MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-teacher-resignations-retirements-up-38-in-past-school-year

More than 1,000 Montgomery County Public Schools teachers resigned or retired in the last year, a 38% increase from the year prior, according to district data.

Concerns about teacher burnout increased as stressors caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic escalated over the past year, such as addressing missed learning during online classes and also a rise in behavior and mental health problems among students, as well as losing planning time to cover classes for absent teachers.

Madeline Hanington — an MCPS recruitment specialist, former MCPS Teacher of the Year and Milken Educator Award winner — said the district recently created an “internal referral program” for employees to recommend people who are interested in working for MCPS.

“I wish I could tell you guaranteed we’re going to fill this all up and it’s going to be great,” Hanington said. “But we’re working hard and we’re going to do our best.”

I’m not surprised Dr Sirgo is leaving. There is no question MCPS lost some of their best this year, and I don’t think it’s because people’s promotions were blocked. No one expects to agree with everything their leadership feels or does, but generally people don’t stay places unless they work with people whose values are more or less compatible. I suspect there was a mismatch there for Dr Sirgo. Perhaps her hands were tied and she couldn’t see a way forward that was consistent with her priorities. I do see people in MCPS repeatedly get blocked for promotions, but generally those people not only have failings, like a poor work ethic or theyre a screamer, they also have a blind spot about their weaknesses. Those people tend to stick around and keep trying. Hey, if they stay long enough and enough people leave, this might be their big chance!

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy year.

Looks like they lost hope and are tired of incompetent leadership at the central office and lack of support for the teachers and students.

I've seen this pattern before. The people who are valuable and can get other jobs leave, and what's left gets worse and worse. The board of education needs to be voted out and McKnight replaced as soon as possible.

Because a school system is basically a monopoly it is very easy to get a career block once you miss out on a promotion. The only way to get around it is to change school systems. It is very, very common for administrators in central office to change school systems. Many will come back to MCPS for various reasons. Many of the current admin came back from other counties after getting started in MCPS.

Your "sinking ship" version of events doesn't match what I have observed as a teacher. FYI, I am not a McKnight fan, but the constant complaints against her seem unreasonable at times.

I’m not surprised Dr Sirgo is leaving. There is no question MCPS lost some of their best this year, and I don’t think it’s because people’s promotions were blocked. No one expects to agree with everything their leadership feels or does, but generally people don’t stay places unless they work with people whose values are more or less compatible. I suspect there was a mismatch there for Dr Sirgo. Perhaps her hands were tied too often and she couldn’t see a way forward that would be consistent with her priorities. I do see people in MCPS repeatedly get blocked for promotions, but generally those people not only have failings, like a poor work ethic or they're a screamer, but they also have a blind spot about their weaknesses. Those guys, and they’re usually men, tend to stick around and keep trying. Hey, if they stay long enough and enough people leave, this might be their big chance!

Or it could just be that she wanted to continue working for her former supervisor, Dr. Dyson, who moved to Frederick County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-teacher-resignations-retirements-up-38-in-past-school-year

More than 1,000 Montgomery County Public Schools teachers resigned or retired in the last year, a 38% increase from the year prior, according to district data.

Concerns about teacher burnout increased as stressors caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic escalated over the past year, such as addressing missed learning during online classes and also a rise in behavior and mental health problems among students, as well as losing planning time to cover classes for absent teachers.

Madeline Hanington — an MCPS recruitment specialist, former MCPS Teacher of the Year and Milken Educator Award winner — said the district recently created an “internal referral program” for employees to recommend people who are interested in working for MCPS.

“I wish I could tell you guaranteed we’re going to fill this all up and it’s going to be great,” Hanington said. “But we’re working hard and we’re going to do our best.”

