Maternity Leave

Below are tips and suggestions from fellow SCTA members who have recently returned from maternity leave that can help make your transition going into and returning from maternity leave that much easier.

• Read and re-read the district's guide to maternity leave, "What to expect at South Colonie".  (The document from this link / below may not be up to date.  The most recent version can be found on the district website).

Follow the guidance provided in the document and be sure to contact the human resources department at district office well in advance of any leave dates.

• Be sure to fully understand the differences between pregnancy disability, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and unpaid maternity/paternity leave as well as how these parts of maternity leave work together as you determine the length of your leave.   Again, should you have any questions contact the human resources department at district office.

• Adhere to all timelines for completing and submitting forms and documents related to your leave as instructed by the district office.  Be sure to keep copies of all forms, documents, and email correspondence for your records.  

• As you prepare to notify the district office of your maternity leave plans, be sure to notify your building principal as well.  Not only is this the courteous and professional thing to do, but keeping your principal up to date with your leave plans is the best way to ensure a smooth transition out of and back into the classroom.  Doing so will put you in the best possible position to work with your replacement teacher as you prepare for leave. 

• As you look to determine and plan the length of your leave, be mindful of the impact that taking unpaid leave can have upon your payment once you return.  It is strongly recommended that you contact someone in the payroll department at district office to determine your return payment schedule for the remainder of the year.  There is nothing more frustrating than expecting a certain payment amount upon return, only to find out that your calculations were incorrect.  Depending on the figures you receive from district office, you may choose to modify your return date to better adjust your payment upon return.  For questions or to better gain an understanding of this particular circumstance please contact the Member Benefits Committee at southcolonieteachers@gmail.com.

• As you begin your OB appointments, schedule your monthly/ weekly/ daily appoints as far out in advance as possible with your doctor's office.  Given limited appointment availability outside of your school work day, you want to schedule your appointments so that you do not have to take additional time off from school. 

• Once on leave, be sure to adhere to all timelines for completing and submitting forms and documents related to other district services, for example the Health Insurance Opt-Out and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) applications.  If you receive health insurance through another member of your family and choose to opt out of district offered insurance plans and / or participate in an FSA account, you must still complete all necessary forms and applications for such services during the designated timelines even though you may be out on leave.  Although your are busy at home caring for that new bundle of joy, it is still your responsibility to adhere to the designated timelines.  Set reminders for yourself so that you don't miss out on these important and valuable benefits. 

• Once the baby is born, DO NOT add them to your dental insurance immediately.  Wait until they are closer to being "ready" to go to the dentist.  Otherwise you will be paying increased premiums for a service that you cannot take advantage of immediately.  As you plan this out, be mindful of the open enrollment date for dental insurance established by the district, as changes to dental insurance can only be made during the month of May.

Below are tips and suggestions regarding classroom operations and duties that you should consider to plan, discuss, organize, and complete to help make the transition of leave for the teacher replacing you, your students, and yourself as smooth and positive as possible.

Note: Some of this information can be covered during the “shadowing” time prior to the start of the maternity leave.  Other information would be helpful to have typed out so it can be used as a reference as needed.

•  Procedural information (routines, class jobs, homework incentives, behavior information, birthday procedures, prize box, book bins, book exchange, etc.).

• Where to locate items (birthday gifts, holiday/seasonal activities, sweet treats, homework passes, calendar supplies, Lucy units, F&P kit, snacks for kids, binders for subject areas, etc.).

• List of student allergies.

• Safety information (fire drill, lock down, lock out, etc.).

• Brief information on students' needs (extra help, behavioral support, etc.).

• Usernames and passwords for websites .

• Students usernames and passwords needed for websites used in class and at home.

• How to access files in Microsoft or Google Drive.

• Academic pacing guides for various subject areas .

• Schedules and groups of students (guided reading groups, guided reading schedule, word work groups, 6 day schedule, services provided, etc.).

• Brief overview of content currently working on or will be working on (let the person know what has been taught/where you plan to leave off).

• Expectations of what will need to be done (report cards, parent teacher conferences, assessments, etc.).

• Copies of IEP’s and IEP’s at a glance.

• List of people in the grade level and service providers.

• Optional: If you have typed out lesson plans for the unit, consider providing a copy for the person to use as a reference that they can use or tweak as they are teaching the unit(s).