MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my DC ES teachers left MCPS. They are underpaid and there is no incentive to work here considering how expensive life is in MC. MCPS has a huge budget but looks like money go into wrong pockets and directions. Education is not a priority now days.
Property tax increases will resolve the problem in the near future.

Society has been in freefall for decades. When were schools good again?

For MCPS? About 20 years ago, when MCPS was recognized as a top school system within the U.S. I think it started declining after Weast left. This paper explains the issues.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/leadingforequity/pdf/HarvardCase-DifferientiatedTreatment.pdf

An interesting sidenote - compare Jerry Weast's resume to McKnight's. See the difference? That's the caliber of Superintendent of Schools resume you should get with half-a-million dollars, imho.

Agree with this.

I have had kids in MCPS for the past 10 years and have watched it decline. My youngest child’s experience is even different from my oldest child’s.

Similar here. My siblings and I who live on MO toomey County have kids ranging from 28-12, and the younger ones are now in private, rather than a "W" that many rave about because it has gotten so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my DC ES teachers left MCPS. They are underpaid and there is no incentive to work here considering how expensive life is in MC. MCPS has a huge budget but looks like money go into wrong pockets and directions. Education is not a priority now days.
Property tax increases will resolve the problem in the near future.

Society has been in freefall for decades. When were schools good again?

For MCPS? About 20 years ago, when MCPS was recognized as a top school system within the U.S. I think it started declining after Weast left. This paper explains the issues.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/leadingforequity/pdf/HarvardCase-DifferientiatedTreatment.pdf

An interesting sidenote - compare Jerry Weast's resume to McKnight's. See the difference? That's the caliber of Superintendent of Schools resume you should get with half-a-million dollars, imho.

You're delusional. I went to MCPS 20 years ago. It wasn't all that. There is greater economic diversity today which impacts averages, but anyone who wants a top notch education can do better today than back then.

Completely agree! I graduated from a W 20 years ago and my kid's DCC schools are so much better. MCPS is better today for anyone who wants a great education. The people complaining only have themselves to blame.

Agree my oldest graduated from an application magnet with over 14 APs and near perfect SATs. I don't think my w high school even offered that many APs. My point is that if you want a great education the opportunities today are even greater than in the past but it's up to you to make that happen. So many people here complain but I've done nothing and take no's personal responsibility for their lives. They want a nanny state for the county tells them what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

I hope posters will come back in September and post how many of their kids don't have actual teachers in their classrooms. They might not even have long-term subs or even short-term subs. They might have to split up classes and made class sizes a lot bigger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

Mostly yes. Others have already posted that many highly qualified applicants had applied and were rejected so it appears they aren't really hiring at this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

I hope posters will come back in September and post how many of their kids don't have actual teachers in their classrooms. They might not even have long-term subs or even short-term subs. They might have to split up classes and made class sizes a lot bigger.

If that's the case, then why aren't they hiring applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

Mostly yes. Others have already posted that many highly qualified applicants had applied and were rejected so it appears they aren't really hiring at this time.

I haven’t seen a lot of posters saying that. I posted above that I was offered a position and turned it down because MCPS wouldn’t honor my years of experience. Other counties look more appealing to experienced teachers. I have seen others say the same on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my DC ES teachers left MCPS. They are underpaid and there is no incentive to work here considering how expensive life is in MC. MCPS has a huge budget but looks like money go into wrong pockets and directions. Education is not a priority now days.
Property tax increases will resolve the problem in the near future.

Society has been in freefall for decades. When were schools good again?

For MCPS? About 20 years ago, when MCPS was recognized as a top school system within the U.S. I think it started declining after Weast left. This paper explains the issues.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/leadingforequity/pdf/HarvardCase-DifferientiatedTreatment.pdf

An interesting sidenote - compare Jerry Weast's resume to McKnight's. See the difference? That's the caliber of Superintendent of Schools resume you should get with half-a-million dollars, imho.

You're delusional. I went to MCPS 20 years ago. It wasn't all that. There is greater economic diversity today which impacts averages, but anyone who wants a top notch education can do better today than back then.

Completely agree! I graduated from a W 20 years ago and my kid's DCC schools are so much better. MCPS is better today for anyone who wants a great education. The people complaining only have themselves to blame.

