young buck getting too big for his boots? AIBU to take it personally?

[wildbhoysmama]

A bit of background: I have been in my position for 23 years, I have stayed in the school because I love it and love the kids. I know I am a damn, good teacher and am highly respected. I'm involved in the wider school in many ways, have led many curriculum changes etc , have excellent results across the school and am first in everyone's mind for this promotion, head of department. I was approached 10 years ago to go for the same job but felt that my children were too young ( 4 and 18 months at the time). Since, my colleague has done the job excellently, but is now retiring so.the job is available again.
So far, so straightforward. I am completely prepared that someone may do a better interview and, if so, I would still be happy to stay in my position and support the new head. BUT a huge shock came my way today when aforementioned young buck has told me he is also applying for the job. He, of course, has every right to, but it has blindsided me. Let me explain: He is 26 and has only been teaching almost 2 years; he was a probationer 2 years ago and I was his mentor ( basically teaching him everything I know, giving him huge amounts of time and help, solving his discipline issues, and really going the extra mile for him); he is a decent class room teacher but no more, he still has development issues; he has never taught Higher ( A level) or National 5 (GCSE ) except for once a week with my classes to give him experience; he has not marked the exams ( you can't until you've taught for 4 years); has little grasp of quality assurance etc; what he has done is go on every group going and made himself very visible ( Rights respecting school, growth mindset, Pedagogy).
. I really like him as a person - in a much younger brother kind of way- but cannot believe he would treat me with such a lack of respect. Am I taking it too personally? It feels like he thinks he could do the job better than me, the person who still helps him out constantly. It feels as like he is stepping on me to get where he wants to be with no regard for me or the department. I was shocked, then hurt and now I'm angry. I would never say anything, I'm a professional, and others have expressed disbelief so AIBU to feel.the way I do?

Fuck!

Why are you hurt by him going for this role? Sadly, too many in education think (and are often correct) that promotion is something that comes with time and not ability.

You say that he is visible within the school. Playing the game is important. Don't you know this? It sounds like you do but are expecting to be headhunted as opposed to demonstrating your own merit.

He might be over-stretching himself but he clearly doesn't have the problems you do. From the sound of it an external hire could be the best for the children as you sound incredibly unsuited for any kind of management position.

He might believe he’s qualified and ready for the role, or he might know he isn’t – but wants the experience of the interview process. Sometimes going for promotions even if you know they’re a bit above your competency level is a great way to get noticed by your bosses and shows you are serious about your development and future in the job.

I once applied for an internal role 2 levels above mine, because I was performing well and felt a bit trapped as there were not really any options to develop further. I knew a more senior colleague was also going for it and would likely get it, but I wanted to show my interest and give myself an opportunity to show what I’m capable of.

The interview was really difficult and my colleague got the job as expected, but my boss was really impressed with my interview and started to offer more diverse projects to work on, which meant expanding my skillset and filling in those gaps I had needed for the senior role. It was a really valuable experience and I’ve since been promoted in a different role.

I would’ve been really upset if my colleague was annoyed at me for going for the role too. Everyone has a right to apply and they shouldn’t turn down opportunities because someone else is ‘due’ to be promoted. This is especially true when promotion opportunity is scarce. When it comes to work, even if you are good friends with your colleagues you need to look out for yourself and not let it intefer with your development. I don’t mean that to sound harsh, but you can’t put your career on hold for others – hope that makes sense.

I get it, OP. It does sound bizarre that he's dead set on becoming PT in your subject after such a short period of time, particularly as you say there are two other PT jobs in the city that he has no interest in applying for. The fact that he's applying without ever actually teaching The Main Event (i.e. the Higher) is bizarre - how is he meant to support his other subject teachers through their classes exams with no experience? I do wonder if it's more of an exercise in demonstrating his ambition than him expecting to get the job.

I think posters criticising your 23 years are being a bit unfair. As others have said, moving on every 3 years is a very male dominated business thing to do - women could spend that length of time being pregnant/on mat leave with two babies, and could well feel that they couldn't take on the extra responsibility while their family are so young.

Try not to take it personally. Are you applying for any of the other PT roles in your city? With your experience it sounds like they'd be lucky to have you.

He's entitled to apply, and possibly just generally entitled. I skimmed the thread so someone must have already mentioned this, but men are far more likely to go for jobs they aren't really qualified for. Women tend to try to meet all of the requirements, men are happy if they meet some.

And in my experience (and also just living in the world) many employers - male and female - feel comfortable putting men in more senior positions. I just read an article on this yesterday. A female writer sent manuscripts to publishers under her own name, and then a male nom de plume. As a male author with exactly the same work she was 8 times more interest. The same experiments were done with job applications with similar results.

So it may be a case of your experience or his penis. I hope experience wins out!