I’m not surprised Dr Sirgo is leaving. There is no question MCPS lost some of their best this year, and I don’t think it’s because people’s promotions were blocked. No one expects to agree with everything their leadership feels or does, but generally people don’t stay places unless they work with people whose values are more or less compatible. I suspect there was a mismatch there for Dr Sirgo. Perhaps her hands were tied and she couldn’t see a way forward that was consistent with her priorities. I do see people in MCPS repeatedly get blocked for promotions, but generally those people not only have failings, like a poor work ethic or theyre a screamer, they also have a blind spot about their weaknesses. Those people tend to stick around and keep trying. Hey, if they stay long enough and enough people leave, this might be their big chance!

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy year.

Looks like they lost hope and are tired of incompetent leadership at the central office and lack of support for the teachers and students.

I've seen this pattern before. The people who are valuable and can get other jobs leave, and what's left gets worse and worse. The board of education needs to be voted out and McKnight replaced as soon as possible.

Because a school system is basically a monopoly it is very easy to get a career block once you miss out on a promotion. The only way to get around it is to change school systems. It is very, very common for administrators in central office to change school systems. Many will come back to MCPS for various reasons. Many of the current admin came back from other counties after getting started in MCPS.

Your "sinking ship" version of events doesn't match what I have observed as a teacher. FYI, I am not a McKnight fan, but the constant complaints against her seem unreasonable at times.

I’m not surprised Dr Sirgo is leaving. There is no question MCPS lost some of their best this year, and I don’t think it’s because people’s promotions were blocked. No one expects to agree with everything their leadership feels or does, but generally people don’t stay places unless they work with people whose values are more or less compatible. I suspect there was a mismatch there for Dr Sirgo. Perhaps her hands were tied too often and she couldn’t see a way forward that would be consistent with her priorities. I do see people in MCPS repeatedly get blocked for promotions, but generally those people not only have failings, like a poor work ethic or they're a screamer, but they also have a blind spot about their weaknesses. Those guys, and they’re usually men, tend to stick around and keep trying. Hey, if they stay long enough and enough people leave, this might be their big chance!

Or it could just be that she wanted to continue working for her former supervisor, Dr. Dyson, who moved to Frederick County.

Leadership failure and drama is driving competent away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-teacher-resignations-retirements-up-38-in-past-school-year

More than 1,000 Montgomery County Public Schools teachers resigned or retired in the last year, a 38% increase from the year prior, according to district data.

Concerns about teacher burnout increased as stressors caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic escalated over the past year, such as addressing missed learning during online classes and also a rise in behavior and mental health problems among students, as well as losing planning time to cover classes for absent teachers.

Madeline Hanington — an MCPS recruitment specialist, former MCPS Teacher of the Year and Milken Educator Award winner — said the district recently created an “internal referral program” for employees to recommend people who are interested in working for MCPS.

“I wish I could tell you guaranteed we’re going to fill this all up and it’s going to be great,” Hanington said. “But we’re working hard and we’re going to do our best.”

I’m not surprised Dr Sirgo is leaving. There is no question MCPS lost some of their best this year, and I don’t think it’s because people’s promotions were blocked. No one expects to agree with everything their leadership feels or does, but generally people don’t stay places unless they work with people whose values are more or less compatible. I suspect there was a mismatch there for Dr Sirgo. Perhaps her hands were tied and she couldn’t see a way forward that was consistent with her priorities. I do see people in MCPS repeatedly get blocked for promotions, but generally those people not only have failings, like a poor work ethic or theyre a screamer, they also have a blind spot about their weaknesses. Those people tend to stick around and keep trying. Hey, if they stay long enough and enough people leave, this might be their big chance!

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy year.

Looks like they lost hope and are tired of incompetent leadership at the central office and lack of support for the teachers and students.

I've seen this pattern before. The people who are valuable and can get other jobs leave, and what's left gets worse and worse. The board of education needs to be voted out and McKnight replaced as soon as possible.

