MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to know why we have a shortage before we can even begin to fix the problem.

Is there legit data?

Blaming retirement and typical turnover isn’t a good answer; that’s something that happens each year and schools should be able to plan to increase the pipeline years in advance.

Are neighboring districts more attractive? Better pay/benefits? Better cost of living? More desirable for other reasons? Are shifting demographics and behavior issues playing a role? Poor leadership at the school? Frustrating curriculum?

I’m not a teacher, but I have a few kids in mcps (plus a fairly recent mcps grad). I’m also essentially a lifelong MoCo resident. Full disclosure: I attended private schools. My day job entails policy work and I am intimately familiar with the County’s budget woes which have been dramatically impacted by shifting demographics—primarily the affluent tax base retiring, dying, or opting for VA while our immigrant and 1st Gen population grows. MoCo doesn’t have money to boost teacher pay, and mcps simply isn’t the most desirable employer in the region the way it was 20+ years ago.

I hope the county realizes this and takes action.

Fun fact: the perception of bad schools impacts housing.

The county has plenty of money for their pet projects. I'm sure if someone did a real audit they could cut out a lot of wasteful spending and find the money for teacher pay raises and school repairs.

So, SO true. The money is there. MCPS just spends the money on useless initiatives and random other expenses that don’t directly benefit students. No oversight, despite the ginormous budget, so MCPS can spend taxpayer money any way it wants without any accountability.

I left county long ago but gave 30 years of money to them as a resident. The issue that is central is an inspector general specifically for MCPS. Until that happens you are simply going to continue seeing hookups.

[Anonymous]

How many more of McKnight's vacation trips, ahem "recruiting trips", back to her alma mater is MCPS going to pay for this year in the name of trying to get more teachers, I wonder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to know why we have a shortage before we can even begin to fix the problem.

Is there legit data?

Blaming retirement and typical turnover isn’t a good answer; that’s something that happens each year and schools should be able to plan to increase the pipeline years in advance.

Are neighboring districts more attractive? Better pay/benefits? Better cost of living? More desirable for other reasons? Are shifting demographics and behavior issues playing a role? Poor leadership at the school? Frustrating curriculum?

I’m not a teacher, but I have a few kids in mcps (plus a fairly recent mcps grad). I’m also essentially a lifelong MoCo resident. Full disclosure: I attended private schools. My day job entails policy work and I am intimately familiar with the County’s budget woes which have been dramatically impacted by shifting demographics—primarily the affluent tax base retiring, dying, or opting for VA while our immigrant and 1st Gen population grows. MoCo doesn’t have money to boost teacher pay, and mcps simply isn’t the most desirable employer in the region the way it was 20+ years ago.

I hope the county realizes this and takes action.

Fun fact: the perception of bad schools impacts housing.

The county has plenty of money for their pet projects. I'm sure if someone did a real audit they could cut out a lot of wasteful spending and find the money for teacher pay raises and school repairs.

So, SO true. The money is there. MCPS just spends the money on useless initiatives and random other expenses that don’t directly benefit students. No oversight, despite the ginormous budget, so MCPS can spend taxpayer money any way it wants without any accountability.

I left county long ago but gave 30 years of money to them as a resident. The issue that is central is an inspector general specifically for MCPS. Until that happens you are simply going to continue seeing hookups.

+1 Central Office employees make top dollar and even received an extra week of vacation last year. Very little vacancies there.

Teacher and support staff wages aren’t even keeping up with inflation and the cost of living in Montgomery County. It’s simple economics why school staff positions are not being filled. The salary doesn’t attract college students to these fields and those college students that choose education are attracted to areas where they can work and live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to know why we have a shortage before we can even begin to fix the problem.

Is there legit data?

Blaming retirement and typical turnover isn’t a good answer; that’s something that happens each year and schools should be able to plan to increase the pipeline years in advance.

Are neighboring districts more attractive? Better pay/benefits? Better cost of living? More desirable for other reasons? Are shifting demographics and behavior issues playing a role? Poor leadership at the school? Frustrating curriculum?

I’m not a teacher, but I have a few kids in mcps (plus a fairly recent mcps grad). I’m also essentially a lifelong MoCo resident. Full disclosure: I attended private schools. My day job entails policy work and I am intimately familiar with the County’s budget woes which have been dramatically impacted by shifting demographics—primarily the affluent tax base retiring, dying, or opting for VA while our immigrant and 1st Gen population grows. MoCo doesn’t have money to boost teacher pay, and mcps simply isn’t the most desirable employer in the region the way it was 20+ years ago.

I hope the county realizes this and takes action.

Fun fact: the perception of bad schools impacts housing.

The county has plenty of money for their pet projects. I'm sure if someone did a real audit they could cut out a lot of wasteful spending and find the money for teacher pay raises and school repairs.

So, SO true. The money is there. MCPS just spends the money on useless initiatives and random other expenses that don’t directly benefit students. No oversight, despite the ginormous budget, so MCPS can spend taxpayer money any way it wants without any accountability.

