I have my surgery on 9/20 (5 days from now), but just got recommended for a first grade teaching position. I told the principal that I would be having surgery, and she said that it should not affect the hiring process because it will take a couple of weeks to get references, background checks, and school board approval. I am have lap RNY and need to know how probable it is to begin a job teaching 1st graders that soon after surgery. I am also enrolled full time in graduate school. Feeling a little overwhelmed, but if I can get through the next couple of weeks, things should settle down.

Hi! I teach French MS-HS level. I had my RNY in June 2004. I didn't tell the students beforehand. Partly because I didn't believe that I could lose weight. I have very bad insulin resistance(PCOS) and failed at many diets before their eyes!! When I got back to school as a post-op I'd lost like 50-60 pounds already. Most of my students noticed and made comments. By the end of the school year, I had made the century mark and fellow teachers and returning college students were making the comments. Several of my students who'd been away at college for a year didn't even recognize me!!! hee hee hee The kids that I had every day didn't react much, only now and then when I'd buy new closer fitting clothes. This year, I will be teaching one class in a MS where I worked 4 years ago, I am sure that the staff will also notice. The kids there won't since they were in elementary school then. Go with you inner voice, if you feel comfortable about it then tell them ...otherwise don't. Good luck! Susan

What a load of Ca-ca!!! I am so glad that you did what you did!!! It really burns me when school districts have 2 standards. She has NO RIGHT to tell you when you can and cannot have surgery. If so, then it would be HER RESPONSIBILITY if your health were to take a turn for the worse because you had to wait on when it would be "convenient" for the school. If you had been pregnant and needed time off, they would make due. If God forbid you had a heart attack or a car wreck...they'd make due. Yet she gives you a hard time. This is a surgery to "save" your life but because it's WLS, I guess that's different!!! She's acting as if you were going to get something frivolous like a face lift or a boob job!! (Not that those are bad, just not urgent). Glad that you stood up for yourself!! Susan

I'm having WLS the first day of school and now have to prepare lessons for the substitue. I'm not worried about the 2nd week of school b/c 5th grade is departmentalized and my lesson plans for science are complete; however, students will not rotate the first week of school and will be with my substitute all day. My lesson plan for the week consisted of activities in my head, now I have to sit down and write each step down. How can I keep the kiddos busy without driving the substitute insane? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jackie B. Also, please pray for my surgeon and for me and my family. Thanks. Jackie B.

Last week I made a difficult decision, but I feel as if it was the right one for me. I was supposed to be teaching 2nd grade this year at a charter school, but was having difficulty with the principal approving time off for surgery. She had some inappropriate comments about the surgery, and I told her that I would not schedule anything until I spoke with her. At any rate, I offered to work for a week w/out pay, and to find my own sub. When the principal called last week, she informed me that I would start as a daily sub (with my own class) and when enrollment was up, they could offer a contract. I then decided to ask if I was not going to have a contract, would it be easier to have the surgery. She then told me that I had a whole two weeks off for Christmas and could do it then, and that she could not give me time off. Needless to say, after discussing it with my husband, I decided that she was not being very supportive considering that I was taking the job with no job security at all. I decided that I did not want to work at this place, and would become a substitute for the school system until I had my surgery and would look for a job in the public school system next year, or if something came available this year. It is scary to think that I turned down a job, but I figure that this is my life. I cannot risk waiting until next summer because if my insurance should change in January, they may not cover the surgery. I hope I made the right decision.