DCPS teachers are quitting at an alarming rate, how can parents help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Another former DCPS teacher, I am now in MCPS. The straw that broke the camel's back for me, happened when my second grader brought a steak knife to the school to stab a boy he didn't like. I called the the school security. Teachers in DCPS are forbidden from calling the police, instead the school security officer or the administration are the only ones who can call. The school that I worked at worked with the local police station and had specific officers that were assigned to the school. So, whenever the school called, only the officers who worked closely with the school were called. The administration and security guards also had these officers personal cell phone numbers. This ensures that this is never a record of 911 being dialed from the school number. IF 911 if called from a school number, the administration and those in the office have to report it and file an incident report with central office.

I'm trying to imagine what would make a second grader feel so threatened that he would settle on stabbing someone as the best solution. Just thinking about it is giving me chills.

That happened at former DCPS school. Different grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not quitting because of behavior problems, although I'll admit they're not fun. I'm quitting because I'm sick of admin who have less teaching experience than me - and absolutely zero experience in my field - telling me that I'm "developing" after receiving effective or highly effective ratings from others. I'm sick of being told by admin that because my kids are behind grade level standards in reading, that I "don't have time" to teach social/emotional skills. I'm sick of the system acting like the only thing that matters is doing better on the end of year tests. I'm tired of top-down regulations from people in central office who have no idea what it's like to actually be in my classroom.

Dcps teacher here. I agree with everything you said. Are you staying in teaching or starting a new career path?

ditto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked in DCPS in a high poverty elementary school and now work in a high poverty school in Arlington. It's night and day difference. Yes, the demands are similar. But I actually get support from my admins and the county. DCPS was completely awful and I say this as someone who got good reviews. Behavior issues aren't addressed. SPED issues are ignored. ESOL support is awful. The principals are focused on their own careers -- not the school. Look at the tenure of a principal. They are all hustling for jobs, hopping from spot to spot because it's well paying and if you can stay ahead of the criticisms, you can have a long career.

I agree

[Anonymous]

Can you say how a principal can have a short career? Beyond the obvious stuff like physical abuse of students and constant failure to meet test scores ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Another former DCPS teacher, I am now in MCPS. The straw that broke the camel's back for me, happened when my second grader brought a steak knife to the school to stab a boy he didn't like. I called the the school security. Teachers in DCPS are forbidden from calling the police, instead the school security officer or the administration are the only ones who can call. The school that I worked at worked with the local police station and had specific officers that were assigned to the school. So, whenever the school called, only the officers who worked closely with the school were called. The administration and security guards also had these officers personal cell phone numbers. This ensures that this is never a record of 911 being dialed from the school number. IF 911 if called from a school number, the administration and those in the office have to report it and file an incident report with central office.

I'm trying to imagine what would make a second grader feel so threatened that he would settle on stabbing someone as the best solution. Just thinking about it is giving me chills.

Ugh, this is such a pretensions white high SES parent thing to say. He must feel threatened to do something like this! Nah, the kid most probably saw or heard older kids use this as a solution when other kids have pissed them off or done something they don't like, so the 2nd grader decides if the older kids did it to solve their problem, then he will to.

You kinda suck at being a person. It's probably not useful news to you, but when you finally come to the realization you might recall that you'd been warned.

I sincerely hope you don't have kids of your own but if you do, you should be made aware that they're learning how to solve problems at that age but not very skilled. Implications sit in a nebulous cloud of possibilities that they've gleaned from sources as varied as overheard conversations and as unreliable as cartoons.

They do know fear pretty well, though, and it's reasonable to conclude that kid was scared and didn't feel he could rely on anyone to help him.

I suck as a person because I am suggesting that a second grader is making choices like a second grader? Really?
Maybe he was scared but it's just as likely he saw some older kids do this and he thought he would try it to. He didn't see the consequences of the teens actions or what happened to them but really at the 2nd grade age he isn't thinking long term consequences anyway.
Maybe fear was driving it but it's also just as likely that it was not.