Agree my oldest graduated from an application magnet with over 14 APs and near perfect SATs. I don't think my w high school even offered that many APs. My point is that if you want a great education the opportunities today are even greater than in the past but it's up to you to make that happen. So many people here complain but I've done nothing and take no's personal responsibility for their lives. They want a nanny state for the county tells them what to do.

AP exams and the SAT are also no longer what they used to be. Just because your DC is at the top of the heap doesn't mean that they are getting a great education, just one that is better than some other kids. Lots of us who have been around education see the deterioration. - AP teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my DC ES teachers left MCPS. They are underpaid and there is no incentive to work here considering how expensive life is in MC. MCPS has a huge budget but looks like money go into wrong pockets and directions. Education is not a priority now days.
Property tax increases will resolve the problem in the near future.

Society has been in freefall for decades. When were schools good again?

For MCPS? About 20 years ago, when MCPS was recognized as a top school system within the U.S. I think it started declining after Weast left. This paper explains the issues.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/leadingforequity/pdf/HarvardCase-DifferientiatedTreatment.pdf

An interesting sidenote - compare Jerry Weast's resume to McKnight's. See the difference? That's the caliber of Superintendent of Schools resume you should get with half-a-million dollars, imho.

You're delusional. I went to MCPS 20 years ago. It wasn't all that. There is greater economic diversity today which impacts averages, but anyone who wants a top notch education can do better today than back then.

Completely agree! I graduated from a W 20 years ago and my kid's DCC schools are so much better. MCPS is better today for anyone who wants a great education. The people complaining only have themselves to blame.

Agree my oldest graduated from an application magnet with over 14 APs and near perfect SATs. I don't think my w high school even offered that many APs. My point is that if you want a great education the opportunities today are even greater than in the past but it's up to you to make that happen. So many people here complain but I've done nothing and take no's personal responsibility for their lives. They want a nanny state for the county tells them what to do.

AP exams and the SAT are also no longer what they used to be. Just because your DC is at the top of the heap doesn't mean that they are getting a great education, just one that is better than some other kids. Lots of us who have been around education see the deterioration. - AP teacher

AP and SAT exams are no longer required for Maryland public system admission. They become irrelevant.
Soon, we'll live in a surreal county where all students have only 'A's and everybody will be happy. 'A's for all, free tuition for all, government jobs for all, free "affordable" houses for everybody. Take it as a joke (still a joke) but that's the direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

Mostly yes. Others have already posted that many highly qualified applicants had applied and were rejected so it appears they aren't really hiring at this time.

I haven’t seen a lot of posters saying that. I posted above that I was offered a position and turned it down because MCPS wouldn’t honor my years of experience. Other counties look more appealing to experienced teachers. I have seen others say the same on this thread.

Then you need to go back and read this thread where it was discussed at length how many recent grads who had graduated from at the top of their class can't even get an interview with MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

Mostly yes. Others have already posted that many highly qualified applicants had applied and were rejected so it appears they aren't really hiring at this time.

One poster said someone they knew was rejected. ONE. (And then she got hired anyway so...you're wrong. Again.) Other people talked about how they were OFFERED jobs and didn't take them. You don't even know how to read through posts properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my DC ES teachers left MCPS. They are underpaid and there is no incentive to work here considering how expensive life is in MC. MCPS has a huge budget but looks like money go into wrong pockets and directions. Education is not a priority now days.
Property tax increases will resolve the problem in the near future.

Society has been in freefall for decades. When were schools good again?

For MCPS? About 20 years ago, when MCPS was recognized as a top school system within the U.S. I think it started declining after Weast left. This paper explains the issues.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/leadingforequity/pdf/HarvardCase-DifferientiatedTreatment.pdf

An interesting sidenote - compare Jerry Weast's resume to McKnight's. See the difference? That's the caliber of Superintendent of Schools resume you should get with half-a-million dollars, imho.

You're delusional. I went to MCPS 20 years ago. It wasn't all that. There is greater economic diversity today which impacts averages, but anyone who wants a top notch education can do better today than back then.

