Involuntary Transfers

[Anonymous]

My DD is in 6th grade and her teacher quit back in December (she was a disaster). We've had a few long turn subs until a teacher was finally placed this week.

The class is already behind because of the last teacher and subs, so I was excited when she got her new teacher. However my daughter said the teacher is really quiet, and I have found out the teacher was forced to come to elementary. She was a high school ESOL teacher who has never taught elementary and didn't want to be moved.

Back in January we were told they were interviewing candidates, but I'm finding out now that wasn't true. I just don't understand how it's the best interest of the students who are already behind to force a high school teacher to teach elementary. I'm very frustrated and admin isn't responding to my specific questions. They are just saying the teacher is "qualified".

Has anyone else seen this before?

[Anonymous]

It may be that the ESOL position was reduced if a lot of immigrant families were deported from that particular school. Since she’s young, I assume she was the last one hired, so the first one released due to caseload reduction, but surprising that it’s mid year.

I’m sorry your kid’s teacher left and is behind due to the long term subs. My kids are in high school and both have had disruptive years like this. Try not to stress too much. Keep your kid reading and learning at home and they’ll be ok.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and it's terribly unfair for everyone involved. Like a PP said, try to supplement at home as much as you can. If you can afford a tutor or tutoring center, especially for Math, do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may be that the ESOL position was reduced if a lot of immigrant families were deported from that particular school. Since she’s young, I assume she was the last one hired, so the first one released due to caseload reduction, but surprising that it’s mid year.

I’m sorry your kid’s teacher left and is behind due to the long term subs. My kids are in high school and both have had disruptive years like this. Try not to stress too much. Keep your kid reading and learning at home and they’ll be ok.

She's not young. Her bio said she has been in the county 18 years and at her last high school 11 years.

[Anonymous]

This is new in FCPS.

First, it is very likely that your kid’s school was interviewing candidates. These placements came about in January. Your school’s principal was not expecting this transfer to happen.

Likely due to Trump’s immigration crackdowns, high schools were not seeing the same numbers of ESOL students as they planned for. This meant that they were over staffed with ESOL teachers. So FCPS looked at teachers’ certifications and decided to move them into current openings across the county rather than add to the budget by hiring more teachers.

The odds of finding a decent sixth grade teacher is really hard on a good day. Finding one in the middle of the year is like finding a unicorn. Hopefully this ESOL teacher can step up to the plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 6th grade and her teacher quit back in December (she was a disaster). We've had a few long turn subs until a teacher was finally placed this week.

The class is already behind because of the last teacher and subs, so I was excited when she got her new teacher. However my daughter said the teacher is really quiet, and I have found out the teacher was forced to come to elementary. She was a high school ESOL teacher who has never taught elementary and didn't want to be moved.

Back in January we were told they were interviewing candidates, but I'm finding out now that wasn't true. I just don't understand how it's the best interest of the students who are already behind to force a high school teacher to teach elementary. I'm very frustrated and admin isn't responding to my specific questions. They are just saying the teacher is "qualified".

Has anyone else seen this before?

This is the counties solution to overstaffing in ESOL. Instead of destaffing ESOL teachers, they are going through their credentials and essentially "forcing" them to teach wherever there are openings in the county. It's not based on seniority, it's simply what credentials you have. I'm guessing this teacher has elementary education on her license, so they told her teach elementary or lose your teaching license, I wouldn't be happy with it.

Your admin didn't have a choice. Principals are not allowed to hire anyone right now and have to wait for these ESOL teachers to be placed. For some reason they think this is best for the students.

I'm sorry for your DD. Make sure she is reading at home, practicing math and maybe get some tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is new in FCPS.

First, it is very likely that your kid’s school was interviewing candidates. These placements came about in January. Your school’s principal was not expecting this transfer to happen.

Likely due to Trump’s immigration crackdowns, high schools were not seeing the same numbers of ESOL students as they planned for. This meant that they were over staffed with ESOL teachers. So FCPS looked at teachers’ certifications and decided to move them into current openings across the county rather than add to the budget by hiring more teachers.

The odds of finding a decent sixth grade teacher is really hard on a good day. Finding one in the middle of the year is like finding a unicorn. Hopefully this ESOL teacher can step up to the plate.

OP here, thanks for the information. This is very disheartening to hear. I feel bad for the teacher too as they did not put her in a position to be successful. I can't imagine being a high school ESOL teacher for 18 years and suddenly be told to teach elementary for the first time in the middle of the year. I'm not optimistic. My DD is at Lane for those that want to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is new in FCPS.

First, it is very likely that your kid’s school was interviewing candidates. These placements came about in January. Your school’s principal was not expecting this transfer to happen.

Likely due to Trump’s immigration crackdowns, high schools were not seeing the same numbers of ESOL students as they planned for. This meant that they were over staffed with ESOL teachers. So FCPS looked at teachers’ certifications and decided to move them into current openings across the county rather than add to the budget by hiring more teachers.

The odds of finding a decent sixth grade teacher is really hard on a good day. Finding one in the middle of the year is like finding a unicorn. Hopefully this ESOL teacher can step up to the plate.

