Well, I had my meeting with the wayward teacher and the principal.  I had to let her go first (I would have anyway) and BOY did she have a load of crap to share.  Apparantly I am a DICTATOR because I am in charge of the team and she doesn't like that.  I do everything wrong and don't listen when she tries to tell me I am wrong and she has better ideas and even though she is a first year teacher, she knows it all now and doesn't like my attitude.

I just sat there and kept my mouth shut because what is the point of telling her she is wrong again.  We plan as a team but we move too fast for her.  So, she stopped coming.  She doesn't like following the district curriculum map.  We leave her out when she doesn't come to the planning meetings.  We don't tell her when we change things.  I don't give her the details for the lessons I create even though I give them copies of everything I already have.  She doesn't want me to plan the lessons but she wants all the step by step directions.  I don't teach that way.  I take the lessons and go with what works.  Apparantly so do the other two teachers.  However, that is wrong for her.  She would have had me fired if she could. 

She talked and talked for about 15 minutes and I watched the principals face go through a series of changes.  When she stopped, the principal tried gently to tell her that I was the team leader, experienced and trying to HELP the team stay afloat during the transition time.  We have a new school, twice as many students as we expected, technology problems and much more.  Teachers just need to be flexible. 

She flat out said she couldn't be flexible.  She doesn't work that way.  Wow!  Is she in the wrong field.

She is an in-your-face person who is being abused by me.

Now, I don't make anyone do anything they don't want to do.  They are in control of their classrooms.  If they want to come to my room to plan lessons, I don't mind.  I am enjoying the rest of the team.  We work well together.  I have a lot of years, resources, and creativity and can teach just about anything you put in front of me.  I can share ideas and materials till the cows come home.  I don't make detailed lessons anymore.  I learned how to do it by myself and I expect my teachers to do the same.  I will not be mean to her, hold this against her or keep things from her.  However, if she doesn't change her ways, I will recommend she not be on my team next year.  BUT! I am willing to give it a try this year.  I personally need to learn to be more gentle, especially towards her.     She was upset because I was not going to buy clay for her for a writing activity.  I felt so guilty I did.  It cost me over $50!  She doesn't realize what that takes out of a pay check. (Now I need to let that one go.  Really I do.)    I love to have fun and be funny.  She doesn't have the same sense of humor as I do and it is affecting what is going on. 

That hurts.  I live by humor.  I love kids with a good sense of humor.  They make my day.

Okay!  I think I am done with this issue.  I am going to breathe deep and let it drop and see what happens.  Wish me luck.