Annandale Band Director Claims Racism

[Anonymous]

What kinds of things did he put on social media before he was fired?

[Anonymous]

A lot of FCPS schools REQUIRE kids in symphonic band to be in the marching band. They can’t get a lot of kids to join, so to go to the higher level classes they have to join. Consequently, their musical performances often outshine schools from other districts who take students at all ability levels. I don’t know the policy at Annandale. But if you’ve got a lot of kids who don’t want to be there in the first place, who are then treated strictly, they will turn on you in an instant.

Every FCPS school, except TJ, requires the higher bands (at least) to be in Marching Band. The Virginia culture of marching bands is all about the bands and not about the kids and what’s best for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A lot of FCPS schools REQUIRE kids in symphonic band to be in the marching band. They can’t get a lot of kids to join, so to go to the higher level classes they have to join. Consequently, their musical performances often outshine schools from other districts who take students at all ability levels. I don’t know the policy at Annandale. But if you’ve got a lot of kids who don’t want to be there in the first place, who are then treated strictly, they will turn on you in an instant.

Every FCPS school, except TJ, requires the higher bands (at least) to be in Marching Band. The Virginia culture of marching bands is all about the bands and not about the kids and what’s best for them.

I grew up in Texas, which has a very strong band culture. And yes, marching band is required for the upper level bands. Of course it is. That's best for the band and best for kids. A strong band is fun for kids, and needs everyone, all the members. Not just some of the members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being demanding and tough on kids yet apparently wanting validation from total strangers on social media is not a combination that’s going to elicit a ton of sympathy. Shawn DeRose is supposed to be a smart guy, so maybe he knew things likely were going to get worse, not better, unless they cut their losses now.

He didn't seem that demanding and tuff from his videos. He seemed, flat, dry and not engaging.

[Anonymous]

He’s flat and not engaging, yet his band has won countless awards as soon as he set foot in the band room. It appears that you all have the facts! Just say it already! You don’t like the fact that a black male is acting black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watching his videos on Facebook... he sure uses a lot of words to say very little!

I think he uses his Facebook videos to give himself talk therapy. He'd be better served by talking to a trained therapist rather than his cell phone camera.

Also, he says "Back in March, I went live on CNN to ask Gov. Glenn Youngkin if he agreed that there was an unspoken culture of racism and implicit bias against teachers of color in school districts nationwide." What kind of pointless question is that? Did he think Youngkin was going to say that there IS a culture of racism and bias against teachers of color? Makes me think this guy is not too smart, and just wants to get his 15 secs of time at the microphone.

Another quote from his self-therapy video:

"We are never meant to be in one place forever so understand that it's important to know when it's time to go.
Staying in your season beyond your departure time will spoil you just like food past its expiration date. And in order for you to be fresh and nutritious to others you serve, you have to make sure that you are not saturated and diluted and spoiled in your mind body and spirit. So it's important to know when its time to go, and when that feeling hits you, you need to dip."

I mean.....????? He's not really representing the value of a degree from Tarleton State U.

These are all really good points. He's also pretty young (probably late 20's) and needed some more guidance/coaching from a more experienced teacher or principal. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, but he clearly has an agenda that needs to be left out of school and should think about his social media and other comments as a teacher and who and how it impacts others.

He seems ok as a teacher. He certainly doesn't stand out nor do a lot of teaching.

He doesn’t stand out, yet he’s been on CNN, his band has won countless awards under his leadership, and he’s managed to get the media and Superintendent involved. He’s not the only FCPS employee who’s had to deal with this discrimination. Many teachers of color have had to experience what he’s experiencing. The Annandale community has a reputation for being bigoted against teachers or color who are in leadership positions. From the comments on this topic, I can DEFINITELY SEE WHY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watching his videos on Facebook... he sure uses a lot of words to say very little!

I think he uses his Facebook videos to give himself talk therapy. He'd be better served by talking to a trained therapist rather than his cell phone camera.

