MCPS Teachers Quitting? Who is replacing them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in MCPS, but I'm a teacher who quit. I was extremely successful and every single year my students made about a year and a half worth of growth. I was definitely underpaid, results or not. But, I was so demoralized when I left that it's really difficult to come up with a number that might have gotten me to stay. The entire education system has to change.

And I truly believe that in the next 5-10 years, schools won't be able to remain open. I think it is extremely realistic to imagine parents will be getting robo calls on Sunday nights to learn their school won't be able to open that week because there isn't staff to open safely. I think it's realistic to think that high schools won't be able to offer ANY clubs, sports, AP classes, etc, and that academic classes will have 80-200 kids in them, lecture style. I suspect online learning will be the norm for people who can afford a sahp and internet and everyone else will be screwed. I think buildings are going to close, most of the education programs in universities will close (the ones that haven't already). I think students with special needs won't be getting any services. The system is crumbling and is far worse than any parent I know realizes.

This is actually a good thing. Give families the money and the market will educate. New Americans already do this with cram schools - Kumon, mathnasium. In MCPS this is where real education happens anyways. Let’s cut out the middleman. Product of Buffalo public schools and taught kids/used cram schools during pandemic But realize places like MCPS need to close. So much better than public school. RIP.

Public school in the US is kind of a disaster. I'd like to see some school choice in Montgomery County, but our political leaders would fight that tooth and nail.

At the very least, let students opt of of classes if they can demonstrate proficiency. If my kid can pass an Algebra test (because she's learned Algebra elsewhere), don't make her take it again with the crappy MCPS version. If my kid speaks Spanish and can pass the AP Spanish test, let her opt out of the language requirement.

This would require a huge overhaul of public education and I don't see the political will until things get as bad as what the PP is describing and the entire system just 'crumbles'.

Those are state requirements that MCPS cannot eliminate. One of my rising seniors is finishing AP Calc and already enrolled in a college math course, but the state requires her to take a fourth year of math in HS. It’s silly, but not the fault of MCPS.

I recognize that. I think we really do need an overhaul of the public education system in this country. It’s just not working for most kids.

In a couple of years I'm hoping ChatGPT will have evolved to where it can address the teacher shortage.

[Anonymous]

I can imagine many of the less popular AP classes moving to virtual. That would free up staff for other courses. Expect more full time subs in schools. I don’t foresee large scale lecture style courses for a variety of reasons. Perhaps fewer special programs since those staff might be needed for core classes.

In my 11th grade elective I have two separate courses together. I switch back and forth between groups depending on which one needs more direct instruction or supervision. I have structured the courses so that they could be entirely done online since this was almost a necessity last year with so many kids out.

[Anonymous]

I am worried about special education and specifically speech pathologists. There were many vacant positions this year which had to be absorbed into SLP's caseloads. The paperwork is immense as well with reports, testing, meetings, bus duty, medical assistance billing, notes and data collection, etc. Many I know will be leaving MCPS to do private practice because it is more lucrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in MCPS, but I'm a teacher who quit. I was extremely successful and every single year my students made about a year and a half worth of growth. I was definitely underpaid, results or not. But, I was so demoralized when I left that it's really difficult to come up with a number that might have gotten me to stay. The entire education system has to change.

And I truly believe that in the next 5-10 years, schools won't be able to remain open. I think it is extremely realistic to imagine parents will be getting robo calls on Sunday nights to learn their school won't be able to open that week because there isn't staff to open safely. I think it's realistic to think that high schools won't be able to offer ANY clubs, sports, AP classes, etc, and that academic classes will have 80-200 kids in them, lecture style. I suspect online learning will be the norm for people who can afford a sahp and internet and everyone else will be screwed. I think buildings are going to close, most of the education programs in universities will close (the ones that haven't already). I think students with special needs won't be getting any services. The system is crumbling and is far worse than any parent I know realizes.

This is actually a good thing. Give families the money and the market will educate. New Americans already do this with cram schools - Kumon, mathnasium. In MCPS this is where real education happens anyways. Let’s cut out the middleman. Product of Buffalo public schools and taught kids/used cram schools during pandemic But realize places like MCPS need to close. So much better than public school. RIP.

