demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

I document all issues in myMCPS to cover my butt concerning any student isssue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uggh... Today I decided I think I might leave my school. One kid is really getting to me. Major learning disabilities. Shouldn't be in my classroom without a para due to outbursts and lack of safety. I don't feel safe with the kid in the room. SpEd seems to refuse to acknowledge the situation.

You'll just find the same problems at other schools. Trust me on that.

I'm "decades in," and during my time have seen the same problems at multiple schools. when I first started, principals had the autonomy to kick kids out - and to handle discipline in the right way.

That's gone.

to the person encouraging teachers to hit other systems? You're not very smart, and I'm being nice. Ignoring the very problems that are destroying the system is unhealthy. But maybe you PREFER not to see them.

Or, you're not in the system so you CAN'T see them. If that's the case, then butt out.

if you're decades in at least you can retire with 80% of your full pay largely thanks to the union

80% ??? Stop saying things that are completely untrue.
After a minimum of 30 years you get 54 % of the highest salary of your last 5 years ( assuming you went from full to part time).
Every year before that is an automatic 7.5 % deduction.
Read the contract. It’s online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I document all issues in myMCPS to cover my butt concerning any student isssue.

This is a best practice anyway. Parents like to use the defense that the child is only having problems in one class. If the whole team is writing that they emailed mom that the student curses, throws furniture, etc, it removes that cop out.

I also like that you can see the same problems documented in earlier grades.

This is the easiest way to help admin help you get a kid the help he or she needs. Cut through the bullshit and follow the process. If the kid really is destroying your classroom every day, document it every day.

[Anonymous]

But then again new teachers can be fired for no reason at all. The reason is usually you wouldn't entertain the principals efforts to strive for high marks. Don't mess with our "bonus nut" they might argue. But hey if they get you to inflate you will be out anyway as they like to wash their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But then again new teachers can be fired for no reason at all. The reason is usually you wouldn't entertain the principals efforts to strive for high marks. Don't mess with our "bonus nut" they might argue. But hey if they get you to inflate you will be out anyway as they like to wash their hands.

This is actually not true. There’s no tenure for three years, but there is a process that has to be followed for marking new teachers are ineffective and it includes a lot of support from a non-school specialist and an evaluation by an outside observer.

[Anonymous]

Not true. Some teachers get great reviews when they are paying thousands to student teach. Once they start getting paid to teach something changes and they are ganged up on as ineffective. The difference. The pay direction. Free work equals great, trying to fulfill a career and pay debt you suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not true. Some teachers get great reviews when they are paying thousands to student teach. Once they start getting paid to teach something changes and they are ganged up on as ineffective. The difference. The pay direction. Free work equals great, trying to fulfill a career and pay debt you suck.

Since MCPS requires the student teacher to teach in the presence of a certified teacher (who is in the room and paid their regular salary for being there), your argument makes zero sense.

I have supervised student teachers. They observe mostly (about 9-12 weeks) and then teach part of one unit. Generally 4-6 weeks long. Typically, they receive an immense amount of support in writing and executing lesson plans during that “takeover”. My last intern relied on me to give her cues about transitions. She was sweet and enthusiastic, but couldn’t keep track of time to save her life. She would take 25 min to do a warmup if I didn’t signal her to wrap it up. I knew that she was going to find that extremely challenging as a solo teacher. It’s only December and she’s already dealing with parent complaints about why her classes are behind the other teacher’s. She has a mentor in her building and someone who visits 1-2x a week to support her.

[Anonymous]

There will always be something wrong. Don't mention the highlights. Dwell on the negative. Teachers who can't even teach teachers show the problem might be deeper.

[Anonymous]

If they were targeting you which hopefully they will one day you would sing a different tune.

[Anonymous]

Further, how can someone try new things for success if they have to be paranoid about every action 80 hours per week.

[Anonymous]

It's a system that is totally based on qualitative and anecdotal evidence at best. Try to justify your decisions and you are labeled as difficult as well as ineffective, unless you're working for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will always be something wrong. Don't mention the highlights. Dwell on the negative. Teachers who can't even teach teachers show the problem might be deeper.

I think this person is trying to bait the teachers on here. Their information is wrong and their comments are inflammatory and dismissive. They've lost credibility with me. And fwiw, I'm in a supervisory role, not a teacher.

[Anonymous]

What about actually refuting anecdotal bias and sticking to the issues in a system that is suppose to be based on data. There are so many data points a teacher takes. To throw it out the window to rely only on qualitative anecdotes is irresponsible and reckless. No wonder why no one wants to teach. We pin pointed the bias. Congrats.

[Anonymous]

I think it's great that we can feel unintimidated to tell our stories without fear of retaliation. That way we can realize that the powers that be are in need of restructuring as growth and respect in general are under attack in this profession especially at certain MCPS schools. If teachers don't believe in growth or if supervisors don't believe in growth of teachers it speaks volumes toward morale. That is what this forum is exploring, the extremely negative morale.

[Anonymous]

In the end supervisors know that a teacher can't do anything to help themselves be successful and that helplessness is at the core of the morale issues.