I left county long ago but gave 30 years of money to them as a resident. The issue that is central is an inspector general specifically for MCPS. Until that happens you are simply going to continue seeing hookups.

+1 Central Office employees make top dollar and even received an extra week of vacation last year. Very little vacancies there.

Teacher and support staff wages aren’t even keeping up with inflation and the cost of living in Montgomery County. It’s simple economics why school staff positions are not being filled. The salary doesn’t attract college students to these fields and those college students that choose education are attracted to areas where they can work and live.

MCPS school-based staff here - I often think of the movie poster for Sandra Bullock's Bird Box with her in a blindfold every time I think about some staff members at central office. The constant attempt to just throw stuff at the wall and see if it sticks without actually getting in the trenches at schools is mind-blowing to me. I'm not naive, I know that they have heard that schools are a train wreck right now but you rarely ever see them step foot in a school building. You need to be visiting classrooms constantly to create effective plans for school improvement and curriculum implementation. Our teachers are drowning right now with low morale, lack of subs, crappy Benchmark and kids in so much crisis.

[Anonymous]

Kudos to MCPS leadership for having the foresight to head off this crisis by taking the necessary steps like teacher transfers to avoid this crisis!

[Anonymous]

To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to know why we have a shortage before we can even begin to fix the problem.

Is there legit data?

Blaming retirement and typical turnover isn’t a good answer; that’s something that happens each year and schools should be able to plan to increase the pipeline years in advance.

Are neighboring districts more attractive? Better pay/benefits? Better cost of living? More desirable for other reasons? Are shifting demographics and behavior issues playing a role? Poor leadership at the school? Frustrating curriculum?

I’m not a teacher, but I have a few kids in mcps (plus a fairly recent mcps grad). I’m also essentially a lifelong MoCo resident. Full disclosure: I attended private schools. My day job entails policy work and I am intimately familiar with the County’s budget woes which have been dramatically impacted by shifting demographics—primarily the affluent tax base retiring, dying, or opting for VA while our immigrant and 1st Gen population grows. MoCo doesn’t have money to boost teacher pay, and mcps simply isn’t the most desirable employer in the region the way it was 20+ years ago.

I hope the county realizes this and takes action.

Fun fact: the perception of bad schools impacts housing.

The county has plenty of money for their pet projects. I'm sure if someone did a real audit they could cut out a lot of wasteful spending and find the money for teacher pay raises and school repairs.

So, SO true. The money is there. MCPS just spends the money on useless initiatives and random other expenses that don’t directly benefit students. No oversight, despite the ginormous budget, so MCPS can spend taxpayer money any way it wants without any accountability.

I left county long ago but gave 30 years of money to them as a resident. The issue that is central is an inspector general specifically for MCPS. Until that happens you are simply going to continue seeing hookups.

+1 Central Office employees make top dollar and even received an extra week of vacation last year. Very little vacancies there.

Teacher and support staff wages aren’t even keeping up with inflation and the cost of living in Montgomery County. It’s simple economics why school staff positions are not being filled. The salary doesn’t attract college students to these fields and those college students that choose education are attracted to areas where they can work and live.

MCPS school-based staff here - I often think of the movie poster for Sandra Bullock's Bird Box with her in a blindfold every time I think about some staff members at central office. The constant attempt to just throw stuff at the wall and see if it sticks without actually getting in the trenches at schools is mind-blowing to me. I'm not naive, I know that they have heard that schools are a train wreck right now but you rarely ever see them step foot in a school building. You need to be visiting classrooms constantly to create effective plans for school improvement and curriculum implementation. Our teachers are drowning right now with low morale, lack of subs, crappy Benchmark and kids in so much crisis.

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

You are very kind to ask, thank you!
Here's a list:
1) If you are so inclined, ask the teacher periodically what the classroom needs (ie, more tissues) and get it. I'm talking $10 worth, not $100.
2) Send your child to school with appropriate clothing, fed breakfast if you can and if not, bring them early so they can eat school breakfast. Teach them to open and close their own bookbag. Teach them to tie their shoes (or start to teach them). Teach them to respect adults (as well as their own boundaries).
3) Be kind. If you hear other parents trash talking a teacher or the school, stand up for us! There's always more than one way to perceive a situation and sometimes we do things for reasons around confidentiality. If you see something that we're doing that you really like, send us an email and cc our principal. I have one teacher friend who, the only reason she didn't quit last year, was because she had a few parents who really became her cheerleaders. She's quite honestly the best teacher I know and I am grateful to those parents.
4) Don't be afraid to post positive stuff about your child's school on social media
5) If masks get reinstated, please just wear them. Don't go to board meetings to protest. Just do what you are asked to do. Don't go to board meetings about books you want banned. If you don't want your child reading a certain book, talk with the teacher and your child to ensure your child doesn't read it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

