Contract $ for teachers not available until December??

[Anonymous]

Yes, yes, yes! A thousand yeses! I have already decided that the retro pay is going to be my escape money. I've felt like I have been trapped in a golden handcuffs abusive marriage since I started working for DCPS. Even after leaving one toxic school for another toxic school I continue to suffer. People in schools point to central office but central office staff is just as brow beaten as people in schools. The whole system needs a revamp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former DCPS teacher here,

DCPS is a one-sided marriage in which one half does all of the work and is compensated with criticism, empty promises, and half hearted thank yous.

They have no incentive to fulfill their promise right away because they know you won't leave. You've put up with their crap this long. Besides, the promise of the money will keep you there just a little bit longer.

I hope you get your money because it is long overdo, but just know that the organization you're married to will always take more than it gives.

+1000 and it's only after you leave that you realize that the marriage was abusive and you have PTSD!

[Anonymous]

That's because the Gates Foundation is funding LEAP so when the Gates people come around to see how their money is being spent schools put on a dog and pony show. LEAP is not going to have a long term impact and it really is too long and too frequent. At least it no longer requires those absurd weekly observation and post-ob meetings. Ugh!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 because I guarantee it will be happening and sooner rather than later. Until DCPS gets rid of the punitive evaluation system and LEAP it will continue to bleed teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers were notified this week that the salary increase promised by our new contract, approved on 10/3, will not be available until at least 12/22. Prior to the vote, teachers were told that the funds would be available "in our October paychecks" by both the Mayor and City Council.

What's more, the retro pay will not be paid until January. (It was also promised for October or early November.)

Shame on us for believing that this was a new era of good faith?

Please let the Mayor's Office and the City Council know that this shadiness is noted, and that they should do whatever is necessary to get the money to teachers now. (The delay is being attributed to an administrative/payroll snafu.) If nothing else, the Mayor should make a statement explaining exactly why the delay is happening and giving a specific plan for honoring the City's promise to teachers.

Antwan sent an email to teachers today but didn't explain why. Elizabeth Davis said it was because the city was unprepared for the pay out in the budget. I agree, shame on us. DCPS treats its teachers like crap.

Then maybe you would like to teach elsewhere and make less?

Good to know you won’t ever complain about teacher turnover since you’re cool with them going elsewhere.

Re LEAP - I don't think it's going anywhere.

At a conference this week, Bill Gates praised the program drawing the attention of the Chancellor, and a shoutout to Jason Kamras. https://twitter.com/DCPSChancellor/status/921062873388015616

[Anonymous]

LEAP isn't going anywhere nor should it. LEAP needs to be modified for teachers. Teachers who are and have been successful in the classroom should have a totally different track. They should be required to come in once a month or so, or maybe serve as a mentor to one new or struggling teacher. But on the other side there are tons of teachers that need LEAP and just need to be honest about where they are as a teacher. I have seen really good teachers in buildings that I have worked in and but I have seen more bad to average teachers in buildings. As teachers we can talk all we want to about respect, pay, and other things, but now of that will happen until the majority of the teachers start respecting the craft and the students they serve.

But in terms of the contract stuff, I'm curious if Liz Davis already knew. I don't trust her and I don't think she works very hard for the people who really need her support.

[Anonymous]

What you are describing is not LEAP. LEAP is a very specific model of providing professional development. No one is saying that schools shouldn't offer professional development. I believe that DCPS is paying too much money for this one size fits all model. I do agree with the fact that if schools will tap into their greatest resource - its own teachers - they would do better. I would also like to see a model where schools pool their PD resources and invite experts in to work with teachers in the areas that they need the most support. I also agree that Davis should not have been reelected for another term but the goal was to push out Candi Peterson so there's that.

Anonymous wrote:LEAP isn't going anywhere nor should it. LEAP needs to be modified for teachers. Teachers who are and have been successful in the classroom should have a totally different track. They should be required to come in once a month or so, or maybe serve as a mentor to one new or struggling teacher. But on the other side there are tons of teachers that need LEAP and just need to be honest about where they are as a teacher. I have seen really good teachers in buildings that I have worked in and but I have seen more bad to average teachers in buildings. As teachers we can talk all we want to about respect, pay, and other things, but now of that will happen until the majority of the teachers start respecting the craft and the students they serve.

But in terms of the contract stuff, I'm curious if Liz Davis already knew. I don't trust her and I don't think she works very hard for the people who really need her support.

[Anonymous]

Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

Okay roll your eyes if you want but it’s the truth.

In DC teachers with a bachelors make $68 in their 10th year. Plus the chance of a big bonus.

In fairfax teachers make $61

Alexandria City is $67

PWCS $58

And not to mention there isn’t a powerful union backing up teachers in Virginia. DC teachers get money if their planning time is taken up. That would never ever happen where I teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

Okay roll your eyes if you want but it’s the truth.

