MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

No one is stopping you from home schooling your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

No one is stopping you from home schooling your kids.

You missed the entire point. Parents have gotten lazy and because their kids are at school, don’t lift a finger to do any heavy lifting when it comes to raising them. They expect schools to do it for them. So… they send their kids who have no idea how to behave in public and expect a teacher with 24-150 other students and are expected to “raise” all of them while educating them and keeping them safe. This is the reason teachers are leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

We absolutely do not need Restorative Justice in the way MCPS implements it. Saying we need to do it right, and doing it right, are 2 different things! As currently implemented, all it does is re-victomize the victim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

No one is stopping you from home schooling your kids.

You missed the entire point. Parents have gotten lazy and because their kids are at school, don’t lift a finger to do any heavy lifting when it comes to raising them. They expect schools to do it for them. So… they send their kids who have no idea how to behave in public and expect a teacher with 24-150 other students and are expected to “raise” all of them while educating them and keeping them safe. This is the reason teachers are leaving.

I think by lumping in all parents into one basket and saying they are the problem is very narrow minded as if you personally know why everyone is quitting MCPS.

The only logical point to your post is class size. The higher the number of students in a classroom, the less attention a teacher can give to each student. However, leadership in MCPS provides funding for more administrative staff and special programs but not extra funding where there is the most need - classroom initiatives to lower class sizes.

There would be less burn out and better student outcomes if class sizes were smaller.

While a great idea and likely helpful, however Initiatives to lower class size cost more than most people think.

Let’s do some basic math at the ES level. Assume a school has 4 classes per grade with 22 students. To get to 18 students per class, a school would need to create 1 new class per grade. That’s 6 new classrooms and teachers per school. MCPS has 135 Elementary schools. If we assume say 100 of them fit the initial criteria that means would we need 600 new teachers to cover the new classes.

Assume now that each new teacher made 50k base salary(huge assumption). It would cost about 40-50M to cover salary and benefits for the new just for new teachers.

Not what about the classrooms and supplies? Some schools are going to need portables. Others whole new buildings. Once I add portables what does that do to security?

So shoukd reduction of class sizes be undertaken? Likely.
Is it going to happen to completion quickly? No.

That's assuming you could find qualified people to teach these classes. Highly unlikely.

[Anonymous]

There isn't any single reason why teachers and other school staff are leaving. What I've heard from colleagues are:
1) student behavior is out of control (even by teachers known as having really strong management skills)
2) more and more paperwork and other expectations by central office or the state
3) parents complaining about teachers at school board meetings about silly stuff (nothing with substance or warranted)
4) community members protesting books in the library, mask wearing, etc, etc, etc
5) teaching has always been and always will be really hard and most folks don't make it 30 years +
6) TA's can make significantly more money other places now, with benefits, in easier jobs

I love teaching (except when I'm exhausted and demoralized and then in those times I kinda hate it). I'm planning an early exit from the profession in the next couple of years. I hope to still be able to work with children in some capacity after leaving public ed. For me, #2 is the killer. That and what I feel to be developmentally inappropriate standards for the little ones I teach. I don't like being required to do something I feel isn't good for children.

I really don't know what will happen in schools long term. I'm especially worried about sped teacher and students with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn't any single reason why teachers and other school staff are leaving. What I've heard from colleagues are:
1) student behavior is out of control (even by teachers known as having really strong management skills)
2) more and more paperwork and other expectations by central office or the state
3) parents complaining about teachers at school board meetings about silly stuff (nothing with substance or warranted)
4) community members protesting books in the library, mask wearing, etc, etc, etc
5) teaching has always been and always will be really hard and most folks don't make it 30 years +
6) TA's can make significantly more money other places now, with benefits, in easier jobs

I love teaching (except when I'm exhausted and demoralized and then in those times I kinda hate it). I'm planning an early exit from the profession in the next couple of years. I hope to still be able to work with children in some capacity after leaving public ed. For me, #2 is the killer. That and what I feel to be developmentally inappropriate standards for the little ones I teach. I don't like being required to do something I feel isn't good for children.

