MoCo assigment of teachers

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if poor performing teachers are more likely to get assigned to better schools?
Do the poor performing schools get the better teachers?

[Anonymous]

Doesn't work that way at all! (I'm a former mcps teacher, now sahm)

[Anonymous]

I was wondering how teachers get assigned as well. It seems like almost every grade at our ES has a new teacher this year and I was wondering if teachers can opt in/out of a specific school.

[Anonymous]

I always assumed (you know what Felix Ungar said about that!) that teachers don't get assigned to schools but interview with the principal. If the principal likes the teacher, she/he hires him/her. I am also under the impression that there are times when the selection of available teachers is narrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always assumed (you know what Felix Ungar said about that!) that teachers don't get assigned to schools but interview with the principal. If the principal likes the teacher, she/he hires him/her. I am also under the impression that there are times when the selection of available teachers is narrow.

Thanks. I admit I am completely clueless about this.

Does anyone have any sense of what is a common level of turnover from year to year? Offhand, I'd guess there was something like 15% turnover at our school this year, and I think last year might have been close to that.

[Anonymous]

It's hard to find the school turnover, since some teachers may leave for reasons that say nothing positive or negative about a school. for example, a teacher may want to switch to another grade or another subject that doesn't have an opening at their current school. In general, a high turnover is a bad sign for the principal and the general work environment, not necessarily a bad sign for the quality of the school. Although, obviously having a low turnover is generally good for students in terms of consistency.

[Anonymous]

15% turnover is probably pretty average-factor in that this is a huge county, many teachers live in other counties and leave to work closer to home, to take promotions to other positions, or for a change. Higher than that in terms of turnover probably signals an issue between the administration and the teachers. It is a big pain to leave a school as a teacher if you don't really have a reason.

As far as initial "placement", as you called it, teachers are hired by MCPS HR and then apply to/interview for positions that they are interested in. No one is placed anywhere. The only time that happens is if someone is involuntarily transferred (ie, the school lost a position and that teacher was the last one in). Another thing to note is that until someone has tenure (three years), they may not leave their school. Often you'll see schools with largely first and second year untenured teachers on staff--that is usually a reflection on the administration as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't work that way at all! (I'm a former mcps teacher, now sahm)

Who cares what you do now? or don't do . . .

[Anonymous]

Our HS is one of the best in the county and I know teachers are excited to work there. It attracts good candidates for open positions, and teachers seem to stay for a long time. Many seem to come from other schools in the county but there are a few new (to teaching) teachers every year. On the other hand I know good teachers who want to teach in the most challenging schools so there are good teachers going in both directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always assumed (you know what Felix Ungar said about that!) that teachers don't get assigned to schools but interview with the principal. If the principal likes the teacher, she/he hires him/her. I am also under the impression that there are times when the selection of available teachers is narrow.

Thanks. I admit I am completely clueless about this.

Does anyone have any sense of what is a common level of turnover from year to year? Offhand, I'd guess there was something like 15% turnover at our school this year, and I think last year might have been close to that.

There's turnover for many reasons:
- incompetent leadership
- challenging population
- commute


Once you're in the system, it's easier to make contacts. At first, however, you are placed in a school that has has an opening in your field whether you like the school or not. Unless you're transferred b/c of a cut in allocation, you're there for 3 years until you hit tenure.

So you can transfer if you're tenured, provided you are not on PAR. If, however, you're under scrutiny, you won't impress many people! Furthermore, some principals avoid PAR (b/c it takes quite a bit of documentation) and simply make life miserable enough for the teacher to leave.

There are also voluntary (in good standing) and involuntary transfers. Cuts in allocation are usually involuntary transfers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our HS is one of the best in the county and I know teachers are excited to work there. It attracts good candidates for open positions, and teachers seem to stay for a long time. Many seem to come from other schools in the county but there are a few new (to teaching) teachers every year. On the other hand I know good teachers who want to teach in the most challenging schools so there are good teachers going in both directions.

I work in a desirable high school as well - but also in a pretty expensive area to live. We fairly often lose young teachers who buy a house at the other end of the county - or out of the county - and decide they can't handle the commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15% turnover is probably pretty average-factor in that this is a huge county, many teachers live in other counties and leave to work closer to home, to take promotions to other positions, or for a change. Higher than that in terms of turnover probably signals an issue between the administration and the teachers. It is a big pain to leave a school as a teacher if you don't really have a reason.

As far as initial "placement", as you called it, teachers are hired by MCPS HR and then apply to/interview for positions that they are interested in. No one is placed anywhere. The only time that happens is if someone is involuntarily transferred (ie, the school lost a position and that teacher was the last one in). Another thing to note is that until someone has tenure (three years), they may not leave their school. Often you'll see schools with largely first and second year untenured teachers on staff--that is usually a reflection on the administration as well.

How about turnover for principals? It is our 5th year at an elementary school (in the green zone) and we are on our 4th principal. The constant change in administration has been disruptive, and I think it is a contributing factor to our also high teacher turnover.

[Anonymous]

Turnover for principals usually isn't a good sign. The principal is the captain of the ship and really sets the tone for every last detail of how the school runs. Their turnover can be for several reasons, though. Did they get promoted quickly/leave the county for a higher up position in a smaller district? Or are they working as a principal in another school?

[Anonymous]

Tenure in MCPS is two year

[Anonymous]

Tensure starts on the first day of the third year.