How is FCPS teacher/staff shortage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ES teachers only seem to care about testing. So little actual learning is going on.

If 20% of them leave, there are probably computer programs who will do a better job. Lexia Power Up last summer taught my child more than two years in the classroom.

Most teachers feel we must test too often. I won't tell you the percentage of my total instructional time is spent testing (testing mandated by the district), because you won't believe me. Nor will I tell you the total number of days I'm pulled out of the classroom for useless meetings that parents have no idea about. The excessive testing is part of what is pushing educators out.

You are being purposely mean. It's interesting to me that while I've only met a small handful of parents who seem to hate teachers in real life over 20 years in education, but anonymity seems to unleash hate in so many. I am a dedicated, caring, hard working, results producing teacher. I'm not leaving this year, but I won't be staying the full 34+ years. There's a serious, serious school staff shortage.

Part of the beauty of DCUM is that people say what they truly think. It’s clear that most FCPS teachers have delivered little to no education over the past years.

Opinions are like a**holes. Everyone has one. Most parents with a brain cell or two recognize that testing pressures are created by the state, district, and school admin. Teachers are simply trying to respond and fulfill requirements. They aren’t super humans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ES teachers only seem to care about testing. So little actual learning is going on.

If 20% of them leave, there are probably computer programs who will do a better job. Lexia Power Up last summer taught my child more than two years in the classroom.

Most teachers feel we must test too often. I won't tell you the percentage of my total instructional time is spent testing (testing mandated by the district), because you won't believe me. Nor will I tell you the total number of days I'm pulled out of the classroom for useless meetings that parents have no idea about. The excessive testing is part of what is pushing educators out.

You are being purposely mean. It's interesting to me that while I've only met a small handful of parents who seem to hate teachers in real life over 20 years in education, but anonymity seems to unleash hate in so many. I am a dedicated, caring, hard working, results producing teacher. I'm not leaving this year, but I won't be staying the full 34+ years. There's a serious, serious school staff shortage.

Part of the beauty of DCUM is that people say what they truly think. It’s clear that most FCPS teachers have delivered little to no education over the past years.

Opinions are like a**holes. Everyone has one. Most parents with a brain cell or two recognize that testing pressures are created by the state, district, and school admin. Teachers are simply trying to respond and fulfill requirements. They aren’t super humans

+1, The “no teaching is happening” insult started long before COVID, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

The same things are happening in a lot of other school districts. Testing is king. It is big business. The testing companies then sell their curriculum, including digital products, to help with "individualized learning." So the teacher is required to use these digital products to help students pass the tests. Our principal has weekly meetings with the other 14 schools in our network. They show the usage of these digital products by school. It's like old-day shaming since school usage is ranked for everyone to see. Then our principal gets on us about upping our usage so she won't be shamed in from of her colleagues which in turn makes us use them more frequently. If I had my way, I would only have students use them at one center for maybe 15-20 minutes each week but we also have to use them during "individualized learning" time every day for appr. 25-30 minutes. Ridiculous. These kids need more recess and time to build with blocks and look at books, etc.

[Anonymous]

Why is it that some schools use these apps extensively, while others don’t? Are some principals not evaluated based on how much time their students use the apps? Or do they just not GAF if they are

[Anonymous]

My school (Vienna Elementary) has very few open roles. The admin is well liked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ES teachers only seem to care about testing. So little actual learning is going on.

If 20% of them leave, there are probably computer programs who will do a better job. Lexia Power Up last summer taught my child more than two years in the classroom.

In my 20 years of teaching ES, I’ve never met a teacher who wants to test. PP is obviously just trying to stir the pot.

+1- 22 year veteran here.
Funny how these people aren't willing to look at how the school system, administration and state laws/policies affect the classroom, but are so myopic they just blame the teacher. I think there is a layer of misogyny in there because it is easier to blame the powerless and those who are women, but wow and it just keeps happening!

Not all teachers are women.

It’s a mostly female profession and is regarded as a “caregiving” profession so her argument is legitimate. I’d also point out the men in the profession have advantages their female colleagues don’t because they are treated better and given more respect and authority.

YUP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My school (Vienna Elementary) has very few open roles. The admin is well liked

Zero openings at mine. Apparently the tea hate love the principal so turnover is very low. I can’t help but notice there tends to be more openings at schools with more socioeconomic diversity. And lots of openings for teachers 👨‍🏫 f student with multiple disabilities. I’ve never looked in previous years so not sure if that’s always been the case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My school (Vienna Elementary) has very few open roles. The admin is well liked

Zero openings at mine. Apparently the tea hate love the principal so turnover is very low. I can’t help but notice there tends to be more openings at schools with more socioeconomic diversity. And lots of openings for teachers 👨‍🏫 f student with multiple disabilities. I’ve never looked in previous years so not sure if that’s always been the case?

That’s always been the case. Schools with more diversity are harder for a variety of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it that some schools use these apps extensively, while others don’t? Are some principals not evaluated based on how much time their students use the apps? Or do they just not GAF if they are

It's based on the student base. Wolftrap elementary uses a lot of app's, because their students have access. Mosaic on the other hand students on the whole don't have as much access at home to technology.

[Anonymous]

Plus not all openings are posted. My principal (at a high turnover school) is famous for doing her own recruiting/hiring and not putting positions on the FCPS Job Openings list. So if you search by school, ours won't come up or comes up with 1-2 openings, yet has MANY every year because of admin not supporting teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus not all openings are posted. My principal (at a high turnover school) is famous for doing her own recruiting/hiring and not putting positions on the FCPS Job Openings list. So if you search by school, ours won't come up or comes up with 1-2 openings, yet has MANY every year because of admin not supporting teachers.

[Anonymous]

4 teachers (myself included) resigned at my school today.

Y’all who keep claiming “all is normal” - good luck steering away from the iceberg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 teachers (myself included) resigned at my school today.

Y’all who keep claiming “all is normal” - good luck steering away from the iceberg.

Good luck in your next endeavor.

When FCPS and/or other school districts collapse next year or the year after, you can laugh at us who are just muddling along, doing the best we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus not all openings are posted. My principal (at a high turnover school) is famous for doing her own recruiting/hiring and not putting positions on the FCPS Job Openings list. So if you search by school, ours won't come up or comes up with 1-2 openings, yet has MANY every year because of admin not supporting teachers.

Interesting. If she's famous for it, do FCPS teachers know about this school, and avoid? Is principal having to recruit outside the division?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus not all openings are posted. My principal (at a high turnover school) is famous for doing her own recruiting/hiring and not putting positions on the FCPS Job Openings list. So if you search by school, ours won't come up or comes up with 1-2 openings, yet has MANY every year because of admin not supporting teachers.

Interesting. If she's famous for it, do FCPS teachers know about this school, and avoid? Is principal having to recruit outside the division?

DP. I posted above that a lot of staff talked this year and word got around about which schools to avoid. I would guess the answer to both of your questions is yes.