Where are the EXPERIENCED Teachers in DC????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe research shows the best teachers are those that have been teaching for more than a few years.....but not more than like 10. The sweet spot may be like 5-9 or something but I can't really remember. It's google-able.

Not surprised. In my experience, teachers right out have enthusiasm, but are hit or miss when in comes to teaching skills. We've had numerous older teachers that seemed to be retired in place.

[Anonymous]

Virginia or Maryland

[Anonymous]

I know plenty of experienced teachers in DCPS. They're just spread out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know plenty of experienced teachers in DCPS. They're just spread out.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say that it matters a great deal to have teachers with 8-10+ years of experience in the middle school grades especially. At my kiddo's charter, the ms teachers are for the most part very young--and often not up to the behavioral challenges that ms kids present. Lots of escalation, power struggles, and taking things personally--and lots of turnover, no surprise.

Probably TFAers. You can bet your bottom dollar I would be doing everything in my power to get my child out of a class taught by a TFA teacher. Not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know plenty of experienced teachers in DCPS. They're just spread out.

+1

Experience is fantastic but so is professional training. Teachers who are new but coming out of high quality teacher education programs usually make MUCH better teachers than their untrained TFA counterparts. DCPS seems to not understand the extensive research that has been done on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SWS

+1. They are all at SWS.

While I'm sure the motivation of the student body has a lot to do with it, anyone see a correlation between experienced teachers and student achievement?

The most experienced at SWS are originally teachers from the Cluster, and not only when SWS was part of the Cluster, but even before formation, including the Principal. The recent hires for upper grades are all former Cluster. I understand the new 4th grade teacher will be a Watkins veteran too, following his colleagues who are now the 3rd grade team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know plenty of experienced teachers in DCPS. They're just spread out.

+1

Experience is fantastic but so is professional training. Teachers who are new but coming out of high quality teacher education programs usually make MUCH better teachers than their untrained TFA counterparts. DCPS seems to not understand the extensive research that has been done on that.

Yeah, if preparing someone, anyone, to be an effective teacher could be done in just 6-8 weeks, the US would've done it by now. Teaching would be a jobs program for former inmates and anyone else who suddenly decided they had what it takes to go into the classroom.

I've been impressed with some new teachers from TFA-type programs. They worked beautifully with struggling, disadvantaged students on a personal level. But they lacked in instructional value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know plenty of experienced teachers in DCPS. They're just spread out.

+1

Experience is fantastic but so is professional training. Teachers who are new but coming out of high quality teacher education programs usually make MUCH better teachers than their untrained TFA counterparts. DCPS seems to not understand the extensive research that has been done on that.

Yeah, if preparing someone, anyone, to be an effective teacher could be done in just 6-8 weeks, the US would've done it by now. Teaching would be a jobs program for former inmates and anyone else who suddenly decided they had what it takes to go into the classroom.

I've been impressed with some new teachers from TFA-type programs. They worked beautifully with struggling, disadvantaged students on a personal level. But they lacked in instructional value.

idealism only goes so far

[Anonymous]

Many seasoned teachers are not respected by younger teachers, department chairs and administrators. Younger teachers and department chairs don't appreciate knowledge they have yet to learn. Administrators would much prefer teachers who are young, cute, and mailable even if they only plan to teach for two years.

When the administrators begin to change your classroom every year progressively making them smaller and smaller. When they change the courses you teach extrodinarliy well and force you too teach courses outside of your comfort zone they are essentially counseling you out.

When teaching is good there's no better job in the world. However, when administrators, coordinators and soup de jour teachers begin squeezing you out it's just best to go without a fight.

There's life after teaching!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many seasoned teachers are not respected by younger teachers, department chairs and administrators. Younger teachers and department chairs don't appreciate knowledge they have yet to learn. Administrators would much prefer teachers who are young, cute, and mailable even if they only plan to teach for two years.

When the administrators begin to change your classroom every year progressively making them smaller and smaller. When they change the courses you teach extrodinarliy well and force you too teach courses outside of your comfort zone they are essentially counseling you out.

When teaching is good there's no better job in the world. However, when administrators, coordinators and soup de jour teachers begin squeezing you out it's just best to go without a fight.

There's life after teaching!

And it's the kids who suffer.

Surrounding areas, that don't rely on TFA and actually keep teachers around to retirement age, don't struggle with the same issues of turnover, subpar test scores, etc (to the same degree).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I didn't hit my stride until year 6-8. By that time many teachers are starting to get married/have kids and leave the work force indefinitely. Other veterans who stay may change schools to be closer to work or don't want to work the longer (and sometimes less paid) hours in a charter school.

Teaching now a days is not what it used to be. You are subject to lots of scrutiny, you must teach to a very set curriculum (that you may not agree with) and have lots of pressure about test scores.

Honestly, I would not tell my children to go into teaching. A specialty position like Speech, OT or PT, yes, but not teaching unfortunately.

Yup! I'm going back for my reading specialist degree. I also talked my DSD into changing her major- from education. I don't know any teachers who would recommend the profession to friends/family.

I have my masters in Reading and left DCPS after 13 years to teach at a local university. After years of teaching middle school, I finally could admit that I was a good teacher about 8 years in. Unfortunately, the tide of testing and poor leadership made the job untenable. Not to mention that my kids are getting older and demanding more of my time and energy, energy that I could not give if I was wrangling middle schoolers all day. I miss the kids. I really do. I miss the families. I miss the work (not the grading though. I still hate it now). I've encouraged my son to be a teacher but one with a plan of upward movement.

I'm a DC teacher and thinking of going back to school to get a Graduate Reading Certificate, if you don't mind me asking, which school did you go to? It seems like some school districts are getting rid of reading specialists and others are expanding, is this a good field of education to pursue in the local DC/MD/VA area?

Sorry for the delay in responding. I attended Trinity University but their reading program is not accepting any new students. DCPS no longer requires coursework for Reading/Literacy certification, only passing the Praxis. However, UMD, and a few other places have good programs. I suggest it because it gives you a depth of knowledge about reading that most in the reg classroom will not have. I am also certified K-12 so my flexibility is amazing if I ever decide to return to K-12.