I really don't know what will happen in schools long term. I'm especially worried about sped teacher and students with disabilities.

I wish that parents, teachers, and school boards could come together to address these two issues. As a parent of three who have come through the public school system, I have seen how excessive administrative demands (and to a lesser extent, unreasonable standards) can undermine even the most dedicated teachers, making them less patient and less effective. These burdens then play out in ways that parents interpret as teachers not doing their jobs or are phoning it in, which is usually not the case.

The same is true on the parental side too. For every entitled demanding parent arguing about grades, there are so many more beaten down, exhausted parents who find themselves trying to figure out how to keep their struggling students from completely disengaging from the educational process because school is a miserable place to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

No one is stopping you from home schooling your kids.

You missed the entire point. Parents have gotten lazy and because their kids are at school, don’t lift a finger to do any heavy lifting when it comes to raising them. They expect schools to do it for them. So… they send their kids who have no idea how to behave in public and expect a teacher with 24-150 other students and are expected to “raise” all of them while educating them and keeping them safe. This is the reason teachers are leaving.

I think by lumping in all parents into one basket and saying they are the problem is very narrow minded as if you personally know why everyone is quitting MCPS.

The only logical point to your post is class size. The higher the number of students in a classroom, the less attention a teacher can give to each student. However, leadership in MCPS provides funding for more administrative staff and special programs but not extra funding where there is the most need - classroom initiatives to lower class sizes.

There would be less burn out and better student outcomes if class sizes were smaller.

While a great idea and likely helpful, however Initiatives to lower class size cost more than most people think.

Let’s do some basic math at the ES level. Assume a school has 4 classes per grade with 22 students. To get to 18 students per class, a school would need to create 1 new class per grade. That’s 6 new classrooms and teachers per school. MCPS has 135 Elementary schools. If we assume say 100 of them fit the initial criteria that means would we need 600 new teachers to cover the new classes.

Assume now that each new teacher made 50k base salary(huge assumption). It would cost about 40-50M to cover salary and benefits for the new just for new teachers.

Not what about the classrooms and supplies? Some schools are going to need portables. Others whole new buildings. Once I add portables what does that do to security?

So shoukd reduction of class sizes be undertaken? Likely.
Is it going to happen to completion quickly? No.

MCPS annual operating cost is about 3 billions (2.93 to be accurate)! 50M is about 1.7% of the budget. If you really want to make an educational difference then reducing student/teacher ratio is a must. But that will not happen because BOE is interested in anything but education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

No one is stopping you from home schooling your kids.

You missed the entire point. Parents have gotten lazy and because their kids are at school, don’t lift a finger to do any heavy lifting when it comes to raising them. They expect schools to do it for them. So… they send their kids who have no idea how to behave in public and expect a teacher with 24-150 other students and are expected to “raise” all of them while educating them and keeping them safe. This is the reason teachers are leaving.

I think by lumping in all parents into one basket and saying they are the problem is very narrow minded as if you personally know why everyone is quitting MCPS.

The only logical point to your post is class size. The higher the number of students in a classroom, the less attention a teacher can give to each student. However, leadership in MCPS provides funding for more administrative staff and special programs but not extra funding where there is the most need - classroom initiatives to lower class sizes.

There would be less burn out and better student outcomes if class sizes were smaller.

While a great idea and likely helpful, however Initiatives to lower class size cost more than most people think.

Let’s do some basic math at the ES level. Assume a school has 4 classes per grade with 22 students. To get to 18 students per class, a school would need to create 1 new class per grade. That’s 6 new classrooms and teachers per school. MCPS has 135 Elementary schools. If we assume say 100 of them fit the initial criteria that means would we need 600 new teachers to cover the new classes.

Assume now that each new teacher made 50k base salary(huge assumption). It would cost about 40-50M to cover salary and benefits for the new just for new teachers.

Not what about the classrooms and supplies? Some schools are going to need portables. Others whole new buildings. Once I add portables what does that do to security?

So shoukd reduction of class sizes be undertaken? Likely.
Is it going to happen to completion quickly? No.

