Many TPS teachers still don't know if they have a job when school starts

TULSA - Just a few weeks from now, Tulsa students will return to the classroom. However dozens of teachers still don't know if they will be doing the same.

Earlier this month, Tulsa Public Schools announced it was recalling 188 of the 286 teachers who have been given layoff notices.

While those teachers are busy getting their classrooms ready for the first day of school, dozens of other teachers are left in limbo.

"I just love teaching. I love the kids. I love what I do." says Jenny Kronk.

For the past ten years Kronk has been an elementary school teacher. Most of that time was spent working for TPS. But she took a one year hiatus to work for another district before returning last year. That placed her among the first year teachers who were given layoff notices in an attempt to trim $9.7 million from the budget.

She says, "Usually now I'm in my room getting things ready and setting up my classroom. Now I'm not. I'm waiting to hear if I have a job or not. It's tough not knowing."

Lynn Stockley is President of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association. She has been busy fielding phone calls from teachers who want to know if they will have a job.

Stockley tells 2NEWS, "There's just been a lot of confusion. And I think it's taking way too long. I don't have a good answer for it. People's lives have literally been put on hold."

Stockley says Friday is the deadline for recalled teachers to respond to the district if they wish to return. If they don't respond, that could open up jobs for other teachers. But it likely won't be enough to provide jobs to all the teachers who need them.

Stockley says, "We're telling them (teachers) if something else comes up some place else grab it! Because there are no guarantees."

2NEWS called TPS to find how many teachers are still in limbo and when they can expect an answer. Our calls were not retured.