Why is everyone at Holton-Arms leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the parents and the kids. That’s why teachers are leaving.

That’s definitely a part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To begin with, you don't need to be popular to be a good HoS. Maybe she is doing things that teachers might not like, but the board wants her to do.

The pendulum is swinging back from some of the extremes of the post pandemic period. Some teachers and parents don’t like that. They want it to swing further. That culture clash is what we are seeing play out. That doesn’t mean she’s a Trumper. It just means the board is correcting the swing and letting her take actions that do this. For every loud voice bemoaning this there are 10 (100) that support it. When enrollment and fundraising drop, the board will make another adjustment.

Once HOS has more of her people in place this will all quiet down

[Anonymous]

The issue isn't politics. The issue is her inability to lead effectively. Morale is low because of her poor behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the Upper School, the following teachers are leaving:

2 Spanish
2 English
1 Government
1 Economics
1 math
1 math and CS
1 CS
1 biology
1 counseling

The two English teachers are absolutely phenomenal; one of them is retiring, but the choice to retire now is not a coincidence.

The government and economics teachers are fantastic too. The former is the chair of the history department.

These departures come on top of the loss of superb faculty (who had been at Holton for a long time) over the past two years.

All I can say is that I am grateful DD graduated today.

Spanish teacher often moves school after a couple of years. The second one had been training for a new career for a while.

One English teacher is retiring and had been planning to for a while. The other wants to continue in administration because her administrative position became redundant with the hiring of the associate head of school.

The econ teacher was part time

The goverment teacher preferred the openly political environment of the previous administration and did not like the idea that teachers are supposed to be politically neutral.

The math teacher is moving because of a spouse

The math and CS teacher has been looking for jobs elsewhere since the previous administration

The CS teacher is moving because of a spouse

The biology teacher is young and wants to try a new school.

The counselors move on often and they hired a great person who is an alumn and has worked at the school for years.

I just looked at the faculty and staff directory and noticed that it now includes a PR person. Are you that person?

I am a parent of a senior who just graduated. My daughter knows well most of the teachers mentioned above. The narrative that you are spinning above is not quite right at least in a few cases (based on what she has heard directly from the teachers).

No, a parent like you. Trying to give people more information about the reality of the situation.

There is no way a random parent has this much in depth knowledge of why each person is leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did exit interviews for the students until recently, I don’t see why they can’t do it for the faculty too?

Penny:
-ended exit interviews for seniors
-ended the faculty-staff committee
-ended feedback forms for administrators

What was the benefit of ending these?

No record of complaints and concerns.

I meant what was the benefit to the overall school community of ending these, not benefit to leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did exit interviews for the students until recently, I don’t see why they can’t do it for the faculty too?

Penny:
-ended exit interviews for seniors
-ended the faculty-staff committee
-ended feedback forms for administrators

What was the benefit of ending these?

No record of complaints and concerns.

I meant what was the benefit to the overall school community of ending these, not benefit to leadership.

There is no benefit I can think of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the Upper School, the following teachers are leaving:

2 Spanish
2 English
1 Government
1 Economics
1 math
1 math and CS
1 CS
1 biology
1 counseling

The two English teachers are absolutely phenomenal; one of them is retiring, but the choice to retire now is not a coincidence.

The government and economics teachers are fantastic too. The former is the chair of the history department.

These departures come on top of the loss of superb faculty (who had been at Holton for a long time) over the past two years.

All I can say is that I am grateful DD graduated today.

Spanish teacher often moves school after a couple of years. The second one had been training for a new career for a while.

One English teacher is retiring and had been planning to for a while. The other wants to continue in administration because her administrative position became redundant with the hiring of the associate head of school.

The econ teacher was part time

The goverment teacher preferred the openly political environment of the previous administration and did not like the idea that teachers are supposed to be politically neutral.

The math teacher is moving because of a spouse

The math and CS teacher has been looking for jobs elsewhere since the previous administration

The CS teacher is moving because of a spouse

The biology teacher is young and wants to try a new school.

The counselors move on often and they hired a great person who is an alumn and has worked at the school for years.

I just looked at the faculty and staff directory and noticed that it now includes a PR person. Are you that person?

