A quarter of the teachers at Lakewood Elementary are leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m at a different elementary school in the county and we are also experiencing a large exodus. It would be an even larger group leaving but the principal has started to give negative recommendations so that teachers can’t transfer. The environment is beyond toxic.

I really wish central office would do something to help.

Same, but I think the current Superintendent is anti-teacher. I have taught for 25 years and have seen nothing like this. Our new principal is also driving out the best teachers and replacing them with ones with zero experience. Easier to “influence” teachers that don’t know anything different.

Anti-teacher and anti-parent. Arguably, anti-student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fallsmead ES new principal: Shauntae Fitcheard Spaugh.

Wootton cluster Elementary schools have been brutal with these new principal appointments...

Eventually, Wooton will be destroyed and it will get right kind of diversity. Right now it has a wrong kind of diversity.

This is the goal. Looks like even the principal has this as a stated goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this principal doesn’t like her school community, so I can see why the community is reacting to her in this way. There is a lot of distrust and suspicion. Part of the problem is cultural differences. I find it annoying that Asians are not seen as the minority group that they are, and this principal seems to have this prejudice.

Sounds like she wants to push her woke anti-racist (meaning only black to her) agenda and doesn't view anyone else as a minority. I mean white kids are a minority at her school!

Keep voting for the woke progressive BOE / counsel
candidates! This is what you get. It all trickles down

Yep. This is what voters in Montgomery want. We see this election after election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fallsmead ES new principal: Shauntae Fitcheard Spaugh.

Wootton cluster Elementary schools have been brutal with these new principal appointments...

seems like MCPS is trying to bring some diversity to Wootton clusters starting from the top.

Yes, right kind of diversity. Cluster is dealing with a racist unfortunately.

Racial discriminations against Asian is in full swing. That's how it started in Germany.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This happens and is truly no big deal. It’s not always the best thing to have the same teacher teaching the same subject and the same grade for years among years. That is when teacher burn out happens. Teachers can also become very stuck in their ways and less likely to become adaptable when curriculum changes. The principal may see a certain skill set that the teacher possesses that would benefit the students if they taught a different grade or subject. I think it’s crazy that you are putting blame on the principal saying he is toxic without any examples of what he has done.

ACTUAL MCPS teacher here. Stop gaslighting. This is a HUGE concern. We have been screaming from the rooftops about ineffective administration - so here is a glaring example of it. It.is.Concerning. No one wants to work for a toxic, abusive boss. No parent wants someone ineffective in charge of their children. I believe the teachers that are leaving. And you should too. It has nothing to do with shaking things up for the curriculum. Get real.

Sure, but it isn't necessarily the principal's fault. There could also be a lot of rot in that school that needs to be replaced.

One of the teachers that is leaving (that I spoke to personally) told me directly it was because of the principal, and that they were leaving to go to another school. The principal had reassigned them to another grade, and they didn't want to switch; the principal (in as many words) told them that either they would switch, or they would have to find a new job. So that's what they did. Now, I respect this teacher tremendously (they went above and beyond during COVID) so I am inclined to believe them rather than the idea that they are a "rot" that "needs to be replaced."

If this is true then how credible were any of the statements made on the call...

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Fallsmead ES new principal: Shauntae Fitcheard Spaugh.

Wootton cluster Elementary schools have been brutal with these new principal appointments...[/quote]

The Fallsmead principal doesn’t even begin her post until July. But, clearly, you already have an issue with her. The racial undertones are appalling. [/quote]

Agreed, black women are one of the most educated demographics in the county. I don't believe anyone would go through the effort of getting a PhD and working in this field if they weren't passionate about education. Just because the parents don't agree with her approach to admin and teacher retention doesn't mean she's some cartoonish far-left DEI ideologue like some posters here seem to be implying. What I find problematic is that what the Principal told us in the meeting directly conflicts with what I've heard from teachers, but she is also shutting down discussion by saying that teachers talking about leaving and reasons why are being unprofessional. She went as far to "apologize to the community" for teachers "going out and spreading dissention". To me, it sounds an awful lot like she is trying to shut down any and all discussion about her management.

[Anonymous]

Also, before anyone starts foaming at the mouth and accusing the principal of actual malice, we should also keep in mind the optics of the situation: the concerned parents seem to be primarily Asian or white; the issue at hand is on why teachers are leaving in droves and whether she is fostering an environment where teachers feel supported, so that our children can be supported in turn.

