MCPS Teachers and Staff: Do awards and spotlight recognitions by BOE and Taylor really help boost morale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and I am one of the Special Ed teachers who got cut today as well. I'm still not mad over this gala as I am smart enough to know that events that take place today are paid for like 6 months ago.

They aren’t. Never paid in full 6 months out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh and I am one of the Special Ed teachers who got cut today as well. I'm still not mad over this gala as I am smart enough to know that events that take place today are paid for like 6 months ago.

They aren’t. Never paid in full 6 months out.

Maybe not in full but likely a lot of non-refundable deposits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The gold star gala was a gross misuse of funds (MCPS parent and staff member). I asked a few colleagues and they all agreed that it was distasteful for MCPS to spend all that money on a party at the Hilton in the middle of slashing special education staffing and cutting general education teachers.

I'm the OP and I literally just made up the Gold-Star analogy. I had no idea Taylor had also decided to launch an award ceremony with that same name. On top of all the other awards he's already giving out. Wow.

[Anonymous]

First annual gala. Wow. So tone deaf. How much did that cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First annual gala. Wow. So tone deaf. How much did that cost?

Definitely wasn't cheap.

But I care more about if teachers really see any emotional or psychological benefit from all these shenanigans. If they do, then it might be worth it. But if they don't, then it's definitely a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The gold star gala was a gross misuse of funds (MCPS parent and staff member). I asked a few colleagues and they all agreed that it was distasteful for MCPS to spend all that money on a party at the Hilton in the middle of slashing special education staffing and cutting general education teachers.

I would be shocked if this wasn’t all put together at the last minute- even if it was on someone’s calendar. MCPS isn’t really know for their expertise in planning - I’m a former teacher and have lived it first hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The gold star gala was a gross misuse of funds (MCPS parent and staff member). I asked a few colleagues and they all agreed that it was distasteful for MCPS to spend all that money on a party at the Hilton in the middle of slashing special education staffing and cutting general education teachers.

Tone deaf in the extreme. All this seems phony and an attempt to deflect from the glaring problems in CO.

[Anonymous]

This is also essentially a popularity contest. There are so many excellent teachers and staff that go beyond behind the scenes every single day. This is insulting to the staff that get overlooked or are not on admin’s radar. This is not an insult to the honorees. Most teachers I know just roll their eyes at this stuff. What makes the difference to many I know and myself? Personal notes from students, families - meaningful acknowledgments that come from an honest place. Not this hoopla. I remember when one of my schools didn’t even have the funds to replace my laptop charger when it got stolen. So I had to plug it into my monitor for the rest of the year. So yeah. They can shove the theatrics imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is also essentially a popularity contest. There are so many excellent teachers and staff that go beyond behind the scenes every single day. This is insulting to the staff that get overlooked or are not on admin’s radar. This is not an insult to the honorees. Most teachers I know just roll their eyes at this stuff. What makes the difference to many I know and myself? Personal notes from students, families - meaningful acknowledgments that come from an honest place. Not this hoopla. I remember when one of my schools didn’t even have the funds to replace my laptop charger when it got stolen. So I had to plug it into my monitor for the rest of the year. So yeah. They can shove the theatrics imo.

+100
Veteran teacher here. Publicity stunts and photo opps leave others who are also working super hard feel overlooked. TT and company continue to demonstrate their cluelessness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First annual gala. Wow. So tone deaf. How much did that cost?

Definitely wasn't cheap.

But I care more about if teachers really see any emotional or psychological benefit from all these shenanigans. If they do, then it might be worth it. But if they don't, then it's definitely a waste of money.

Recognition is good for morale.

But you really don’t care what we think, OP. You just have it out for Taylor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is also essentially a popularity contest. There are so many excellent teachers and staff that go beyond behind the scenes every single day. This is insulting to the staff that get overlooked or are not on admin’s radar. This is not an insult to the honorees. Most teachers I know just roll their eyes at this stuff. What makes the difference to many I know and myself? Personal notes from students, families - meaningful acknowledgments that come from an honest place. Not this hoopla. I remember when one of my schools didn’t even have the funds to replace my laptop charger when it got stolen. So I had to plug it into my monitor for the rest of the year. So yeah. They can shove the theatrics imo.

