Huge turnover at Churchill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how people know who is leaving unless you work in the school. The only announcement by Mrs. Heckert was the RT for Special Education.

Having a RT being married to a person in their department has been a long time problem. Even having a parent being the RT for the same department their child works in creates a culture of nepotism at Churchill. Slowly these types of problems are being eliminated.

Another issue is problem teachers. I hope the science teacher who kissed a girl is one of the teachers who is leaving. There are a number of teachers who should be on par. I don't know the answer, but what happens if a teacher is on par and he/she transfers? Do they get a clean slate?

Mrs. Heckert is ambitious. She is trying to tackle problems Dr. Benz let fester for years. Change in this case is not bad. With change she can bring in new people who are willing to do the work. Cudos to the counselor who was promoted. There should be a reward for people who are exceptional in their jobs. For the teachers transferring to be closer to their homes, I can understand their desire for a shorter commute.

? How can such a teacher still be teaching? Did this really happen?

Yes, it happened this spring. The teacher was escorted off campus by security but returned to his classes within a few days. No formal explanation to the community.

Saw the postings on Mrs. Heckert's twitter account. Nope, the science teacher who kissed a girl is not one of the ones that is leaving.

There has to be more to the story. A teacher kissed a student (even if she was 18), and he is still teaching?

MCPS must be desperate for science teachers, though I think that's true of most school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an issue at every school in MCPS. MCPS is really difficult to work for.

I’d say new teachers last about 5 years or so and then have to move on.

MCPS expects too much and doesn’t support teachers well. So they try to move on in the hopes that it will improve.

Could you imaging working for MCPS? With its abysmal leadership and horrible policies?

You've captured it very well in four lines.

I feel a tad bit guilty helping a young teacher (friend's kid) transfer into MCPS. The money and benefits entice you at first, ultimately trapping you unless you're brave enough to cut yourself free.

deal with the devil . . . That's how I see it.

But... the description above said they were leaving to work in other MCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s an issue at every school in MCPS. MCPS is really difficult to work for.

I’d say new teachers last about 5 years or so and then have to move on.

MCPS expects too much and doesn’t support teachers well. So they try to move on in the hopes that it will improve.

Could you imaging working for MCPS? With its abysmal leadership and horrible policies?

As an an MCPS teacher, I can say this is hyperbole. Is working for MCPS tough? Yes, it can be depending on the situation. Leaving a position after 5 years in a school is quite normal. It looks like most of the staff leaving either had a promotion or want to work closer to home for various reasons.

I think parents have to understand that working in a school can be very similar to working in the private sector. You can get people that don't get along, new/bad managers, promotions, pregnancies, home purchases, etc. all leading to changing assignments. In my experience it is very rare for teachers to live in the school zone where they teach, so teachers may not have loyalty to the community, and it should not be expected. Most staff don't stay at the same school until retirement. I can think of only a few teachers who are "lifers" at a one school most of their career.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would never work in Bethesda, Churchill, Potomac, Silver Spring, etc. due to traffic. Some of the staff find it easier to commute from D.C. than from other parts of Montgomery Co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how people know who is leaving unless you work in the school. The only announcement by Mrs. Heckert was the RT for Special Education.

Having a RT being married to a person in their department has been a long time problem. Even having a parent being the RT for the same department their child works in creates a culture of nepotism at Churchill. Slowly these types of problems are being eliminated.

Another issue is problem teachers. I hope the science teacher who kissed a girl is one of the teachers who is leaving. There are a number of teachers who should be on par. I don't know the answer, but what happens if a teacher is on par and he/she transfers? Do they get a clean slate?

Mrs. Heckert is ambitious. She is trying to tackle problems Dr. Benz let fester for years. Change in this case is not bad. With change she can bring in new people who are willing to do the work. Cudos to the counselor who was promoted. There should be a reward for people who are exceptional in their jobs. For the teachers transferring to be closer to their homes, I can understand their desire for a shorter commute.

? How can such a teacher still be teaching? Did this really happen?

Yes, it happened this spring. The teacher was escorted off campus by security but returned to his classes within a few days. No formal explanation to the community.

Saw the postings on Mrs. Heckert's twitter account. Nope, the science teacher who kissed a girl is not one of the ones that is leaving.

There has to be more to the story. A teacher kissed a student (even if she was 18), and he is still teaching?

MCPS must be desperate for science teachers, though I think that's true of most school districts.

I’m pretty sure he kissed her on the top of the head or something. It wasn’t a sexual kiss, but it was inappropriate. Something like that. There were posts on here about it earlier in the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an issue at every school in MCPS. MCPS is really difficult to work for.