OP here, thanks for the information. This is very disheartening to hear. I feel bad for the teacher too as they did not put her in a position to be successful. I can't imagine being a high school ESOL teacher for 18 years and suddenly be told to teach elementary for the first time in the middle of the year. I'm not optimistic. My DD is at Lane for those that want to know.

OP. The teacher just came in January? Kids have missed quite a few days. Give the teacher a chance. Being "quiet" is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't the county try to get someone who actually wants to teach elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is new in FCPS.

First, it is very likely that your kid’s school was interviewing candidates. These placements came about in January. Your school’s principal was not expecting this transfer to happen.

Likely due to Trump’s immigration crackdowns, high schools were not seeing the same numbers of ESOL students as they planned for. This meant that they were over staffed with ESOL teachers. So FCPS looked at teachers’ certifications and decided to move them into current openings across the county rather than add to the budget by hiring more teachers.

The odds of finding a decent sixth grade teacher is really hard on a good day. Finding one in the middle of the year is like finding a unicorn. Hopefully this ESOL teacher can step up to the plate.

OP here, thanks for the information. This is very disheartening to hear. I feel bad for the teacher too as they did not put her in a position to be successful. I can't imagine being a high school ESOL teacher for 18 years and suddenly be told to teach elementary for the first time in the middle of the year. I'm not optimistic. My DD is at Lane for those that want to know.

OP. The teacher just came in January? Kids have missed quite a few days. Give the teacher a chance. Being "quiet" is not necessarily a bad thing.

She started this week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 6th grade and her teacher quit back in December (she was a disaster). We've had a few long turn subs until a teacher was finally placed this week.

The class is already behind because of the last teacher and subs, so I was excited when she got her new teacher. However my daughter said the teacher is really quiet, and I have found out the teacher was forced to come to elementary. She was a high school ESOL teacher who has never taught elementary and didn't want to be moved.

Back in January we were told they were interviewing candidates, but I'm finding out now that wasn't true. I just don't understand how it's the best interest of the students who are already behind to force a high school teacher to teach elementary. I'm very frustrated and admin isn't responding to my specific questions. They are just saying the teacher is "qualified".

Has anyone else seen this before?

This is the counties solution to overstaffing in ESOL. Instead of destaffing ESOL teachers, they are going through their credentials and essentially "forcing" them to teach wherever there are openings in the county. It's not based on seniority, it's simply what credentials you have. I'm guessing this teacher has elementary education on her license, so they told her teach elementary or lose your teaching license, I wouldn't be happy with it.

Your admin didn't have a choice. Principals are not allowed to hire anyone right now and have to wait for these ESOL teachers to be placed. For some reason they think this is best for the students.

I'm sorry for your DD. Make sure she is reading at home, practicing math and maybe get some tutoring.

This is why as a teacher I refuse to just stack certifications. Some people get certified in 2-3 different areas to get hired but the caveat to that is they can then staff you in those areas. Don’t ever get certified in something you would not be ok teaching!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't the county try to get someone who actually wants to teach elementary.

Did you even read the posts above? This is about compensating for an unexpected overstaffing. In an ideal world, yes, you’d get someone who really wants to teach elementary. But right now it’s about who is qualified.

[Anonymous]

Yes there were huge destaffs in ESOL and several people got put back in the classroom.

There are also a lot of AP destaffs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 6th grade and her teacher quit back in December (she was a disaster). We've had a few long turn subs until a teacher was finally placed this week.

The class is already behind because of the last teacher and subs, so I was excited when she got her new teacher. However my daughter said the teacher is really quiet, and I have found out the teacher was forced to come to elementary. She was a high school ESOL teacher who has never taught elementary and didn't want to be moved.

Back in January we were told they were interviewing candidates, but I'm finding out now that wasn't true. I just don't understand how it's the best interest of the students who are already behind to force a high school teacher to teach elementary. I'm very frustrated and admin isn't responding to my specific questions. They are just saying the teacher is "qualified".

Has anyone else seen this before?

This is the counties solution to overstaffing in ESOL. Instead of destaffing ESOL teachers, they are going through their credentials and essentially "forcing" them to teach wherever there are openings in the county. It's not based on seniority, it's simply what credentials you have. I'm guessing this teacher has elementary education on her license, so they told her teach elementary or lose your teaching license, I wouldn't be happy with it.

Your admin didn't have a choice. Principals are not allowed to hire anyone right now and have to wait for these ESOL teachers to be placed. For some reason they think this is best for the students.

I'm sorry for your DD. Make sure she is reading at home, practicing math and maybe get some tutoring.

This is why as a teacher I refuse to just stack certifications. Some people get certified in 2-3 different areas to get hired but the caveat to that is they can then staff you in those areas. Don’t ever get certified in something you would not be ok teaching!

That happened at the ES my kids attend. There was a 2nd grade teacher who was also certified in 4-6. Principal told her she had to switch to 6th grade to cover for a teacher who didn’t come back after a medical leave. She didn’t do it and left the school entirely.

I know another teacher who was moved from HS ESOL to teaching a completely different subject at another school entirely due to destaffs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't the county try to get someone who actually wants to teach elementary.

Did you even read the posts above? This is about compensating for an unexpected overstaffing. In an ideal world, yes, you’d get someone who really wants to teach elementary. But right now it’s about who is qualified.

This happens. But, what I would really like to see is destaffs at Gatehouse and its tentacles.