Public school in the US is kind of a disaster. I'd like to see some school choice in Montgomery County, but our political leaders would fight that tooth and nail.

At the very least, let students opt of of classes if they can demonstrate proficiency. If my kid can pass an Algebra test (because she's learned Algebra elsewhere), don't make her take it again with the crappy MCPS version. If my kid speaks Spanish and can pass the AP Spanish test, let her opt out of the language requirement.

This would require a huge overhaul of public education and I don't see the political will until things get as bad as what the PP is describing and the entire system just 'crumbles'.

Those are state requirements that MCPS cannot eliminate. One of my rising seniors is finishing AP Calc and already enrolled in a college math course, but the state requires her to take a fourth year of math in HS. It’s silly, but not the fault of MCPS.

I recognize that. I think we really do need an overhaul of the public education system in this country. It’s just not working for most kids.

In a couple of years I'm hoping ChatGPT will have evolved to where it can address the teacher shortage.

I’d love to see how ChatGPT will teach (and discipline) a classroom full of disinterested, disruptive teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in MCPS, but I'm a teacher who quit. I was extremely successful and every single year my students made about a year and a half worth of growth. I was definitely underpaid, results or not. But, I was so demoralized when I left that it's really difficult to come up with a number that might have gotten me to stay. The entire education system has to change.

And I truly believe that in the next 5-10 years, schools won't be able to remain open. I think it is extremely realistic to imagine parents will be getting robo calls on Sunday nights to learn their school won't be able to open that week because there isn't staff to open safely. I think it's realistic to think that high schools won't be able to offer ANY clubs, sports, AP classes, etc, and that academic classes will have 80-200 kids in them, lecture style. I suspect online learning will be the norm for people who can afford a sahp and internet and everyone else will be screwed. I think buildings are going to close, most of the education programs in universities will close (the ones that haven't already). I think students with special needs won't be getting any services. The system is crumbling and is far worse than any parent I know realizes.

This is actually a good thing. Give families the money and the market will educate. New Americans already do this with cram schools - Kumon, mathnasium. In MCPS this is where real education happens anyways. Let’s cut out the middleman. Product of Buffalo public schools and taught kids/used cram schools during pandemic But realize places like MCPS need to close. So much better than public school. RIP.

Public school in the US is kind of a disaster. I'd like to see some school choice in Montgomery County, but our political leaders would fight that tooth and nail.

At the very least, let students opt of of classes if they can demonstrate proficiency. If my kid can pass an Algebra test (because she's learned Algebra elsewhere), don't make her take it again with the crappy MCPS version. If my kid speaks Spanish and can pass the AP Spanish test, let her opt out of the language requirement.

This would require a huge overhaul of public education and I don't see the political will until things get as bad as what the PP is describing and the entire system just 'crumbles'.

Those are state requirements that MCPS cannot eliminate. One of my rising seniors is finishing AP Calc and already enrolled in a college math course, but the state requires her to take a fourth year of math in HS. It’s silly, but not the fault of MCPS.

I recognize that. I think we really do need an overhaul of the public education system in this country. It’s just not working for most kids.

In a couple of years I'm hoping ChatGPT will have evolved to where it can address the teacher shortage.

I’d love to see how ChatGPT will teach (and discipline) a classroom full of disinterested, disruptive teenagers.

Couldn't be any worse than it is now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am worried about special education and specifically speech pathologists. There were many vacant positions this year which had to be absorbed into SLP's caseloads. The paperwork is immense as well with reports, testing, meetings, bus duty, medical assistance billing, notes and data collection, etc. Many I know will be leaving MCPS to do private practice because it is more lucrative.

The caseloads in special education have become untenable.
You barely get to work with kids because there is so much damn paper work
The parents are also incredibly demanding and are unrealistic in what they want.
Something has to give

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am worried about special education and specifically speech pathologists. There were many vacant positions this year which had to be absorbed into SLP's caseloads. The paperwork is immense as well with reports, testing, meetings, bus duty, medical assistance billing, notes and data collection, etc. Many I know will be leaving MCPS to do private practice because it is more lucrative.

