What is happening at Chesterbrook Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents ~ YOU are the problem. That's why they leave.

This exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not a coincidence and it’s not about the commute.

What? Please explain...

[Anonymous]

Who is the teacher that is staying? That's likely the problem.

[Anonymous]

Doubt it, the other teacher has been there for 5 years.

[Anonymous]

If you are at Chesterbrook and in the 3rd grade you likely know the reason all but 1 teacher in the class is leaving. If you are not, I'm not sure why you're here speculating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per email from Chesterbrook's principal, "most of the third grade team is leaving Chesterbrook next year."

3 of 4 "core teachers" and both special ed teachers are departing. 1 retirement, 2 moves out of the area, and 2 moves to other elementary schools within FCPS. The two moves within FCPS raise red flags; both are experienced teachers who have spent their entire careers (decade and a half each) at Chesterbrook. Both are excellent and highly esteemed, as are the two moving out of the area.

It's not surprising that parents are alarmed. Chesterbrook has had a lot of turnover over the past 5 years, and the current principal is in her 2nd year, so whether parents like her or not, it's natural to wonder what effect the leadership change has on the teachers' experiences and desire to remain.

As a teacher, moves within a district aren’t always a red flag. Sometimes teachers want to teach different grade levels that aren’t open at their school or they need a better commute and a convenient spot opens. You can leave a school without it being personal or a sign the school is bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per email from Chesterbrook's principal, "most of the third grade team is leaving Chesterbrook next year."

3 of 4 "core teachers" and both special ed teachers are departing. 1 retirement, 2 moves out of the area, and 2 moves to other elementary schools within FCPS. The two moves within FCPS raise red flags; both are experienced teachers who have spent their entire careers (decade and a half each) at Chesterbrook. Both are excellent and highly esteemed, as are the two moving out of the area.

It's not surprising that parents are alarmed. Chesterbrook has had a lot of turnover over the past 5 years, and the current principal is in her 2nd year, so whether parents like her or not, it's natural to wonder what effect the leadership change has on the teachers' experiences and desire to remain.

As a teacher, moves within a district aren’t always a red flag. Sometimes teachers want to teach different grade levels that aren’t open at their school or they need a better commute and a convenient spot opens. You can leave a school without it being personal or a sign the school is bad.

In total, there aren't many expected departures from Chesterbrook this summer. Maybe we need a thread asking what about the school is so great that teachers in other grades are staying.

[Anonymous]

Teachers switch schools all the time for better commutes. I teach at a different school and a few teachers switched schools to ones that are 10 mins away from their house. If 15 teachers are leaving that is a concern. But 3-4 on a team is not that alarming in FCPS. Some people live FAR!!

[Anonymous]

What if they are leaving for the same grade level and a school further away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per email from Chesterbrook's principal, "most of the third grade team is leaving Chesterbrook next year."

3 of 4 "core teachers" and both special ed teachers are departing. 1 retirement, 2 moves out of the area, and 2 moves to other elementary schools within FCPS. The two moves within FCPS raise red flags; both are experienced teachers who have spent their entire careers (decade and a half each) at Chesterbrook. Both are excellent and highly esteemed, as are the two moving out of the area.

It's not surprising that parents are alarmed. Chesterbrook has had a lot of turnover over the past 5 years, and the current principal is in her 2nd year, so whether parents like her or not, it's natural to wonder what effect the leadership change has on the teachers' experiences and desire to remain.

As a teacher, moves within a district aren’t always a red flag. Sometimes teachers want to teach different grade levels that aren’t open at their school or they need a better commute and a convenient spot opens. You can leave a school without it being personal or a sign the school is bad.

In total, there aren't many expected departures from Chesterbrook this summer. Maybe we need a thread asking what about the school is so great that teachers in other grades are staying.

Agree. There is a lot of good at Chesterbrook. But when you look at the teachers left at Chesterbrook, the majority are young, good but inexperienced teachers. Veteran teachers are far and few between. Most veteran teachers are tied to the school because they have kids that go there or it is their neighbor school. How do we get teacher that have experience to stick around and retire from Chesterbrook?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per email from Chesterbrook's principal, "most of the third grade team is leaving Chesterbrook next year."

3 of 4 "core teachers" and both special ed teachers are departing. 1 retirement, 2 moves out of the area, and 2 moves to other elementary schools within FCPS. The two moves within FCPS raise red flags; both are experienced teachers who have spent their entire careers (decade and a half each) at Chesterbrook. Both are excellent and highly esteemed, as are the two moving out of the area.

It's not surprising that parents are alarmed. Chesterbrook has had a lot of turnover over the past 5 years, and the current principal is in her 2nd year, so whether parents like her or not, it's natural to wonder what effect the leadership change has on the teachers' experiences and desire to remain.

As a teacher, moves within a district aren’t always a red flag. Sometimes teachers want to teach different grade levels that aren’t open at their school or they need a better commute and a convenient spot opens. You can leave a school without it being personal or a sign the school is bad.

In total, there aren't many expected departures from Chesterbrook this summer. Maybe we need a thread asking what about the school is so great that teachers in other grades are staying.

Agree. There is a lot of good at Chesterbrook. But when you look at the teachers left at Chesterbrook, the majority are young, good but inexperienced teachers. Veteran teachers are far and few between. Most veteran teachers are tied to the school because they have kids that go there or it is their neighbor school. How do we get teacher that have experience to stick around and retire from Chesterbrook?

You won’t. Teaching is not the profession it once was and the attrition rates are horrendous. Statistically, many of us leave the field before 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if they are leaving for the same grade level and a school further away?

If they are leaving for the same grade level and further away, it most likely has to do with higher ups and work environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if they are leaving for the same grade level and a school further away?

If they are leaving for the same grade level and further away, it most likely has to do with higher ups and work environment.

Or one particular colleague...

[Anonymous]

I’m thinking of leaving private school (mostly for financial reasons) and my neighborhood school is Chesterbrook. So instead of snarky remarks and insinuations, it’d be helpful if those of you who think you know the reason(s) would actually share what you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if they are leaving for the same grade level and a school further away?

If they are leaving for the same grade level and further away, it most likely has to do with higher ups and work environment.

It's always about the managers and work environment. My school had a new admin and 80% of the staff are no longer there. All of them had to be polite so they don't burn bridges or create enemies. Every single one of them had to come up with a "personal" reason that does not include anything about the admin or the environment. They all hated working there but no one dare say anything different. It's all sunshine and rainbows.

And as a teacher, you don't always get to choose the grade level that you want at the new school. I had many friends transferred who could not get the same grade they want at the school they want, so they decided to take another grade level and wait for an opening. Once they are there, then it is easier to move to a different grade within the same school.