MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

Anonymous
A lot of principals prioritize classroom management and staff who look like the student population over academic attainment. They seek a mix of staff in each department/grade level. Your daughter should not be offended by this.

Getting a teaching position in this area is kind of like dating. It doesn't matter how much one side wants it to work out if the other side is not feeling it. If she didn't get that job, there is a reason and it is probably to her benefit to get a position where she may be a better fit.
Anonymous
Also, the "best" school can be an awful place to work if the principal isn't strong. The reverse is true as well. I'd pick a strong principal over a "highly rated" school any day. I know principals can be moved, but I also can move if a good one is replaced with a subpar one.
Anonymous
I work at a "lower rated" school (meaning - we have a high FARMS rate) and I work there because our staff and principal are amazing. Very smart, dedicated to the kids and fosters an environment that creates lifelong learners. Families are happy with our school, and our principal treats us like professionals rather than acting like a micro manager.
Anonymous
I moved to Mon Co right as the Maximum Entry Step kicked in with 13 years of public school teaching in New Jersey under my belt. I was a finalist for NJ Teacher of the Year one year before I moved. While the dollar amount of my offer was not miles behind what I wanted, the psychological kick to the teeth of MCPS not valuing my experience drove me to private school. Covid drove me back to public and I spent this last year working at one of the W feeder Middle Schools. Unfortunately, student behavior, inattentive administrators and silly countywide policies are now driving me out of teaching entirely.

To the poster who was surprised by the young candidate being turned down by multiple schools, it is way easier on the existing staff to have someone with MCPS experience come on to their team. They don't have to teach them the curriculum, policies, computing systems, etc.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I moved to Mon Co right as the Maximum Entry Step kicked in with 13 years of public school teaching in New Jersey under my belt. I was a finalist for NJ Teacher of the Year one year before I moved. While the dollar amount of my offer was not miles behind what I wanted, the psychological kick to the teeth of MCPS not valuing my experience drove me to private school. Covid drove me back to public and I spent this last year working at one of the W feeder Middle Schools. Unfortunately, student behavior, inattentive administrators and silly countywide policies are now driving me out of teaching entirely.

To the poster who was surprised by the young candidate being turned down by multiple schools, it is way easier on the existing staff to have someone with MCPS experience come on to their team. They don't have to teach them the curriculum, policies, computing systems, etc.


I totally understand this and if there wasn't such a shortage of teachers and plethora of openings I would expect this. At this point, if MCPS can't fill their openings, it's mostly their fault. By the time these schools realize that they aren't going to get their "ideal" candidate, most of the good ones will be committed elsewhere. And to answer, my friend's daughter is very happy with her new teaching opportunity. By the way, they offered her the job before she even left the building.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS doesn't actually want experienced, expensive teachers. It wants to hire cheap, impressionable young teachers.


Really? My friends daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude from college this spring with a degree in elementary education. Excellent reviews from her student teaching. A very smart, well spoken and engaging young lady. I could not believe how many jobs she was turned down for. I thought any elementary school in the county would grab her up quickly but instead she was turned down multiple times. I was shocked. All I could think was- "I guess MCPS doesn't want to hire smart, talented, highly motivated young teachers." Fortunately, she's now been offered a teaching position in the county, but she was just about to start looking at Howard and Fairfax. I was absolutely dumbfounded.


What race is she? Some principals prioritize hiring teachers that are similar in race to the students at the school. In order to avoid any issues with implicit bias, etc.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS doesn't actually want experienced, expensive teachers. It wants to hire cheap, impressionable young teachers.


Really? My friends daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude from college this spring with a degree in elementary education. Excellent reviews from her student teaching. A very smart, well spoken and engaging young lady. I could not believe how many jobs she was turned down for. I thought any elementary school in the county would grab her up quickly but instead she was turned down multiple times. I was shocked. All I could think was- "I guess MCPS doesn't want to hire smart, talented, highly motivated young teachers." Fortunately, she's now been offered a teaching position in the county, but she was just about to start looking at Howard and Fairfax. I was absolutely dumbfounded.


What race is she? Some principals prioritize hiring teachers that are similar in race to the students at the school. In order to avoid any issues with implicit bias, etc.


This has gone on the the county government for many years.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:MCEA is committed to the salary steps which keep experienced teachers from earning decent pay when transferring to MCPS. MCEA is a big part of the problem. They also keep sub pay low. I would not recommend voting for any MCEA endorsed BOE candidates (Yang, Coll, Rivera-Oven).


