MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

Unless the teacher wasn't certified to teach k? Although you can teach out of license for a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

This is a fictional crisis since they're turning down highly qualified applicants.

I've noticed this as well. There are definitely openings and many applicants. I remember being in a room when an MCPS recruiter entered. When the room heard she was a recruiter, there was high interest. People seem confused about the hiring process. Many wondered why they haven't heard back from MCPS.

My guess is that if this was broken out better, the greatest unfilled positions in MCPS are:

Paras (poor pay)
Special Ed teachers (very difficult job for the pay)
In schools whose principals have a bad rap
In schools with significant challenges- be it behavioral, poor performance, very high ESOL etc.

So for some schools, attracting staff, particularly experienced teachers, probably isn't that difficult, whereas for others, it is very difficult.

I don't know why DCUM lumps esol students as a big problem. I've taught in high esol population schools for years. The students are wonderful. There rate of behavioral issues is about the same as non esol kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

The rate of retirement/leaving education was also plummeting at the same time.

If a school is overstaffed then the teacher gets involuntarily transferred to a different school usually if a position is on the chopping block the principal will tell the staff member that they're going to be transferred so the staff can figure out a job opening before they get involuntarily transferred and they don't get a choice in where they're sent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

I teach in Germantown and enjoy the reverse commute from Bethesda. I have wonderful co-workers but most elementary schools in Germantown are far from easy. There's a ton of poverty, trauma, etc.

[Anonymous]

Substitute shortages led to teacher burn out:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/ongoing-substitute-shortage-challenging-mcps-teachers-say/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

I teach in Germantown and enjoy the reverse commute from Bethesda. I have wonderful co-workers but most elementary schools in Germantown are far from easy. There's a ton of poverty, trauma, etc.

I've worked in both Bethesda and Germantown (and others). The culture of the Bethesda schools is insane, really, really hard to stomach, while the culture in a place like Germantown is normal. That makes a BIG difference in someone's day, and explains why schools in upper class areas have a harder time attracting and keeping teachers and paras. They're miserable places to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

I teach in Germantown and enjoy the reverse commute from Bethesda. I have wonderful co-workers but most elementary schools in Germantown are far from easy. There's a ton of poverty, trauma, etc.

I've worked in both Bethesda and Germantown (and others). The culture of the Bethesda schools is insane, really, really hard to stomach, while the culture in a place like Germantown is normal. That makes a BIG difference in someone's day, and explains why schools in upper class areas have a harder time attracting and keeping teachers and paras. They're miserable places to work.

I’ve also worked in both, though more recently in Germantown. Both areas have their issues and both are having trouble retaining teachers. In Bethesda, the parent demands can just be too much. The daily emails and constant judgement is hard to stomach (just read DCUM for examples). In Germantown, I rarely have any interaction with parents. In fact, I am often struggling just to get calls returned. However, the student behavior is out of this world. School is expected to fix all of society’s issues which is impossible. The daily disrespect from the students is horrible.

So teachers are dealing with very different issues, but both are challenging and both are driving teachers away from teaching. I believe Rockville might be ideal, but who knows? All I know is that I used to love teaching and now hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

I teach in Germantown and enjoy the reverse commute from Bethesda. I have wonderful co-workers but most elementary schools in Germantown are far from easy. There's a ton of poverty, trauma, etc.

I've worked in both Bethesda and Germantown (and others). The culture of the Bethesda schools is insane, really, really hard to stomach, while the culture in a place like Germantown is normal. That makes a BIG difference in someone's day, and explains why schools in upper class areas have a harder time attracting and keeping teachers and paras. They're miserable places to work.

I’ve also worked in both, though more recently in Germantown. Both areas have their issues and both are having trouble retaining teachers. In Bethesda, the parent demands can just be too much. The daily emails and constant judgement is hard to stomach (just read DCUM for examples). In Germantown, I rarely have any interaction with parents. In fact, I am often struggling just to get calls returned. However, the student behavior is out of this world. School is expected to fix all of society’s issues which is impossible. The daily disrespect from the students is horrible.

So teachers are dealing with very different issues, but both are challenging and both are driving teachers away from teaching. I believe Rockville might be ideal, but who knows? All I know is that I used to love teaching and now hate it.

Hoping next year will be better. Kids really are decompressing from being isolated during COVID.

[Anonymous]

Gallup weighs in.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/393500/workers-highest-burnout-rate.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

That's untrue.

STUDENT LOSS:
"In the 2019-20 school year, the MCPS enrollment grew by more than 2,700, the largest one-year increase in more than a decade. The MCPS enrollment has grown by more than 11,000 students since 2010, solidifying the school district as one of the largest in the country." https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-enrollment-down-more-than-2000-students-through-first-week-of-school/

2019: "The official Montgomery County Public Schools enrollment for September 30, 2019 is 165,267 students. This number is 1,138 students more than the projected enrollment of 164,129, and 2,587 more than last year's enrollment."

2020: "The official Montgomery County Public Schools prekindergarten–Grade 12 enrollment for September 30, 2020, is 160,564 students. This number is 4,186 students less than the projected enrollment of 164,750, and 4,703 less than last year's enrollment of 165,267 students."
https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=1527

2021: "The official Montgomery County Public Schools enrollment for September 30, 2021, is 158,232 students. This number is 6,518 students less than the projected enrollment of 164,750, and 2,332 less than last year's enrollment of 160,564 students." https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=1536

More MCPS data:
https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=1536
https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2021/OfficialEnrollment_2022.pdf

If you put all these numbers together, this is what student enrollment looks like over time:
2019 Sep 30 - 165,267
2019 Dec - 166,000+
2020 Sep 7 - 162,656
2020 Sep 30 - 160,564
2021 Sep 30 - 158,232

STAFF LOSS:
https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-faces-teacher-shortage-for-next-school-year/
According to this other article, up to 973 teachers indicated they would resign or retire in 2022. At the end of the 21-22 School Year, there were 668 teachers indicated they would resign or retire, and as of June 13, 2022, there were still 581 unfilled teaching positions from last year.

SUMMARY:
These past two years MCPS shrunk by about 8,850 students (6'ish percent?) and lost about 1,641'ish teachers (7'ish percent?) overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Gallup weighs in.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/393500/workers-highest-burnout-rate.aspx

Wait - DCUM assures us teachers have it cushy!