MCPS annual operating cost is about 3 billions (2.93 to be accurate)! 50M is about 1.7% of the budget. If you really want to make an educational difference then reducing student/teacher ratio is a must. But that will not happen because BOE is interested in anything but education.

Like someone already pointed out, even if that set that money aside, there wouldn't be 600 qualified people vying for the jobs. The problem is staffing shortages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Signing bonuses, competitive pay, and generous benefits is how employers fill positions. Do more than your competitors, then you will get the better candidates.

Particularly for hard to fill positions including Special Education jobs, MCPS advertise low wages and no benefit or signing bonuses. This results in positions going unfilled while candidates choose other school districts or private employment opportunities.

Valuing your personnel goes a long way, and it’s not happening most places. Not just In MCPS.

It's not even MCPS. It's the parents of this community and the complete lack of respect teachers get in general. People are sick and tired of being treated this way. You're so privileged bc you have SuMmEr OfF, sToP wHiNiNg....It's disgusting. People who disparaged teachers for two years are running for BOE. No one wants to put up with these types of people anymore.

That must be why over 800 teachers quit this year - because the current BOE supports teachers and respects them a lot?

You just buried yourself honey.

Ew. Who says “honey” in the year 2022? You just dated yourself. Teachers quit because of parents. You didn’t even make a point for “burying”… you’re really bad at this. Must be someone vying for the “slate” of imbeciles.

Since you didn't get it the first time, let's spell it out so it's simple enough that even someone who works in the MCPS CO or is a member of the current MC BOE could understand the point.

Last year over 500 teachers quit and not all of those positions were filled by the beginning of the 21-22 school year. The DCUMS posters last year blamed everything on covid. Most parents bought it, and even though MCPS never filled all the positions, MCPS managed to barely make it to the end of the school year.

This year MCPS doesn't have the covid excuse anymore because rocket scientists like McKnight said everything was fine and the schools had to remain open in-person. MCPS CO can't blame staff shortages on covid because they were so stupidly stubborn, even though 2100 faculty / staff and over 9% of the student body got sick, causing all sorts of disruptions in January to the point someone begged for National Guard troops to drive kids into school and they had to shut down 21 schools for two weeks each anyway and messed up so badly MCPS kept changing the covid dashboard reporting and metrics to hide how bad it was, imho. I think either way the MCPS Central Office and MC BOE looked like fools.

Right now I believe there are over 800 anticipated teacher vacancies MCPS will need to fill by August. Since last year MCPS couldn't fill all 500 positions, what makes anyone think they can realistically fill 800 positions with top-notch teachers this year? Both McKnight and the BOE knew it was an issue, at least according to the published articles where they were interviewed about it, and it was also supposedly the reason why McKnight flew to her alma mater to recruit alumni (while picking up two personal awards while she was there). It might be possible MCPS hires 800 people with a pulse, but we all know there is no way MCPS will find 800 quality, certified teachers by August. Since nothing is ever the fault of the MC BOE or MCPS CO (cough), come August when all of this blows up, I think the MCPS CO will need new scapegoats to blame?

I don't think MCPS can blame covid or a lack of funding. McKnight already requested oodles of covid money for spec ed and teacher incentives (at least that's what the ESSER III funding says - now, is the money really going to spec ed and teachers? who knows). I think last year there was also a property tax increase (with a good chunk for education) that kicked in? There was also the $160M for electric buses, $2M for discrimination training, $2M for Kid Museum. $1M for bocce ball, etc. so if MCPS could pay a million here and there for goodie bags, I don't see a credible way the MCPS CO can claim a "lack of funding" is the issue (unless they're total idiots and admit incompetent budgeting / fiscal planning? If you've got the money for cake, there better be bread on the table).