Also, he says "Back in March, I went live on CNN to ask Gov. Glenn Youngkin if he agreed that there was an unspoken culture of racism and implicit bias against teachers of color in school districts nationwide." What kind of pointless question is that? Did he think Youngkin was going to say that there IS a culture of racism and bias against teachers of color? Makes me think this guy is not too smart, and just wants to get his 15 secs of time at the microphone.

Another quote from his self-therapy video:

"We are never meant to be in one place forever so understand that it's important to know when it's time to go.
Staying in your season beyond your departure time will spoil you just like food past its expiration date. And in order for you to be fresh and nutritious to others you serve, you have to make sure that you are not saturated and diluted and spoiled in your mind body and spirit. So it's important to know when its time to go, and when that feeling hits you, you need to dip."

I mean.....????? He's not really representing the value of a degree from Tarleton State U.

These are all really good points. He's also pretty young (probably late 20's) and needed some more guidance/coaching from a more experienced teacher or principal. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, but he clearly has an agenda that needs to be left out of school and should think about his social media and other comments as a teacher and who and how it impacts others.

He seems ok as a teacher. He certainly doesn't stand out nor do a lot of teaching.

He doesn’t stand out, yet he’s been on CNN, his band has won countless awards under his leadership, and he’s managed to get the media and Superintendent involved. He’s not the only FCPS employee who’s had to deal with this discrimination. Many teachers of color have had to experience what he’s experiencing. The Annandale community has a reputation for being bigoted against teachers or color who are in leadership positions. From the comments on this topic, I can DEFINITELY SEE WHY!

If there was so much bigotry these folks would not have been put in leadership positions. Some succeed; others do not. Same goes for white leaders (very few Asians and Hispanics are in any such positions in FCPS).

[Anonymous]

Apparently reading comprehension is not your forte! THE ANNANDALE COMMUNITY! You all capitalize on the fact that FCPS doesn’t value teachers, and you complain SOOOO much to where your relentlessness causes influential teachers to leave or be removed. It’s palpable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently reading comprehension is not your forte! THE ANNANDALE COMMUNITY! You all capitalize on the fact that FCPS doesn’t value teachers, and you complain SOOOO much to where your relentlessness causes influential teachers to leave or be removed. It’s palpable.

I’m very familiar with the community, enough to know Poe had a successful Hispanic principal and Holmes had a successful Black principal who just got promoted. If you just mean AHS, say so, and stop being so obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

So you going to sit here and compare two individuals, who conform to the “Fairfax county Way”, to the many individuals who have been forced out simply because the community did not like them and they received the ear of administration? Good luck with that and please do not let your privilege embolden you to be compelled to tell me how to feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you going to sit here and compare two individuals, who conform to the “Fairfax county Way”, to the many individuals who have been forced out simply because the community did not like them and they received the ear of administration? Good luck with that and please do not let your privilege embolden you to be compelled to tell me how to feel.

Or maybe you’re making up “many individuals” to paper over the failure of a specific individual to meet expectations? The guy can always sue if he has a valid complaint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being demanding and tough on kids yet apparently wanting validation from total strangers on social media is not a combination that’s going to elicit a ton of sympathy. Shawn DeRose is supposed to be a smart guy, so maybe he knew things likely were going to get worse, not better, unless they cut their losses now.

He didn't seem that demanding and tuff from his videos. He seemed, flat, dry and not engaging.

He seems to be trying to convince himself that trite sayings are actually inspirational genius!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our band director used to yell. She was a jerk. But, she also got results.

My high school band director was the same, and I hear the previous Langley choral director was a demanding sort given to yelling sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s flat and not engaging, yet his band has won countless awards as soon as he set foot in the band room. It appears that you all have the facts! Just say it already! You don’t like the fact that a black male is acting black.

Over sharing your feelings and posting folks’ children all up and down social media is “acting black?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s flat and not engaging, yet his band has won countless awards as soon as he set foot in the band room. It appears that you all have the facts! Just say it already! You don’t like the fact that a black male is acting black.

Over sharing your feelings and posting folks’ children all up and down social media is “acting black?”

Someone who does that stuff has poor boundaries for their own behavior whatever age and race he was. The community he was in was very diverse and they didn't like him for their own reasons. Why is this even an issue?