MCPS teachers, do you ever

[Anonymous]

Every year my DD's private tries to recruit me. They start before releasing our FA package with reminders that faculty children attend free. Every year I turn them down. The pay at MCPS is too low for the COL in MoCo, but my DD's teachers make even less. They are either young singles or older people with family money or a high earning spouse. I could see myself teaching there after I retire from MCPS. It's a great school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So all this is telling me why MCPS has stagnant overwhelmed mediocre teachers. They stay for benefits and slightly better pay instead of being happy and thriving.

Job #1: good pay, good benefits, good job security
Job #2: bad pay, bad benefits, no job security

Which job would the typical person prefer? Which job will attract the better candidates?

[Anonymous]

My dilemma is that I prefer job 2 but am scared about giving up job 1 for those reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all this is telling me why MCPS has stagnant overwhelmed mediocre teachers. They stay for benefits and slightly better pay instead of being happy and thriving.

Job #1: good pay, good benefits, good job security
Job #2: bad pay, bad benefits, no job security

Which job would the typical person prefer? Which job will attract the better candidates?

Sorry but NO teacher should be secure in their job. That is the problem with public schools. You should have to earn it year in and year out. Same with the principals. Being a great teacher in a school that loves you is job security at a private and not always in a public. Two of the best teachers were let go of my daughter's public school last year because of budget decreases and ratio increases. Being moved from one school to another as well as grades is not job security. One left the district completely.

I think private school teachers are happier. I know our friend can work on her doctorate and has extended winter, spring and summer breaks. She also has probably half the paperwork and more autonomy. They can actually be passionate and TEACH. Not conform and test, then test again, and again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all this is telling me why MCPS has stagnant overwhelmed mediocre teachers. They stay for benefits and slightly better pay instead of being happy and thriving.

Job #1: good pay, good benefits, good job security
Job #2: bad pay, bad benefits, no job security

Which job would the typical person prefer? Which job will attract the better candidates?

Sorry but NO teacher should be secure in their job. That is the problem with public schools. You should have to earn it year in and year out. Same with the principals. Being a great teacher in a school that loves you is job security at a private and not always in a public. Two of the best teachers were let go of my daughter's public school last year because of budget decreases and ratio increases. Being moved from one school to another as well as grades is not job security. One left the district completely.

I think private school teachers are happier. I know our friend can work on her doctorate and has extended winter, spring and summer breaks. She also has probably half the paperwork and more autonomy. They can actually be passionate and TEACH. Not conform and test, then test again, and again!

That's not what my children's teachers do.

In any case, I trust people to be able to figure their own interests out better than I can do it for them. I also think that most people think that pay is a very important aspect of their job, given the bills that need to be paid. Certainly I do. Don't you?

[Anonymous]

This thread is confirming what I have thought about teachers at my son's private vs. the teachers at our local MCPS school (where he was previously).

The teachers at his private may be paid less, but they are there because of heart, not money. I much prefer someone who is passionate about the teaching aspect of the job as opposed to the salary and benefits. And from what I have gathered, teachers in private schools have more time to teach and interact with students because they don't have to deal with the bureaucracies of public schools. While I was impressed by many of my son's teachers in public school, I am in awe of the teachers I have met at this private. These impressive educators have chosen this particular school because they embrace the culture Nothing beats a teacher that that loves the teaching vs. the salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all this is telling me why MCPS has stagnant overwhelmed mediocre teachers. They stay for benefits and slightly better pay instead of being happy and thriving.

This is absolutely correct. I am not stagnant -- except when MCPS ties my hands and I am forced to be--and I am passionate about what I do, to the point that I think I will give up the benefits etc. for a chance at professional happiness. I want to leave before it's too late and I lose my love for teaching. Btw, parents--it doesn't have to be this way. Lobby MCPS to prioritize talent retention by giving teachers more autonomy when they have a proven track record, and by encouraging personal growth and meaningful professional development, as opposed to rote internal trainings. The system needs true leadership.

OP, I am sorry about your situation. I have seen many fine teachers get burned out over the ten years we spent at MCPS. We were worn down by the bureaucracy too - as parents. Don't these issues come up at teacher's union meetings? Your professionalism is at stake in aka alas. The union won those great salaries and benefits - can't they fight the system on your behalf?

[Anonymous]

OP, for what it's worth, I was a lot happier teaching in much smaller public systems in New York and Connecticut before we relocated to the DC Metro Area. While these huge county-based systems offer a lot of stability for teachers (in that they can absorb budget loss and redistribute staff), they feel like gigantic bureaucracies.

I think you need to ask yourself what your priorities are. Right now, my priorities involve earning as much as I can to get myself to a place where I can work part-time as an adjunct. Right now with two young kids, that isn't in the cards for me.

If you're well enough off financially that you can take a plunge into something you'll most likely like better but won't offer you as much stability, then go for it. If not, hang on until you can, because the MCPS gig is a good one, even if it has some drawback.

I figure the only people making comments about how stagnant we are are people who cannot even fathom earning as little as we earn as public school teachers. They simply don't have the same perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, for what it's worth, I was a lot happier teaching in much smaller public systems in New York and Connecticut before we relocated to the DC Metro Area. While these huge county-based systems offer a lot of stability for teachers (in that they can absorb budget loss and redistribute staff), they feel like gigantic bureaucracies.

I think you need to ask yourself what your priorities are. Right now, my priorities involve earning as much as I can to get myself to a place where I can work part-time as an adjunct. Right now with two young kids, that isn't in the cards for me.

If you're well enough off financially that you can take a plunge into something you'll most likely like better but won't offer you as much stability, then go for it. If not, hang on until you can, because the MCPS gig is a good one, even if it has some drawback.