In DC teachers with a bachelors make $68 in their 10th year. Plus the chance of a big bonus.

In fairfax teachers make $61

Alexandria City is $67

PWCS $58

And not to mention there isn’t a powerful union backing up teachers in Virginia. DC teachers get money if their planning time is taken up. That would never ever happen where I teach.

Well come join us in DC then. Teachers do it every year and QUIT, so despite the salary (also a high cost of living) teachers quit in droves and head for Maryland and Virginia. There are always vacancies, some posted on idealist.org right now. And if you're not ready now, they hire more than 300 teachers every year.

[Anonymous]

Yup, you're right! It's Utopia! Come on over to the dark side and sell your soul for a few bucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

Okay roll your eyes if you want but it’s the truth.

In DC teachers with a bachelors make $68 in their 10th year. Plus the chance of a big bonus.

In fairfax teachers make $61

Alexandria City is $67

PWCS $58

And not to mention there isn’t a powerful union backing up teachers in Virginia. DC teachers get money if their planning time is taken up. That would never ever happen where I teach.

[Anonymous]

All of the VA teachers that I worked with who came to DC for the money were either IMPACTed out within 2 years or voluntarily left. And while contractually teachers are supposed to get paid for missed preps and extra students admins have ways of getting around it. They will either not approve it saying that you get more than the contracted amount of prep time or will approve it then "lose" the paperwork so you never see the money in your check.
I've never been paid for a loss prep in this district.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

Okay roll your eyes if you want but it’s the truth.

In DC teachers with a bachelors make $68 in their 10th year. Plus the chance of a big bonus.

In fairfax teachers make $61

Alexandria City is $67

PWCS $58

And not to mention there isn’t a powerful union backing up teachers in Virginia. DC teachers get money if their planning time is taken up. That would never ever happen where I teach.

Well come join us in DC then. Teachers do it every year and QUIT, so despite the salary (also a high cost of living) teachers quit in droves and head for Maryland and Virginia. There are always vacancies, some posted on idealist.org right now. And if you're not ready now, they hire more than 300 teachers every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former DCPS teacher here,

DCPS is a one-sided marriage in which one half does all of the work and is compensated with criticism, empty promises, and half hearted thank yous.

They have no incentive to fulfill their promise right away because they know you won't leave. You've put up with their crap this long. Besides, the promise of the money will keep you there just a little bit longer.

I hope you get your money because it is long overdo, but just know that the organization you're married to will always take more than it gives.

+1000 and it's only after you leave that you realize that the marriage was abusive and you have PTSD!

+1000 I realized that this year when I left.

[Anonymous]

It’s 4am and I’m awake with dread about returning to work on Monday. Our school is in crisis. Kids being dragged down the hallway by behavior techs,every hour- kicking, screaming. Our principal cries frequently throughout the day. But, when she is not crying it’s worse. She is harassing us (yes, harassment) and intimidating many teachers into silence. I’ve been in the district for a decade & this is the worst is ever been. As for why we don’t leave, many of us do. And those that don’t truly are trying to save the kids from their school district. May sound fake- but it’s true.
And

[Anonymous]

Another former DCPS teacher, its true you will NEVER see a check for lost preptime. There are surrounding districts/counties where you can make just as much or very near the DCPS teacher salary. I don't know why people keep claiming they continue to work for DCPS for the bonus, half of the time they're no closer to a bonus & they struggle with a 3 ring circus. Education in DCPS is deplorable, half of the time, teachers/admin use DCPS for the free pre-k (though they don't live in the district) and then they enroll their children elsewhere. My former DCPS principal sent her children to boarding schools in the NE.


Oh and the WTU is powerless, come to MCPS if you want to see a real union function.

[Anonymous]

Simply wrong. The teachers should not have to keep waiting for their money. Our DCPS teachers have been great despite such craziness. Thank you, teachers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are disgruntled teachers going to go? I’m a teacher in Virginia and the pay is crap and we hardly ever get a raise.

Okay roll your eyes if you want but it’s the truth.

In DC teachers with a bachelors make $68 in their 10th year. Plus the chance of a big bonus.

In fairfax teachers make $61

Alexandria City is $67

PWCS $58

And not to mention there isn’t a powerful union backing up teachers in Virginia. DC teachers get money if their planning time is taken up. That would never ever happen where I teach.

I understand your plight. I hated every minute in DCPS, but the money was great. With all of the teachers who were quitting midyear, our principal had no choice but to make sure that we got every dime of admin premium. I can't remember if it was $35 or $45 an hour, but I brought home at least an extra $500 every check. I covered classes every single day during my planning period, went to every "optional" Saturday PD, and logged every hour for staying after school until 4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for tutoring. I also got paid an extra $40 for having more than the maximum number of students in one of my classes.

With all of those bonuses, I took at least a $10k paycut when I left DCPS. I'm definitely feeling the impact financially, but the peace of mind is worth every time.