MCEA is furious with MCPS

[Anonymous]

While I admire their tenacity, nothing will change.

[Anonymous]

I think MCEA needs to pick and choose what it fights for carefully. They should be fighting for teacher and student safety from aggressive students instead of demanding recess on half days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think MCEA needs to pick and choose what it fights for carefully. They should be fighting for teacher and student safety from aggressive students instead of demanding recess on half days.

MCEA is negotiating for what were identified as the top priorities by teachers. They conducted exhaustive surveys during the last school year and over the summer. I'm not really "into" the union stuff, but reps came to my home three times over the summer to get feedback and input, and then follow up. Apparently planning time was the number one priority among respondents (personally, my pick was higher salary and cost of living increases). I went to one bargaining session, since my school organized a group and pizza was served, and I can see why MCEA is pissed. This is the first time negotiations are open, and MCEA is presenting very passionate testimony with research based evidence and personal stories, and MCPS's response has basically been "Huh."

MCPS has barely even responded with counter proposals, and what they have offered is riddled with errors. One was a proposed salary scale that actually showed decreases for veteran teachers. When it was pointed out, they withdrew it and basically said "oops, our bad, never mind." It's a mess right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCEA needs to pick and choose what it fights for carefully. They should be fighting for teacher and student safety from aggressive students instead of demanding recess on half days.

MCEA is negotiating for what were identified as the top priorities by teachers. They conducted exhaustive surveys during the last school year and over the summer. I'm not really "into" the union stuff, but reps came to my home three times over the summer to get feedback and input, and then follow up. Apparently planning time was the number one priority among respondents (personally, my pick was higher salary and cost of living increases). I went to one bargaining session, since my school organized a group and pizza was served, and I can see why MCEA is pissed. This is the first time negotiations are open, and MCEA is presenting very passionate testimony with research based evidence and personal stories, and MCPS's response has basically been "Huh."

MCPS has barely even responded with counter proposals, and what they have offered is riddled with errors. One was a proposed salary scale that actually showed decreases for veteran teachers. When it was pointed out, they withdrew it and basically said "oops, our bad, never mind." It's a mess right now.

It's not a mess. It's fantastic. MCEA has their Board members and they just unanimously renewed Jack Smith's contract with a raise and extra perks. MCEA is very happy with Jack Smith.
MCEA just endorsed a candidate in the upcoming Board of Education election that will support the boundary change and the redistribution of students by diversity.
MCEA is riding high!

[Anonymous]

I am somewhat confused with the MCEA bargaining. A lot of the topics concern “black and brown” initiatives. MCPS should be in charge of that. Why is the union getting into the details? A lot of seems like positioning to gain more power over MCPS initiatives that affect teachers. But these are not things that I particularly have confidence in the union to lead. MCPS’s negotiating has been a bit embarrassing though. It seems like the negotiators aren’t actually allowed to make any decisions or offers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, while it’s good to see Zuckerman go, the recent central office choices make NO sense. What is Dr. Smith (and his deputy) doing? I assume she’s behind the re-org chart. How can HR for example be under the communications umbrella? What teacher is going to file a complaint with the same office that reports to PR?! I seriously don’t understand recent choices. And how on earth did they decide to promote Derek Turner? His own office will tell you he won’t follow through or return calls, and now he’s directing a Ton of people and offices!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am somewhat confused with the MCEA bargaining. A lot of the topics concern “black and brown” initiatives. MCPS should be in charge of that. Why is the union getting into the details? A lot of seems like positioning to gain more power over MCPS initiatives that affect teachers. But these are not things that I particularly have confidence in the union to lead. MCPS’s negotiating has been a bit embarrassing though. It seems like the negotiators aren’t actually allowed to make any decisions or offers.

MCEA is getting involved because MCPS is giving lip service to these issues and not making any real investment. It’s all on teachers and paras, sometimes admin, to make it happen.

The so-called black and brown initiatives do affect teachers. For example, when the social-emotional needs of students of color are supported, they are more successful academically and teachers are impacted by that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

+1 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

I love the differentiation "initiative." Tomlinson was big in the 90s, yet the county thinks this is something new.

Try differentiating with 33 kids in a class. It's impossible.

And if the county LOVES differentiation so much, why does it tout the magnets? Test-in magnets, by their very nature, are tracking tools. Yet outside of these magnets, we place all kids - regardless of current ability - in honors classes and ask teachers to differentiate.

What a bunch of crap!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

I love the differentiation "initiative." Tomlinson was big in the 90s, yet the county thinks this is something new.

