Holton brain drain?

[Anonymous]

Definitely the case that not every departure is announced, but you can check the employment listings to gauge what roles they're hiring for https://www.holton-arms.edu/about/employment

[Anonymous]

Holton is now on its third communications director of the year. The head of DEI is gone. The head of the Lower School is leaving. The head of the Middle School is leaving.

A lot of these threads feature people saying, if you don't like it, you can leave. It seems like a lot of senior leaders are heeding that advice.

No matter how big a booster of a school you are, I think it's worth taking a moment to reflect on why there's been so much change, whether the school will be better or worse without the people who have left, and whether so much change is likely to continue.

Maybe all the "bad apples" are gone now and these changes will make the school better. Or maybe longstanding pillars of the community with years of tenure are getting out less than 10 months after the new HOS took over. I don't know the answer, but it's a question to contemplate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That only fuels other fires of hate and anger.

Everyone was fine until Penny came into the picture. Then, suddenly, people of color became a problem. You are correct, employees are free to leave and that seems to be a popular option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I assure you that many parents will be applying out this Fall if the current HOS is still at Holton. I suspect the majority of departures will come from LS because parents won’t want to commit to so many years with the current HOS.

LS parent here. So far we've seen no exodus among students for issues like this. There was one who left due to behavioral issues, and another due to family moving, that I know of. I'm doubtful there will be some mass exodus next year, based on my discussions with various LS parents. They rarely talk about the HOS at all. It's usually about teachers, sports, or other activities -- the very same topics they talked about when the previous HOS was there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I assure you that many parents will be applying out this Fall if the current HOS is still at Holton. I suspect the majority of departures will come from LS because parents won’t want to commit to so many years with the current HOS.

LS parent here. So far we've seen no exodus among students for issues like this. There was one who left due to behavioral issues, and another due to family moving, that I know of. I'm doubtful there will be some mass exodus next year, based on my discussions with various LS parents. They rarely talk about the HOS at all. It's usually about teachers, sports, or other activities -- the very same topics they talked about when the previous HOS was there.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There were complaints with the prior HOS. There were departures. This happens at all schools. Sometimes the HOS is there too long. Sometimes the new one is too much of a departure from the old. I've lived through many a head of schools at Holton and other schools. If you are a prospective family and you have concerns, call the school and ask questions. The MS person leaving would have happened had the prior HOS still been there. The head of DEI said she was leaving no matter who came in after her. It always was her plan. That was no surprise. I don't know why the LS director left. Maybe she has a son and wants to be where her son is in school. I don't know. But, there are valid reasons why people leave that have nothing to do with the HOS. If you don't like the HOS, that's fine. But not everyone liked the prior one either. It's just the way that it is. I can't stand the head of school at my other kid's school, but I don't see him doing any harm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I assure you that many parents will be applying out this Fall if the current HOS is still at Holton. I suspect the majority of departures will come from LS because parents won’t want to commit to so many years with the current HOS.

LS parent here. So far we've seen no exodus among students for issues like this. There was one who left due to behavioral issues, and another due to family moving, that I know of. I'm doubtful there will be some mass exodus next year, based on my discussions with various LS parents. They rarely talk about the HOS at all. It's usually about teachers, sports, or other activities -- the very same topics they talked about when the previous HOS was there.

It's not exactly easy to leave. Everything blew up after the application deadlines for most other privates. Unless Penny leaves, I predict the exodus will occur during the 2026 - 2027 school year. Most of her supporters and donors want a less "woke" environment. It will take a year, but they will see a less diverse campus in two years.

[Anonymous]

I want to add that most parents who seem wholly oblivious and tell you to "talk to other parents and the school" are mostly not involved in the issues causing discontent. It is mainly the Black parents that are affected. So unless a parent associates closely with Black parents, they are probably unaware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to add that most parents who seem wholly oblivious and tell you to "talk to other parents and the school" are mostly not involved in the issues causing discontent. It is mainly the Black parents that are affected. So unless a parent associates closely with Black parents, they are probably unaware.

Yes, Holton parent here. This is mostly true. We’re not expecting any change in academics or school standing. If anything, there will be old faces that will be missed and new faces to learn and build relationships with. C’est la vie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to add that most parents who seem wholly oblivious and tell you to "talk to other parents and the school" are mostly not involved in the issues causing discontent. It is mainly the Black parents that are affected. So unless a parent associates closely with Black parents, they are probably unaware.

Yes, Holton parent here. This is mostly true. We’re not expecting any change in academics or school standing. If anything, there will be old faces that will be missed and new faces to learn and build relationships with. C’est la vie.

Glad to hear re the academics and school standing.

[Anonymous]

Has there been any additional communication regarding the LS director's departure?

Curious if Holton meets with families before/after these announcements go out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to add that most parents who seem wholly oblivious and tell you to "talk to other parents and the school" are mostly not involved in the issues causing discontent. It is mainly the Black parents that are affected. So unless a parent associates closely with Black parents, they are probably unaware.

Yes, Holton parent here. This is mostly true. We’re not expecting any change in academics or school standing. If anything, there will be old faces that will be missed and new faces to learn and build relationships with. C’est la vie.

This "c'est la vie" attitude is why people will leave. Neither the HOS nor the Board care about the concerns of families (mostly families of color) and we feel it very deeply. We do not feel wanted. So whoever wrote this is spot-on and very reflective of the culture at Holton right now.

It's a "take it or leave it" kind of situation and for $50k a year, many of us will leave it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I assure you that many parents will be applying out this Fall if the current HOS is still at Holton. I suspect the majority of departures will come from LS because parents won’t want to commit to so many years with the current HOS.

LS parent here. So far we've seen no exodus among students for issues like this. There was one who left due to behavioral issues, and another due to family moving, that I know of. I'm doubtful there will be some mass exodus next year, based on my discussions with various LS parents. They rarely talk about the HOS at all. It's usually about teachers, sports, or other activities -- the very same topics they talked about when the previous HOS was there.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There were complaints with the prior HOS. There were departures. This happens at all schools. Sometimes the HOS is there too long. Sometimes the new one is too much of a departure from the old. I've lived through many a head of schools at Holton and other schools. If you are a prospective family and you have concerns, call the school and ask questions. The MS person leaving would have happened had the prior HOS still been there. The head of DEI said she was leaving no matter who came in after her. It always was her plan. That was no surprise. I don't know why the LS director left. Maybe she has a son and wants to be where her son is in school. I don't know. But, there are valid reasons why people leave that have nothing to do with the HOS. If you don't like the HOS, that's fine. But not everyone liked the prior one either. It's just the way that it is. I can't stand the head of school at my other kid's school, but I don't see him doing any harm.

This is not a Holton parent. The DEI director was not planning on leaving. In fact, she's broken up about it. And the LS head has a girl kid enrolled at Holton.

Lies. Lies. