What are the list of MCPS positions set to be laid off (assuming the budget cuts go through)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is incredibly sad. I can't believe they're cutting social workers and english assistants of all things...cut the SSL processors!

They're cutting HS college and career navigators, which just means kids whose parents can afford a private college counselor will continue to navigate the increasingly complicated college application/financial aid system just fine while those who can't afford it will be left behind with no one to guide them. So much for equity.

I’m surprised TT would cut a job that supports many first generation future college students, immigrants, and FARMS kiddos getting into college and getting ahead in life. I guess the equity office doesn’t advise the superintendent. Here’s my advice to him -don’t cut this job if you care about equity. He didn’t even need to pay me a six figure salary for that. You’re welcome.

I'm no Taylor fan, but if you have to make cuts college and career counselors seem like a luxury. Information about the college application process (which isn't that complicated as most colleges) is freely available online. We didn't have anything like that when I was in high school and we all managed just fine even though private college counselor wasn't a job that existed in our community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is incredibly sad. I can't believe they're cutting social workers and english assistants of all things...cut the SSL processors!

They're cutting HS college and career navigators, which just means kids whose parents can afford a private college counselor will continue to navigate the increasingly complicated college application/financial aid system just fine while those who can't afford it will be left behind with no one to guide them. So much for equity.

I’m surprised TT would cut a job that supports many first generation future college students, immigrants, and FARMS kiddos getting into college and getting ahead in life. I guess the equity office doesn’t advise the superintendent. Here’s my advice to him -don’t cut this job if you care about equity. He didn’t even need to pay me a six figure salary for that. You’re welcome.

Is there data to support those students actually are “getting ahead”? What kind of student debt do they end up with relative to their salaries? What is their degree completion rate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the biggest categories are:

- Media assistants
- College and career navigators
- Social workers
- English composition assistants
- Pupil personnel workers
- EML therapeutic counselors
- Family engagement specialists
- Special education resource teachers
- Staff development teachers
- And 220 middle school teachers

Total of 850 employees being laid off

I like our SDT as a person, but she doesn’t do anything to help with instruction itself. Instead she just runs mandated trainings and assists with testing. She is often absent for her own or family illness. As a chronically ill person myself, I am sympathetic, but she doesn’t do anything when present. At most, she will provide Google links.

My prior SDT was really hands on. When I wanted to try a new technique, she modeled it with my kids, did it along side me, and then observed while I did it so she could give me feedback.

My SDT is the same. She facilitates poorly planned meetings and sends out lots of AI generated emails, but never develops staff. SDT in middle school is kind of a scam.

There are also Central Office staff who manage the SDTs. So wasteful.

Yup. In my opinion SDT's (MS/HS level) should be cut before media assistants. They mainly seem to exist to facilitate monthly staff meetings that are often canceled anyway. They also take away from planning time by delivering AI-generated professional development that doesn’t feel meaningful or relevant, and instead adds extra work like bs reflections and other requirements that don’t seem to provide real value.

Yes, SDTs before Media Assistants and ECAs. The SDT role is unique to MCPS because every other districts seems to know its bs so they don’t waste their money. The Media Assistants essentially run the Media Center that has hundreds of users daily while the Media specialist supports classes doing research. Our ECA runs workshops every other week and supports students during lunch as well as supporting students during class time. I’ve had several students who needed heavy support with writing and I couldn’t have given them level of attention they needed on my own. These two roles are essential to the daily functioning of our HS. Taylor is making a big mistake eliminating their jobs. I hope he reconsiders.

SDTs teach .4 , if they are cut, I hope everyone realizes that will push teachers will less seniority out or to part time as we will need to give them back their .6 contractually.

I see zero evidence that our SDT teaches 0.4.

That would be two classes.

She doesn’t appear on the master schedule and ours even lists paras.

When she runs trainings, she does them all periods except during her lunch.

If she’s teaching two classes, it should be transparent which two.

Ours doesn’t teach either.

Some schools like Poolesville MS decided to give their SDT extra planning periods instead of having them teach their .4. Maybe the school put the SDT in charge of AEIST and then overfilled one subject area’s classes to squeeze out another section. It shouldn’t be allowed but it happens because the SDT does grunt work Admin doesn’t want to do.

It takes time to generate all those AI generated meeting agendas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is incredibly sad. I can't believe they're cutting social workers and english assistants of all things...cut the SSL processors!

They're cutting HS college and career navigators, which just means kids whose parents can afford a private college counselor will continue to navigate the increasingly complicated college application/financial aid system just fine while those who can't afford it will be left behind with no one to guide them. So much for equity.

I’m surprised TT would cut a job that supports many first generation future college students, immigrants, and FARMS kiddos getting into college and getting ahead in life. I guess the equity office doesn’t advise the superintendent. Here’s my advice to him -don’t cut this job if you care about equity. He didn’t even need to pay me a six figure salary for that. You’re welcome.

Is there data to support those students actually are “getting ahead”? What kind of student debt do they end up with relative to their salaries? What is their degree completion rate?

It’s common knowledge that college grads earn more over their lifetime than HS grads. You can research it yourself if you are genuinely curious. I don’t know about the rate of MCPS students earning college degrees, but you have to be in college to earn one. One of the biggest traps is massive college debt I get that, imagine how difficult it is for a kid to navigate financial aid without support to avoid that type of debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is incredibly sad. I can't believe they're cutting social workers and english assistants of all things...cut the SSL processors!

They're cutting HS college and career navigators, which just means kids whose parents can afford a private college counselor will continue to navigate the increasingly complicated college application/financial aid system just fine while those who can't afford it will be left behind with no one to guide them. So much for equity.

I’m surprised TT would cut a job that supports many first generation future college students, immigrants, and FARMS kiddos getting into college and getting ahead in life. I guess the equity office doesn’t advise the superintendent. Here’s my advice to him -don’t cut this job if you care about equity. He didn’t even need to pay me a six figure salary for that. You’re welcome.

I'm no Taylor fan, but if you have to make cuts college and career counselors seem like a luxury. Information about the college application process (which isn't that complicated as most colleges) is freely available online. We didn't have anything like that when I was in high school and we all managed just fine even though private college counselor wasn't a job that existed in our community.

College counselor here. The CCN does a lot of work to make it possible for the kids to apply to college, like transmitting documents and scheduling college representatives visiting the school. These tasks will now fall on the overworked counselors.

[Anonymous]

Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

+1

My elementary school would not function without our SDT. She is amazing. They may not be needed in MS and HS, but I do think they serve an important role in ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

That’s laughable considering that so many elementary schools all over the county function just fine and many actually outperform MCPS elementary schools without a SDT. I’ve worked in enough districts to know this for a fact. Cut the crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

Can you explain more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

That’s laughable considering that so many elementary schools all over the county function just fine and many actually outperform MCPS elementary schools without a SDT. I’ve worked in enough districts to know this for a fact. Cut the crap.

Yikes. Perhaps there is someone else doing what STDs do in other districts. I really think their job titles are mislabeled. That being said- MCPS is highly mismanaged. That doesn’t mean those at the bottom are insincere or that their positions don’t truly benefit staff. They don’t make the rules - they follow what is expected of them. Have some grace. They are valued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

That’s laughable considering that so many elementary schools all over the county function just fine and many actually outperform MCPS elementary schools without a SDT. I’ve worked in enough districts to know this for a fact. Cut the crap.

Yikes. Perhaps there is someone else doing what STDs do in other districts. I really think their job titles are mislabeled. That being said- MCPS is highly mismanaged. That doesn’t mean those at the bottom are insincere or that their positions don’t truly benefit staff. They don’t make the rules - they follow what is expected of them. Have some grace. They are valued.

That’s because in elementary schools, SDTs are crucial-they are basically admin without the pay. In middle and high schools, they are not as effective. They provide “PD” once a month that is often not useful and ends up feeling like a waste of planning time. They also run the once-a-month staff meeting-big deal. They don’t do much (or anything) to actually support teachers, whereas in elementary school, SDTs do a lot for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So… what’s the update? Who is still being cut, after the straw vote?

Until/unless we hear otherwise, it's everyone in tranche 1 and 2.

I am one of the positions being cut and it's hard to come to work these days.

I'm sorry appreciate all that you do.

Thanks, anonymous friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

That’s laughable considering that so many elementary schools all over the county function just fine and many actually outperform MCPS elementary schools without a SDT. I’ve worked in enough districts to know this for a fact. Cut the crap.

Yikes. Perhaps there is someone else doing what STDs do in other districts. I really think their job titles are mislabeled. That being said- MCPS is highly mismanaged. That doesn’t mean those at the bottom are insincere or that their positions don’t truly benefit staff. They don’t make the rules - they follow what is expected of them. Have some grace. They are valued.

That’s because in elementary schools, SDTs are crucial-they are basically admin without the pay. In middle and high schools, they are not as effective. They provide “PD” once a month that is often not useful and ends up feeling like a waste of planning time. They also run the once-a-month staff meeting-big deal. They don’t do much (or anything) to actually support teachers, whereas in elementary school, SDTs do a lot for teachers.

Why/how is it so different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary SDTs run the school from behind the scenes. I did it for a few years and got fed up with all the directives from central office. I went right back into the classroom with zero regrets. That being said, there's no way elementary schools could function without SDTs.

That’s laughable considering that so many elementary schools all over the county function just fine and many actually outperform MCPS elementary schools without a SDT. I’ve worked in enough districts to know this for a fact. Cut the crap.

Yikes. Perhaps there is someone else doing what STDs do in other districts. I really think their job titles are mislabeled. That being said- MCPS is highly mismanaged. That doesn’t mean those at the bottom are insincere or that their positions don’t truly benefit staff. They don’t make the rules - they follow what is expected of them. Have some grace. They are valued.

That’s because in elementary schools, SDTs are crucial-they are basically admin without the pay. In middle and high schools, they are not as effective. They provide “PD” once a month that is often not useful and ends up feeling like a waste of planning time. They also run the once-a-month staff meeting-big deal. They don’t do much (or anything) to actually support teachers, whereas in elementary school, SDTs do a lot for teachers.

Most of the STDs at the middle school level hold an admin-like role. Maybe not all, but I know many of them are the testing coordinators - there is a lot more testing at the secondary level. I know many are pulled in directions by admin that takes time away from working directly with staff. Again- each school or level may find that person valuable, just not for duties pertaining to the exact job title they hold.

[Anonymous]

I mean it's pretty easy to understand how a ES SDT who supports a staff of like 30 total teachers may be a lot more effective than a HS SDT who supports a staff of like 200. Also factor in that pretty much every ES teacher has very similar responsibilities and content areas to work on while it's difficult for a HS SDT to effectively tell a science teacher how to improve their job in the same way they would tell a math teacher