What’s going on at Travilah ES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone give the facts without their opinion?

Facets have been stated. Teachers sent a letter to PTA years ago asking for help navigating hostile work environment. That’s a fact. Teachers and longtime staff quit in droves. That’s a fact. Principal is popular with parents and students and is able to do many things other schools cannot accomplish but also seems to rely on test scores and data too much. That’s what I have observed. Teachers who have left alleging hostile work conditions include people of color, not just allegedly racist whites. Situation seems ok but parent who knows teachers said their perception is still walking on eggshells and getting written up for everything - I wouldn’t dismiss their feelings because I value teachers so much. School seems to be doing fine otherwise and our children are extremely happy there but we hope the staff are happy too.

It's a great school. My kids went to Travilah and I appreciated the staff/teachers so much. I wasn't as fond of the principal's personalities and thought she was careless in navigating optics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travilah parent here, and I would not say the parents are happy. The principal is absolutely the problem. She came in with an agenda, and it doesn't involve supporting the needs of all students. If your child doesn't fit into her interest group, you'll get zero support. I can count on one hand the number of teachers who have stuck around since she started. Even teachers she has hired have left after a year or two. That shows how toxic the environment is.

This is true. Our kids are fairly easy all around and are truly thriving there so we havent had any run ins but the exodus of staff including staff she herself hired, PLUS the teachers reaching out to parents to sound the alarm, PLUS the seasoned and longtime front desk staff both quitting at the same time IN THE MIDDLE IF THE SCHOOL YEAR and the principal personally blocking parent efforts to celebrate their retirement have been terrible for morale!!! Thank goodness PTA was able to get the word out and staff was celebrated as they deserved!!!

And it IS a great school with amazing teachers, they deserve more support from MCPS in solving these issues!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travilah is a well sought out school. Unfortunately, there have been underlying racial issues with some staff and parents which has tainted the school and created false narratives of the principal being “angry”, “aggressive” and “hostile”. Non-white students, staff, and parents (I am a parent myself that has experienced this) have been mistreated and disregarded by some of those “beloved” teachers and front office staff that are no longer there. Unfortunately, there has been retaliation of the principal for bringing these issues to light to camouflage the racial issues that have been haunting the school for years. I’ve had several children attend Travilah and have never seen such a witch-hunt by some of the staff and a few parents. Despite amazing gains with student achievement (top 6% of schools and 5 star rating), increasing test scores (all of which have continued to occur within the last five years) there continues to be a few that want to create lies and false narratives to mask what is really going on. Don’t be fooled. Many of the families are tired of it and ready to speak out about the racism that goes on there towards staff of color and students.

Wait what is going on here??? What racial issues have “haunted the school for years?” ??? What racism are the staff of color and families of color experiencing in a school that is over 70 percent people of color if not more? There are already not a majority of white families at Travilah.
Staff is diverse. Teachers diverse. Parent and student populations are super diverse. Families of every color from all over the world. What is going on? Just state it plainly and stop “haunting” this page. It’s not fair to those who love the school and are in a position of privilege to not see the racism and want to help shine light on it and heal.

[Anonymous]

Amen to that! I agree that a principals job is multi-faceted. They have to take care of the students, (and yes, test scores), the staff, the parents, and the community.
I also have noticed a big swing in the atmosphere at Travilah over the last few years. Tensions seem to be high for the staff and in my experience, that comes from the top down. I’ve also noticed that there is a large turnover of staff each year. Travilah used to be a school where no one ever left. Makes you wonder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amen to that! I agree that a principals job is multi-faceted. They have to take care of the students, (and yes, test scores), the staff, the parents, and the community.
I also have noticed a big swing in the atmosphere at Travilah over the last few years. Tensions seem to be high for the staff and in my experience, that comes from the top down. I’ve also noticed that there is a large turnover of staff each year. Travilah used to be a school where no one ever left. Makes you wonder.

Same with Lakewood. MCPS is doing something with these ES.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if we can get the letter from teachers to PTA so we can learn what happened, why teachers left, and why the turnover is so high.
Teachers are taking "personal health leave" for months. Kids have substitute teachers, and they don't know where to pick up from prior substitute teachers, so the kids get screentime when that happens. The principal had no plans, or explanation and just told the kids to appreciate they have substitute teachers.

[Anonymous]

Based on the 2022-2023 Staff Climate Survey results for Travilah Elementary School, several areas show significantly lower ratings compared to the cluster averages, indicating potential areas for improvement. Here are a couple of the lowest-rated items for Travilah ES:

Overall, how positive is the working environment at your school?

