3 MCPS Principals Retiring Mid-Year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I messed that up. The post above was in response to the suicide pact observation.

You nailed it with your first post! I found out my first year as a career changer what happens when you speak up. My school had a principal that absolutely “ drank the Kool-aid of MCPS”. That’s what we called it there when we couldn’t understand the push back and refusal to address actual professional issues. I was punished by my principal when my consulting teacher wanted to release me from his observations because I was doing well. Huge honor I thought! No other negative observations. But the principal denied because apparently someone complained to her I wasn’t abiding by professional teaching standards because I spoke up about work load. She never once observed me or spoke to me about any “unprofessional” So they gave me more work to do. He was so upset he had to go before the PAR panel to explain but they wouldn’t listen. I ended up on anxiety medication that year. She’s now at Central go figure. No one speaks up. It’s career suicide for sure.

Isn't this kind of abuse and mistreatment what MCEA is supposed to defend and protect you from? Why are they failing teachers like this, when their whole reason for being is to prevent or at least respond to this kind of abuse and manipulation?

And if the union is this useless, why don't more teachers abandon it or call for new leadership?

It's not clear cut bullying and harassment it's all in the massive gray area that MCPS created to protect themselves. MCPS, and the unions, are very "written rule driven." If something doesn't meet the written definition nobody does anything (and still nothing even when it does). It's the small day to day things that add up and create a horrible and anxiety inducing work environment.

It's literally like being in an abusive romantic relationship. You'll get love bombed where they overly praise and recognize you at first and then every once in awhile to keep you around, but eventually it goes away and your ideas are dismissed or you are hardly acknowledged. They'll gaslight you telling you that you misunderstood or they'll change their minds and say something totally different than what was first said related to work projects and initiatives. It's the eggshells of coming into work everyday and not know the moods people will be in and if your supervisor is even going to say hello to you that day. It's not one big obvious thing that the unions can fight against. It's little things that can't easily be proven. Luckily I got out after 16 years because I had the ability to leave, but most people are stuck to keep their salary and pension.

I get why this is impossible to tackle on an individual level, but given that these microaggressions are so pervasive that it's causing teachers to quit or have a negative perception of the system, then I would think MCEA could advocate at the aggregate level and push back on MCAAP and MCPS and say, "Hey, our members say your admin are making the lives of our members miserable by taking advantage of the gray area in these ways."

But anyway, that's an obvious answer and as a parent, that's what I'm limited to, but thank you for giving me some insight on the inner workings of K-12 education. I never knew how freaking POLITICAL the whole system is. It's sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I messed that up. The post above was in response to the suicide pact observation.

You nailed it with your first post! I found out my first year as a career changer what happens when you speak up. My school had a principal that absolutely “ drank the Kool-aid of MCPS”. That’s what we called it there when we couldn’t understand the push back and refusal to address actual professional issues. I was punished by my principal when my consulting teacher wanted to release me from his observations because I was doing well. Huge honor I thought! No other negative observations. But the principal denied because apparently someone complained to her I wasn’t abiding by professional teaching standards because I spoke up about work load. She never once observed me or spoke to me about any “unprofessional” So they gave me more work to do. He was so upset he had to go before the PAR panel to explain but they wouldn’t listen. I ended up on anxiety medication that year. She’s now at Central go figure. No one speaks up. It’s career suicide for sure.

Isn't this kind of abuse and mistreatment what MCEA is supposed to defend and protect you from? Why are they failing teachers like this, when their whole reason for being is to prevent or at least respond to this kind of abuse and manipulation?

And if the union is this useless, why don't more teachers abandon it or call for new leadership?

It's not clear cut bullying and harassment it's all in the massive gray area that MCPS created to protect themselves. MCPS, and the unions, are very "written rule driven." If something doesn't meet the written definition nobody does anything (and still nothing even when it does). It's the small day to day things that add up and create a horrible and anxiety inducing work environment.