Try differentiating with 33 kids in a class. It's impossible.

And if the county LOVES differentiation so much, why does it tout the magnets? Test-in magnets, by their very nature, are tracking tools. Yet outside of these magnets, we place all kids - regardless of current ability - in honors classes and ask teachers to differentiate.

What a bunch of crap!

I haven't noticed much magnet-touting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

I love the differentiation "initiative." Tomlinson was big in the 90s, yet the county thinks this is something new.

Try differentiating with 33 kids in a class. It's impossible.

And if the county LOVES differentiation so much, why does it tout the magnets? Test-in magnets, by their very nature, are tracking tools. Yet outside of these magnets, we place all kids - regardless of current ability - in honors classes and ask teachers to differentiate.

What a bunch of crap!

I teach MS magnet. Even within a class of highly gifted students, you still must differentiate. Talk to anyone teaching magnet and they will tell you that we see a wide range of skills and talents even with high standardized test scores. There are still those who learn grasp it the first time and those who need repetition. There’s still a need to teach in different modalities. And I still have to differentiate in assessment. I was observed recently and differentiation was one of the core areas being looked for.

Mixed ability group works well within bands, IME. I’ve done it successfully outside of magnet with groups that included low to low average or high average to high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

I love the differentiation "initiative." Tomlinson was big in the 90s, yet the county thinks this is something new.

Try differentiating with 33 kids in a class. It's impossible.

And if the county LOVES differentiation so much, why does it tout the magnets? Test-in magnets, by their very nature, are tracking tools. Yet outside of these magnets, we place all kids - regardless of current ability - in honors classes and ask teachers to differentiate.

What a bunch of crap!

I teach MS magnet. Even within a class of highly gifted students, you still must differentiate. Talk to anyone teaching magnet and they will tell you that we see a wide range of skills and talents even with high standardized test scores. There are still those who learn grasp it the first time and those who need repetition. There’s still a need to teach in different modalities. And I still have to differentiate in assessment. I was observed recently and differentiation was one of the core areas being looked for.

Mixed ability group works well within bands, IME. I’ve done it successfully outside of magnet with groups that included low to low average or high average to high.

How long have you taught in the MS Magnet?

It did not always used to be this way. It used to be that the Magnets were truly the highest performing kids. Now there is definitely a larger variety of abilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess right now.

MCPS IS a mess right now! Zuckerman leaving should help some (he is a Starr holdover) same for Navaro and Diamond. I laugh at those worried for MCPS because many in upper management are leaving - these people have needed to leave for a long, long time. There are a few more who need to go as well.

It is too big, there is no discipline anywhere, special ed has been shredded at all levels, differentiation is a joke, long term planning is ineffective (as demonstrated by so many clusters in moratorium because of overcrowding), teachers are overwhelmed because of all the sh*t flowing downstream from central office, there is little to no support when a child who does not belong in gen ed has a parent who won't cooperate (see Clarksburg recently, but also happening at all levels), I could go on and on, but MCPS is not the shining star it once was, and has not been for some time.

I love the differentiation "initiative." Tomlinson was big in the 90s, yet the county thinks this is something new.

Try differentiating with 33 kids in a class. It's impossible.

And if the county LOVES differentiation so much, why does it tout the magnets? Test-in magnets, by their very nature, are tracking tools. Yet outside of these magnets, we place all kids - regardless of current ability - in honors classes and ask teachers to differentiate.

What a bunch of crap!

I teach MS magnet. Even within a class of highly gifted students, you still must differentiate. Talk to anyone teaching magnet and they will tell you that we see a wide range of skills and talents even with high standardized test scores. There are still those who learn grasp it the first time and those who need repetition. There’s still a need to teach in different modalities. And I still have to differentiate in assessment. I was observed recently and differentiation was one of the core areas being looked for.

Mixed ability group works well within bands, IME. I’ve done it successfully outside of magnet with groups that included low to low average or high average to high.

How long have you taught in the MS Magnet?

It did not always used to be this way. It used to be that the Magnets were truly the highest performing kids. Now there is definitely a larger variety of abilities.

DP. What PP is probably telling you is that within ANY group, you must differentiate. Because not everybody is alike.

[Anonymous]

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/growing-tension-between-montgomery-county-teachers-superintendent/

Lack of communication, lack of transparency. Sounds all too familiar. Amazing how these issues have gotten worse ever since Smith came on board. The next 4 years is going to suck.