Chapter 61 The Pressure of Promotion
Audrey stayed in the restroom stall for a few more moments until she felt steady again. She tidied up her clothes and cleaned herself before leaving. Looking out from the building, she saw students milling around the playground; the first period had ended, and they were on break. Audrey couldn't help but search the crowd for Kevin , but after scanning for a while and not finding him, she returned to the office, feeling a bit disappointed.
As soon as she walked into the office, she saw the white-haired department head, David Carter, addressing the staff. "I just came back from a meeting with the principal. This year's promotion evaluations have started. Everyone, please review the documents and, if you meet the criteria, fill out the application form and submit it to my office later." With that, he turned and left.
Audrey was taken aback. Last night, Oliver Jones had mentioned the promotion evaluations, but she hadn't expected them to start so soon. She recalled how Kevin had interrupted her while she was helping Oliver Jones, leaving her unsure if Oliver would retaliate by blocking her promotion application. Anxious, she returned to her seat, where Ethan Sanders handed her a photocopied document with a smile. "Mrs. Johnson, take a look. I think you qualify. Give it a shot."
"Mr. Sanders, why don’t you give it a try?" Audrey asked curiously as she took the document. Ethan had been eligible for a senior position for years.
"I'll pass. I don't think I'm good enough. No need to embarrass myself," Ethan replied with a bitter smile, shaking his head as if he had some unspeakable difficulties.
Audrey began to study the document carefully. Middle school teachers' promotions were divided into four levels: senior, advanced, intermediate, and junior. Audrey, a college graduate, had been promoted to junior level when she joined the school. To apply for an intermediate position, she needed three years of service, which she had completed. In theory, she was eligible.
However, in practice, many teachers applied for intermediate positions each year, but the slots were limited. The education bureau had established detailed quantitative evaluation criteria. Teachers were scored based on these criteria, and selections were made based on the scores.
Audrey reviewed the scoring criteria. She realized she was at a disadvantage in terms of years of service and annual evaluations, as she hadn't been rated as excellent. However, she had published a paper in an academic journal last year, which would earn her points, and her educational background was also a plus. She might rank higher than she expected.
But Audrey knew that rankings were only a reference. Ultimately, the decision rested with Principal Oliver Jones. She decided not to approach Oliver again. Last night's incident had been more out of sympathy than an attempt to trade favors. If securing the promotion meant compromising her dignity, Audrey would rather forgo the intermediate position.
As Audrey filled out her application form, Vanessawalked by with her completed form, scoffing, "Mrs. Johnson, don't waste your time. I've been working here for seven years and only just got to intermediate. You've only been here a few years and already want to apply for intermediate? Aren't you rushing it?"
With that, Vanessa swayed her hips and left the office.
Although Vanessa was attractive, her education was limited to high school. No one knew how she got into the school, but her teaching skills weren’t impressive, and she had no notable achievements. Despite applying for intermediate promotions for several years, she always ranked last. Seeing Audrey eligible to apply naturally annoyed her.
Audrey felt a bit angry at Vanessa's taunt but merely smiled and continued filling out her application. The best way to deal with people like Vanessa was to ignore them; arguing would only disgrace her. She had no intention of stooping to a shouting match.
After completing the last word, Audrey put down her pen, carefully reviewed her application, and, satisfied, took it to the adjacent office to submit it to David Carter.
David Carter, the seasoned department head, had an office filled with stacks of books and calligraphy works, giving it a scholarly and heavy atmosphere. He was one of the few male colleagues besides Ethan Sanders with whom Audrey felt comfortable. Of course, this comfort was purely professional, without any romantic implications.
Wearing thick reading glasses, David Carter meticulously reviewed Audrey's application, mumbling to himself. After finishing, he looked up at Audrey and said, "Mrs. Johnson, this is your first time applying for an intermediate promotion, right? You know, we have many applicants each year, and the competition is fierce. Some have waited four or five years and still failed. So, I hope you don't set your expectations too high; consider it a learning experience. After all, you're still young and have plenty of opportunities ahead. What do you think?"
Although David's words were similar to Vanessa's in suggesting that Audrey's chances were slim this year, his tone was filled with genuine concern. Audrey felt a warmth in her heart and smiled, "Mr. Carter, I understand. I didn't have high hopes. I just wanted to give it a try. If I get it, great. If not, it's no big deal. I believe that if I keep working hard, I'll eventually succeed."
Pleased with Audrey's response, David Carter nodded approvingly. He had a good impression of this young, beautiful teacher. Though Audrey's personality was somewhat aloof and she wasn't very friendly with her colleagues, she was serious about her work, highly educated, and passionate about teaching. With proper guidance, she could be a promising teacher.
With this in mind, David Carter said earnestly, "Mrs. Johnson, you've been working here for over three years. Since we have the chance, I'd like to have a chat with you. The school isn't as complicated as the outside world, but it's still a small community. Living in this community requires mutual tolerance and adaptation. By learning from each other, we can continuously improve. I know you were an outstanding student and might look down on us from ordinary colleges. But most of the teachers here are from ordinary colleges. You can't just interact with those few who graduated from prestigious universities."
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