Because a school system is basically a monopoly it is very easy to get a career block once you miss out on a promotion. The only way to get around it is to change school systems. It is very, very common for administrators in central office to change school systems. Many will come back to MCPS for various reasons. Many of the current admin came back from other counties after getting started in MCPS.

Your "sinking ship" version of events doesn't match what I have observed as a teacher. FYI, I am not a McKnight fan, but the constant complaints against her seem unreasonable at times.

I’m not surprised Dr Sirgo is leaving. There is no question MCPS lost some of their best this year, and I don’t think it’s because people’s promotions were blocked. No one expects to agree with everything their leadership feels or does, but generally people don’t stay places unless they work with people whose values are more or less compatible. I suspect there was a mismatch there for Dr Sirgo. Perhaps her hands were tied too often and she couldn’t see a way forward that would be consistent with her priorities. I do see people in MCPS repeatedly get blocked for promotions, but generally those people not only have failings, like a poor work ethic or they're a screamer, but they also have a blind spot about their weaknesses. Those guys, and they’re usually men, tend to stick around and keep trying. Hey, if they stay long enough and enough people leave, this might be their big chance!

Male elementary teacher here.

Bolded above is a PSA for any males considering a transition to a career in teaching. Heck, I wouldn't trade it for the harassment that women have faced in the workplace, but yeah, you are going to deal with bias, fixed mindsets, and those who believe you need to be humbled on a frequent basis. There has been an increase in the amount of published research on the male teacher experience in education, so when it becomes an "issue du jour", there is plenty of data for MCPS to marinate on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew resignations would be high when the BOE appointed Dr McKnight, because it confirmed to teachers and principals, whose unions both made a vote of no confidence in her, they they have no voice. Very disempowering for have such clarity that no one cares about your opinion. Those resignation numbers, by the way, don't include the many folks who are using long term leave options.

I get that you don't like McKnight and feel threatened by her but seriously posting this nonsense for which there is zero evidence is just wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew resignations would be high when the BOE appointed Dr McKnight, because it confirmed to teachers and principals, whose unions both made a vote of no confidence in her, they they have no voice. Very disempowering for have such clarity that no one cares about your opinion. Those resignation numbers, by the way, don't include the many folks who are using long term leave options.

I get that you don't like McKnight and feel threatened by her but seriously posting this nonsense for which there is zero evidence is just wrong.

Who lets facts get in the way of a good hate?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew resignations would be high when the BOE appointed Dr McKnight, because it confirmed to teachers and principals, whose unions both made a vote of no confidence in her, they they have no voice. Very disempowering for have such clarity that no one cares about your opinion. Those resignation numbers, by the way, don't include the many folks who are using long term leave options.

I get that you don't like McKnight and feel threatened by her but seriously posting this nonsense for which there is zero evidence is just wrong.

I mean the votes of no confidence are public record.

Not sure what PP could post regarding long term leave options that you would have access to open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I get that you don't like McKnight and feel threatened by her but seriously posting this nonsense for which there is zero evidence is just wrong.

“The members of MCEA declare that we have no confidence in the ability of current members of the Montgomery County Board of Education or Interim Superintendent Monifa McKnight to effectively address the current crisis in our schools caused by the effects of COVID-19. MCPS leadership has consistently shown a dereliction of duty and a lack of competence. We demand immediate action to address our concerns.”
https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcea-members-almost-unanimously-support-no-confidence-vote-against-mcps-leadership/

Could the teacher taking long term leave options hope McKnight leaves by then?

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe the lack of common sense mcps has shown on this, particularly McKnight and all the principals. Spend the money on teachers! That is THE most important thing. Chuck the surveys and the outreach coordinator. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I get that you don't like McKnight and feel threatened by her but seriously posting this nonsense for which there is zero evidence is just wrong.