*had 8 times more interest

Hmmm this reminds me of an experience I once had.
Donkeys years ago I decided, after many years in my grade within the Civil Service, to apply for promotion (with the encouragement of my Manager and the Manager above her).
One of my colleagues, an older woman, reacted with my news by saying "What makes you think you are better than the rest of us".

She wasn't interested at all in promotion - just resented anyone else trying for it

Buxbaum-thank you for the flowers and your acknowledgement that your comment was inappropriate. That is a measure of your person. I would never suggest you or your DH got jobs because you were cheap or malleable- if someone is able, wire in. As I said I'm sure you were and are both great. Definitely taking the advice on here about focussing on me and my merits.
Pigmcpigface- I like your style! I shall try for amused.

Alfred- I am applying for one of the other jobs, even though I'd rather stay at my school, I do wish to be PT- I want the challenge and it's a similar school to where I am. Thank you for your kindness.

BMW6- I do not resent anyone else applying and you had many years of experience, it's quite different. Also,I'm not an older woman, I'm 45 definitely not past it or bitter.

Thank you all for your insights, it's been illuminating. I'm bowing out now.

OP it is very different in Scotland. No academies fast tracking (and burning out) young staff and no Teach First. PTs often run several departments (my friend runs 5 including English, RE and all languages) so the jobs are few and far between.

We also seem to keep restructuring to have fewer jobs. A school nearby (1000+ pupils) is going from 13 PTs to 8. (Heads if Faculty now, not HOD).

He is likely to have become convinced of the need to progress as so many jobs do this - accountancy, office type jobs). An ex pupil who teaches in England is Head of Science in a huge school and was appointed in his 3rd year of teaching. By half way through year 2 he was Head of Biology.

This can work where there is a rigid curriculum and they work long hours.

I think BGE (Scottish lower school curriculum) requires experience to manage all the threads and understand how to drive improvement when the waffle in the Es and Os requires discipline and experience to apply to designing courses.

And don't get me started on SQA.....

You will do brilliantly.

way to personally he doesnt owe you anything nobody does

My last word- thanks Tinlegs. Knowing BGE inside out and actually marking SQA courses is completely necessary fir a PT role in my opinion. Curriculum for excrement excellence needs insight to see past the chaff to get to the nuggets. I think new teachers think that knowing the jargon will get them.through, sadly it sometimes does. I hope not on this occasion.
Better get back to my benchmarks!!!

Good luck with your application OP. I don't think you would be at all bothered if you believed the person would be good at the job, your perceived slight comes from the fact that someone you believe to be a little incompetent thinks they could do a better job. It would annoy most people but for some reason PPs are being very judgemental and quite harsh.

Thank you, Kindle. You have it right on the button. You said it better than me. Over and out.

I think part of the problem is calling him a young buck. That insinuates that being older is a requirement of doing a higher role well, and that's ageist. I come across that quite regularly in my sector, and that makes my blood boil. Alongside being female and of childbearing age meaning people will bugger off and leave them in the lurch too that stuff all has to be taken out of the equation and whilst you've said it was tongue in cheek I certainly didn't interpret it as that.

Best of luck wildboysmama.

being a male teacher in primary gives him a little advantage

Why?!

Good for him for showing ambition, OK so maybe he’s not ready yet and in that case he won’t get the job. I have one family member who was a headteacher at 29!

Exactly reddington. OP should actually be pleased, it should show just how much better she is and how lucky they would be.

This whole thing is so daft.

My husband is 5 years qualified and was promoted to department head after 2 years, then assistant head last term.

Why would you be offended that he is trying to further his career?

OP
YABU, entirely.

I think you are taking this far too personally: absurdly and irrationally so. His applying for the job is in no way disrespectful to you, it has absolutely no bearing on you or your application. He doesn't "owe" it to you to not apply for this post just because you are. Would you feel so "disrespected" if you weren't applying for the job?

His confidence and self-belief may well be misplaced, but I fail to see why this is getting to you so much. If what you say is accurate, he has very little chance of getting the job as he does not have the experience or qualities to do so. You needn't worry about the "school being stepped on"- if he is as limited in experience and abilities as you say, then the school should be aware of that and as a result should stand very little hope of getting the job (would he even get an interview?). So again, why are you so angered and upset? Because he has "presumed" to challenge you?

You say you don't feel threatened by him, aren't fragile or bitter and so on. Yet many of your post do come across that way- they smack of feeling "hard done by" and that he"owes" you some sort of deference and a clear path- yet simultaneously say he doesn't stand a chance of getting the job because he's not that good. I don't know, there's a quality about some of your posts, and the way you talk about this person who you have mentored so closely which is actually quite unpleasant.

Hi Op, any news about the job? Hope you were successful.

I wonder if "The Young Buck" got the job after all.

Are you seeking to remain part time but worried this incompetent but full timer will get it over you?

How has he been teaching for three years and has no nat 5 / Higher experience? That's poor management surely? (Misses point of thread)

He could just be doing it for experience of the process, which is always sensible