APS- teacher retention

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can stop hiring at Syphax. That would free up lots of money that could actually be used for gasp, the schools.

The percent we spend on admins is like 5% of the budget. You could cut half entire Syphax staff and not even have enough money reduce class size by 1 in the elementary schools.

This. It wouldn’t be enough for 1 extra teacher at each school. I agree they’ve been screwing up a lot over there and aren’t particularly helpful but they are a drop in the bucket. Maybe one of us will end up over there and make things better

I don’t know. There used to be a lot more money for supplies, busses for field trips. Where is the $?! Certainly not going to me, nor my classroom.

A new department of equity that no one can figure out what they do. That department alone could pay for some buses so kids can go on field trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can stop hiring at Syphax. That would free up lots of money that could actually be used for gasp, the schools.

The percent we spend on admins is like 5% of the budget. You could cut half entire Syphax staff and not even have enough money reduce class size by 1 in the elementary schools.

This. It wouldn’t be enough for 1 extra teacher at each school. I agree they’ve been screwing up a lot over there and aren’t particularly helpful but they are a drop in the bucket. Maybe one of us will end up over there and make things better

I don’t know. There used to be a lot more money for supplies, busses for field trips. Where is the $?! Certainly not going to me, nor my classroom.

A new department of equity that no one can figure out what they do. That department alone could pay for some buses so kids can go on field trips.

Yup. More surveys.

[Anonymous]

They spent it all on virtual learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think the key to teacher retention is 4 day student contact weeks with an entire day for planning/meetings. Parents would riot though

I don't think teachers need this. They do need more support staff in the school, though, to deal with behaviors, mindless data requests, and other things that someone other than the teacher could take care of.

Teacher here. I think this would absolutely increase retention. Part of the reason why so many of us are leaving (myself included in June!!!!) is the zero work-life balance. I am so tired on spending weeknights and weekends working on lessons that get ignored for cell phone usage.

[Anonymous]

Its absolutely bonkers that we pay teachers so little when people like instagram influencers make 10x what teachers make. Educators are literally shaping our children into the adults they are going to be.

I was at a gathering recently (i was the only educator) and someone casually commented about a job posting at his tech-based company that he considered but it was "under $250k". Teachers will NEVER get to even half that salary- even if they work for 40 years.

In terms of Arlington specifically, teachers cannot afford to life here which means they don't feel connected to the community. In contrast, I grew up in Arlington and most of my teachers lived in the neighborhood! They had kids in our school system and were highly invested in things like volunteering and coaching sports. A SFH in Arlington is completely unattainable for 90% of teachers.

[Anonymous]

I think my fear is that if things continue the way they’re going, teachers that can get out, will get out, and we’ll be stuck with what’s left. They have to be paid more, end of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous




I think my fear is that if things continue the way they’re going, teachers that can get out, will get out, and we’ll be stuck with what’s left. They have to be paid more, end of story.

Yep. Get ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous




I think my fear is that if things continue the way they’re going, teachers that can get out, will get out, and we’ll be stuck with what’s left. They have to be paid more, end of story.

Yep. Get ready.

Right? So many educated people can work from home now, at least think about the commute time and the price of gas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous




I think my fear is that if things continue the way they’re going, teachers that can get out, will get out, and we’ll be stuck with what’s left. They have to be paid more, end of story.

Yep. Get ready.

At my school there are 6 people who will be retirement eligible by the end of next year. If they all go we’ll be in shambles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous




I think my fear is that if things continue the way they’re going, teachers that can get out, will get out, and we’ll be stuck with what’s left. They have to be paid more, end of story.

Yep. Get ready.

At my school there are 6 people who will be retirement eligible by the end of next year. If they all go we’ll be in shambles.

What about the young people that see what’s going down and will never go into teaching? It’s bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous




I think my fear is that if things continue the way they’re going, teachers that can get out, will get out, and we’ll be stuck with what’s left. They have to be paid more, end of story.

Yep. Get ready.

At my school there are 6 people who will be retirement eligible by the end of next year. If they all go we’ll be in shambles.

What about the young people that see what’s going down and will never go into teaching? It’s bad.

It’s a double whammy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Yep. Get ready.


At my school there are 6 people who will be retirement eligible by the end of next year. If they all go we’ll be in shambles.

At least 10 people at our school are eligible right now and could go in June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its absolutely bonkers that we pay teachers so little when people like instagram influencers make 10x what teachers make. Educators are literally shaping our children into the adults they are going to be.

I was at a gathering recently (i was the only educator) and someone casually commented about a job posting at his tech-based company that he considered but it was "under $250k". Teachers will NEVER get to even half that salary- even if they work for 40 years.

In terms of Arlington specifically, teachers cannot afford to life here which means they don't feel connected to the community. In contrast, I grew up in Arlington and most of my teachers lived in the neighborhood! They had kids in our school system and were highly invested in things like volunteering and coaching sports. A SFH in Arlington is completely unattainable for 90% of teachers.

There's a lot of jobs that won't pay $250k a year. I'm married to a teacher who actually makes more than me, and has more holidays than me. Not everyone in this area is making six figures.

[Anonymous]

Dr Duran just released his budget presentation and teachers are only getting a 3% cost of living increase. Inflation is more than double that. That means a teacher who makes $75,000 will only increase to $77,250. That is only $220 extra PER MONTH (before taxes!). We need to give teachers a solid raise that they will actual feel. What is the incentive to stay with APS? You could make the exact same salary in Fairfax or Loudon and have significantly cheaper housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr Duran just released his budget presentation and teachers are only getting a 3% cost of living increase. Inflation is more than double that. That means a teacher who makes $75,000 will only increase to $77,250. That is only $220 extra PER MONTH (before taxes!). We need to give teachers a solid raise that they will actual feel. What is the incentive to stay with APS? You could make the exact same salary in Fairfax or Loudon and have significantly cheaper housing.

In the past, APS always cited the need to stay competitive with the surrounding counties. There are different ways to achieve this; salary, benefits, support system. I cannot believe they can’t figure this out.