MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[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.

Mine was, too. They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

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.

My MCPS education was far superior than those of my children. Free SAT prep. More rigor in Honors and AP courses. We were well prepared for AP exams. I went into college with 18 credits - all 4s or 5s on my exams. I never needed a tutor because I could access teachers for extra help. Night and day from the watered down standards of my child’s W school.

[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.

Mine was, too. They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

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.

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.

My MCPS education was far superior than those of my children. Free SAT prep. More rigor in Honors and AP courses. We were well prepared for AP exams. I went into college with 18 credits - all 4s or 5s on my exams. I never needed a tutor because I could access teachers for extra help. Night and day from the watered down standards of my child’s W school.

[Anonymous]

They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

They have access to so much more via online libraries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

They have access to so much more via online libraries.

textbooks are also so last century... kids need to be prepared for today's world where it's all online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

They have access to so much more via online libraries.

They didn't replace textbooks with anything online. Literally every lesson is random and not built on the one before it or preparing them for the one that comes next, the way a textbook would. It's an absurd way to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

They have access to so much more via online libraries.

They didn't replace textbooks with anything online. Literally every lesson is random and not built on the one before it or preparing them for the one that comes next, the way a textbook would. It's an absurd way to learn.

Weird my kids have online resources for all their classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

They have access to so much more via online libraries.

They didn't replace textbooks with anything online. Literally every lesson is random and not built on the one before it or preparing them for the one that comes next, the way a textbook would. It's an absurd way to learn.

Weird my kids have online resources for all their classes.

Mine do too but one has issues with all the back and forth clicking between various resources. They have adhd though. I do too and also function better with a book in front of me. I’m sure for regular learners it’s fine.

[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: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.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

I teach in Germantown and enjoy the reverse commute from Bethesda. I have wonderful co-workers but most elementary schools in Germantown are far from easy. There's a ton of poverty, trauma, etc.

I've worked in both Bethesda and Germantown (and others). The culture of the Bethesda schools is insane, really, really hard to stomach, while the culture in a place like Germantown is normal. That makes a BIG difference in someone's day, and explains why schools in upper class areas have a harder time attracting and keeping teachers and paras. They're miserable places to work.

I’ve also worked in both, though more recently in Germantown. Both areas have their issues and both are having trouble retaining teachers. In Bethesda, the parent demands can just be too much. The daily emails and constant judgement is hard to stomach (just read DCUM for examples). In Germantown, I rarely have any interaction with parents. In fact, I am often struggling just to get calls returned. However, the student behavior is out of this world. School is expected to fix all of society’s issues which is impossible. The daily disrespect from the students is horrible.

So teachers are dealing with very different issues, but both are challenging and both are driving teachers away from teaching. I believe Rockville might be ideal, but who knows? All I know is that I used to love teaching and now hate it.

NP here. I began my career at an elementary school in Potomac and am in Germantown twenty years later. The difference between the two are night and day, and you are correct, the behavior is off the chain. I agree that one of the hardest parts is trying to meet all the needs of our students when the root cause of the challenges are societal issues that bleed into schools. I will love on my kids as much as possible while still holding firm boundaries but I can't help with all the crap that they deal with when they leave school each day. Part of me wonders if I would rather go back to snowplow parents over my current situation when Johnny tears my room apart daily but mom refuses to answer the phone.

Is there a happy medium anywhere??

[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 joined MCPS as a teacher this year from a different district. I still don’t understand why MCPS uses an E for a failing grade instead of an F. So weird.
And why are department heads called resource teachers? And yes, the 50% rule for no work turned in is pathetic. MCPS has a good reputation but I have been less than impressed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 joined MCPS as a teacher this year from a different district. I still don’t understand why MCPS uses an E for a failing grade instead of an F. So weird.
And why are department heads called resource teachers? And yes, the 50% rule for no work turned in is pathetic. MCPS has a good reputation but I have been less than impressed

Maybe because many colleges all over the country use E instead of F? It's the least confusing thing. You explain it to a kid once and they don't forget. Maybe worry about important things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

I specifically supplement my kid's Math education with a program that provides textbooks. It has been a game changer for her. She has done Algebra and Geometry so far and appreciates the fact that she has a resource to refer back to. It is wonderful. They also do things online, but you need a textbook for Math.

[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: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.

I've worked in a focus school a few years and seen it happen a few times. Usually the year started out balanced but a disproportionate number of kids left or transferred and then that teacher usually is the designated person to get new students transferring in. In another case there were kids with very high behavioral needs so it made sense to make that class smaller.

In my school we needed more kindergarten students but couldn't find a qualified kindergarten teacher. In some cases the applicants had multiple offers and chose schools closer to home

Teachers picking schools close to home is a big problem. There is a lack of affordable housing for moco workers including teachers. So if teachers can make the same salary in Germantown with a shorter commute, they will.

Most Germantown schools will also have smaller class sizes, because they have a higher FARMS rate.

I think the applicant chose a job in either Ann Arundel or Howard county

I teach in Germantown and enjoy the reverse commute from Bethesda. I have wonderful co-workers but most elementary schools in Germantown are far from easy. There's a ton of poverty, trauma, etc.

I've worked in both Bethesda and Germantown (and others). The culture of the Bethesda schools is insane, really, really hard to stomach, while the culture in a place like Germantown is normal. That makes a BIG difference in someone's day, and explains why schools in upper class areas have a harder time attracting and keeping teachers and paras. They're miserable places to work.

I’ve also worked in both, though more recently in Germantown. Both areas have their issues and both are having trouble retaining teachers. In Bethesda, the parent demands can just be too much. The daily emails and constant judgement is hard to stomach (just read DCUM for examples). In Germantown, I rarely have any interaction with parents. In fact, I am often struggling just to get calls returned. However, the student behavior is out of this world. School is expected to fix all of society’s issues which is impossible. The daily disrespect from the students is horrible.

So teachers are dealing with very different issues, but both are challenging and both are driving teachers away from teaching. I believe Rockville might be ideal, but who knows? All I know is that I used to love teaching and now hate it.

NP here. I began my career at an elementary school in Potomac and am in Germantown twenty years later. The difference between the two are night and day, and you are correct, the behavior is off the chain. I agree that one of the hardest parts is trying to meet all the needs of our students when the root cause of the challenges are societal issues that bleed into schools. I will love on my kids as much as possible while still holding firm boundaries but I can't help with all the crap that they deal with when they leave school each day. Part of me wonders if I would rather go back to snowplow parents over my current situation when Johnny tears my room apart daily but mom refuses to answer the phone.

Is there a happy medium anywhere??

Focus schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They went off the rails when they threw out thousands upon thousands of textbooks and replaced them with -- literally nothing. You can't have a stellar education based on worksheets. It's ludicrous. They can't even review their work or study.

They have access to so much more via online libraries.

They didn't replace textbooks with anything online. Literally every lesson is random and not built on the one before it or preparing them for the one that comes next, the way a textbook would. It's an absurd way to learn.

Weird my kids have online resources for all their classes.

Mine do too but one has issues with all the back and forth clicking between various resources. They have adhd though. I do too and also function better with a book in front of me. I’m sure for regular learners it’s fine.

College students still purchase textbooks. Same for private school students. There’s a sequence to learning the curriculum content and material to review for tests with the availability of textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Then there’s the lack of literature taught in middle school and high school. My youngest only reads on average two books for English per year. My oldest used to read about 8-10 per school year. There’s been a big difference in the breadth of literature and content students are exposed to with the decline in expectations even for AP classes.

Does MCPS think literature (who’s content doesn’t change) isn’t a worthwhile investment to have actual books?