UPDATED would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

ok... so i'm a speech therapist at a i was told on monday that they won't be giving me tenure, and i won't have a position for next year. the way they worded it was " we just haven't seen enough improvement in you". so... whatever.
now, speech therapy is a broad field with different settings you can work in ( early intervention, nursing home, home care). i decided i'm gonna use this chance to try out a new setting. BUT i'm worried about what the school will say when a new place calls them as references ( being that i was basically "fired" because my skills weren't good enough)
would it be appropriate to send out this e-mail to my supervisors???

Dear X, X, and X
I will soon be applying to other non-public school speech therapy settings. I have done internships in Early Intervention and a nursing home, and had good experiences in both.
Speech is a unique field in that there are many different settings you can work in, and each setting is so different and requires different skills. I don't think its that i lack skills as a therapist, its that maybe the skills i have just aren't right for the public school setting.
I will need to use one or all of you as a reference. I would appreciate that when these new facilities call, you would focus on the fact that i was generally a good employee. I have showed up early or on time every day, taken minimal sick days, completed the plethera of required IEP and speech evaluation paperwork on time or early,and have had no problems getting along well with other staff, parents, and students.
I have enjoyed my time here at XXX school district, and appreciate your consideration of this matter.
Melissa

ETA: Thanks everyone!!!
i won't send it. i was going back and forth, which is why i asked on here. Maybe i'll talk to them personally.
i've NEVER had to deal with this situation before- this is only my second job out of school, and the first job i left because i was getting married and moving, so that was easy to explain when i was applying for new jobs

Message edited 3/13/2008 1:49:58 PM.

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

i would not do that. if the reason you are not being tenured is because you didn't "improve" enough in their eyes, use this as an opportunity to expand your skills. IMO this letter looks like you are seeking an excuse. even if you send this letter it is likely that they will give the same report to any future employer - and then mention that you felt it necessary to complain in advance via this letter.

if your future employer questions your reasons for leaving, then i would tell THEM what you have expressed in this letter - that you feel your skills are better suited to this new environment, etc.

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

I don't think I would send any email like this. I know you are trying to ask them to give you a decent reference, but I think the way this reads is that you agree with them not renewing your position (I am not saying you think that, it just seems that is the general tone of the letter.)

Instead, I would personally speak with one or two people about this and ask them if you can use them personally as a reference. I think if you explained all of this in person, it would be much better received.

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Please, DO NOT SEND THAT EMAIL!

Seriously. I would not send that or anything remotely like that. It comes off as very defensive and would make me more apprehensive about giving a good recommendation.

Simply approach your supervisors *in person* and ask if you may use them as a reference. If they aren't going to give you a good reference, they will say no. The VAST majority of supervisors will offer good references for people -- even those they have had to let go.

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Sorry, but no.

Most places are instructed not to even reference your performance, to just verify dates and salary and that's it.

Do you have any other references you can use?

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Message edited 3/13/2008 1:47:12 PM.

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Re: UPDATED would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

updated at the top

thanks for the input.. thats why i posted on here first
i've never had to deal with this- its only my second job out of shcool, and the first job i left because i was getting married and moving 2 hours away... so that was easy to explain when i was applying for new jobs

Re: would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

To be more specific and hopefully more helfpful than my first post on this thread, I just wanted to point out some specifics of your proposed email that will work against you, not for you.

First, always ask for references in person or over the phone. Period.

Second, it is not appropriate to tell the potential reference what you want them to focus on or not focus on. I cannot think of too many people who would agree to give a professional reference and then give a bad one. If they cannot give a good reference, they will decline the give the reference at all.

Third, you have to ASK for a reference, not say "I will need you to give me a recommendation." Quite frankly, they don't NEED to give you anything. A good recommendation is a professional favor and you should never tell someone they must do this for you. Unless they just cannot give you a good recommendation, I am sure they will be more than willing to agree to be used as a reference.

Fourth, you're asking a supervisor, albeit soon to be former supervisor, to do you a favor. I don't believe it is appropriate to ask for that favor in a group email. If you want someone to take time out of their schedule to provide you with a good reference when potential employers come, you owe it to that person to make an effort to ask in person or over the phone. An email to multiple recipients isn't the right way to do it.

Finally, why even bring up the fact that someone might think you lack skills in a certain area? You were let go because they didn't have a position for you in the fall. If you don't believe that, I'm sorry -- but operate under the assumption that they are telling you the truth. If they are telling the truth (and they probably are), they are likely more than willing to give you a good recommendation. I wouldn't even think for a minute to assume they feel you are less than competent for the position. Give yourself more credit!

Good luck. Trust me, you want to ask in person. If you ask in person (and just ask -- no extraneous information required!), I bet they will say yes. If you send this email, however, I fear one or more will be tempted to say no.

Re: UPDATED would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

PS -- sorry, was typing the above while you were updating!!

Re: UPDATED would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Posted by Kara

Finally, why even bring up the fact that someone might think you lack skills in a certain area? You were let go because they didn't have a position for you in the fall. If you don't believe that, I'm sorry -- but operate under the assumption that they are telling you the truth. If they are telling the truth (and they probably are), they are likely more than willing to give you a good recommendation. I wouldn't even think for a minute to assume they feel you are less than competent for the position. Give yourself more credit!

Re: UPDATED would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

Posted by ml110

Posted by Kara

Finally, why even bring up the fact that someone might think you lack skills in a certain area? You were let go because they didn't have a position for you in the fall. If you don't believe that, I'm sorry -- but operate under the assumption that they are telling you the truth. If they are telling the truth (and they probably are), they are likely more than willing to give you a good recommendation. I wouldn't even think for a minute to assume they feel you are less than competent for the position. Give yourself more credit!

thanks i agree with you on everything but this! LOL they told me they weren't renewing my contract becasue they " haven't seen enough improvement" in me. i have 43 kids on my caseload this year, so its not like they could or are eliminating my positon altogheter.
although, if they had given me tenure, they basically wouldn't have ever been able to fire me... so i think not wanting to pay me permenently could be part of the reason, too... either way, i just have to deal with it and move on

Re: UPDATED would this be appropriate??? (kinda long)

DO NOT SEND THIS EMAIL!!!!!!
ETA: ITA with everyone else and have nothing else to add other than do not do it!

Message edited 3/13/2008 2:21:49 PM.