It's literally like being in an abusive romantic relationship. You'll get love bombed where they overly praise and recognize you at first and then every once in awhile to keep you around, but eventually it goes away and your ideas are dismissed or you are hardly acknowledged. They'll gaslight you telling you that you misunderstood or they'll change their minds and say something totally different than what was first said related to work projects and initiatives. It's the eggshells of coming into work everyday and not know the moods people will be in and if your supervisor is even going to say hello to you that day. It's not one big obvious thing that the unions can fight against. It's little things that can't easily be proven. Luckily I got out after 16 years because I had the ability to leave, but most people are stuck to keep their salary and pension.

Yes. Yes. I am the PP. You absolutely can relate this to an abusive relationship. I know this because I was when I was a child. I have reached out to the union. Many many times. Myself and another colleague have written draft letters with our resignations from the union but we are hesitant to send them because 100% something negative will happen to us. I truly believe MCEA is also corrupt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I messed that up. The post above was in response to the suicide pact observation.

You nailed it with your first post! I found out my first year as a career changer what happens when you speak up. My school had a principal that absolutely “ drank the Kool-aid of MCPS”. That’s what we called it there when we couldn’t understand the push back and refusal to address actual professional issues. I was punished by my principal when my consulting teacher wanted to release me from his observations because I was doing well. Huge honor I thought! No other negative observations. But the principal denied because apparently someone complained to her I wasn’t abiding by professional teaching standards because I spoke up about work load. She never once observed me or spoke to me about any “unprofessional” So they gave me more work to do. He was so upset he had to go before the PAR panel to explain but they wouldn’t listen. I ended up on anxiety medication that year. She’s now at Central go figure. No one speaks up. It’s career suicide for sure.

Isn't this kind of abuse and mistreatment what MCEA is supposed to defend and protect you from? Why are they failing teachers like this, when their whole reason for being is to prevent or at least respond to this kind of abuse and manipulation?

And if the union is this useless, why don't more teachers abandon it or call for new leadership?

It's not clear cut bullying and harassment it's all in the massive gray area that MCPS created to protect themselves. MCPS, and the unions, are very "written rule driven." If something doesn't meet the written definition nobody does anything (and still nothing even when it does). It's the small day to day things that add up and create a horrible and anxiety inducing work environment.

It's literally like being in an abusive romantic relationship. You'll get love bombed where they overly praise and recognize you at first and then every once in awhile to keep you around, but eventually it goes away and your ideas are dismissed or you are hardly acknowledged. They'll gaslight you telling you that you misunderstood or they'll change their minds and say something totally different than what was first said related to work projects and initiatives. It's the eggshells of coming into work everyday and not know the moods people will be in and if your supervisor is even going to say hello to you that day. It's not one big obvious thing that the unions can fight against. It's little things that can't easily be proven. Luckily I got out after 16 years because I had the ability to leave, but most people are stuck to keep their salary and pension.

I get why this is impossible to tackle on an individual level, but given that these microaggressions are so pervasive that it's causing teachers to quit or have a negative perception of the system, then I would think MCEA could advocate at the aggregate level and push back on MCAAP and MCPS and say, "Hey, our members say your admin are making the lives of our members miserable by taking advantage of the gray area in these ways."

But anyway, that's an obvious answer and as a parent, that's what I'm limited to, but thank you for giving me some insight on the inner workings of K-12 education. I never knew how freaking POLITICAL the whole system is. It's sad.

The last 9 years of my career I was in different MCAAP positions ending with working in central office, so it's not only administrator to teacher/support staff it's literally anything from top down and even side to side. I know principals who have been treated horribly by their directors and directors treated horribly by their bosses. I left this past summer because although it has always sort of existed, it has clearly and dramatically become worse under Dr. McKnight's "leadership." And I was a fan of hers when she was elected, until I saw what was happening and how fast.