I figure the only people making comments about how stagnant we are are people who cannot even fathom earning as little as we earn as public school teachers. They simply don't have the same perspective.

OP here--thank you. Good points. I would be sad to leave MCPS too--it has its positives. Not an easy decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is confirming what I have thought about teachers at my son's private vs. the teachers at our local MCPS school (where he was previously).

The teachers at his private may be paid less, but they are there because of heart, not money. I much prefer someone who is passionate about the teaching aspect of the job as opposed to the salary and benefits. And from what I have gathered, teachers in private schools have more time to teach and interact with students because they don't have to deal with the bureaucracies of public schools. While I was impressed by many of my son's teachers in public school, I am in awe of the teachers I have met at this private. These impressive educators have chosen this particular school because they embrace the culture Nothing beats a teacher that that loves the teaching vs. the salary.

This might be the case, OR they might not be certified, which would make them ineligible for a public school job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is confirming what I have thought about teachers at my son's private vs. the teachers at our local MCPS school (where he was previously).

The teachers at his private may be paid less, but they are there because of heart, not money. I much prefer someone who is passionate about the teaching aspect of the job as opposed to the salary and benefits. And from what I have gathered, teachers in private schools have more time to teach and interact with students because they don't have to deal with the bureaucracies of public schools. While I was impressed by many of my son's teachers in public school, I am in awe of the teachers I have met at this private. These impressive educators have chosen this particular school because they embrace the culture Nothing beats a teacher that that loves the teaching vs. the salary.

This might be the case, OR they might not be certified, which would make them ineligible for a public school job.

The certification means nothing IMHO. While some of the teachers at MCPS are great, I have met many certified teachers who are underwhelming. The teachers to whom I have been exposed at DS's private are all amazing. Two are new to the school and both relocated to take the positions. One was educated at a Jesuit university and wanted to teach at a Jesuit high school. The other has a Harvard graduate degree and relocated after living overseas for a few years to take this job (he is an alumnus). Never have I seen such a thing at MCPS...never. All of the teachers are believers in the type of education our boys are getting and you can see the passion in their faces. So happy he is there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is confirming what I have thought about teachers at my son's private vs. the teachers at our local MCPS school (where he was previously).

The teachers at his private may be paid less, but they are there because of heart, not money. I much prefer someone who is passionate about the teaching aspect of the job as opposed to the salary and benefits. And from what I have gathered, teachers in private schools have more time to teach and interact with students because they don't have to deal with the bureaucracies of public schools. While I was impressed by many of my son's teachers in public school, I am in awe of the teachers I have met at this private. These impressive educators have chosen this particular school because they embrace the culture Nothing beats a teacher that that loves the teaching vs. the salary.

What other professions do you say this about? Do you say this about the doctors you deal with? Or the lawyers? When you encounter other professionals, do you ask them, "If you received half the pay and benefits you do now, would you still be in your profession?" and then not deal with them if they say no?

Nobody goes into teaching for the salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The certification means nothing IMHO. While some of the teachers at MCPS are great, I have met many certified teachers who are underwhelming. The teachers to whom I have been exposed at DS's private are all amazing. Two are new to the school and both relocated to take the positions. One was educated at a Jesuit university and wanted to teach at a Jesuit high school. The other has a Harvard graduate degree and relocated after living overseas for a few years to take this job (he is an alumnus). Never have I seen such a thing at MCPS...never. All of the teachers are believers in the type of education our boys are getting and you can see the passion in their faces. So happy he is there!

That is not a question of opinion, it's a question of fact. The fact is that you can't get a job with MCPS unless you're a certified teacher. So obviously the certification does mean something.

If you're happy with your son's teachers, that's great. But it's odd to expect teachers to be uninterested in their salary and benefits.

(There are plenty of teachers in MCPS who are MCPS graduates.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The certification means nothing IMHO. While some of the teachers at MCPS are great, I have met many certified teachers who are underwhelming. The teachers to whom I have been exposed at DS's private are all amazing. Two are new to the school and both relocated to take the positions. One was educated at a Jesuit university and wanted to teach at a Jesuit high school. The other has a Harvard graduate degree and relocated after living overseas for a few years to take this job (he is an alumnus). Never have I seen such a thing at MCPS...never. All of the teachers are believers in the type of education our boys are getting and you can see the passion in their faces. So happy he is there!

That is not a question of opinion, it's a question of fact. The fact is that you can't get a job with MCPS unless you're a certified teacher. So obviously the certification does mean something.

If you're happy with your son's teachers, that's great. But it's odd to expect teachers to be uninterested in their salary and benefits.

(There are plenty of teachers in MCPS who are MCPS graduates.)

I rest my case. MCPS graduate to me is not an impressive qualification.

I much prefer that my children's teachers be mission driven as opposed to financially driven. That is the nature of the vocation of teaching. The government and unions manage to make it more about career and money. It's sad really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is confirming what I have thought about teachers at my son's private vs. the teachers at our local MCPS school (where he was previously).

The teachers at his private may be paid less, but they are there because of heart, not money. I much prefer someone who is passionate about the teaching aspect of the job as opposed to the salary and benefits. And from what I have gathered, teachers in private schools have more time to teach and interact with students because they don't have to deal with the bureaucracies of public schools. While I was impressed by many of my son's teachers in public school, I am in awe of the teachers I have met at this private. These impressive educators have chosen this particular school because they embrace the culture Nothing beats a teacher that that loves the teaching vs. the salary.

What other professions do you say this about? Do you say this about the doctors you deal with? Or the lawyers? When you encounter other professionals, do you ask them, "If you received half the pay and benefits you do now, would you still be in your profession?" and then not deal with them if they say no?

Nobody goes into teaching for the salary.

No comparison here. Doctors and lawyers are not working for the government...and if they do, they usually make less than the private sector. No comparison at all.