Completely agree! I graduated from a W 20 years ago and my kid's DCC schools are so much better. MCPS is better today for anyone who wants a great education. The people complaining only have themselves to blame.

Agree my oldest graduated from an application magnet with over 14 APs and near perfect SATs. I don't think my w high school even offered that many APs. My point is that if you want a great education the opportunities today are even greater than in the past but it's up to you to make that happen. So many people here complain but I've done nothing and take no's personal responsibility for their lives. They want a nanny state for the county tells them what to do.

AP exams and the SAT are also no longer what they used to be. Just because your DC is at the top of the heap doesn't mean that they are getting a great education, just one that is better than some other kids. Lots of us who have been around education see the deterioration. - AP teacher

AP and SAT exams are no longer required for Maryland public system admission. They become irrelevant.
Soon, we'll live in a surreal county where all students have only 'A's and everybody will be happy. 'A's for all, free tuition for all, government jobs for all, free "affordable" houses for everybody. Take it as a joke (still a joke) but that's the direction.

I also saw the article last week that said UMD will go test-optional next year. Regardless, that doesn't mean it carries less weight, and scores today are so much higher than in years past it discredits the false narrative that schools are in decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some MCPS schools, including my DC's, seem to have too many teachers. It's sounding like the schools with the good principals don't have as many staffing issues?

Also, many former MCPS students have gone elsewhere due to the in-person school closures.

So would be curious which schools are the ones with all these unfilled positions.

Why does it seem that way to you?

Classrooms with only about 11 or so students

That seems really low, even for a Title 1 school

I'd be curious what grade- our Focus school was very imbalanced this year. Kindergarten classes all had 20+ students but some of the 1st-3nd grade classes were <15.

That's strange. Principals can move teachers within their school to a different grade level to prevent these imbalances. Unless a a high number of the 1st and 2nd graders withdrew after the school year began?

There's been a surplus at a lot of schools since enrollment went down.

If you say so. Not my experience.

Anecdotally, this has only been true in wealthy single family neighborhoods where people are retiring in place and young families that do move in are having fewer children. The rest of the county has been growing.

Strange, the thread here a week or so ago claimed enrollment was way DOWN and people were leaving droves for private. I don't so how both of these things can be true.

Enrollment plummeted in 2020 due to virtual. It increased last year.

There was just a thread last month that claimed MCPS was overstaffed because enrollment was plumetting. I just don't see how all these things can be true.

Between this and the fact that apparently they're turning away great applicants in droves leads me to believe this isn't much of a shortage.

If they're not hiring, then there probably isn't a shortage.

The problem with your premise is that you expect them to be reasonable and logical. Education departments at the state or county level are set up to follow rigid rules rather than a common sense flexible approach. I have seen them fire strong teachers who are missing a small portion of their certification requirements and then fill the position with a warm-body sub for 6months because no qualified person was available or interested in the position. They ended up hurting students rather than helping. They could have given the teacher a one-time extension to take care of the missing requirement but nope. Rules must be followed

Nope - if they needed people they'd be hiring but they aren't so the rumors of this shortage are greatly exaggerated.

+1

Lol, one person on this hellsite mentioned their friend's daughter didn't automatically get hired and so everyone just assumes MCPS isn't hiring? So pathetic.

Almost every media outlet has reported the mass exodus of teachers. There were positions that could not be filed last school year. There are people leaving even before retirement. Even at my child’s graduation, the BOE member was pitching for graduates to come back and work for MCPS.

I am not understanding why someone is trying to dispute that a staffing shortage exists.

They were overstaffed. They're not hiring. There's no shortage. The sky isn't falling.

Your theory is that they're advertising over 750 open positions just for kicks?

Mostly yes. Others have already posted that many highly qualified applicants had applied and were rejected so it appears they aren't really hiring at this time.

I haven’t seen a lot of posters saying that. I posted above that I was offered a position and turned it down because MCPS wouldn’t honor my years of experience. Other counties look more appealing to experienced teachers. I have seen others say the same on this thread.

Then you need to go back and read this thread where it was discussed at length how many recent grads who had graduated from at the top of their class can't even get an interview with MCPS.

That's correct there were several posts going on about how these top students were being rejected outright.