I’d say new teachers last about 5 years or so and then have to move on.

MCPS expects too much and doesn’t support teachers well. So they try to move on in the hopes that it will improve.

Could you imaging working for MCPS? With its abysmal leadership and horrible policies?

You've captured it very well in four lines.

I feel a tad bit guilty helping a young teacher (friend's kid) transfer into MCPS. The money and benefits entice you at first, ultimately trapping you unless you're brave enough to cut yourself free.

deal with the devil . . . That's how I see it.

But... the description above said they were leaving to work in other MCPS schools.

It doesn't matter where you go. It's the same. Principals either let the school go to hell b/c they're never there, or they micromanage your every move. There's no support and no autonomy. Even in the "better" schools, the parents become your worst nightmare.

I feel guilty for this young teacher. so happy to have a job in a middle school . . . It won't last. Turnover is so high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an issue at every school in MCPS. MCPS is really difficult to work for.

I’d say new teachers last about 5 years or so and then have to move on.

MCPS expects too much and doesn’t support teachers well. So they try to move on in the hopes that it will improve.

Could you imaging working for MCPS? With its abysmal leadership and horrible policies?

As an an MCPS teacher, I can say this is hyperbole. Is working for MCPS tough? Yes, it can be depending on the situation. Leaving a position after 5 years in a school is quite normal. It looks like most of the staff leaving either had a promotion or want to work closer to home for various reasons.

I think parents have to understand that working in a school can be very similar to working in the private sector. You can get people that don't get along, new/bad managers, promotions, pregnancies, home purchases, etc. all leading to changing assignments. In my experience it is very rare for teachers to live in the school zone where they teach, so teachers may not have loyalty to the community, and it should not be expected. Most staff don't stay at the same school until retirement. I can think of only a few teachers who are "lifers" at a one school most of their career.

I support the first PP's post, and I've a 25+ year veteran. I've been around the block - from north to south - but spent most of my time in the NEC. I'd say resilience is part of my nature. But I've seen a lot, and I've been through the changes. Smart newbies leave, however, b/c there's too much bullsh*t to handle.

Once you make excuses, you continue to help the system erode. I don't make excuses. The system is failing, but some fail to see that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would never work in Bethesda, Churchill, Potomac, Silver Spring, etc. due to traffic. Some of the staff find it easier to commute from D.C. than from other parts of Montgomery Co.

Lots of teachers live in HoCo and commute into the DCC via 29.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an issue at every school in MCPS. MCPS is really difficult to work for.

I’d say new teachers last about 5 years or so and then have to move on.

MCPS expects too much and doesn’t support teachers well. So they try to move on in the hopes that it will improve.

Could you imaging working for MCPS? With its abysmal leadership and horrible policies?

As an an MCPS teacher, I can say this is hyperbole. Is working for MCPS tough? Yes, it can be depending on the situation. Leaving a position after 5 years in a school is quite normal. It looks like most of the staff leaving either had a promotion or want to work closer to home for various reasons.

I think parents have to understand that working in a school can be very similar to working in the private sector. You can get people that don't get along, new/bad managers, promotions, pregnancies, home purchases, etc. all leading to changing assignments. In my experience it is very rare for teachers to live in the school zone where they teach, so teachers may not have loyalty to the community, and it should not be expected. Most staff don't stay at the same school until retirement. I can think of only a few teachers who are "lifers" at a one school most of their career.

I disagree. You don't leave a decent paying position after 5 years if you're happy and have good leadership. Not in the private sector and not in the public sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a new Principal = turn over after year one, but based on information going put overTwitter, it looks like all of Special Ed, half the Counselors and many, many teachers. We will have an incoming freshman there in September. Can someone on the inside share what they think is going on?

Ah rumors, where would DCUM be without rumors?

OK, here’s what’s really happening:

1. Yes, there are a lot of SpEd teachers and paras leaving. The RT is leaving as is her husband who is a para in the department. Five other SpEd teachers are leaving for various reasons. A few so they can teach closer to where they live. Not many teachers can afford to live close to Churchill.

2. Two counselors are leaving. One is becoming the Counseling RT at Blair (a promotion). The other is taking a leave of absence to pursue other things.

3. There aren’t “many many teachers” leaving. Three World Languages teachers are leaving. One is going to Rockville to join their hard of hearing program. She teaches ASL, so it’s a great move for her. Another one is leaving to be closer to home (see a pattern there?). There are also two Science teachers and an English teacher leaving. That’s a grand total of six additional teachers leaving. Definitely not “many many.”

