I don't like the Parent Association leaders at our school (big 3)

[Anonymous]

What exactly are you looking for in a parent board, OP? How would you prefer them to serve you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

No. And there are plenty of high achievers here. Goodness. Including in STEM. Like the entire governmental force of workers? They often value different things than those that opt to make $$$$. There is also plenty of academic pressure here. Maybe learn about Thomas Jefferson etc.

Also, my husband went to law school and OMG Stanford and so did many of his law school friends who also decided to work for the gov in various capacities. It’s a thing.

Seriously, PP, it’s insulting and ignorant to state that there are not high achieving STEM families here because … there’s less tech and VC money? I’m from the west coast and know plenty of people in big tech and VC who have far less impressive educational credentials than the NIH professors and scientists that live in my neighborhood, the policy people who have degrees in all kinds of areas from finance to technology, the lawyers who work for DOJ, the military, the pentagon… I mean, come on. There is also plenty of academic pressure to be found here, I assure you.

I hope the academic pressure here doesn't get to the levels that Palo Alto had! It was part of why we decided to leave. Do any of the schools have especially good support resources when it comes to mental health?

I respecfully disagree that there are nearly as many high-level STEM families here (in fairness, the Bay Area is quite a bit larger than the DMV), especially in the fast-growing CS and eng areas. DC does have a lot of people with great degrees. People here wear their college and grad school apparel the way they do their employer's swag in the Bay Area! Where you went to school comes up a surprisingly high amount among mid-career adults here too. I agree that educational credentials are clearly more important here.

TJ is a great example of where there will be some change. It isn't rocket science to expect some big tech kids to show up there in the next 5-10 years given its focus and location. The Big 3 private schools may see it earlier since younger employees will have fewer high schoolers initially.

Getting back to the thread topic, one of the positives of all this economic change and movement is that the parent associations are unlikely to look exactly like they do now! The earlier poster will see fewer lawyers in 10 years!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

No. And there are plenty of high achievers here. Goodness. Including in STEM. Like the entire governmental force of workers? They often value different things than those that opt to make $$$$. There is also plenty of academic pressure here. Maybe learn about Thomas Jefferson etc.

Also, my husband went to law school and OMG Stanford and so did many of his law school friends who also decided to work for the gov in various capacities. It’s a thing.

Seriously, PP, it’s insulting and ignorant to state that there are not high achieving STEM families here because … there’s less tech and VC money? I’m from the west coast and know plenty of people in big tech and VC who have far less impressive educational credentials than the NIH professors and scientists that live in my neighborhood, the policy people who have degrees in all kinds of areas from finance to technology, the lawyers who work for DOJ, the military, the pentagon… I mean, come on. There is also plenty of academic pressure to be found here, I assure you.

I hope the academic pressure here doesn't get to the levels that Palo Alto had! It was part of why we decided to leave. Do any of the schools have especially good support resources when it comes to mental health?

I respecfully disagree that there are nearly as many high-level STEM families here (in fairness, the Bay Area is quite a bit larger than the DMV), especially in the fast-growing CS and eng areas. DC does have a lot of people with great degrees. People here wear their college and grad school apparel the way they do their employer's swag in the Bay Area! Where you went to school comes up a surprisingly high amount among mid-career adults here too. I agree that educational credentials are clearly more important here.

TJ is a great example of where there will be some change. It isn't rocket science to expect some big tech kids to show up there in the next 5-10 years given its focus and location. The Big 3 private schools may see it earlier since younger employees will have fewer high schoolers initially.

Getting back to the thread topic, one of the positives of all this economic change and movement is that the parent associations are unlikely to look exactly like they do now! The earlier poster will see fewer lawyers in 10 years!

Yeah, idk, PP. The schools have old money and trust fund money and all kinds of other money. The lawyers are usually the do-ers. You want something done ask a busy person and all that. No, I don’t think there’s going to be some big tech world here. DC is what it is. The government and its various off shoots are going to remain the main industry here.

[Anonymous]

It's cute you call your school a BIG 3! BWAHAHAHA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

No. And there are plenty of high achievers here. Goodness. Including in STEM. Like the entire governmental force of workers? They often value different things than those that opt to make $$$$. There is also plenty of academic pressure here. Maybe learn about Thomas Jefferson etc.

Also, my husband went to law school and OMG Stanford and so did many of his law school friends who also decided to work for the gov in various capacities. It’s a thing.

