MCPS faces Teacher shortage next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t trust the PR spin or McKnight yet. I am still seeing 471 positions available. It is laughable to depend on substitutes especially for SPED. No sub wants to be long term unless they are desperate for work.

That's not what it says on the careers page. It's like 240. And apparently some are in the process of being filled -- like 90. I wonder if they'll up date the numbers there daily.

Are you logged in as an employee? We've always been able to see more vacancies?

Are you talking about the number of jobs listed on the mcps careers site when you log in? That probably goes back a couple of years and includes many, many jobs that are past their deadline, someone was hired long ago and HR didn't bother pulling the ad.

When I log in, I don't see any number at all other than that. On the public MCPS site, it says 225 openings and 25 part time. That's still a lot.

[Anonymous]

I have also noticed that they are grouping a lot of the .1, .2,.4 and.6 positions together to create a 1.0 position. A few random combos or locations that are pretty far from each other. I haven’t seen them do that before in previous years. Teachers used to have try to put these positions together on their own. I assume it is it increase the number of 1.0 positions with benefits and to reduce the overall number of positions listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have also noticed that they are grouping a lot of the .1, .2,.4 and.6 positions together to create a 1.0 position. A few random combos or locations that are pretty far from each other. I haven’t seen them do that before in previous years. Teachers used to have try to put these positions together on their own. I assume it is it increase the number of 1.0 positions with benefits and to reduce the overall number of positions listed.

That’s a step in the right direction to get positions filled. People want full time employment with benefits.

[Anonymous]

But some of the combos I observed are unrealistic for anyone to accept. Far apart schools or working at three different schools? Not really viable. They were combined simply to reduce the number of positions on paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But some of the combos I observed are unrealistic for anyone to accept. Far apart schools or working at three different schools? Not really viable. They were combined simply to reduce the number of positions on paper.

We had a music teacher in ES do this. She did a day at each school then during lunch would switch schools. It was very hard on her. She was planning to retiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But some of the combos I observed are unrealistic for anyone to accept. Far apart schools or working at three different schools? Not really viable. They were combined simply to reduce the number of positions on paper.

We had a music teacher in ES do this. She did a day at each school then during lunch would switch schools. It was very hard on her. She was planning to retiring.

It was clearly done to reduce the number of openings on paper. It’s not about making it easier for candidates to find positions or create full time opportunities. It is what looks less bad for mcps, always will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have also noticed that they are grouping a lot of the .1, .2,.4 and.6 positions together to create a 1.0 position. A few random combos or locations that are pretty far from each other. I haven’t seen them do that before in previous years. Teachers used to have try to put these positions together on their own. I assume it is it increase the number of 1.0 positions with benefits and to reduce the overall number of positions listed.

That’s a step in the right direction to get positions filled. People want full time employment with benefits.

You can get benefits as a part time employee. I am a female returning to the workforce after taking a break for childcare during the pandemic. I specifically wanted a part time position (0.5-0.75). I was frustrated that my choices were limited to just secondary schools. During my interview with Central Office staff I asked why they were bundling when this hasn’t been done in the past and I was told it helped them “attract more qualified candidates” and it pissed me off. We know the statistics about who had to stop working during the pandemic. And we want a balanced workload moving forward. So I took a 0.6 secondary position only to find out the school expects teachers to work until 4:15 every day except Friday (either for staff meetings or to provide after school enrichment). SO glad I am part time and can walk my child to school each morning because she will have to be in after care for at least an hour a day. Also grateful for the 30 minutes between taking her to school and leaving for my job I can call to make necessary doctor’s appointments as needed. Nothing more frustrating than only having your 30 minute duty free lunch to make these calls and the doctor’s office is closed for over an hour for their lunch break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But some of the combos I observed are unrealistic for anyone to accept. Far apart schools or working at three different schools? Not really viable. They were combined simply to reduce the number of positions on paper.