“The members of MCEA declare that we have no confidence in the ability of current members of the Montgomery County Board of Education or Interim Superintendent Monifa McKnight to effectively address the current crisis in our schools caused by the effects of COVID-19. MCPS leadership has consistently shown a dereliction of duty and a lack of competence. We demand immediate action to address our concerns.”
https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcea-members-almost-unanimously-support-no-confidence-vote-against-mcps-leadership/

Could the teacher taking long term leave options hope McKnight leaves by then?

Probably not, but it buys them time to take a break, consider their options without quitting a job before they need to. I used to work for MCPS and took leave, and while I was on leave decided to work elsewhere, so I let the leave lapse and resigned. But if I hadn’t found something else or decided I didn’t want to give up my pension, I knew I had the right to return. Teachers can take leave up to three years (max) for various reasons.

[Anonymous]

For anyone that disputes the MCPS teacher shortage, just look at the drastic measures they are taking now to cover infilled positions. Since the state prevents any negotiation on class sizes, be prepared for HUGE classes all over the district.

https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/montgomery-county-public-schools-involuntary-teacher-transfer-staffing-shortage-employees-recruit-open-position-hiring-job-summer-break-mcps-maryland-challenges-surplus-deficit-new-year-back-to-school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone that disputes the MCPS teacher shortage, just look at the drastic measures they are taking now to cover infilled positions. Since the state prevents any negotiation on class sizes, be prepared for HUGE classes all over the district.

https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/montgomery-county-public-schools-involuntary-teacher-transfer-staffing-shortage-employees-recruit-open-position-hiring-job-summer-break-mcps-maryland-challenges-surplus-deficit-new-year-back-to-school

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe the lack of common sense mcps has shown on this, particularly McKnight and all the principals. Spend the money on teachers! That is THE most important thing. Chuck the surveys and the outreach coordinator. Ugh.

+1000 One of the reasons why I want the incumbents of BOE out.

But, MoCo is not alone in this. School districts across the country have the same issue.

We need to pay teachers more, and stop spending money on needless surveys and audits. If you want to bring up URM achievement, focus on the class size and teacher quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone that disputes the MCPS teacher shortage, just look at the drastic measures they are taking now to cover infilled positions. Since the state prevents any negotiation on class sizes, be prepared for HUGE classes all over the district.

https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/montgomery-county-public-schools-involuntary-teacher-transfer-staffing-shortage-employees-recruit-open-position-hiring-job-summer-break-mcps-maryland-challenges-surplus-deficit-new-year-back-to-school

Hmmm. Sherwood and Damascus HS are the only two HS without any open teaching positions. A couple others have only 1 or 2 spots, but most have 3-8 open positions. (74 1.0 FTE, 118 total HS teaching positions right now.) When principals get staffing allocations in February, it is based on projected enrollment. Then they use their course requests to assign that staffing. There is flexibility in how they do the sectioning and decisions they can make about under enrolled and over enrolled courses that influences who they need to involuntary transfer. If enrollment changes later on, or course sectioning needs to be adjusted, that can affect teacher assignments within the school. I wonder if enrollment at Sherwood dropped significantly, or if this is just an attempt to balance staffing and solve some of the worst problems at other schools. During the pandemic, with the advent of the virtual academy, they had to shift staff between schools - that was covered under the MOU I think. It seems that the same idea is being applied here, but without an MOU in place.

The article is misleading because it doesn't distinguish between teachers assigned to a different school (which is not normal and not covered by contract) and teachers reassigned within the building (which is allowed).

[Anonymous]

Hopefully with the release of the article affected teachers will speak out so we know more specifics. I have a friend who was transferred in April, well after the February deadline. I can’t imagine being moved over the summer. Things like this will contribute to more teacher attrition. It’s a band aid for the moment but long term it’s not sustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully with the release of the article affected teachers will speak out so we know more specifics. I have a friend who was transferred in April, well after the February deadline. I can’t imagine being moved over the summer. Things like this will contribute to more teacher attrition. It’s a band aid for the moment but long term it’s not sustainable.

OMG OMG why are the Karen's driving away the teachers with all their complaining?