Maybe stop calling yourselves “heroes” for begging for airtime on fox 5 and berating and belittling teachers. That’s a start. Also, commendable you all want to sub supposedly but that just tells us you think it’s an easy babysitting gig instead of actual work. An accounting degree doesn’t provide you with effective classroom management skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

You are very kind to ask, thank you!
Here's a list:
1) If you are so inclined, ask the teacher periodically what the classroom needs (ie, more tissues) and get it. I'm talking $10 worth, not $100.
2) Send your child to school with appropriate clothing, fed breakfast if you can and if not, bring them early so they can eat school breakfast. Teach them to open and close their own bookbag. Teach them to tie their shoes (or start to teach them). Teach them to respect adults (as well as their own boundaries).
3) Be kind. If you hear other parents trash talking a teacher or the school, stand up for us! There's always more than one way to perceive a situation and sometimes we do things for reasons around confidentiality. If you see something that we're doing that you really like, send us an email and cc our principal. I have one teacher friend who, the only reason she didn't quit last year, was because she had a few parents who really became her cheerleaders. She's quite honestly the best teacher I know and I am grateful to those parents.
4) Don't be afraid to post positive stuff about your child's school on social media
5) If masks get reinstated, please just wear them. Don't go to board meetings to protest. Just do what you are asked to do. Don't go to board meetings about books you want banned. If you don't want your child reading a certain book, talk with the teacher and your child to ensure your child doesn't read it.

I'm the person who posted this. Thanks for this response. I feel like my spouse and I already do this, but I am always willing to hear other ways that I can be helpful. I appreciate teachers and all they do (especially during covid), so thank you for your service to our children!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

Maybe stop calling yourselves “heroes” for begging for airtime on fox 5 and berating and belittling teachers. That’s a start. Also, commendable you all want to sub supposedly but that just tells us you think it’s an easy babysitting gig instead of actual work. An accounting degree doesn’t provide you with effective classroom management skills.

I am the person who posted the question....and I agree with you. I cringe when I see parents berating teachers on social media, at board meetings and in the news. I admire the skills that teachers have and I am glad I got to witness how difficult it can be to teach (especially virtually!) during covid. Honestly, it deepened my appreciation for teachers even more. I realize there are some subpar teachers out there, but I believe most teachers are doing their best in what can sometimes be a challenging environment. If you are a teacher, I thank you for your service!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to MCPS leadership for having the foresight to head off this crisis by taking the necessary steps like teacher transfers to avoid this crisis!

Meanwhile some of those teachers haven't been placed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

Please start now (early August) getting your child on a routine that will be conducive to success in school. It can take weeks to wean them off a month and a half of late bedtimes and too much screen time. A hard reset days before school starts will leave your child exhausted, overstimulated, and crabby in class during the critical first weeks of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

Thank you so much for asking. Just having you ask means so much.

I know many teachers will offer advice especially for younger learner. I will add some advice that can be important for the middle school /high school student.

1. Get into a routine - Early to bed and early to rise - so that they are ¨in the groove¨ before school starts.

2. Discuss with your student the importance of putting the phone away when they are in class. Emphasize how the cell phone distracts them and makes it difficult to learn complicated concepts.

3. Get organized - Emphasize the importance of doing your homework every night (without your cell phone present). Due dates are there because it helps ¨chunk¨ the learning so that students learn at little bit every night. It is difficult /impossible to learn 2 months of material in 2 days.

4. Sit down with your student once a week to look at grades on Parent Vue. If they tell you they did the work but the teacher has not graded it yet, ask to look at their Canvas account. You will be able to see if they submitted it because the time stamp will show up.

Please remember, we are all a team - teacher, families, and students. We work together. We know you are doing your best for your student. We are doing our best too. Together we can be an effective force to help our students succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the teachers out there, how can parents be more helpful this upcoming school year?

Thank you so much for asking. Just having you ask means so much.

I know many teachers will offer advice especially for younger learner. I will add some advice that can be important for the middle school /high school student.

1. Get into a routine - Early to bed and early to rise - so that they are ¨in the groove¨ before school starts.

2. Discuss with your student the importance of putting the phone away when they are in class. Emphasize how the cell phone distracts them and makes it difficult to learn complicated concepts.

3. Get organized - Emphasize the importance of doing your homework every night (without your cell phone present). Due dates are there because it helps ¨chunk¨ the learning so that students learn at little bit every night. It is difficult /impossible to learn 2 months of material in 2 days.

4. Sit down with your student once a week to look at grades on Parent Vue. If they tell you they did the work but the teacher has not graded it yet, ask to look at their Canvas account. You will be able to see if they submitted it because the time stamp will show up.

Please remember, we are all a team - teacher, families, and students. We work together. We know you are doing your best for your student. We are doing our best too. Together we can be an effective force to help our students succeed.

We look daily on their accounts. But, as a teacher if a parent emails please respond in 48 hours.