We had a music teacher in ES do this. She did a day at each school then during lunch would switch schools. It was very hard on her. She was planning to retiring.

Music teachers were hit the hardest. Some of them are working at 4-5 different schools! How are instrumental music teachers incentivized to build their programs? If they do a good job and more kids decide to join then their allotment will change and they will get shuffled around every year.

[Anonymous]

I’m switching grades this year and I don’t understand how MCPS doesn’t have an enrichment hour for students to go to things like band, orchestra, etc. instead it’s just in the middle of normal lessons? It just all feels so poorly planned

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m switching grades this year and I don’t understand how MCPS doesn’t have an enrichment hour for students to go to things like band, orchestra, etc. instead it’s just in the middle of normal lessons? It just all feels so poorly planned

I absolutely agree with you but it's because one instrumental music teacher has to teach beginner and advanced sections of several different instruments, typically at multiple schools. There simply isn't a way to schedule that with one enrichment hour.

But fair fourth and fifth grade teachers in mcps it is an absolute bane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m switching grades this year and I don’t understand how MCPS doesn’t have an enrichment hour for students to go to things like band, orchestra, etc. instead it’s just in the middle of normal lessons? It just all feels so poorly planned

I absolutely agree with you but it's because one instrumental music teacher has to teach beginner and advanced sections of several different instruments, typically at multiple schools. There simply isn't a way to schedule that with one enrichment hour.

But fair fourth and fifth grade teachers in mcps it is an absolute bane.

I guess there are some financial constraints so compromises must be made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m switching grades this year and I don’t understand how MCPS doesn’t have an enrichment hour for students to go to things like band, orchestra, etc. instead it’s just in the middle of normal lessons? It just all feels so poorly planned

I absolutely agree with you but it's because one instrumental music teacher has to teach beginner and advanced sections of several different instruments, typically at multiple schools. There simply isn't a way to schedule that with one enrichment hour.

But fair fourth and fifth grade teachers in mcps it is an absolute bane.

I guess there are some financial constraints so compromises must be made.

No financial problems. It's a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have also noticed that they are grouping a lot of the .1, .2,.4 and.6 positions together to create a 1.0 position. A few random combos or locations that are pretty far from each other. I haven’t seen them do that before in previous years. Teachers used to have try to put these positions together on their own. I assume it is it increase the number of 1.0 positions with benefits and to reduce the overall number of positions listed.

Like for art and music jobs? That's standard. It's based on the population of the school. They're trying to cobble together a full week of work for someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have also noticed that they are grouping a lot of the .1, .2,.4 and.6 positions together to create a 1.0 position. A few random combos or locations that are pretty far from each other. I haven’t seen them do that before in previous years. Teachers used to have try to put these positions together on their own. I assume it is it increase the number of 1.0 positions with benefits and to reduce the overall number of positions listed.

That’s a step in the right direction to get positions filled. People want full time employment with benefits.

You can get benefits as a part time employee. I am a female returning to the workforce after taking a break for childcare during the pandemic. I specifically wanted a part time position (0.5-0.75). I was frustrated that my choices were limited to just secondary schools. During my interview with Central Office staff I asked why they were bundling when this hasn’t been done in the past and I was told it helped them “attract more qualified candidates” and it pissed me off. We know the statistics about who had to stop working during the pandemic. And we want a balanced workload moving forward. So I took a 0.6 secondary position only to find out the school expects teachers to work until 4:15 every day except Friday (either for staff meetings or to provide after school enrichment). SO glad I am part time and can walk my child to school each morning because she will have to be in after care for at least an hour a day. Also grateful for the 30 minutes between taking her to school and leaving for my job I can call to make necessary doctor’s appointments as needed. Nothing more frustrating than only having your 30 minute duty free lunch to make these calls and the doctor’s office is closed for over an hour for their lunch break.

What are you complaining about? This is a JOB you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Another high profile departure: Jenn Webster is becoming associate superintendent in Washington County