The posters on this thread are testing the waters claiming "entitled parents" are bullying them so badly that they are driven to quit, yet there are never any specific schools or incidents mentioned. I'm sure there may have been an instance or two that are valid, but I think it pales in comparison to how the MC BOE and MCPS CO treated teachers like cattle this year, imho. I would believe that the BOE or CO are getting an earful from parents, but line teachers? Maybe a safety issue at the Title I / Red Zone schools (ex. no SRO's)? I'd want to see stats from exit interviews or maybe request the Maryland IG investigate any claims like that to determine the real root cause (and hope that's exactly what the new board does when these incumbents are replaced this Fall)?

Is that better at making the point? Are you happy now?

Not really. People like you are the actual problem.

How can you say people like this pp are the problem? What is the problem with wanting exit interviews to look at why teachers are quitting? And what is the problem with inquiring about the millions of dollars MCPS has received in COVID relief funds from the state when we are unable to retain teachers? Or have enough teachers and support staff available so our students are able to learn, feel valued and enjoy school? Many teachers may not be leaving the system this year but are at the point of wanting to quit. While I have not experienced the craziness of interacting with super demanding and entitled parents at my school, I have friends teaching at other schools who have absolutely dealt with this issue. When you give 100% and spend all your energy on your job / students to the point that it is takes away from your ability to give to your own children, and you constantly hear parents complaining that it’s still not enough, you can imagine the resulting impact on morale (again, not my personal experience, but I have heard this issue come up frequently with other teachers). I work at a Title I school and the amount of severe behavior issues we have seen has increased every year. Yes, MCPS has a code of conduct, but does not provide enforceable consequences. Like another PP wrote, often the principals hands are tied but those students end up right back in the classroom continuing to disrupt the class. It is near impossible to successfully teach content to a class of 17 students when two or three of those students are constantly displaying violent outbursts. I believe in Dr. Green’s motto of ‘kids do well when they can’ and try to co-regulate students who are experiencing meltdowns. I have a calm down corner, flexible seating and sensory figits available to all students but I am only one person. I wish I could split myself in half - I need to simultaneously help a student (or multiple students) work through their disregulation while the other half of me is successfully teaching the other 16 kids. We need the flexibility to have another adult (para) in the classroom who can help with behavior issues - providing them adequate compensation. A paraeducator makes $20 a hour - yes, the benefits are good, but many of the paras I know are actually former teachers or have MA degrees. Offering $20 an hour makes it difficult to attract or retain highly experienced support staff. While this is likely a Union issue (I am not pro Union), central office could absolutely provide stipends / incentives to staff in these roles. Prioritizing additional compensation for SpEd teachers should also be at the forefront of the discussion.

Many of my students have experienced trauma and COVID has only made the situation worse but more central office positions are not going to help those students. Adding in mandatory curriculums Benchmark ELA and Eureka math (and the awful Curriculum 2.0), and taking away the flexibility for teachers to modify the curriculum to best engage students OR allow for remediation of foundational skills is a recipe for disaster. I am disappointed in MCPS as both a teacher and a parent. Kids are subjected to endless testing ($$$) and we are required to collect and document hundreds of data points - for what purpose? We are unable to use that information to modify the curriculum. Data should be used to drive further instruction, and as teachers, our hands are tied. I have been a Science of Reading advocate long before it was popular and incorporate (sneak in) OG methodology as much as possible but it has been very demoralizing to witness my students personal victories and growth, see them develop confidence in themselves and think of themselves as capable learners, and to observe the frustration and shut-down that occurs after taking the required Benchmark assessments. Almost any teacher could have predicted the staffing issues with ESY and summer school but MCPS failed to try to develop creative solutions and be proactive about the situation. I absolutely think exit interviews should be conducted with the results available to the public. We should be examining WHY there is such a disconnect between central office, BoE, teachers, admin and parents, and how those gaps can be bridged.

MCPS elementary teacher here of 20 years - you have nailed it! Exit interviews would be an excellent idea. It's awful right now. We are not doing right by kids given the curriculum demands, lack of consequences or appropriate supports for students, etc.

I would not advise anyone to be honest in an exit interview. Usually they aren't going to like what you had to say or use that feedback in an actionable way

Who would do these exit interviews? That would be a few FT jobs right there! And who cares if you are honest because that's the point. You are leaving and you are giving reasons why. I bet the reasons are almost all the same- being treated like a child by admin, no ability to make decisions about curriculum, discipline, parents, the increasing workload and not additional time to complete it, no support from admin about discipline, etc.