Seriously, PP, it’s insulting and ignorant to state that there are not high achieving STEM families here because … there’s less tech and VC money? I’m from the west coast and know plenty of people in big tech and VC who have far less impressive educational credentials than the NIH professors and scientists that live in my neighborhood, the policy people who have degrees in all kinds of areas from finance to technology, the lawyers who work for DOJ, the military, the pentagon… I mean, come on. There is also plenty of academic pressure to be found here, I assure you.

I hope the academic pressure here doesn't get to the levels that Palo Alto had! It was part of why we decided to leave. Do any of the schools have especially good support resources when it comes to mental health?

I respecfully disagree that there are nearly as many high-level STEM families here (in fairness, the Bay Area is quite a bit larger than the DMV), especially in the fast-growing CS and eng areas. DC does have a lot of people with great degrees. People here wear their college and grad school apparel the way they do their employer's swag in the Bay Area! Where you went to school comes up a surprisingly high amount among mid-career adults here too. I agree that educational credentials are clearly more important here.

TJ is a great example of where there will be some change. It isn't rocket science to expect some big tech kids to show up there in the next 5-10 years given its focus and location. The Big 3 private schools may see it earlier since younger employees will have fewer high schoolers initially.

Getting back to the thread topic, one of the positives of all this economic change and movement is that the parent associations are unlikely to look exactly like they do now! The earlier poster will see fewer lawyers in 10 years!

You are hijacking the thread. This is a private school forum in DMV area not the Bay Area. Sorry to break it to you but DC is in a bubble of its own and no one thinks much about the Bay Area or tech world. Furthermore this has NOTHING to do with the op.

[Anonymous]

We have had the completely opposite experience at our school that is not one of the "coveted Big 3." Everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

No. And there are plenty of high achievers here. Goodness. Including in STEM. Like the entire governmental force of workers? They often value different things than those that opt to make $$$$. There is also plenty of academic pressure here. Maybe learn about Thomas Jefferson etc.

Also, my husband went to law school and OMG Stanford and so did many of his law school friends who also decided to work for the gov in various capacities. It’s a thing.

Seriously, PP, it’s insulting and ignorant to state that there are not high achieving STEM families here because … there’s less tech and VC money? I’m from the west coast and know plenty of people in big tech and VC who have far less impressive educational credentials than the NIH professors and scientists that live in my neighborhood, the policy people who have degrees in all kinds of areas from finance to technology, the lawyers who work for DOJ, the military, the pentagon… I mean, come on. There is also plenty of academic pressure to be found here, I assure you.

I hope the academic pressure here doesn't get to the levels that Palo Alto had! It was part of why we decided to leave. Do any of the schools have especially good support resources when it comes to mental health?

I respecfully disagree that there are nearly as many high-level STEM families here (in fairness, the Bay Area is quite a bit larger than the DMV), especially in the fast-growing CS and eng areas. DC does have a lot of people with great degrees. People here wear their college and grad school apparel the way they do their employer's swag in the Bay Area! Where you went to school comes up a surprisingly high amount among mid-career adults here too. I agree that educational credentials are clearly more important here.

TJ is a great example of where there will be some change. It isn't rocket science to expect some big tech kids to show up there in the next 5-10 years given its focus and location. The Big 3 private schools may see it earlier since younger employees will have fewer high schoolers initially.

Getting back to the thread topic, one of the positives of all this economic change and movement is that the parent associations are unlikely to look exactly like they do now! The earlier poster will see fewer lawyers in 10 years!

You are hijacking the thread. This is a private school forum in DMV area not the Bay Area. Sorry to break it to you but DC is in a bubble of its own and no one thinks much about the Bay Area or tech world. Furthermore this has NOTHING to do with the op.

Didn't this come out of the complaints about lawyers in big 3 PAs?

Be intentional in trying to meet other involved families and welcome new additions in the future the way you expected to be welcomed.

[Anonymous]

The HSA at our school is obnoxious. They control every single (even minor) detail of every event and criticize the people who DO actually volunteer. It’s actually quite horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The HSA at our school is obnoxious. They control every single (even minor) detail of every event and criticize the people who DO actually volunteer. It’s actually quite horrible.

What does hsa stand for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had the completely opposite experience at our school that is not one of the "coveted Big 3." Everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming.

I feel the same. Goes to show what you read on these boards should be taken with a grain of salt. We are new are the school this year and I would say that 80 percent of the families have been genuinely friendly and very welcoming. I was not expecting it to be so many based on what I had heard about the school parent community (my child chose this school based on academics and fit).