This is so untrue.

McKnight and the current BOE own this issue and played games all year instead of trying to fix it. They flipped the bird to the MCEA on two no-confidence votes and didn't lift a finger to protect them during covid. Instead of supporting them by paying for more security at at-risk schools to keep them safe, they spent covid money on bocce balls and Kid Museum.

McKnight and the BOE are total scumbags, imho. I think they all need to be voted out / fired.

I've never voted Apple Ballot before, but I sure as heck am going to do so this year!
Anonymous
Since McKnight isn't taking ownership of her leadership failures, does anyone want to make a bet that McKnight's self-made teacher vacancy crisis will be "solved" by her asking for an emergency MCPS budget, full of candy for everyone?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Since McKnight isn't taking ownership of her leadership failures, does anyone want to make a bet that McKnight's self-made teacher vacancy crisis will be "solved" by her asking for an emergency MCPS budget, full of candy for everyone?

McKnight hater at it again.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since McKnight isn't taking ownership of her leadership failures, does anyone want to make a bet that McKnight's self-made teacher vacancy crisis will be "solved" by her asking for an emergency MCPS budget, full of candy for everyone?

McKnight hater at it again.


The one who thinks she can do no wrong while our school system is failing.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since McKnight isn't taking ownership of her leadership failures, does anyone want to make a bet that McKnight's self-made teacher vacancy crisis will be "solved" by her asking for an emergency MCPS budget, full of candy for everyone?

McKnight hater at it again.


They're completely crazy obsessed and unhinged.
Anonymous
Also, one way to cope with burnout is to switch schools (that is what I have done anyways). So maybe there were a lot of candidates for the positions she was interested in. And some schools based off of reputation/principal, etc get more interviewees.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS doesn't actually want experienced, expensive teachers. It wants to hire cheap, impressionable young teachers.


Really? My friends daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude from college this spring with a degree in elementary education. Excellent reviews from her student teaching. A very smart, well spoken and engaging young lady. I could not believe how many jobs she was turned down for. I thought any elementary school in the county would grab her up quickly but instead she was turned down multiple times. I was shocked. All I could think was- "I guess MCPS doesn't want to hire smart, talented, highly motivated young teachers." Fortunately, she's now been offered a teaching position in the county, but she was just about to start looking at Howard and Fairfax. I was absolutely dumbfounded.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS doesn't actually want experienced, expensive teachers. It wants to hire cheap, impressionable young teachers.


Really? My friends daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude from college this spring with a degree in elementary education. Excellent reviews from her student teaching. A very smart, well spoken and engaging young lady. I could not believe how many jobs she was turned down for. I thought any elementary school in the county would grab her up quickly but instead she was turned down multiple times. I was shocked. All I could think was- "I guess MCPS doesn't want to hire smart, talented, highly motivated young teachers." Fortunately, she's now been offered a teaching position in the county, but she was just about to start looking at Howard and Fairfax. I was absolutely dumbfounded.


Sorry to hear about your friend's daughter but I think it just goes to show that there isn't really a shortage just another fictional point of grievance to complain about.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since McKnight isn't taking ownership of her leadership failures, does anyone want to make a bet that McKnight's self-made teacher vacancy crisis will be "solved" by her asking for an emergency MCPS budget, full of candy for everyone?

McKnight hater at it again.


They're completely crazy obsessed and unhinged.


Actually you sound unhinged. She's been in top leadership for several years and is running MCPS for a year. School has been in person all year. Behavior in school is poor, staff moral is bad, student moral is bad, academics are weak at best, many kids from special needs, to regular kids to gifted kids go without the supports they need. Special needs kids cannot get para's, speech therapy and OT supports they need. Teachers and administrators don't respond to parents or make any attempt to work with them with their kids needs - this is a huge issue as you cannot complain about behavior and refuse to work with parents on it. There is little to no homework in many schools so basics like math is not reinforced to get the practice they need. Tons of bullying and violence is on the increase.

MCPS has a huge amount of funding. Instead of being responsible and resourceful they waste it. Staff deserve raises, school buildings need to be repaired and replaced, we need more schools/lower class sizes. The list goes on.

Let me guess, you don't have kids, are connected to her or your kids are in private.
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