Taking parental leave after two years of being hired

Hello,

I'm an expecting parent who was hired in a fantastic in Ohio. I don't know what union agreements look like everywhere, but every agreement I've seen in Ohio offers some form of two to three year parental leave for those who have a child. This is unpaid, but it secures our position for our return if we decide to take one or two years off.

I would very much like to take one or even two years off to spend with my child. This feels like a hugely meaningful moment in my life, and I believe it will benefit my child, also. My spouse and I can financially swing it, and we've thought through this from several angles. We are in support of this.

I have two questions:

1) Is this unprofessional and potentially unethical to take up to two years off after taking a job in a district just two years ago?

2) While I recognize administration can't formally retaliate, I am worried that my principal, director, and even superintendent might feel slighted by this move and put me in a building I do not want to be in or where it is known to be a difficult situation (I love my students, building, and colleagues). Is it a reasonable fear that they might retaliate in this fashion, or am I being paranoid?

I fully intend on returning. I have a positive relationship with everyone I work with and my bosses, but I am not a "star employee." I love my job, but this is a once in a life time event that will never happen again. I will never get these years back. I just worry about being pushed out of the position or coming back to a difficult situation as a result of my leave.

Any and all input's welcome. Thank you.

Submitted October 03, 2020 at 11:20AM by paulpickney02 https://ift.tt/2GwgyP5