Does any DCPS employee, at any level, ever get fired for poor performance?

[Anonymous]

As for administrators, ours have been severely limited in the amount of time they can spend in classrooms by an overload of reporting, behavior management, and other demands of the job. They need more hands on deck to be more effective.

[Anonymous]

DCPS has a hard time recruiting principals from outside.
They rarely fire principals but they do it when principals become too independent and won’t follow like sheep behind the chancellor.

[Anonymous]

I don't really think the teachers are the problem...

[Anonymous]

Yes, it happens quite often. It would be unprofessional and rude to talk about the reason a staff member isn't coming back though so oftentimes people just assume they left for a different position.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty common to leave when they see the writing on the wall of a poor IMPACT rating or being told by the principal. To actually fire someone for cause is a longer process and kind of a pain (unless they've done something extremely bad), but most people will not drag themselves through that if they can find another job.

[Anonymous]

Most admin seem to find it a hassle to do all the paperwork to fire bad teachers.
At least that is what I’m guessing as at Jackson Reed they very rarely fire bad teachers.
First they have to do the paperwork for firing and then they need to actually go through the process of hiring someone new. Often it is easier for administrators to leave things be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an excellent group of teachers at our DCPS school. Some are stronger than others, but not one is a “bad” teacher. Those who are weaker are mentored and will grow in their capacity. If you have at least a few excellent teachers who can let others observe them, and an administration who spends enough time in the classroom to notice who needs support, you can end up with a great team.

So true.

[Anonymous]

Years ago when my 9th grader was in 1st, we won a special ed hearing against the DCPS school. We found out that due to the actions (or in actions in some cases) of that Sped Coordinator, DCPS had lost 4 suits that we know of, to the tune of over $250,000. She was never fired. If I lost my bosses $250k, I'd be out on my ear in a heartbeat.

She continued to work for DCPS for YEARS. I think she has now finally retired, though I'm not certain.

[Anonymous]

It's not the teachers who are failing, it's the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the teachers who are failing, it's the parents.

Sigh.

This again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the teachers who are failing, it's the parents.

It's not the parents who are failing, it's the teachers.

Seeing which of these quotes will be deleted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not the teachers who are failing, it's the parents.

It's not the parents who are failing, it's the teachers.

Seeing which of these quotes will be deleted.

It’s neither. It’s Central Office. The one thing they are good at is getting teachers and parents to blame each other. At least one-third of downtown should be fired and a hiring freeze be put in place for at least 12 months. So much wasted space.

[Anonymous]

As sad as it may sound the answer is a resounding no. The best teachers generally moved on in short order. Especially at the middle and high school level student behavior is a major issue. Basically you’re forced to pass the kids that never attend school. If you don’t the administration will make your life difficult or simply change the grades after you’ve submitted them. Sorry. Those are the facts.

[Anonymous]

Teachers and principals have been fired, not for criminal or unethical behavior, but instead for not making the grade on IMPACT. There's even a word for it. Teachers are IMPACTED out. Other teachers, who are weary of the effects of this punitive evaluation system, fire themselves by resigning or retiring early. Does this improve the quality of education at DCPS? I doubt it. Does it make you feel better? IDK. You tell me.

[Anonymous]

Wow! Some of this I was aware of, will Ms. Neal be fired?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, if their IMPACT scores were low enough.

In 2012-13, Deal MS got caught cheating on IMPACT.

An ELA teacher was caught giving students answers.

The test referees caught her during one of their walk-throughs.

Deal was sanctioned for the next 5 testing seasons.

This also opened up the floodgates as they were also caught lying about their accounting since records were not properly kept.

This included everything from how IEPs were documented, attendance was taken, and how employees were lying on their report to work times.

That accounting manger was fired as was the primary attendance officer and replaced by two new women, who although good with numbers, has also been good about allocating funds to things that will increase Deal’s bottom line with their PTA and not the kids and teachers in the classroom.

Fast forward to 2016, when James Albright, former principal got caught in the middle of all of it and was put on “reassignment” to work at Central during his final year in DCPS after it was found out that he helped hide money, cover up employees stealing from the PTA fund, and thus promoting the current Principal, Diedre Neal, who is being investigated for low test scores, underperforming teachers, high turnover rates, and increased numbers of complaints to HR.

So, I’m summation, “yes, you can get fired for poor performance in DCPS.”