Travilah ES: 20.8%
Cluster: 71.6%
Difference: -50.8%
How positive is the tone that school leaders set for the culture of the school?

Travilah ES: 25.0%
Cluster: 73.9%
Difference: -48.9%
These areas indicate that the staff at Travilah ES feel the overall working environment and the tone set by school leaders are significantly less positive compared to the broader cluster.

here is the link to survey.

https://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php?l=0&sch=216&survey=2023CLIMATE&type=Staff&comparison=4

[Anonymous]

A group of parents recently sent a letter to the board of education and other administrators complaining about the administration at Travilah. It was submitted in the month of May. They cited multiple concerns with the principal and it was multiple pages long. Those parents were strong to present that to MCPS and I thank them.
In a rebuttal, the principal sent out a letter to the community the end of May. I’m hoping everyone read it. She is also having an open forum the end of June. All should attend.
As has been noted in this forum , the principal is very good with numbers and “data” and can skew them to her desired outcome. Do not be fooled. The amount of staff leaving and “out for personal reasons “ (could a stressful work environment be a reason? Possibly!) has never been so high! It has been a mass exodus the last 3-4 years.
Also worth noting…. Where was the principal on the last day of school??? Just saying, she is out a LOT! Hard to be a leader when not present as much as she is.
I am happy for the staff that summer is here and they get time off. I wish them all the best.

[Anonymous]

Please review the 3rd to 5th grade test scores. They have been declining each year and have significantly worsened by 5th grade, with 40-50% of students failing to meet the benchmark. Is it possible for them to graduate? This is terrible!

Spring Math MAP-P/M Benchmark Achievements:
● Kindergarten: Out of 52 students, 49 (94%) met the benchmark
● Grade 1: Out of 49 students, 48 (98%) met the benchmark
● Grade 2:Out of 73 students, 70 (96%) met the benchmark
● Grade 3: Out of 68 students, 60 (88%) met the benchmark
● Grade 4:Out of 74 students, 57 (77%) met the benchmark
● Grade 5:Out of 37 students, 18 (49%) met the benchmark
● 5/6 Compacted Math: Out of 25 students, 24 (96%) met the benchmark
Spring Reading MAP-R Benchmark Achievements:
● Kindergarten: Out of 52 students, 48 (92%) met the spring benchmark
● Grade 1:Out of 49 students, 47 (96%) met the benchmark
● Grade 2:Out of 73 students, 70 (96%) met the benchmark
● Grade 3:Out of 70 students, 57 (81%) met the benchmark

● Grade 4:Out of 74 students, 61 (82%) met the benchmark
● Grade 5: Out of 60 students, 35 (58%) met the benchmark

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please review the 3rd to 5th grade test scores. They have been declining each year and have significantly worsened by 5th grade, with 40-50% of students failing to meet the benchmark. Is it possible for them to graduate? This is terrible!
this cracks me up LOL
Spring Math MAP-P/M Benchmark Achievements:
● Kindergarten: Out of 52 students, 49 (94%) met the benchmark
● Grade 1: Out of 49 students, 48 (98%) met the benchmark
● Grade 2:Out of 73 students, 70 (96%) met the benchmark
● Grade 3: Out of 68 students, 60 (88%) met the benchmark
● Grade 4:Out of 74 students, 57 (77%) met the benchmark
● Grade 5:Out of 37 students, 18 (49%) met the benchmark
● 5/6 Compacted Math: Out of 25 students, 24 (96%) met the benchmark
Spring Reading MAP-R Benchmark Achievements:
● Kindergarten: Out of 52 students, 48 (92%) met the spring benchmark
● Grade 1:Out of 49 students, 47 (96%) met the benchmark
● Grade 2:Out of 73 students, 70 (96%) met the benchmark
● Grade 3:Out of 70 students, 57 (81%) met the benchmark

● Grade 4:Out of 74 students, 61 (82%) met the benchmark
● Grade 5: Out of 60 students, 35 (58%) met the benchmark

MCOPS's solution will be to hire an Associate Superintendent Of What the Heck Is Going On At Travilah with 5 staff members who will also do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the first step could be to move the principal to another school? See what happens then!

[Anonymous]

Omg… just found out the principal has 2 other part-time jobs. Does that even allowed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg… just found out the principal has 2 other part-time jobs. Does that even allowed?

MCPS does not have jurisdiction over it's employees' other jobs unless it overlaps in work hours or it is compromising in a ethical or moral sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg… just found out the principal has 2 other part-time jobs. Does that even allowed?

What other jobs does she have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg… just found out the principal has 2 other part-time jobs. Does that even allowed?

What other jobs does she have?

it’s on her LinkedIn saying she works as instructor for 2 different school/organization