demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

https://youtu.be/WJDLION3_0s

This is a perfect example of what goes on at MCPS. When a teacher shows their credentials, years of experience, Maryland Endorsements etc but the powers that be (admin and central playing against honest teachers) say they don't care about any of that because you don't have " IT". What is "it"? "It is it", they will proclaim with a straight face. Oh, yeah...i think they made a movie about "it". That was one scary clown.

So years and years and thousands upon thousands of dollars and man hours when you should have known that school systems like MCPS need "it" and "it" is defined as a "fit". Well they did not have a class in Grad school called "The theory of IT in education: how to raise grades so it looks legitimate". Watch the video of this example that is the pervaisive type of corruption MCPS is dealing with.

[Anonymous]

From that video some phrase that rang out was "survival mode". I used to hear it every day about new teachers, "you're in survival mode". No one can deny that it is a common expression in education. I just wish mcea had one ounce of the dignity that this union on that YouTube have to protect bullies against retaliation. That is why your $ to MCEA are B's, they will not protect you and work on the team against lowly teachers who have no power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://youtu.be/WJDLION3_0s

This is a perfect example of what goes on at MCPS. When a teacher shows their credentials, years of experience, Maryland Endorsements etc but the powers that be (admin and central playing against honest teachers) say they don't care about any of that because you don't have " IT". What is "it"? "It is it", they will proclaim with a straight face. Oh, yeah...i think they made a movie about "it". That was one scary clown.

So years and years and thousands upon thousands of dollars and man hours when you should have known that school systems like MCPS need "it" and "it" is defined as a "fit". Well they did not have a class in Grad school called "The theory of IT in education: how to raise grades so it looks legitimate". Watch the video of this example that is the pervaisive type of corruption MCPS is dealing with.

TBH, this is not my experience at any point in the last 16 years as a classroom teachers MCPS. No one has ever talked about “it” and while I may not have always agreed with every single word in my evaluations, they were never vague. And when I have heard colleagues discuss issues brought up by their supervisors, it might be petty stuff, but still not vague.

I guess I’ve been exceptionally blessed if this is rampant. It will be the first time in my life that I got lucky.

[Anonymous]

Well teaching for so long means you got in before everykid had a cell phone in class texting and being distracted and disrespectful without consequences. Also means you have tenure to protect you if you need it. Trying being rated in a way that they try to show incompetence bc the teacher cannot have control over cell phones as they are everywhere. Is it the teachers fault that kids are temperamental and emotionally attached to distracting tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the poster who trusts no one in Central Office. I agree with this 100% - not only are they useless, I would say they actively cause harm to thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students every day. Ridiculous policies (extra busywork for teachers), more unnecessary tests for students, doing away with special ed positions that supported students and so much more.

A good amount of the people in central office are failed administrators who need to be hidden, lazy teachers who talk a good game and don't want to be burdened with a classroom, etc. Very few people go into central office because they're passionate about that type of work. The passionate people want to stay close to kids.

I am the PP. I did not advise going to just anyone in central. A good percent of the people there—like 85%— are power hungry and incompetent. I said to go to someone in compliance who they could talk to confidentially. That office is different and those people have helped several teachers I know. But be careful anyway. Make sure you know what they plan to do before authorizing them to share what you disclose.

And how is someone supposed to know who they can talk to confidentially in the compliance office? Just take a stab at the email addresses listed on the website? Name names or this isn’t helpful at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://youtu.be/WJDLION3_0s

This is a perfect example of what goes on at MCPS. When a teacher shows their credentials, years of experience, Maryland Endorsements etc but the powers that be (admin and central playing against honest teachers) say they don't care about any of that because you don't have " IT". What is "it"? "It is it", they will proclaim with a straight face. Oh, yeah...i think they made a movie about "it". That was one scary clown.

So years and years and thousands upon thousands of dollars and man hours when you should have known that school systems like MCPS need "it" and "it" is defined as a "fit". Well they did not have a class in Grad school called "The theory of IT in education: how to raise grades so it looks legitimate". Watch the video of this example that is the pervaisive type of corruption MCPS is dealing with.

MCEA is nothing like this union. MCEA is there to please MCPS and will throw teachers under the bus in order to do so. Every interaction I’ve had with MCEA has been unhelpful at best and downright hostile at worst. Even when you escalate to the supervisors they will defend their incompetent employees until the end.

I had a situation where I requested a written copy of all MCPS leave policies because MCPS arbitrarily invoked policies neither I nor my supervisors had any idea existed, which caused me to lose a significant amount of income. This policy was not listed anywhere in our agreement (not a contract, but an agreement). I asked MCPS for a written copy of the leave policies. They refused to provide one. I went to MCEA and the rep also refused to get involved and said MCPS was correct and does not have to provide a copy of the leave policies. The rep was completely rude and disrespectful in the way he responded to me. My friend who is an HR professional was appalled at how he responded to me in writing and over the phone and advised me to forward the communication to his boss. I escalated to his boss and she defended the rep and said if he said there’s nothing that can be done then that’s it. I contacted a lawyer who said I most likely had a case but no lawyer would take it on because there wasn’t enough money in it for them.

MCEA is in bed with MCPS and that’s the reality of the situation. They might post a few press releases or some feel good stories on their social media but it’s completely an act. There have also been rumors about MCEA plotting situations like getting teachers paid for the summer 2019 trainings earlier than the listed June date so they could look like the heroes but it was really all a PR stunt and planned in advance. It makes me sick that I pay as much money to them as I do.

[Anonymous]

They told me teachers don't have the same rights as normal citizens to benefits paid in taxes. Then they liked to mdui and said I quit/ resigned when I did not. Could I lie on applications and say that I resigned as this lie must be on my paperwork. It makes me wonder what other things they might have frauded on my personnel file being that their fraud habit looks so every day nonchalant.

[Anonymous]

*lied

[Anonymous]

Jeez, it just sucks to be a teacher in MCPS. Sorry Op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jeez, it just sucks to be a teacher in MCPS. Sorry Op.

It does as we are at the whim and mercy of the principals. We had an awesome one over a decade ago but unfortunately she was promoted. Her replacement is totally unpredictable and does not give two dimes about equity. Certain teachers can come and leave as they please because of flexible schedules while others get written up for being late ... if they don’t show up at least 45 minutes before students arrive. The contract clearly states the work day is 7 hours and 30 minutes plus lunch; however when I told out building rep about all of long hours, I was told that principals can make changes in their building as necessary.

[Anonymous]

https://youtu.be/PVNC_R260pA

This is a good one. Feels like he was from my school. This type of thing is totally mcps. Teachers pay the price. I'm sure mcps teachers can relate.

[Anonymous]

They say they want the best and brightest teachers and then they want to treat you like an incompetent moron who doesn't even know their own rights or what school is suppose to be about. MCEA will say they care and that they are worth the money spent but in the end if they support no rights or protection of staff they are the ones that prove themselves incompetent.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe they would like to show themselves as incompetent before corrupt. Either way teachers pay the price.

[Anonymous]

Wow. You were allowed lunch. In my school they gave meetings during lunch to tell new teachers how bad they were and then they made us eat the following period in front of students and told us how wrong we were for eating in front of students.

[Anonymous]

It went against out contracts but we were all just scrambling and doing what we could to try to keep our jobs. Many of us were fired anyway. Thanks admin.