+100
Veteran teacher here. Publicity stunts and photo opps leave others who are also working super hard feel overlooked. TT and company continue to demonstrate their cluelessness.

Another veteran teacher here and I absolutely agree. And I say this as someone who has received recognition. I feel awkward and embarrassed about it because I work with a ton of great people who ALSO deserve acknowledgment.

I’d trade all of these awards for some basic professional respect for all of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First annual gala. Wow. So tone deaf. How much did that cost?

Definitely wasn't cheap.

But I care more about if teachers really see any emotional or psychological benefit from all these shenanigans. If they do, then it might be worth it. But if they don't, then it's definitely a waste of money.

Recognition is good for morale.

But you really don’t care what we think, OP. You just have it out for Taylor.

Why? Why would OP have it “out” for the superintendent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is also essentially a popularity contest. There are so many excellent teachers and staff that go beyond behind the scenes every single day. This is insulting to the staff that get overlooked or are not on admin’s radar. This is not an insult to the honorees. Most teachers I know just roll their eyes at this stuff. What makes the difference to many I know and myself? Personal notes from students, families - meaningful acknowledgments that come from an honest place. Not this hoopla. I remember when one of my schools didn’t even have the funds to replace my laptop charger when it got stolen. So I had to plug it into my monitor for the rest of the year. So yeah. They can shove the theatrics imo.

Plus 1000. Current MCPS teacher and one of the people in my building who was “chosen” is just the principals pet and not who staff wanted to win. Our team nominated our grade level lead who is amazing burden chose who she wanted.

Oh and admin got to go to this fancy party that cost a million dollars also. I’m pretty disappointed in MCPS for the “gala”. Completely unnecessary. They could have given an award, had an assembly and given honorees a donut breakfast at their school for way less taxpayer money during a time when we are losing critical support to our students. Next year our class sizes are going to be way higher and we lost 2 special es teachers on top of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is also essentially a popularity contest. There are so many excellent teachers and staff that go beyond behind the scenes every single day. This is insulting to the staff that get overlooked or are not on admin’s radar. This is not an insult to the honorees. Most teachers I know just roll their eyes at this stuff. What makes the difference to many I know and myself? Personal notes from students, families - meaningful acknowledgments that come from an honest place. Not this hoopla. I remember when one of my schools didn’t even have the funds to replace my laptop charger when it got stolen. So I had to plug it into my monitor for the rest of the year. So yeah. They can shove the theatrics imo.

+100
Veteran teacher here. Publicity stunts and photo opps leave others who are also working super hard feel overlooked. TT and company continue to demonstrate their cluelessness.

Another veteran teacher here and I absolutely agree. And I say this as someone who has received recognition. I feel awkward and embarrassed about it because I work with a ton of great people who ALSO deserve acknowledgment.

I’d trade all of these awards for some basic professional respect for all of us.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is also essentially a popularity contest. There are so many excellent teachers and staff that go beyond behind the scenes every single day. This is insulting to the staff that get overlooked or are not on admin’s radar. This is not an insult to the honorees. Most teachers I know just roll their eyes at this stuff. What makes the difference to many I know and myself? Personal notes from students, families - meaningful acknowledgments that come from an honest place. Not this hoopla. I remember when one of my schools didn’t even have the funds to replace my laptop charger when it got stolen. So I had to plug it into my monitor for the rest of the year. So yeah. They can shove the theatrics imo.

Plus 1000. Current MCPS teacher and one of the people in my building who was “chosen” is just the principals pet and not who staff wanted to win. Our team nominated our grade level lead who is amazing burden chose who she wanted.

Oh and admin got to go to this fancy party that cost a million dollars also. I’m pretty disappointed in MCPS for the “gala”. Completely unnecessary. They could have given an award, had an assembly and given honorees a donut breakfast at their school for way less taxpayer money during a time when we are losing critical support to our students. Next year our class sizes are going to be way higher and we lost 2 special es teachers on top of it.

Yeah. It's no surprise that these awards are distributed to those who admin find obedient and not necessarily those who have the most impact on the students and families they serve. Mirrors Taylor's leadership TBH.