I am a parent of a senior who just graduated. My daughter knows well most of the teachers mentioned above. The narrative that you are spinning above is not quite right at least in a few cases (based on what she has heard directly from the teachers).

No, a parent like you. Trying to give people more information about the reality of the situation.

There is no way a random parent has this much in depth knowledge of why each person is leaving.

The same argument applies to the poster that attributes all departures to Penny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the Upper School, the following teachers are leaving:

2 Spanish
2 English
1 Government
1 Economics
1 math
1 math and CS
1 CS
1 biology
1 counseling

The two English teachers are absolutely phenomenal; one of them is retiring, but the choice to retire now is not a coincidence.

The government and economics teachers are fantastic too. The former is the chair of the history department.

These departures come on top of the loss of superb faculty (who had been at Holton for a long time) over the past two years.

All I can say is that I am grateful DD graduated today.

Spanish teacher often moves school after a couple of years. The second one had been training for a new career for a while.

One English teacher is retiring and had been planning to for a while. The other wants to continue in administration because her administrative position became redundant with the hiring of the associate head of school.

The econ teacher was part time

The goverment teacher preferred the openly political environment of the previous administration and did not like the idea that teachers are supposed to be politically neutral.

The math teacher is moving because of a spouse

The math and CS teacher has been looking for jobs elsewhere since the previous administration

The CS teacher is moving because of a spouse

The biology teacher is young and wants to try a new school.

The counselors move on often and they hired a great person who is an alumn and has worked at the school for years.

I just looked at the faculty and staff directory and noticed that it now includes a PR person. Are you that person?

I am a parent of a senior who just graduated. My daughter knows well most of the teachers mentioned above. The narrative that you are spinning above is not quite right at least in a few cases (based on what she has heard directly from the teachers).

No, a parent like you. Trying to give people more information about the reality of the situation.

There is no way a random parent has this much in depth knowledge of why each person is leaving.

The same argument applies to the poster that attributes all departures to Penny.

Faculty/staff would have this information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the Upper School, the following teachers are leaving:

2 Spanish
2 English
1 Government
1 Economics
1 math
1 math and CS
1 CS
1 biology
1 counseling

The two English teachers are absolutely phenomenal; one of them is retiring, but the choice to retire now is not a coincidence.

The government and economics teachers are fantastic too. The former is the chair of the history department.

These departures come on top of the loss of superb faculty (who had been at Holton for a long time) over the past two years.

All I can say is that I am grateful DD graduated today.

Spanish teacher often moves school after a couple of years. The second one had been training for a new career for a while.

One English teacher is retiring and had been planning to for a while. The other wants to continue in administration because her administrative position became redundant with the hiring of the associate head of school.

The econ teacher was part time

The goverment teacher preferred the openly political environment of the previous administration and did not like the idea that teachers are supposed to be politically neutral.

The math teacher is moving because of a spouse

The math and CS teacher has been looking for jobs elsewhere since the previous administration

The CS teacher is moving because of a spouse

The biology teacher is young and wants to try a new school.

The counselors move on often and they hired a great person who is an alumn and has worked at the school for years.

I just looked at the faculty and staff directory and noticed that it now includes a PR person. Are you that person?

I am a parent of a senior who just graduated. My daughter knows well most of the teachers mentioned above. The narrative that you are spinning above is not quite right at least in a few cases (based on what she has heard directly from the teachers).

No, a parent like you. Trying to give people more information about the reality of the situation.

There is no way a random parent has this much in depth knowledge of why each person is leaving.

The same argument applies to the poster that attributes all departures to Penny.

Faculty/staff would have this information.

Not about all departures. When people leave, they don't always disclosure the true reason.

[Anonymous]

Penny is the reason for the departures. Full stop.
Penny grabbed a student’s arm and should be dismissed.
Penny has wasted nearly a million dollars on consultants.
Penny never comes to school on time.
Penny is condescending, she rules by fear (she does not lead with love).
Penny is hated by the students - they call her the dark lord!
Penny is such a terrible speaker, a senior made bingo cards for her graduation speech!
Penny has had more than 100 employees leave over three years. This is - without question - a disturbing number.
Penny has no idea how to talk to kids - remember this week when she said she was taking “her yearbooks” back!?!?
Penny will have to continue to deal with angry alumnae, pissed off parents, and anonymous letters while board members quietly tell her what to do.

