Principal Contract Raise and Bonus, Nothing for Teachers

[Anonymous]

How do you feel about the principals getting a bonus and 12% (overall) raise and a $5000 bonus for their performance during the pandemic while there has been no movement for teachers? Do you support something similar for teachers who actually instruct and work with students? Teachers’ contracts expired three years ago.

Please no virtual learning bashing. Let’s stick to the topic please.

[Anonymous]

No horse in this race, but the conclusion here is that they have a better union than you all do. Time for new leadership?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here, good for them!
I support unions who do a good job for their members.
And I’m not a huge fan of DCPS school admins FWIW

[Anonymous]

Sounds like too much. I would like to see teachers and principals get a reasonable raise, and I would like to see budget for more teachers at schools with large classes.

Retroactive pandemic bonuses are BS. The pandemic sucked for everyone.

[Anonymous]

PARCC scores were horrendous so I don’t understand the pandemic bonus. 12% seems like a big raise but maybe they have trouble recruiting and retaining principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PARCC scores were horrendous so I don’t understand the pandemic bonus. 12% seems like a big raise but maybe they have trouble recruiting and retaining principals.

This is true but they as for so much from teachers.

[Anonymous]

most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

I’d say teachers are even bigger targets on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

I would argue most of you have no idea what goes on in a school. I do know what APs and principals do and I don’t see why they get a 12% raise. My AP last year did next to nothing and the things they did do were incorrect or put extra burdens on teachers to fix last minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

I’d say teachers are even bigger targets on DCUM.

I am a avid reader of DCUM. Because of this I know that the real victims are the UMC white parents who are victimized by the entitled teachers and admins whose jobs are really, really easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

I’d say teachers are even bigger targets on DCUM.

I am a avid reader of DCUM. Because of this I know that the real victims are the UMC white parents who are victimized by the entitled teachers and admins whose jobs are really, really easy.

Well done. You’re absolutely correct!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

My mom and SIL are both elementary school principals so I do actually know what they do.

12% is a big jump but I'd want to know what the baseline was before judging. DC's COL has shot through the roof in the last 10 years and if raises are not keeping up with that, a 12% raise could be necessary simply to attract and retain candidates in these roles. It can be very hard to find qualified school administrators and they are also more likely to be poached than teachers are -- nearby school districts will absolutely try to attract your principals and APs with better offers if they are looking to hire, and in the DMV where there are so many school districts so close together, the risk is even higher.

Plus retaining [good] administration can also play a huge role in attracting and retaining teachers, who largely prefer to work at schools with consistent leadership. Teachers do not want to have to train up young administrators who don't know what they are doing, and they also don't want to have to adjust to a new principal every three years. So this can also be seen as an indirect investment in teachers, provided this contract doesn't leave too little pie left for when (if?) the teachers union finally gets their contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:most of you have zero idea of what principals do. they should get a 12% raise just for being targets on dcum.

I would argue most of you have no idea what goes on in a school. I do know what APs and principals do and I don’t see why they get a 12% raise. My AP last year did next to nothing and the things they did do were incorrect or put extra burdens on teachers to fix last minute.

Kind of agree. Administrators are a dime a dozen. My kids' school has tons of folks applying for the ever-expanding admin team but can't get enough candidates to staff up classrooms. A couple of years of teaching + M.Ed = principal. It's far harder to find excellent teachers, and I'd argue they're far more valuable.

[Anonymous]

I always support teachers getting paid more. Being a teacher is a thankless job.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you complaining about principals making more? Is there some zero-sum game where if the principals make more, the teachers can't make more? If no, your post just seems like sour grapes.