[Anonymous]

The Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs in DCPS are wreaking a lot of havoc on the system. The problem is that they are all jostling for power, publicity and attention from the chancellor. Most of them don't know a thing about teaching and can hardly be bothered to walk into schools except for PR events. They love tweeting though to promote their image. Check out the ones who tweet the most. There is so much turnover in many offices in central as staff get sick of being unappreciated and treated like minions. However, somehow there is never any negative impact on the chiefs whose offices are in disarray. There is really no accountability at the top levels of DCPS. And unfortunately all of this trickles down to the school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs in DCPS are wreaking a lot of havoc on the system. The problem is that they are all jostling for power, publicity and attention from the chancellor. Most of them don't know a thing about teaching and can hardly be bothered to walk into schools except for PR events. They love tweeting though to promote their image. Check out the ones who tweet the most. There is so much turnover in many offices in central as staff get sick of being unappreciated and treated like minions. However, somehow there is never any negative impact on the chiefs whose offices are in disarray. There is really no accountability at the top levels of DCPS. And unfortunately all of this trickles down to the school level.

This. We need to drain our very own educational swamp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs in DCPS are wreaking a lot of havoc on the system. The problem is that they are all jostling for power, publicity and attention from the chancellor. Most of them don't know a thing about teaching and can hardly be bothered to walk into schools except for PR events. They love tweeting though to promote their image. Check out the ones who tweet the most. There is so much turnover in many offices in central as staff get sick of being unappreciated and treated like minions. However, somehow there is never any negative impact on the chiefs whose offices are in disarray. There is really no accountability at the top levels of DCPS. And unfortunately all of this trickles down to the school level.

This. We need to drain our very own educational swamp.

+1000

There needs to be a review of al the positions and new ones added to find out what folks actually do, are their positions necessary or just a position for those "M.E.s, former fired principals A.P.s or any other persons who got into trouble at DCPS but knew too much to be fired!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Another former DCPS teacher, I am now in MCPS. The straw that broke the camel's back for me, happened when my second grader brought a steak knife to the school to stab a boy he didn't like. I called the the school security. Teachers in DCPS are forbidden from calling the police, instead the school security officer or the administration are the only ones who can call. The school that I worked at worked with the local police station and had specific officers that were assigned to the school. So, whenever the school called, only the officers who worked closely with the school were called. The administration and security guards also had these officers personal cell phone numbers. This ensures that this is never a record of 911 being dialed from the school number. IF 911 if called from a school number, the administration and those in the office have to report it and file an incident report with central office.

I'm trying to imagine what would make a second grader feel so threatened that he would settle on stabbing someone as the best solution. Just thinking about it is giving me chills.

Ugh, this is such a pretensions white high SES parent thing to say. He must feel threatened to do something like this! Nah, the kid most probably saw or heard older kids use this as a solution when other kids have pissed them off or done something they don't like, so the 2nd grader decides if the older kids did it to solve their problem, then he will to.

You kinda suck at being a person. It's probably not useful news to you, but when you finally come to the realization you might recall that you'd been warned.

I sincerely hope you don't have kids of your own but if you do, you should be made aware that they're learning how to solve problems at that age but not very skilled. Implications sit in a nebulous cloud of possibilities that they've gleaned from sources as varied as overheard conversations and as unreliable as cartoons.

They do know fear pretty well, though, and it's reasonable to conclude that kid was scared and didn't feel he could rely on anyone to help him.

I suck as a person because I am suggesting that a second grader is making choices like a second grader? Really?
Maybe he was scared but it's just as likely he saw some older kids do this and he thought he would try it to. He didn't see the consequences of the teens actions or what happened to them but really at the 2nd grade age he isn't thinking long term consequences anyway.
Maybe fear was driving it but it's also just as likely that it was not.

Yes. Confirming that you suck as a person. Not that it matters - you seem determined.

[Anonymous]

Np, both of you suck. One person is not being understanding that someone can have a different upbringing & background from them. Diversity is not a bad thing and you need tolerance. Here's a hint, it's okay for someone to wonder why a second grader might want to stab someone. That's not normal, whatever your upbringing. Secondly, to the other poster, learn to ignore miserable and closed minded individuals.

[Anonymous]

I believe Antwan announced new Central Office positions in the Twitter Town Hall. This should be interesting. Sadly, many teachers aren't going to stick around to see how it all works out. IMO, many of the innovative and passionate teachers leave DCPS within about 3 years. Schools are left with mediocre, bored, play by the rules teachers who just want to collect a check. Wondering why DCPS schools are failing miserably (with the exception of a few) then start at the top with Superintendents, then principals, and teachers are literally the bottom of the totem pole.

[Anonymous]

The pathos described in this thread is exactly why higher SES parents want to keep their children segregated from at-risk students.

If it's too distracting for dedicated adults to teach, then it's too distracting for dedicated students to learn.