Teacher turnover at St Barts

[Anonymous]

I am very interested in sending my kiddo to St Barts, but I learned this week that several teachers and the beloved vice principal is leaving. Anyone have any insight as to what is going on? Should I be worried?

[Anonymous]

Also interested.

[Anonymous]

Not sure either. 3 incredibly strong teachers with so much to offer in talent, skill, and experience, then adding the VP. Yikes. The principal is struggling for sure. The HSA is a vipers nest of mean girls. The replacements are great but they are bring pulled from the resource room, so, if your child has an IEP be very concerned.

Overall, St. Bart's is great and will roll through but I would be worried about leadership. A lax coach that was tossed fro. Prep is not a good cultural fit. He and his uniform changes will likely not last.

[Anonymous]

Our kids are young so this doesn't really effect us yet. However, as much as we love the school, we will bounce for middle school. From my guess. The school has 3 major problems:
1. A principal that wants to turn it into co-ed mster dei with blazers and a turff field nobody wants. Take those funds to prop up academics. This is not the school for that kind of unnecessary fluff.
2. An incompetent board chosen due to personal relationships rather that educational or business acumen. This is a shame because the parent population has outstanding and smart people from both arenas that are not called on to my knowledge.
3. The vapid PTA. You would have to hate yourself a little bit to be part of that clique. I avoid volunteering completely because they are so rude.

That being said, the overall community is wonderful and the education has been warm and high quality. I hope they can get the leadership culture fixed fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are young so this doesn't really effect us yet. However, as much as we love the school, we will bounce for middle school. From my guess. The school has 3 major problems:
1. A principal that wants to turn it into co-ed mster dei with blazers and a turff field nobody wants. Take those funds to prop up academics. This is not the school for that kind of unnecessary fluff.
2. An incompetent board chosen due to personal relationships rather that educational or business acumen. This is a shame because the parent population has outstanding and smart people from both arenas that are not called on to my knowledge.
3. The vapid PTA. You would have to hate yourself a little bit to be part of that clique. I avoid volunteering completely because they are so rude.

That being said, the overall community is wonderful and the education has been warm and high quality. I hope they can get the leadership culture fixed fast.

Agree 100%. The teachers are the absolute best thing about St. Bart’s. They are experienced, loving, and dedicated. My kid loves going to school and is never bored. We are so sad to lose these wonderful teachers.

I’m ambivalent about the principal, but I hope this is a wake up call as to where his efforts and resources should be expended: supporting and retaining the teachers, particularly the super stars!

Also, I’m confused by the HSA comments. I am not involved with the HSA in any official capacity, but I have volunteered in the past and they seemed…fine? Not going to be BFFs with them, but they weren’t overtly rude or anything. They plan a lot of fun activities for the kids throughout the year and the parents are mostly friendly and great.

[Anonymous]

Not that much turnover compared to other schools this day and age. 3 teachers is honestly not even close to “a lot of turnover.” Also, two of the spots are being filled by wonderful teachers, who are already there and our beloved. The vice principal, although wonderful, is older and retiring and it’s not always a bad thing to bring in some new people with good ideas. The school and its community are still amazing. I don’t think any of these changes are bad and are in-fact going to lead to positive results.

[Anonymous]

Wasn't this school on the brink of closing a few years ago? I am confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't this school on the brink of closing a few years ago? I am confused.

OK, yes I was right...had to dig a bit. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/849234.page

https://moco360.media/2020/01/21/parents-community-rally-to-save-st-bartholomew-catholic-school-in-bethesda/

I don't understand how a school that was at risk of closing 4 years ago can now invest in turf fields and other high end things not typical of parish schools in the ADW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't this school on the brink of closing a few years ago? I am confused.

OK, yes I was right...had to dig a bit. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/849234.page

https://moco360.media/2020/01/21/parents-community-rally-to-save-st-bartholomew-catholic-school-in-bethesda/

I don't understand how a school that was at risk of closing 4 years ago can now invest in turf fields and other high end things not typical of parish schools in the ADW.

Exactly. A fools errand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't this school on the brink of closing a few years ago? I am confused.

COVID was a boon for Catholic school enrollment. They were back in-person well before the publics and are more affordable than the privates. I'm sure St. Bart's, like many Catholic K-8s, saw a significant enrollment increase for the 2020-2021 school year which would have helped save them.

[Anonymous]

Artificial turf fields are frequently installed to reduce costs. You don’t have to cut, weed, fertilize or reseed them nor do you need to water them. They provide a uniform and safe surface that can be used in all weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Artificial turf fields are frequently installed to reduce costs. You don’t have to cut, weed, fertilize or reseed them nor do you need to water them. They provide a uniform and safe surface that can be used in all weather.

Or, you know, cost a million up front and have links to cancer causing chemicals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not that much turnover compared to other schools this day and age. 3 teachers is honestly not even close to “a lot of turnover.” Also, two of the spots are being filled by wonderful teachers, who are already there and our beloved. The vice principal, although wonderful, is older and retiring and it’s not always a bad thing to bring in some new people with good ideas. The school and its community are still amazing. I don’t think any of these changes are bad and are in-fact going to lead to positive results.

The VP did not say she was retiring. The leadership is not well suited for a school. Why they choose the nepotism hire principal famous for bar fights rather than an experienced principal I'll never know.

[Anonymous]

St. Bart’s is a wonderful school. My children are there and absolutely adore it. It has a very strong community. The HSA and school are always planning fun activities for the students and parents. The pastor, priests, principal, and teachers are top notch. My children have learned and grown so much the 5 years we have been at the school. They are excited to wake up every morning and go to school! If you are interested you should definately go on a tour. You will be so impressed with it in all aspects!

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in middle school. We have been generally happy at St. Bart’s over the years. Solid academics, good families, and great teachers.

Over the years teachers have retired, moved out of state, and in some cases jumped across the street to higher paying independents. This is the first time the principal has announced the departures in one succinct email during the school year so it may seem like a turnover issue, but it’s really not. This is leadership in action. Getting in front of the parking lot chatter, planning and preparing for the change instead of digging around for hires come August. I appreciate his candidness. Additionally, two of the departing teachers wrote beautiful emails to the parents and addressed the students in class. Before, teachers just fizzled out leaving it up to the parents to come up with their own explanations.

The comments about the board and HSA are nonsense. The board has 2 retired principals, a school psychologist, a high school development officer, business leaders, and lawyers.

At the end of the day, principal changes are hard! St. Bart’s has had 3 principals in 10 years. I think this one has a chance to propel the school forward and not be stuck in neutral.