What’s going on at Travilah ES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are things improving?

Unfortunately, no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How silly.

You are repeating rumors and making a fool out of yourselves.

There was previously a letter that came from teachers to the PTA!! Not parents to the school board. The teachers were extremely concerned about the hostile environment at the school, retaliatory practices of the principal, unhappy, working environment, overly laden with processes, and teacher departures. The PTA approached the principal who had excuses, played victim, said teachers were leaving for normal reasons and PTA contacted BOE for assistance. Nothing happened. PTA did the right thing. They don’t have the power you think.
Flash forward to 2023-2024 and there are more teacher departures and extended leave of absence for key years 3rd and 5th grade (if you don’t know why these are critical in MCPS structure, educate yourself) and parents organized to get help, NOT PTA!!
PTA HAS BEEN GREAT THROUGH ALL THIS, their role is to fundraise to support schools and teachers to help create a good community for the students!! Not solve social problems!

Thank you, I actually did. I did educate myself. So let me me break it down to you since you seem to not have read the previous quote correctly. I never blamed PTA. I said it was given to PTA.

Many community members saw the letter and it may not have reached the BOE like this previous letter did or got the attention the last letter did but it still concerning to me. But I like to ask this question, why do you think it came from teachers? Where you told that it came from teachers? Sounds like you are the one starting the rumor. This is your direct quote "The teachers were extremely concerned about the hostile environment at the school, retaliatory practices of the principal, unhappy, working environment, overly laden with processes, and teacher departures". This tells me you know a lot about that first letter that went out and got direct quotes from that letter.

You are right PTA has been great. But I never once said anything negative about PTA. I simply stated that there was a letter given to them and the community. Also, that was a different PTA than this past school year. Regardless there are two letters out there now about the school climate. Shouldn't we be concerned about the hostile environment (as you quoted)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are things improving?

no, I heard more staff left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all just need to stay focused and require the admin at Travilah to be more transparent and accountable. My major concern is the education of my child is being directly influenced by the turnover of staff and the obvious staff discontent. Something is going on there with the morale, and leadership should lead. Happy staff lead to happier students and thus, better education. Isn’t that all what we want?
All I want to know is if someone outside of Travilah is looking into how the school is managed. I hope our voices are heard and not just ignored.

They aren’t accountable to YOU. Enough the that mentality. It’s a large reason why schools are suffering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all just need to stay focused and require the admin at Travilah to be more transparent and accountable. My major concern is the education of my child is being directly influenced by the turnover of staff and the obvious staff discontent. Something is going on there with the morale, and leadership should lead. Happy staff lead to happier students and thus, better education. Isn’t that all what we want?
All I want to know is if someone outside of Travilah is looking into how the school is managed. I hope our voices are heard and not just ignored.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How silly.

You are repeating rumors and making a fool out of yourselves.

There was previously a letter that came from teachers to the PTA!! Not parents to the school board. The teachers were extremely concerned about the hostile environment at the school, retaliatory practices of the principal, unhappy, working environment, overly laden with processes, and teacher departures. The PTA approached the principal who had excuses, played victim, said teachers were leaving for normal reasons and PTA contacted BOE for assistance. Nothing happened. PTA did the right thing. They don’t have the power you think.
Flash forward to 2023-2024 and there are more teacher departures and extended leave of absence for key years 3rd and 5th grade (if you don’t know why these are critical in MCPS structure, educate yourself) and parents organized to get help, NOT PTA!!
PTA HAS BEEN GREAT THROUGH ALL THIS, their role is to fundraise to support schools and teachers to help create a good community for the students!! Not solve social problems!

Thank you, I actually did. I did educate myself. So let me me break it down to you since you seem to not have read the previous quote correctly. I never blamed PTA. I said it was given to PTA.

Many community members saw the letter and it may not have reached the BOE like this previous letter did or got the attention the last letter did but it still concerning to me. But I like to ask this question, why do you think it came from teachers? Where you told that it came from teachers? Sounds like you are the one starting the rumor. This is your direct quote "The teachers were extremely concerned about the hostile environment at the school, retaliatory practices of the principal, unhappy, working environment, overly laden with processes, and teacher departures". This tells me you know a lot about that first letter that went out and got direct quotes from that letter.

You are right PTA has been great. But I never once said anything negative about PTA. I simply stated that there was a letter given to them and the community. Also, that was a different PTA than this past school year. Regardless there are two letters out there now about the school climate. Shouldn't we be concerned about the hostile environment (as you quoted)?

The letter said it was from a group of concerned teachers. It’s not a rumor. It’s a fact.

And in the principals newest email with staffing info it’s clear the school has had a ton more departures and is either going to have two huge classes in the two grades that only have two teachers or enrollment has declined. That’s not to blame the principal, it’s just sad to see so much turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How silly.

You are repeating rumors and making a fool out of yourselves.

There was previously a letter that came from teachers to the PTA!! Not parents to the school board. The teachers were extremely concerned about the hostile environment at the school, retaliatory practices of the principal, unhappy, working environment, overly laden with processes, and teacher departures. The PTA approached the principal who had excuses, played victim, said teachers were leaving for normal reasons and PTA contacted BOE for assistance. Nothing happened. PTA did the right thing. They don’t have the power you think.
Flash forward to 2023-2024 and there are more teacher departures and extended leave of absence for key years 3rd and 5th grade (if you don’t know why these are critical in MCPS structure, educate yourself) and parents organized to get help, NOT PTA!!
PTA HAS BEEN GREAT THROUGH ALL THIS, their role is to fundraise to support schools and teachers to help create a good community for the students!! Not solve social problems!

I don't think you were at the townhall meeting. During the town hall meeting, the VP of the PTA downplayed concerns about teacher turnover by making a comment about 'only having two teachers left, suggesting that it wasn’t a significant issue.' Given that her child just started kindergarten last year, her perspective on the matter may be limited. Additionally, she recommended that any concerns be directed to the PTA first, rather than the Board of Education.

Simply put, the VP just doesn’t know what she doesn’t know.

[Anonymous]

So schools receive additional position last minute? Does anyone know the process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all just need to stay focused and require the admin at Travilah to be more transparent and accountable. My major concern is the education of my child is being directly influenced by the turnover of staff and the obvious staff discontent. Something is going on there with the morale, and leadership should lead. Happy staff lead to happier students and thus, better education. Isn’t that all what we want?
All I want to know is if someone outside of Travilah is looking into how the school is managed. I hope our voices are heard and not just ignored.

They aren’t accountable to YOU. Enough the that mentality. It’s a large reason why schools are suffering.

[Anonymous]

If the schools are not accountable to the parents then who are they accountable to?

[Anonymous]

Travilah is no longer 5 stars. It’s now down to just 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travilah is no longer 5 stars. It’s now down to just 4

Oh no. I’m drinking tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travilah is no longer 5 stars. It’s now down to just 4

Thanks to the poor test scores......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the schools are not accountable to the parents then who are they accountable to?

+1

[Anonymous]

How is it going so far this school year?