How do I know? I work at Holton. Come ask a teacher. Please. We will tell you the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penny is the reason for the departures. Full stop.
Penny grabbed a student’s arm and should be dismissed.
Penny has wasted nearly a million dollars on consultants.
Penny never comes to school on time.
Penny is condescending, she rules by fear (she does not lead with love).
Penny is hated by the students - they call her the dark lord!
Penny is such a terrible speaker, a senior made bingo cards for her graduation speech!
Penny has had more than 100 employees leave over three years. This is - without question - a disturbing number.
Penny has no idea how to talk to kids - remember this week when she said she was taking “her yearbooks” back!?!?
Penny will have to continue to deal with angry alumnae, pissed off parents, and anonymous letters while board members quietly tell her what to do.

How do I know? I work at Holton. Come ask a teacher. Please. We will tell you the truth.

I currently teach in MCPS and was looking at applying to the 4th grade teacher opening at Holton.

Could you share what the percent of tuition remission is for the daughters of faculty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penny is the reason for the departures. Full stop.
Penny grabbed a student’s arm and should be dismissed.
Penny has wasted nearly a million dollars on consultants.
Penny never comes to school on time.
Penny is condescending, she rules by fear (she does not lead with love).
Penny is hated by the students - they call her the dark lord!
Penny is such a terrible speaker, a senior made bingo cards for her graduation speech!
Penny has had more than 100 employees leave over three years. This is - without question - a disturbing number.
Penny has no idea how to talk to kids - remember this week when she said she was taking “her yearbooks” back!?!?
Penny will have to continue to deal with angry alumnae, pissed off parents, and anonymous letters while board members quietly tell her what to do.

How do I know? I work at Holton. Come ask a teacher. Please. We will tell you the truth.

Well, if you are still working at Holton, working conditions probably are not that bad. Otherwise you will be looking for another job.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotally, many are not only leaving, but not applying or continuing in the process with them. (again this is anecdotal.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penny is the reason for the departures. Full stop.
Penny grabbed a student’s arm and should be dismissed.
Penny has wasted nearly a million dollars on consultants.
Penny never comes to school on time.
Penny is condescending, she rules by fear (she does not lead with love).
Penny is hated by the students - they call her the dark lord!
Penny is such a terrible speaker, a senior made bingo cards for her graduation speech!
Penny has had more than 100 employees leave over three years. This is - without question - a disturbing number.
Penny has no idea how to talk to kids - remember this week when she said she was taking “her yearbooks” back!?!?
Penny will have to continue to deal with angry alumnae, pissed off parents, and anonymous letters while board members quietly tell her what to do.

How do I know? I work at Holton. Come ask a teacher. Please. We will tell you the truth.

Well, if you are still working at Holton, working conditions probably are not that bad. Otherwise you will be looking for another job.

"Not that bad" is a far cry from "all that's finest" and "making standards high".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penny is the reason for the departures. Full stop.
Penny grabbed a student’s arm and should be dismissed.
Penny has wasted nearly a million dollars on consultants.
Penny never comes to school on time.
Penny is condescending, she rules by fear (she does not lead with love).
Penny is hated by the students - they call her the dark lord!
Penny is such a terrible speaker, a senior made bingo cards for her graduation speech!
Penny has had more than 100 employees leave over three years. This is - without question - a disturbing number.
Penny has no idea how to talk to kids - remember this week when she said she was taking “her yearbooks” back!?!?
Penny will have to continue to deal with angry alumnae, pissed off parents, and anonymous letters while board members quietly tell her what to do.

How do I know? I work at Holton. Come ask a teacher. Please. We will tell you the truth.

Well, if you are still working at Holton, working conditions probably are not that bad. Otherwise you will be looking for another job.

"Not that bad" is a far cry from "all that's finest" and "making standards high".

Just pointing out that you described the situation as intolerable but still working there. So sounds like there is some inconsistency.