By Show of Hands...How Many of Your Schools Have Had Teachers Leave Already?

[Anonymous]

I'm a first year teacher in DCPS.

It's kind of sad that I came on here to take my mind off of wanting to quit my job, and this is the first post that I see. My grade level lost three teachers last week. I think our schoolwide total for Septmber is close to ten. All of them were veteran "urban school" teachers who were new to DCPS. If I find a job outside of teaching, then I'm gone too.

[Anonymous]

There's no shortage of teachers...if one leaves there's plenty replacements.

[Anonymous]

Is teaching really that bad these days or is it just tough teaching in DC? I attended one of the worst high schools in the DC suburbs and I don't ever recall a teacher quitting during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is teaching really that bad these days or is it just tough teaching in DC? I attended one of the worst high schools in the DC suburbs and I don't ever recall a teacher quitting during the school year.

I've been working for DCPS for more than 10 years, and every year we are asked to do more. I can only imagine what it's like for a new teacher to come on board and be faced with our to-do list. It must be overwhelming. I'm not sure how I've survived this long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is teaching really that bad these days or is it just tough teaching in DC? I attended one of the worst high schools in the DC suburbs and I don't ever recall a teacher quitting during the school year.

I've been working for DCPS for more than 10 years, and every year we are asked to do more. I can only imagine what it's like for a new teacher to come on board and be faced with our to-do list. It must be overwhelming. I'm not sure how I've survived this long.

It's so disappointing to hear how much teachers dislike their jobs. How can parents help?

[Anonymous]

DC teachers are third best paid in the nation. If you leave your position will be filled. Also no other profession will give you that much time off, ever!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC teachers are third best paid in the nation. If you leave your position will be filled. Also no other profession will give you that much time off, ever!

Do you understand cost of living? Many professions in DC are "the best paid in the nation." Fast food workers in DC are some of the best paid fast food workers in the nation. That does not make for luxurious living in a city where a one bedroom in a decent area costs roughly $1800.

I do love your attitude, though. I bet you'd be ecstatic if your own child's teacher quit mid-year because there are obviously plenty of talented candidates eager to fill that empty spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a first year teacher in DCPS.

It's kind of sad that I came on here to take my mind off of wanting to quit my job, and this is the first post that I see. My grade level lost three teachers last week. I think our schoolwide total for Septmber is close to ten. All of them were veteran "urban school" teachers who were new to DCPS. If I find a job outside of teaching, then I'm gone too.

I'm
Sorry that you are having a hard time. However, can you step back and see how arrogant you (likely) were when you started just a few weeks ago? DCPS attracts/recruits urban teaching 'veterans' who assume that they can do what DCPS teachers cannot accomplish. It drives me nuts. Every year I see you all start the year with smug attitudes and then bail. Turns out that this is a tough as hell place to teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is teaching really that bad these days or is it just tough teaching in DC? I attended one of the worst high schools in the DC suburbs and I don't ever recall a teacher quitting during the school year.

I've been working for DCPS for more than 10 years, and every year we are asked to do more. I can only imagine what it's like for a new teacher to come on board and be faced with our to-do list. It must be overwhelming. I'm not sure how I've survived this long.

It's so disappointing to hear how much teachers dislike their jobs. How can parents help?

Please visit the thread where parents are arguing that teaching is so easy and teachers are idiots. This is my life. I spent an hour today with a parent who was less concerned with her son's failure to study for an assessment than the fact that I called it a quiz rather than a test. She was very hung up on the idea that there was a test (gasp) in the third week of school and not at all worried that he hadn't done six preparatory assignments. But what do I know? I'm just a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a first year teacher in DCPS.

It's kind of sad that I came on here to take my mind off of wanting to quit my job, and this is the first post that I see. My grade level lost three teachers last week. I think our schoolwide total for Septmber is close to ten. All of them were veteran "urban school" teachers who were new to DCPS. If I find a job outside of teaching, then I'm gone too.

I'm
Sorry that you are having a hard time. However, can you step back and see how arrogant you (likely) were when you started just a few weeks ago? DCPS attracts/recruits urban teaching 'veterans' who assume that they can do what DCPS teachers cannot accomplish. It drives me nuts. Every year I see you all start the year with smug attitudes and then bail. Turns out that this is a tough as hell place to teach.

Oh stop it!

New poster here. Veteran teacher who wanted to join DCPS to HELP alongside those I assumed were also there making a difference. The reality is that you cannot do that in DC where students do not respect education & make teaching and learning difficult. In any other district there would be repercussions for their behavior. But not in DC. Kids are disruptive and disrespectful without penalty. They don't do their work because they've been pushed through all this time so why start now? And they know teachers will give them grades so they're not blamed for student failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC teachers are third best paid in the nation. If you leave your position will be filled. Also no other profession will give you that much time off, ever!

Trust me, many of those positions go u filled for the whole year. In many cases there will be a turnover of subs or new teachers who come in to fill the role but leave. I've seen it in core subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is teaching really that bad these days or is it just tough teaching in DC? I attended one of the worst high schools in the DC suburbs and I don't ever recall a teacher quitting during the school year.

I've been working for DCPS for more than 10 years, and every year we are asked to do more. I can only imagine what it's like for a new teacher to come on board and be faced with our to-do list. It must be overwhelming. I'm not sure how I've survived this long.

It's so disappointing to hear how much teachers dislike their jobs. How can parents help?

Teachers don't dislike their jobs. It's the conditions & lack of support that's unique to DC. Many of those teachers leave and find teaching jobs they love elsewhere. And on more than one occasion they've said they love being treated as a professional and talked to with respect. The fights, cussing, teacher assaults are all things teachers dislike about DCPS. In no other place can a student cuss out a teacher and have admin shrug and say "Oh well. That's how it is here."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is teaching really that bad these days or is it just tough teaching in DC? I attended one of the worst high schools in the DC suburbs and I don't ever recall a teacher quitting during the school year.

I've been working for DCPS for more than 10 years, and every year we are asked to do more. I can only imagine what it's like for a new teacher to come on board and be faced with our to-do list. It must be overwhelming. I'm not sure how I've survived this long.

It wouldn't be so bad if that to do list came with results and improvements in student achievement. It doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a first year teacher in DCPS.

It's kind of sad that I came on here to take my mind off of wanting to quit my job, and this is the first post that I see. My grade level lost three teachers last week. I think our schoolwide total for Septmber is close to ten. All of them were veteran "urban school" teachers who were new to DCPS. If I find a job outside of teaching, then I'm gone too.

Life's too short and the stress isn't worth it. Just leave. Dust off the resume, find another job & go. There's little difference in pay between DC & say Fairfax. Plus, they're generous with snow days!

[Anonymous]

I just hope our new principal doesn't make our strong teachers leave. This will be a huge disappointment due to her micromanagement tactics; as if they don't already have enough on their plate.