MCPS is very political and so are the unions. They all make promises to each other to benefit their interest (give us this and we'll make sure to endorse you for election) so they are all working for their own interests and not for students or staff. The unions won't write another no confidence letter because last year McKnight approved and advocated for large pay increases so the unions got what they wanted in exchange for laying off of her. So the BOE won't do anything to McKnight because the unions silently support her for getting what they want and BOE members need union endorsements.

The whole system is damaged and it's sad that kids are the ones that get hurt.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for replying PP. When my medically fragile child with an IEP didn’t have a teacher or receive any of his services for the entire first quarter last year for IIS I went to the union to help after I exhausted all my efforts with staff. I’m a teacher who was in the same school as my son. They brushed me off and didn’t put any effort into helping me find an alternative. I knew then they only serve the interests that benefit the union. The whole lot of MCPS is rotten. I’d leave but I’m middle age. I’m trying to find an alternative career that I can at least secure the same type of pay in without going into major student loan debt. I wasn’t planning on leaving education. Many of us are stuck in this abusive relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be more, probably many more, but mostly end-of-year. Some will be APs and some will leave for another county [even though MCPS has the highest salary]. The relevant part will be the total number, and how many are leaving with fewer than 30 years.

For more veteran educators, our MD pension pays significantly reduced rates if you retire before completing 30 years. Many of us think of year 15(ish) an inflection point: after 15, you have so much committed that it’s hard to justify walking away early.

When MCPS employees retire in the 25-29 year range, they are quietly saying “this isn’t $&@?#%* worth it, I need to get out before I have a heart attack or have a breakdown.”

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anita O'Neill to lead Clarksburg as interim after the New Year.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be more, probably many more, but mostly end-of-year. Some will be APs and some will leave for another county [even though MCPS has the highest salary]. The relevant part will be the total number, and how many are leaving with fewer than 30 years.

For more veteran educators, our MD pension pays significantly reduced rates if you retire before completing 30 years. Many of us think of year 15(ish) an inflection point: after 15, you have so much committed that it’s hard to justify walking away early.

When MCPS employees retire in the 25-29 year range, they are quietly saying “this isn’t $&@?#%* worth it, I need to get out before I have a heart attack or have a breakdown.”

MCPS does not have the highest salaries for administrators anymore. That's why they negotiated that last contract to bring them up to par with other counties.

Pay, treatment, and watered down admin training program is why MCPS will continue to have issues with school leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be more, probably many more, but mostly end-of-year. Some will be APs and some will leave for another county [even though MCPS has the highest salary]. The relevant part will be the total number, and how many are leaving with fewer than 30 years.

For more veteran educators, our MD pension pays significantly reduced rates if you retire before completing 30 years. Many of us think of year 15(ish) an inflection point: after 15, you have so much committed that it’s hard to justify walking away early.

When MCPS employees retire in the 25-29 year range, they are quietly saying “this isn’t $&@?#%* worth it, I need to get out before I have a heart attack or have a breakdown.”

+1

[Anonymous]

Totally corrupt grade inflating school to prison pipeline with no standards or discipline. It's baby sitting dangerous kids then teachers are blamed and discarded for this set up. Thanks for nothing mcea and mcps. You truly are bastards.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn’t they retire when it’s the best for their family?

How many people time their retirement to be in the best interest of their work?

[Anonymous]

I think people are noticing that more principals are retiring mid year than have in the past. That suggests the working conditions are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people are noticing that more principals are retiring mid year than have in the past. That suggests the working conditions are different.

Perhaps they want out before getting Biedlemaned?

[Anonymous]

Good riddance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people are noticing that more principals are retiring mid year than have in the past. That suggests the working conditions are different.

Perhaps they want out before getting Biedlemaned?

I wouldn't want to be considered for a principal promotion right now because they are going to be scrutinized and all their mistakes will be aired, maybe not by MCPS but by the people they treated unfairly. I think it will extend far beyond sexual stuff on the next go-around.