We do NOT want to be seen as a bunch of Karens bullying our new (Black, female) principal over ideological issues. One parent in the meeting last night asked how we can move forward in a positive and collaborative way, and I agree that is the approach we should be taking. So far I haven't really seen any concrete suggestions on what the parents want, or what policies we want to implement in order to foster the educational environment we want. Right now parents are asking questions, but questions will not drive change when the administration seems bent on dodging questions and shutting down discussion.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Fallsmead ES new principal: Shauntae Fitcheard Spaugh.

Wootton cluster Elementary schools have been brutal with these new principal appointments...[/quote]

The Fallsmead principal doesn’t even begin her post until July. But, clearly, you already have an issue with her. The racial undertones are appalling. [/quote]

Agreed, black women are one of the most educated demographics in the county. I don't believe anyone would go through the effort of getting a PhD and working in this field if they weren't passionate about education. Just because the parents don't agree with her approach to admin and teacher retention doesn't mean she's some cartoonish far-left DEI ideologue like some posters here seem to be implying. What I find problematic is that what the Principal told us in the meeting directly conflicts with what I've heard from teachers, but she is also shutting down discussion by saying that teachers talking about leaving and reasons why are being unprofessional. She went as far to "apologize to the community" for teachers "going out and spreading dissention". To me, it [b]sounds an awful lot like she is trying to shut down any and all discussion about her management.[/b] [/quote]

ding ding ding!!!

[Anonymous]

Basically during the 6/12 night meeting, Dr Kelly told parents
1. the teachers leave because of family, new career or various reasons ==> This is not her fault. Moreover, her boss claimed "Dr Kelly didn't do anything wrong"
2. 20 years of experience do not make u an expert in teaching. She can find some experts with fewer years of experience ==> this indicates she don't respect the teachers that left
3. loss 1/4 of the teacher is an "opportunity" ==> In her mind, she didn't create a "disaster" for the community. Instead, she brought a new opportunity to bring the school to a new era

If 25% attrition rate happy in any organization, the manager or the manager's manager need to be fired. It seems like this is not the case here

[Anonymous]

Someone requested the zoom meeting to be recorded since a lot of parents were not able to log in, but principal Kelly declined due to “confidentiality”. However she didn’t elaborate on the situation or answer any of the parents questions due to “confidentiality and professionalism”! Apparently that’s her response to everything to get her way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try contact the Wootton Cluster supervisor. There is an Office of School Support and
Well-Being and looks like Mrs. Michelle Schultze (Acting) Director of OSSWB's team that included Wootton cluster.

If she is not the supervisor, ask who is the supervisor of the Lakewood ES principal.

We made mistakes wrote to Michelle. Michelle fully supports Kelly, your email will end up forward to Kelly from Michelle.

[Anonymous]

Current MCPS trainings are littered with labels like anti-racism, white supremacy culture, and Kendi phrases. I am not against any of it but they are not telling teachers what to do fix any of it.

When there are discrepancies teachers are questioned about what they can do to help certain groups or at worse blamed for the results.

MCPS needs to help staff and give them realistic curriculums and activities that meet the needs of students. Wishful thinking and cultural competency is not enough. On the ground teachers don’t have the time to reinvent the wheel.

[Anonymous]

Oddly enough one of the biggest issues in education is when struggling students are given the most inexperienced teachers or are in schools with high teacher turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basically during the 6/12 night meeting, Dr Kelly told parents
1. the teachers leave because of family, new career or various reasons ==> This is not her fault. Moreover, her boss claimed "Dr Kelly didn't do anything wrong"
2. 20 years of experience do not make u an expert in teaching. She can find some experts with fewer years of experience ==> this indicates she don't respect the teachers that left
3. loss 1/4 of the teacher is an "opportunity" ==> In her mind, she didn't create a "disaster" for the community. Instead, she brought a new opportunity to bring the school to a new era

If 25% attrition rate happy in any organization, the manager or the manager's manager need to be fired. It seems like this is not the case here

My concern is not only what already happened, it is what going to happen. If she stays, will more teachers leave? what new teachers she will bring to the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basically during the 6/12 night meeting, Dr Kelly told parents
1. the teachers leave because of family, new career or various reasons ==> This is not her fault. Moreover, her boss claimed "Dr Kelly didn't do anything wrong"
2. 20 years of experience do not make u an expert in teaching. She can find some experts with fewer years of experience ==> this indicates she don't respect the teachers that left
3. loss 1/4 of the teacher is an "opportunity" ==> In her mind, she didn't create a "disaster" for the community. Instead, she brought a new opportunity to bring the school to a new era

If 25% attrition rate happy in any organization, the manager or the manager's manager need to be fired. It seems like this is not the case here

Totally agree!!! 25% attrition rate happened anywhere in this country, the manager or the manager's manager need to be let go