Rody asks, "How are we going to recruit bright, dedicated teachers if they aren't ensured they will be in their classrooms in two, three, or four years? How are policy makers going to convince me and my generation of teachers to commit ourselves to making this state a real educational success?"
Rody's wife is pregnant and their baby is due next month. He now has to think about his new family. And as devoted as he is to teaching, he is currently being forced to look for another job.
