Springbrook HS Staff Letter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need a brave Springbrook HS staff member to speak out!

while this would be great, if she’s a bully as stated on this thread, the staff won’t out themselves. I don’t blame them. I worked at a school with a retaliatory principal and our staff attempted a similar approach: the community was never informed or made aware because sharing it puts involved staff members at risk.

Believe it or not, there are MANY SHS teachers willing to put their names on this letter. They have been absolutely pushed to their limits and the common consensus is that if we’re gonna be targeted even when we don’t speak out, what does it matter if we do? Teachers keep trying to “trust the process,” as we’re told, but we’re done.

The teachers at Springbrook LOVE Springbrook. They LOVE the students. They love to collaborate with their coworkers in order to best plan for their students.

I truly do not think I can put into words how desperate we are to save the community we love and to do what we know is best for our students. I hate that it feels like admin and parents versus teachers. We all want to be a TEAM because we love our jobs and we love our kids. We will do anything for these kids. We just need the public to back us up.

[Anonymous]

I support you Springfield!! I've had mostly good principals and the not so good ones were no where near what this one sounds like. I hope action gets taken though we all know how MCPS doesn't listen or believe teachers.

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher at another MCPS HS where we have a wonderful Principal and I just want to share that I support all of the staff at SHS. This sounds absolutely dreadful and I hope Taylor and/or the BOE does something to help you!! You shouldn’t have to deal with someone like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She only cares about herself. Last year, students created an IG page where they were posting their concerns about Valentine and the school’s inability to keep students safe (due to the bomb threat, several non-school related people entering the school building and wandering around, the gun brought to school). Valentine made it her mission to call down every student who was following that IG page and terrified those kids into telling her who it was. She forced the student to delete the page and never once showed any interest in making this school safer for students.

What?! Is this confirmed??

Yes. Yes. Yes. We have no idea how to bring it to light, but there are plenty of kids who would confirm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s been unpopular since she was at Key. Makes sense she got a promotion.

That was before the Taylor administration. I predict she’ll be demoted soon. Good on the teachers who spoke up. That’s not easy to do when it’s your boss who is bullying you.

No one will be demoted. Taylor is not a change agent. Look at the cast of characters who were all rehired despite failures, negative feedback, etc.: https://mocoshow.com/2025/03/18/six-administrative-appointments-approved-by-board-of-education/

Expect more of the same from MCPS.

Did he say he was (no snark, simply don't know)? Several mouths to feed, cost of living rising, a job closer to home, no one would turn down a Super job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Springbrook, and am aware of the letter but do not have a copy. The morale of the staff is abysmal, with constant micromanaging by the principal and her assistants. Armed with her two years of teaching art, it is laughable when she tries to dictate pedagogy to content areas. She shuts down and silences students who question administration. Any bad publicity is covered up, from fighting and vaping, to mold in classrooms, to the three teachers dismissed in the last calendar year for inappropriate interactions with children. We have contacted the union for support, but we just get told to be patient and follow the process. Please, parents: complain. Complain about everything you don’t like, and send it to the superintendent, the Board of Ed, and probably the media at this point.

She only taught for two years and is a principal? Huge red flag to begin with…. I thought principals positions were difficult to obtain. Good work, MCPS.

Shortage, perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s been unpopular since she was at Key. Makes sense she got a promotion.

That was before the Taylor administration. I predict she’ll be demoted soon. Good on the teachers who spoke up. That’s not easy to do when it’s your boss who is bullying you.

No one will be demoted. Taylor is not a change agent. Look at the cast of characters who were all rehired despite failures, negative feedback, etc.: https://mocoshow.com/2025/03/18/six-administrative-appointments-approved-by-board-of-education/

Expect more of the same from MCPS.

Did he say he was (no snark, simply don't know)? Several mouths to feed, cost of living rising, a job closer to home, no one would turn down a Super job.

Yes. He was supposed to be on a new era of honesty, transparency and integrity after the dark age of Dr. McKnight.

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/06/25/school-board-appoints-taylor-as-new-mcps-superintendent/

“I hope that folks can expect me to be high energy, that they can expect me to be a good listener, and that they can expect to see me,” Taylor told MoCo360 before he was appointed. “And that I want to be accessible in the community. And that I want to hear what they have to say because it’s their kids and their school system. I want students in particular to feel like they have a voice and that they’re empowered to take control of their destinies, their futures.”

SOURCE: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/entry-plan/

Community, integrity, empathy and continuous improvement have been the guiding forces of my career. I am committed to providing high-quality teaching, outstanding leadership and exceptional supporting services to the more than 160,000 students and 25,000 staff we serve.

As I begin my tenure, I wish to share with you my entry plan, which will allow me to quickly become attuned to your concerns and the work necessary to move #MCPSforward. Taking the time to learn and to listen to the MCPS community is a direct investment into making positive decisions for the future. My intention is to focus on improving academic performance, enhancing school safety, and promoting diversity and inclusion. I am equally committed to fostering community engagement, transparency and trust. My goal is to restore confidence that MCPS is a great school system with a bright future. I will bring a high level of energy to these efforts. You can expect to see me throughout the community, ready to hear your concerns.

