Does MCPS administrators need better Project or Program Management skills

[Anonymous]

Seriously I have watched several presentations to the BOE and in turn watch BOE members ask Adminstrators the same questions for which they did not have answers.

Examples- The acting CFO came to the Fiscal Mgmt meeting noting that community budget meeting would be held in Oct and early November. However, no one had the dates and the budget site has them as TBD. It’s currently the end of September.

Example 2: Strategic Planning meeting presentation and they note there will be a workshop session with key partners and community input sessions in October and November. Again, no dates. And also didn’t have a solidified list of what partners would be participating or at least asked to participate.

Example 3- BOE member ask if there is grade inflation. Now whether you want to call it that or even talk about, everyone at the table knew there was a problem. So then the obvious question is what is the plan to help ensure that grades are more reflective of performance. Ahem, ensuring adherence to 50% policy correctly. Requiring ALL MS and HS teachers know the expectation for publishing a syllabus and for assignments to be listed in Canvas with defined Due dates and Deadlines. Adherence with providing grade level content and if not for a student adherence with MTSS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously I have watched several presentations to the BOE and in turn watch BOE members ask Adminstrators the same questions for which they did not have answers.

Examples- The acting CFO came to the Fiscal Mgmt meeting noting that community budget meeting would be held in Oct and early November. However, no one had the dates and the budget site has them as TBD. It’s currently the end of September.

Example 2: Strategic Planning meeting presentation and they note there will be a workshop session with key partners and community input sessions in October and November. Again, no dates. And also didn’t have a solidified list of what partners would be participating or at least asked to participate.

Example 3- BOE member ask if there is grade inflation. Now whether you want to call it that or even talk about, everyone at the table knew there was a problem. So then the obvious question is what is the plan to help ensure that grades are more reflective of performance. Ahem, ensuring adherence to 50% policy correctly. Requiring ALL MS and HS teachers know the expectation for publishing a syllabus and for assignments to be listed in Canvas with defined Due dates and Deadlines. Adherence with providing grade level content and if not for a student adherence with MTSS.

Did you forget to write another P? People skills?

[Anonymous]

Without a doubt. MCPS admin lack a lot of key and essential project and program management skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Without a doubt. MCPS admin lack a lot of key and essential project and program management skills.

If they had skills, they could cut the CO staff in half.

[Anonymous]

The majority are just not smart people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority are just not smart people.

Didn't most start off as teachers? They have "teacher" skills, not clerical-admin-project-program skills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without a doubt. MCPS admin lack a lot of key and essential project and program management skills.

If they had skills, they could cut the CO staff in half.

This. It needs to be run much more like a business (not completely though). Care about every dollar thats not teachers salaries, scrutinize all the fluff, accounting of what is spent on curriculums, materials, consultants etc. They are stewards of tax payer money, and need to answer for it all and plan better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority are just not smart people.

Didn't most start off as teachers? They have "teacher" skills, not clerical-admin-project-program skills?

Right. So its good to have had the in classroom experience but then they need the additional training as PMs etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority are just not smart people.

Didn't most start off as teachers? They have "teacher" skills, not clerical-admin-project-program skills?

They don't have employee management skills either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without a doubt. MCPS admin lack a lot of key and essential project and program management skills.

If they had skills, they could cut the CO staff in half.

This. It needs to be run much more like a business (not completely though). Care about every dollar thats not teachers salaries, scrutinize all the fluff, accounting of what is spent on curriculums, materials, consultants etc. They are stewards of tax payer money, and need to answer for it all and plan better.

+1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without a doubt. MCPS admin lack a lot of key and essential project and program management skills.

If they had skills, they could cut the CO staff in half.

This. It needs to be run much more like a business (not completely though). Care about every dollar thats not teachers salaries, scrutinize all the fluff, accounting of what is spent on curriculums, materials, consultants etc. They are stewards of tax payer money, and need to answer for it all and plan better.

I agree!

Just because you’re a strong teacher, that doesn’t mean you’ll be a strong administrator. Totally different skill sets.

- teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority are just not smart people.

Sadly this. Most people don’t want to work for mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority are just not smart people.

Sadly this. Most people don’t want to work for mcps.

They can try PG county, Howard, DC, Arlington, Anne Arundel, Frederick, private schools. Point is there's a whole lotta other places they can take their subpar customer (families/taxpayers) and management skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without a doubt. MCPS admin lack a lot of key and essential project and program management skills.

If they had skills, they could cut the CO staff in half.

This. It needs to be run much more like a business (not completely though). Care about every dollar thats not teachers salaries, scrutinize all the fluff, accounting of what is spent on curriculums, materials, consultants etc. They are stewards of tax payer money, and need to answer for it all and plan better.

Exactly this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority are just not smart people.

Sadly this. Most people don’t want to work for mcps.

They can try PG county, Howard, DC, Arlington, Anne Arundel, Frederick, private schools. Point is there's a whole lotta other places they can take their subpar customer (families/taxpayers) and management skills.

How is that any better? No one wants to go into education as the pay is not great, esepcially at privates and you are not treated well and its near impossible to teach or make a difference.