A quarter of the teachers at Lakewood Elementary are leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This happens and is truly no big deal. It’s not always the best thing to have the same teacher teaching the same subject and the same grade for years among years. That is when teacher burn out happens. Teachers can also become very stuck in their ways and less likely to become adaptable when curriculum changes. The principal may see a certain skill set that the teacher possesses that would benefit the students if they taught a different grade or subject. I think it’s crazy that you are putting blame on the principal saying he is toxic without any examples of what he has done.

I heard the principal is interviewing and already gave offers to three new hires who have no experience. She would have to fill at least 10 positions in a short period of time. It takes a long time for new hires to gain teaching skills and experience. With so many teachers leaving, it’s a huge loss for the community.

There is also lack of communication and transparency from the school administration. We got to know these changes through private chats with other parents and teachers. Students also got to hear which teachers are leaving in their classrooms.

I have absolutely no connection to Lakewood and in fact had to look it up to find out which part of MoCo it is located in, but I think this deserves to be interrogated a little. Hiring is withing the authority of the school principal. Yes, most would do an update at the last PTA meeting of the year regarding big shifts, but it is commong for DC parents in particular to think they deserve a say in the running of a school.

The principal's job (with supervision from the county) is to hire, fire, train, and supervise school teachers and staff for the benefit of the entire school community, and with a long view. The parents' job is to make sure their kids turn up at school ready to learn. But the degree of insight that DMV parents seem to expect into a school's day-to-day functioning is surprising, and they will invariably be disappointed because an administrator (like any person in leadership) needs to take a bigger view than whether Larla gets a teacher next year who is new to the grade level. The principal's job is to make sure that all of the Larlas, over time, have access to a quality education.

[Anonymous]

There are also teachers that really suck and should not even be teaching and they don’t do anything about those. Because a warm body is better than no body. I see this in HS. I’m so angry but there is nothing we can do about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This happens and is truly no big deal. It’s not always the best thing to have the same teacher teaching the same subject and the same grade for years among years. That is when teacher burn out happens. Teachers can also become very stuck in their ways and less likely to become adaptable when curriculum changes. The principal may see a certain skill set that the teacher possesses that would benefit the students if they taught a different grade or subject. I think it’s crazy that you are putting blame on the principal saying he is toxic without any examples of what he has done.

ACTUAL MCPS teacher here. Stop gaslighting. This is a HUGE concern. We have been screaming from the rooftops about ineffective administration - so here is a glaring example of it. It.is.Concerning. No one wants to work for a toxic, abusive boss. No parent wants someone ineffective in charge of their children. I believe the teachers that are leaving. And you should too. It has nothing to do with shaking things up for the curriculum. Get real.

Sure, but it isn't necessarily the principal's fault. There could also be a lot of rot in that school that needs to be replaced.

Agreed (I'm the poster). MCPS itself has been tough to work for due to district-wide measures that are clearly ineffective. Having a toxic principal on top of that would push anyone out. Depending on if they are switching schools, going to another district, or leaving teaching altogether - could have a variety of reasons that is leading to the loss of teachers at a school. But 100% admin issues are part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This happens and is truly no big deal. It’s not always the best thing to have the same teacher teaching the same subject and the same grade for years among years. That is when teacher burn out happens. Teachers can also become very stuck in their ways and less likely to become adaptable when curriculum changes. The principal may see a certain skill set that the teacher possesses that would benefit the students if they taught a different grade or subject. I think it’s crazy that you are putting blame on the principal saying he is toxic without any examples of what he has done.

ACTUAL MCPS teacher here. Stop gaslighting. This is a HUGE concern. We have been screaming from the rooftops about ineffective administration - so here is a glaring example of it. It.is.Concerning. No one wants to work for a toxic, abusive boss. No parent wants someone ineffective in charge of their children. I believe the teachers that are leaving. And you should too. It has nothing to do with shaking things up for the curriculum. Get real.

Sure, but it isn't necessarily the principal's fault. There could also be a lot of rot in that school that needs to be replaced.

One of the teachers that is leaving (that I spoke to personally) told me directly it was because of the principal, and that they were leaving to go to another school. The principal had reassigned them to another grade, and they didn't want to switch; the principal (in as many words) told them that either they would switch, or they would have to find a new job. So that's what they did. Now, I respect this teacher tremendously (they went above and beyond during COVID) so I am inclined to believe them rather than the idea that they are a "rot" that "needs to be replaced."

[Anonymous]

I did have concerns about my child’s learning this year. Brought it up to the principal and she gave me the wrong answer
( I later researched it). I chalked it up to being new at her job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This happens and is truly no big deal. It’s not always the best thing to have the same teacher teaching the same subject and the same grade for years among years. That is when teacher burn out happens. Teachers can also become very stuck in their ways and less likely to become adaptable when curriculum changes. The principal may see a certain skill set that the teacher possesses that would benefit the students if they taught a different grade or subject. I think it’s crazy that you are putting blame on the principal saying he is toxic without any examples of what he has done.