The caseloads in special education have become untenable.
You barely get to work with kids because there is so much damn paper work
The parents are also incredibly demanding and are unrealistic in what they want.

Something has to give

Special Ed needs some administrative support to help with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am worried about special education and specifically speech pathologists. There were many vacant positions this year which had to be absorbed into SLP's caseloads. The paperwork is immense as well with reports, testing, meetings, bus duty, medical assistance billing, notes and data collection, etc. Many I know will be leaving MCPS to do private practice because it is more lucrative.

The caseloads in special education have become untenable.
You barely get to work with kids because there is so much damn paper work
The parents are also incredibly demanding and are unrealistic in what they want.
Something has to give

This carries over to GenEd teachers as well. I teach at the upper elementary level and have 14 students with IEPs in my math class (9 in my homeroom). I have so much paperwork to do when preparing for a meeting. I’m frequently out of the classroom attending IEP meetings (ReEval/Planning, Annual Reviews, etc). It’s a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am worried about special education and specifically speech pathologists. There were many vacant positions this year which had to be absorbed into SLP's caseloads. The paperwork is immense as well with reports, testing, meetings, bus duty, medical assistance billing, notes and data collection, etc. Many I know will be leaving MCPS to do private practice because it is more lucrative.

The caseloads in special education have become untenable.
You barely get to work with kids because there is so much damn paper work
The parents are also incredibly demanding and are unrealistic in what they want.
Something has to give

I also heard the number of students with these disabilities went up 300% since 2010 in UMC areas according to the NYT article I saw so guessing the school just doesn't have the staff to deal with the increased demand.

[Anonymous]

Either step up and take a job with MCPS or stop complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am worried about special education and specifically speech pathologists. There were many vacant positions this year which had to be absorbed into SLP's caseloads. The paperwork is immense as well with reports, testing, meetings, bus duty, medical assistance billing, notes and data collection, etc. Many I know will be leaving MCPS to do private practice because it is more lucrative.

The caseloads in special education have become untenable.
You barely get to work with kids because there is so much damn paper work
The parents are also incredibly demanding and are unrealistic in what they want.
Something has to give

I also heard the number of students with these disabilities went up 300% since 2010 in UMC areas according to the NYT article I saw so guessing the school just doesn't have the staff to deal with the increased demand.

That's because the DSM guidelines have changed and its easier to get diagnosis and more socially acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in MCPS, but I'm a teacher who quit. I was extremely successful and every single year my students made about a year and a half worth of growth. I was definitely underpaid, results or not. But, I was so demoralized when I left that it's really difficult to come up with a number that might have gotten me to stay. The entire education system has to change.

And I truly believe that in the next 5-10 years, schools won't be able to remain open. I think it is extremely realistic to imagine parents will be getting robo calls on Sunday nights to learn their school won't be able to open that week because there isn't staff to open safely. I think it's realistic to think that high schools won't be able to offer ANY clubs, sports, AP classes, etc, and that academic classes will have 80-200 kids in them, lecture style. I suspect online learning will be the norm for people who can afford a sahp and internet and everyone else will be screwed. I think buildings are going to close, most of the education programs in universities will close (the ones that haven't already). I think students with special needs won't be getting any services. The system is crumbling and is far worse than any parent I know realizes.

This is actually a good thing. Give families the money and the market will educate. New Americans already do this with cram schools - Kumon, mathnasium. In MCPS this is where real education happens anyways. Let’s cut out the middleman. Product of Buffalo public schools and taught kids/used cram schools during pandemic But realize places like MCPS need to close. So much better than public school. RIP.

Public school in the US is kind of a disaster. I'd like to see some school choice in Montgomery County, but our political leaders would fight that tooth and nail.

At the very least, let students opt of of classes if they can demonstrate proficiency. If my kid can pass an Algebra test (because she's learned Algebra elsewhere), don't make her take it again with the crappy MCPS version. If my kid speaks Spanish and can pass the AP Spanish test, let her opt out of the language requirement.