That is what I expect for myself, for each of you, no matter your role or connection with our school system, I want you to see your path to engagement and empowerment. I believe that each of us has a part to play in identifying the changes needed for a better future. Your voice matters, and together, we can shape the future of MCPS and create an environment where every student can thrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She only cares about herself. Last year, students created an IG page where they were posting their concerns about Valentine and the school’s inability to keep students safe (due to the bomb threat, several non-school related people entering the school building and wandering around, the gun brought to school). Valentine made it her mission to call down every student who was following that IG page and terrified those kids into telling her who it was. She forced the student to delete the page and never once showed any interest in making this school safer for students.

Gotta protect the MCPS "brand."

DP. Or principals who don't let parents - the parents who may complain or tell other parents info mcps * thinks * is private - to join in on a zoom call school wide meeting because the principal's priority is to protect "that brand." Whole lot of bs there. Parents talk outside of the meetings anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s been unpopular since she was at Key. Makes sense she got a promotion.

That was before the Taylor administration. I predict she’ll be demoted soon. Good on the teachers who spoke up. That’s not easy to do when it’s your boss who is bullying you.

No one will be demoted. Taylor is not a change agent. Look at the cast of characters who were all rehired despite failures, negative feedback, etc.: https://mocoshow.com/2025/03/18/six-administrative-appointments-approved-by-board-of-education/

Expect more of the same from MCPS.

Did he say he was (no snark, simply don't know)? Several mouths to feed, cost of living rising, a job closer to home, no one would turn down a Super job.

Yes. He was supposed to be on a new era of honesty, transparency and integrity after the dark age of Dr. McKnight.

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/06/25/school-board-appoints-taylor-as-new-mcps-superintendent/

“I hope that folks can expect me to be high energy, that they can expect me to be a good listener, and that they can expect to see me,” Taylor told MoCo360 before he was appointed. “And that I want to be accessible in the community. And that I want to hear what they have to say because it’s their kids and their school system. I want students in particular to feel like they have a voice and that they’re empowered to take control of their destinies, their futures.”

SOURCE: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/entry-plan/

Community, integrity, empathy and continuous improvement have been the guiding forces of my career. I am committed to providing high-quality teaching, outstanding leadership and exceptional supporting services to the more than 160,000 students and 25,000 staff we serve.

As I begin my tenure, I wish to share with you my entry plan, which will allow me to quickly become attuned to your concerns and the work necessary to move #MCPSforward. Taking the time to learn and to listen to the MCPS community is a direct investment into making positive decisions for the future. My intention is to focus on improving academic performance, [b]enhancing school safety, and promoting diversity and inclusion. I am equally committed to fostering community engagement, transparency and trust. My goal is to restore confidence that MCPS is a great school system with a bright future. I will bring a high level of energy to these efforts. You can expect to see me throughout the community, ready to hear your concerns.

That is what I expect for myself, for each of you, no matter your role or connection with our school system, I want you to see your path to engagement and empowerment. I believe that each of us has a part to play in identifying the changes needed for a better future. Your voice matters, and together, we can shape the future of MCPS and create an environment where every student can thrive.

Um, dude, where were you when 100+ filled an auditorium at a Bethesda HS recently? You sure weren't there to hear their voices.

[Anonymous]

Question for SB staff - are the APs there mostly Team Valentine? Or do they acknowledge how dreadful the climate is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for SB staff - are the APs there mostly Team Valentine? Or do they acknowledge how dreadful the climate is?

APs usually suffer in silence. A sign that APs are struggling under a tyrant principal is high turnover at the AP level. Not sure if that is the case at Springbrook, but that’s where I would look first.

[Anonymous]

Springbrook Staff: This letter was sent on March 11.

It is March 21. Has there been any response to this letter yet???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for SB staff - are the APs there mostly Team Valentine? Or do they acknowledge how dreadful the climate is?

APs usually suffer in silence. A sign that APs are struggling under a tyrant principal is high turnover at the AP level. Not sure if that is the case at Springbrook, but that’s where I would look first.

SHS has had 5 new APs since Stephanie Valentine started. Only one of the original ones remain. I think that speaks for itself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for SB staff - are the APs there mostly Team Valentine? Or do they acknowledge how dreadful the climate is?

We had two APs leave last year and two take their place this year. The two new APs this year are amazing - they openly have our backs (albeit, to the extent that they can), and they demonstrate open disdain toward some of the egregious things that happen there. Unfortunately, we also recognize that there is only so much they can do, and that they have to prioritize their own well-being as well.

The other AP is hardcore Team Valentine - to the point that they walk arm-in-arm in the halls and text on each other’s phones. It’s really weird.

[Anonymous]

Good luck to Springbrook staff and students. I hope you can get some media attention

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for SB staff - are the APs there mostly Team Valentine? Or do they acknowledge how dreadful the climate is?

APs usually suffer in silence. A sign that APs are struggling under a tyrant principal is high turnover at the AP level. Not sure if that is the case at Springbrook, but that’s where I would look first.

SHS has had 5 new APs since Stephanie Valentine started. Only one of the original ones remain. I think that speaks for itself

And there you have it.