I'm also a teacher and, while I'm admittedly not elementary, I disagree with you. Nothing is worse than a new, overbearing principal who steamrolls in and changes up classes against the wishes of the teachers. The way to go about this is to TALK TO the teachers and really listen to what they want and what their goals are. Some of them will want to try new classes, but some won't. Some may be struggling or uncertain (especially if they are new or new-ish), and in that case, shuffling them around at this point is a terrible idea. Team-teaching and open dialogue in which teachers feel their input and ideas are relevant and heard is best.

For what it's worth, I'm far from MCPS, but next year is going to be my last at my current school because our new principal has done something like what is described in this thread. I'm an experienced teacher and can find a better position for myself, and most of my more experienced colleagues are also planning to leave. I know there is now chatter among parents about the exodus of teachers since our new principal arrived.

[Anonymous]

Whatever the actual exodus numbers may be, the principal isn't having trouble hiring. There are only three FTE (4th gr, SPED, PE) and one part-time art position posted. Currently there are 251 ES positions open, so Lakewood ES isn't particularly unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever the actual exodus numbers may be, the principal isn't having trouble hiring. There are only three FTE (4th gr, SPED, PE) and one part-time art position posted. Currently there are 251 ES positions open, so Lakewood ES isn't particularly unusual.

She already hired three with no experience. Of course she is having no trouble replacing very experienced teachers (some with 25+ years of experience) with the ones with zero experience.

[Anonymous]

A bad principal is scary. In ES the tone is set by them and they can do so much for the school or let it fester in a bad way and have seasoned staff transfer out. We have lucked out with a lovely one. I may not agree with everything he does but the teachers appreciate him and his leadership and it attracts and retains good talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This happens and is truly no big deal. It’s not always the best thing to have the same teacher teaching the same subject and the same grade for years among years. That is when teacher burn out happens. Teachers can also become very stuck in their ways and less likely to become adaptable when curriculum changes. The principal may see a certain skill set that the teacher possesses that would benefit the students if they taught a different grade or subject. I think it’s crazy that you are putting blame on the principal saying he is toxic without any examples of what he has done.

ACTUAL MCPS teacher here. Stop gaslighting. This is a HUGE concern. We have been screaming from the rooftops about ineffective administration - so here is a glaring example of it. It.is.Concerning. No one wants to work for a toxic, abusive boss. No parent wants someone ineffective in charge of their children. I believe the teachers that are leaving. And you should too. It has nothing to do with shaking things up for the curriculum. Get real.

Sure, but it isn't necessarily the principal's fault. There could also be a lot of rot in that school that needs to be replaced.

One of the teachers that is leaving (that I spoke to personally) told me directly it was because of the principal, and that they were leaving to go to another school. The principal had reassigned them to another grade, and they didn't want to switch; the principal (in as many words) told them that either they would switch, or they would have to find a new job. So that's what they did. Now, I respect this teacher tremendously (they went above and beyond during COVID) so I am inclined to believe them rather than the idea that they are a "rot" that "needs to be replaced."

Well, there ya go...

[Anonymous]

Teachers are leaving all over the country

You did this as parents.

Book banners, screaming, etc stop blaming the schools. The religious right extremism did this.

Wake up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did you get from "I know at least two of them are leaving" to "A quarter of the teachers are leaving"?

There are 9 out of 40 teachers leaving and more to follow, including some 20+ year long term teachers. The new principle is toxic.

That's 22.5%

So 2.5% short of a quarter makes it acceptable?

The principle also made 8 out 18 grade teachers to change grade next year, plus the ones leaving, which would make more than half of the grade teachers new to the grades they will teach next year.

No you fool, 22.5% is not a QUARTER. it is ALMOST a quarter, NEARLY a quarter but not a QUARTER.

You seem rigid...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are leaving all over the country

You did this as parents.

Book banners, screaming, etc stop blaming the schools. The religious right extremism did this.

Wake up.

You can't blame the religious right for all of the out of control behaviors of students, overly demanding parents, excessive paperwork, and low pay.

[Anonymous]

I’m at a different elementary school in the county and we are also experiencing a large exodus. It would be an even larger group leaving but the principal has started to give negative recommendations so that teachers can’t transfer. The environment is beyond toxic.

I really wish central office would do something to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are leaving all over the country

You did this as parents.

Book banners, screaming, etc stop blaming the schools. The religious right extremism did this.

Wake up.

Don’t conflate these. Lakewood is a direct result of the toxic principal.