This would require a huge overhaul of public education and I don't see the political will until things get as bad as what the PP is describing and the entire system just 'crumbles'.

You have school choice. It's called moving. If you are in some areas for MS and HS you can lottery into other schools but none are any better than the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in MCPS, but I'm a teacher who quit. I was extremely successful and every single year my students made about a year and a half worth of growth. I was definitely underpaid, results or not. But, I was so demoralized when I left that it's really difficult to come up with a number that might have gotten me to stay. The entire education system has to change.

And I truly believe that in the next 5-10 years, schools won't be able to remain open. I think it is extremely realistic to imagine parents will be getting robo calls on Sunday nights to learn their school won't be able to open that week because there isn't staff to open safely. I think it's realistic to think that high schools won't be able to offer ANY clubs, sports, AP classes, etc, and that academic classes will have 80-200 kids in them, lecture style. I suspect online learning will be the norm for people who can afford a sahp and internet and everyone else will be screwed. I think buildings are going to close, most of the education programs in universities will close (the ones that haven't already). I think students with special needs won't be getting any services. The system is crumbling and is far worse than any parent I know realizes.

This is actually a good thing. Give families the money and the market will educate. New Americans already do this with cram schools - Kumon, mathnasium. In MCPS this is where real education happens anyways. Let’s cut out the middleman. Product of Buffalo public schools and taught kids/used cram schools during pandemic But realize places like MCPS need to close. So much better than public school. RIP.

Public school in the US is kind of a disaster. I'd like to see some school choice in Montgomery County, but our political leaders would fight that tooth and nail.

At the very least, let students opt of of classes if they can demonstrate proficiency. If my kid can pass an Algebra test (because she's learned Algebra elsewhere), don't make her take it again with the crappy MCPS version. If my kid speaks Spanish and can pass the AP Spanish test, let her opt out of the language requirement.

This would require a huge overhaul of public education and I don't see the political will until things get as bad as what the PP is describing and the entire system just 'crumbles'.

You have school choice. It's called moving. If you are in some areas for MS and HS you can lottery into other schools but none are any better than the other.

And, your child can take another foreign language. You need foriegn language in HS for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine many of the less popular AP classes moving to virtual. That would free up staff for other courses. Expect more full time subs in schools. I don’t foresee large scale lecture style courses for a variety of reasons. Perhaps fewer special programs since those staff might be needed for core classes.

In my 11th grade elective I have two separate courses together. I switch back and forth between groups depending on which one needs more direct instruction or supervision. I have structured the courses so that they could be entirely done online since this was almost a necessity last year with so many kids out.

This is depressing. Truly.

…”depending who needs instruction or supervision…”

In private school as well as in college, the entire class session requires actual instruction.

We’ve devolved to a place where teachers barely instruct and far too much time is spent on independent work. No wonder kids are checked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine many of the less popular AP classes moving to virtual. That would free up staff for other courses. Expect more full time subs in schools. I don’t foresee large scale lecture style courses for a variety of reasons. Perhaps fewer special programs since those staff might be needed for core classes.

In my 11th grade elective I have two separate courses together. I switch back and forth between groups depending on which one needs more direct instruction or supervision. I have structured the courses so that they could be entirely done online since this was almost a necessity last year with so many kids out.

This is depressing. Truly.

…”depending who needs instruction or supervision…”

In private school as well as in college, the entire class session requires actual instruction.

We’ve devolved to a place where teachers barely instruct and far too much time is spent on independent work. No wonder kids are checked out.

That’s not really what is happening. Teachers are bogged down with too many responsibilities. The teacher above has been asked to teach two classes simultaneously. What would you like that teacher to do? It isn’t that she is “barely instructing.” She is actually instructing another group of students while one group does independent work. She’s doing two jobs at once.

I once had two different levels of a class simultaneously. I had to plan for both (honors and on-level). I then had to instruct both, providing different assessments and assignments. There were 36 students in that combined class. Yes, sometimes students had to work independently as I checked on the other group. Was I “barely instructing”? The opposite… I was doing the work of 2.

Please try to understand what’s going on. This isn’t lazy teaching.