Churchill probably has about 120 teachers not including the Bridge and Autism programs. 14 of them are leaving. Yes that’s turnover, but nothing drastic as implied by the OP.

Can you share which science teachers are leaving? Hopefully a Physics one?

[Anonymous]

Per Mrs. Heckert's tweet:

Mr. Fugal is going to Gaithersburg.

Ms. Nieh is going to Einstein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how people know who is leaving unless you work in the school. The only announcement by Mrs. Heckert was the RT for Special Education.

I follow her on Twitter - she has "announced" tons of people leaving there...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how people know who is leaving unless you work in the school. The only announcement by Mrs. Heckert was the RT for Special Education.

Having a RT being married to a person in their department has been a long time problem. Even having a parent being the RT for the same department their child works in creates a culture of nepotism at Churchill. Slowly these types of problems are being eliminated.

Another issue is problem teachers. I hope the science teacher who kissed a girl is one of the teachers who is leaving. There are a number of teachers who should be on par. I don't know the answer, but what happens if a teacher is on par and he/she transfers? Do they get a clean slate?

Mrs. Heckert is ambitious. She is trying to tackle problems Dr. Benz let fester for years. Change in this case is not bad. With change she can bring in new people who are willing to do the work. Cudos to the counselor who was promoted. There should be a reward for people who are exceptional in their jobs. For the teachers transferring to be closer to their homes, I can understand their desire for a shorter commute.

? How can such a teacher still be teaching? Did this really happen?

Yes, it happened this spring. The teacher was escorted off campus by security but returned to his classes within a few days. No formal explanation to the community.

Saw the postings on Mrs. Heckert's twitter account. Nope, the science teacher who kissed a girl is not one of the ones that is leaving.

There has to be more to the story. A teacher kissed a student (even if she was 18), and he is still teaching?

MCPS must be desperate for science teachers, though I think that's true of most school districts.

I’m pretty sure he kissed her on the top of the head or something. It wasn’t a sexual kiss, but it was inappropriate. Something like that. There were posts on here about it earlier in the year.

+1

As usual this is completely portrayed in a way that it did not happen. Apparently she was struggling emotionally and he kissed her on top of her head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how people know who is leaving unless you work in the school. The only announcement by Mrs. Heckert was the RT for Special Education.

I follow her on Twitter - she has "announced" tons of people leaving there...

I guess I should follow twitter instead of the Winston Weekly. She announced in.the Winston Weekly the change in the RT for Special Education but not the other changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure how people know who is leaving unless you work in the school. The only announcement by Mrs. Heckert was the RT for Special Education.

Having a RT being married to a person in their department has been a long time problem. Even having a parent being the RT for the same department their child works in creates a culture of nepotism at Churchill. Slowly these types of problems are being eliminated.

Another issue is problem teachers. I hope the science teacher who kissed a girl is one of the teachers who is leaving. There are a number of teachers who should be on par. I don't know the answer, but what happens if a teacher is on par and he/she transfers? Do they get a clean slate?

Mrs. Heckert is ambitious. She is trying to tackle problems Dr. Benz let fester for years. Change in this case is not bad. With change she can bring in new people who are willing to do the work. Cudos to the counselor who was promoted. There should be a reward for people who are exceptional in their jobs. For the teachers transferring to be closer to their homes, I can understand their desire for a shorter commute.

? How can such a teacher still be teaching? Did this really happen?

Yes, it happened this spring. The teacher was escorted off campus by security but returned to his classes within a few days. No formal explanation to the community.

Saw the postings on Mrs. Heckert's twitter account. Nope, the science teacher who kissed a girl is not one of the ones that is leaving.

There has to be more to the story. A teacher kissed a student (even if she was 18), and he is still teaching?

MCPS must be desperate for science teachers, though I think that's true of most school districts.

I’m pretty sure he kissed her on the top of the head or something. It wasn’t a sexual kiss, but it was inappropriate. Something like that. There were posts on here about it earlier in the year.

+1

As usual this is completely portrayed in a way that it did not happen. Apparently she was struggling emotionally and he kissed her on top of her head.

No matter where the kiss was (different accounts floating around the school with no explanation from Mrs. Heckert) totally inappropriate for a teacher to do. Hence why the security escort out of the building when it was reported.

A child predator also tests boundaries before abuse occurs. It seems like MCPS is willing to take that gamble with this teacher.

As a parent, I would never want my child in this person's class and will demand a schedule change if my child is assigned to his class.