This. Exit interviews are a joke. Admin and central office aren’t going to change their behavior one bit because of an exit interview. They’ll just write the departing teachers off as “lazy, inflexible, inadequate, it’s good they quit, etc, etc) — the same BS judgmental lines spewed by clueless parents against teachers here.

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Anonymous wrote:As an "entitled" parent, I can believe that teachers are getting a hard time from parents at a Title I school, especially since the SRO's are removed and if the sup put the word out that 'restorative justice' is the policy.

MCEA already knows this current sup and board are an issue. My guess is that's why none of the incumbents were endorsed by the Apple Ballot this year.

For the first time ever, I'm taking an interest in the board elections and making sure I don't vote for a single encumbent.

We need restorative justice. We need more of it, not less. We need to heal our society members, not punish them. THAT IS NOT WORKING.

Restorative justice can only work with enough time and Human Resources. Schools are so under staffed and therefore restorative justice is not implemented correctly. Nor can it be with the current staffing levels. So you might think it’s what is best, but if it can’t be rolled out with our current reality then it is not helping anyone. We need a system in place that can actually be used daily in the schools!

I agree. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. We should be committed to making it work -- or find something else that will. The way we are doing things clearly is not. How many shootings do we need to see how badly we are raising our young people? They are in school all day. What a missed opportunity.

Actually kids are at home more than they are at school. You might want to think that schools can fix all issues, but that’s not true. And this belief it is what is driving teachers away in droves. Without family support and better upbringing, kids will keep failing and schools ccan only do so much.

Kids are in school from roughly 9 to 4:30. Most stay at after care. That's a LONG day. They're home for dinner and TV. School plays a huge role. I think school should be half day or 3/4 of the hours it is now, honestly, because they spend so much time around people who cannot possibly "raise" them.

No one is stopping you from home schooling your kids.

You missed the entire point. Parents have gotten lazy and because their kids are at school, don’t lift a finger to do any heavy lifting when it comes to raising them. They expect schools to do it for them. So… they send their kids who have no idea how to behave in public and expect a teacher with 24-150 other students and are expected to “raise” all of them while educating them and keeping them safe. This is the reason teachers are leaving.

I think by lumping in all parents into one basket and saying they are the problem is very narrow minded as if you personally know why everyone is quitting MCPS.

The only logical point to your post is class size. The higher the number of students in a classroom, the less attention a teacher can give to each student. However, leadership in MCPS provides funding for more administrative staff and special programs but not extra funding where there is the most need - classroom initiatives to lower class sizes.

There would be less burn out and better student outcomes if class sizes were smaller.

While a great idea and likely helpful, however Initiatives to lower class size cost more than most people think.

Let’s do some basic math at the ES level. Assume a school has 4 classes per grade with 22 students. To get to 18 students per class, a school would need to create 1 new class per grade. That’s 6 new classrooms and teachers per school. MCPS has 135 Elementary schools. If we assume say 100 of them fit the initial criteria that means would we need 600 new teachers to cover the new classes.

Assume now that each new teacher made 50k base salary(huge assumption). It would cost about 40-50M to cover salary and benefits for the new just for new teachers.

Not what about the classrooms and supplies? Some schools are going to need portables. Others whole new buildings. Once I add portables what does that do to security?

So shoukd reduction of class sizes be undertaken? Likely.
Is it going to happen to completion quickly? No.

MCPS annual operating cost is about 3 billions (2.93 to be accurate)! 50M is about 1.7% of the budget. If you really want to make an educational difference then reducing student/teacher ratio is a must. But that will not happen because BOE is interested in anything but education.

Like someone already pointed out, even if that set that money aside, there wouldn't be 600 qualified people vying for the jobs. The problem is staffing shortages.

No the problem is administrators. Pay them what teachers make and pay administrators current teacher salary and problem solved. Teacher are most important and should be at the TOP of the pay scale, not bottom.