What is happening at Chesterbrook Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Tons of staff turnover. What is happening there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tons of staff turnover. What is happening there?

Teachers leaving for better salaries in nearby jurisdictions. It is happening in many schools, especially if they are far from affordable housing. Chesterbrook is not alone.

[Anonymous]

Who is leaving?

[Anonymous]

I don't know names - just found out 19 teachers leaving and 5th grade team was completely unstable this year with subs.

[Anonymous]

There are five positions at Chesterbrook currently posted for 2016-17, and only one is a regular classroom teacher (4th grade). The rest are all specialists (ESOL, a K assistant, a disabilities teacher, and a music teacher).

[Anonymous]

My wife taught in Fairfax for 6 years before leaving for Arlington. It's like a 10k-15k difference in salary at the mid-career levels and there is a shortage of qualified teachers in the area (particularly in her field -math). It's clear the county does not value retaining teachers. Who wouldn't leave a job if they could get a 10k raise for doing the same work 15 minutes away (she worked in Falls Church and now works in Western Arlington county).

We also had friends who went to Prince William (which pays more and is a cheaper area to live in). They got rid of their commutes and got a raise to boot.

[Anonymous]

Makes sense it's a salary issue. Just hard to have a community-feel when there are constantly new faces in the hall and no one there to share institutional memory. Wonder if it's also a school leadership issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Makes sense it's a salary issue. Just hard to have a community-feel when there are constantly new faces in the hall and no one there to share institutional memory. Wonder if it's also a school leadership issue.

Doubtful, the Principal and AP have been there for years.

[Anonymous]

There is more turnover at schools closer to the higher paying other school districts. If a teacher has to commute all the way to McLean, she might as well drive another mile and work in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is more turnover at schools closer to the higher paying other school districts. If a teacher has to commute all the way to McLean, she might as well drive another mile and work in Arlington.

Not really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tons of staff turnover. What is happening there?

Teachers leaving for better salaries in nearby jurisdictions. It is happening in many schools, especially if they are far from affordable housing. Chesterbrook is not alone.

THere are also a number of babies.

[Anonymous]

Anybody have perspective? We are interested in moving to this school because we have heard it's like a private school, small knit community and everyone stays for AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody have perspective? We are interested in moving to this school because we have heard it's like a private school, small knit community and everyone stays for AAP.

http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/mclean/465-Chesterbrook-Elementary-School/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody have perspective? We are interested in moving to this school because we have heard it's like a private school, small knit community and everyone stays for AAP.

This happens in waves. We were at this school for 9 years and two of them had a turnover like this. It is a confluence of several things happening at once. It is a great community school and the sense of community has stayed as the staff has turned over. The nature of employing mostly women in their 20's and early 30's in teaching positions is that they get married, have babies, are the trailing spouse. That combined withthe great disparity of wages between FCPS and the other districts, especially inthe mid years, adds to the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody have perspective? We are interested in moving to this school because we have heard it's like a private school, small knit community and everyone stays for AAP.

This happens in waves. We were at this school for 9 years and two of them had a turnover like this. It is a confluence of several things happening at once. It is a great community school and the sense of community has stayed as the staff has turned over. The nature of employing mostly women in their 20's and early 30's in teaching positions is that they get married, have babies, are the trailing spouse. That combined withthe great disparity of wages between FCPS and the other districts, especially inthe mid years, adds to the problem.

I'd much rather work in a school district run by Karen Garza than by Patrick Murphy.

That is all.