Turnover @ Lowell???

[Anonymous]

one thing to say..the K teacher left teaching at Lowell but has returned to the Lowell Board and her kids both attend, so clearly has no issue with the school.

I could go on about what I feel about each teacher that left (and I am not bummed about most!) but more importantly I am excited about the quality of the replacements that they have hired. If those work out, the school will most certainly get stronger than i feel it already is.

[Anonymous]

20:53 "I could go on about what I feel about each teacher that left (and I am not bummed about most!) but more importantly I am excited about the quality of the replacements that they have hired. If those work out, the school will most certainly get stronger than i feel it already is."

This statement makes me wonder how much exposure you've had to the teachers that are leaving, because they were certainly some of the strongest. However, I believe in this market that Lowell was probably able to hire several more strong candidates even though they pay mid-range salaries. Unexpected events happen and it seems like the admin. put info. out there on why each teacher was leaving.

[Anonymous]

As one with intimate knowledge of Lowell and the working environment, I can say with certainty that pay is not the issue.

[Anonymous]

Hyper-active parents...possibly driving teachers away?

[Anonymous]

And perhaps if admin gave teachers support with these issues . . . .

[Anonymous]

I hesitate to weigh in because it seems like no matter what one says to explain the situation the response is simply speculation and innuendo that something must be secretly wrong. I suspect that this is being driven by the small number of people who have had problems with the shift to the new head. My impression as a parent has been that the new head is more demanding on the teachers and that while most of them appreciate the new environment, some have been put off by it. The reality is that some people leave a school for a variety of reasons and this year is no different than most years and not substantially more than many schools experience. There is no big secret, overwhelming unhappiness or major problem driving teachers away and I don't know what PP wants the school to tell her about why teachers have decided to leave. In any event, we love the school and our kids' experiences have been great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:53 "I could go on about what I feel about each teacher that left (and I am not bummed about most!) but more importantly I am excited about the quality of the replacements that they have hired. If those work out, the school will most certainly get stronger than i feel it already is."

This statement makes me wonder how much exposure you've had to the teachers that are leaving, because they were certainly some of the strongest. However, I believe in this market that Lowell was probably able to hire several more strong candidates even though they pay mid-range salaries. Unexpected events happen and it seems like the admin. put info. out there on why each teacher was leaving.

I had exposure to three of them and don't agree with you....but again, everyone has a different take on teachers (ones we love others hate and vice versa) and again, I think they have hired excellent replacements. AND I think the new Assistant Head will be amazing!

[Anonymous]

Pay is not the issue. Too much is asked of teachers with too little support. And it is not a matter of teachers not willing to do the work. Teachers are being put in impossible situations and do not feel they are put in a position to succeed. The environment is dysfunctional. I have this info from a close friend inside the school.

[Anonymous]

10:51-most accurate input yet.

[Anonymous]

@11:25 Agreed!

[Anonymous]

As an insider we wish our friends the best in their new adventures. Life happens. I am very hopeful the new primary head will bring everybody together, squash some egos a wee bit to make room for the one goal this school and community should concentrate on--- the children. The administration must work on trusting and supporting the faculty and vice-versa. The parents should do the same.

[Anonymous]

I just think it's weird that all you insiders need to talk about this on an anonymous forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you referring to faculty turnover? The numbers seem to be in the usual range, which is normal for most schools including Lowell. People leave for lots of reasons. My 5th grader's teacher this year is leaving to go live in Ghana for a couple of years, for example. The turnover is not distributed equally between grades so some grades have none and one grade is switching two teachers. No particular concern on the part of this parent.

What about student turnover?

[Anonymous]

Why do you feel that the environment is dysfunctional?.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone should lay off. Lowell seems like a great school with a involved, commited parent population and a solid staff. So what if they are having some turnover due to shakeout with a new head of school. EVERY school has its issues. We were admitted and would have enrolled but it was just too far away from us, so instead we settled for a school that is lauded on this board that I frankly liked much less than Lowell.