Area Private School Teacher Shortage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a private school administrator reading the comments about the disparity in admin costs vs teacher salaries. I think that administrations might be scaled in some areas, but not in the DC area.

We want to put most of our time and resources towards the students, but the parents require an incredible amount of personalized attention in this region. You're busy, so we ramp up communications to make your lives easier. You want to socialize with your fellow parents or fellow alumni, so we hold loads of events. You want the very best facilities, so fundraisers are needed. You want lots and lots of hand-holding through the college process, so we staff up there. You want every kind of club and program to help your child find their specific strength and build a resume around it, so we're always adding new opportunities.

The Head of School, any associate or assistant heads, any division heads had better be available around the clock. I got torn apart by a parent on the phone this summer because I didn't answer a message within 24 hours -- while I was on a family vacation after the worst 2 years of school in the history of school. A colleague gets endless calls from alumni who think something is too woke, and lots of calls from alumni who don't think the program is woke enough. The language you use with us is DEMEANING.

We're all ready to quit. Teachers and staff. There's no amount of money that makes this job worthwhile. Everything that is wrong in society right now feels amplified in the microcosm of school. And hell yes, the pandemic has had a lot to do with it. The only people who will stay are those who can't imagine any other job than one working with children. Let's hope that there are enough of them.

But it’s a vicious cycle. People expect a lot of attention because they are paying such large prices. Schools charge a lot because parents demand a lot. Parents demand a lot because schools charge a lot. Schools charge a lot because parents demand a lot….

And schools have yet to hit a ceiling above which there aren’t enough rich parents looking for the prestige of the “elite” schools who will pay anything for the privilege. Plus those schools are unwilling to draw a line and say they won’t add facilities or more concierge services so they can actually admit and enroll a more diverse set of kids who can’t pay such high tuition.

Those concierge services and such are further proof that for many/most Private Ed has little to do with actual education and everything to do with status.

You're talking about the $40,000 and up schools, where the average student's parents are enormously wealthy and, among other things, the time value of money is such that those concierge services may well be worth it. The number of such schools is miniscule. The average private school tuition is ~$11,000.

Where. Unless it’s Catholic, no school cost that in DC. Even HTS in Georgetown and St Peter’s on the Hill are almost $20k

catholic vs parochial is another matter - the Heights, Holy Child, Mater Dei - i could go on - above 20 - a parochial grade school - maybe less than 11k but not in upper nw or moco

[Anonymous]

Well, there are only 5 teaching positions posted in AISGW job search, so those schools do not seem to have teacher shortages. I am familiar with a few of them and know that there was no shortage of applicants.

[Anonymous]

As things have settled I do not think privates in DC area have issues right now on staffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As things have settled I do not think privates in DC area have issues right now on staffing.

Teacher turnover has been huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid also disproportionately affected working women, and teachers are mostly women. The burden of a stressful demanding job during a crisis and the demands of their own families/children, who may have been virtual for extended periods, frequent closures, etc. It's just not worth it to stay in the workforce for meager pay and those increased demands.

Also, Private school teachers don't have unions to protect their interests.

Stop blaming covid. Most privates were open all last year and many the prior year. The issue is pay and the environment.

Pay and the environment are absolutely issues that for decades have been eroding teaching morale and motivation to remain in the career. However, the current pandemic environment has made things really tough. Last school year was my first year back with the students full-time on campus. I have never had so many kids refuse work, get into constant social conflict, or suffer from significant manifestations of anxiety. When approaching the families to talk about the extremes of behavior and how both in-school and out-of-school interventions were needed, I experienced more push-back and hostility than ever before. Certainly, helping students to get through difficult challenges is part of the job. But currently the level of emotional exhaustion is unsustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As things have settled I do not think privates in DC area have issues right now on staffing.

What precisely is your expertise in determining this?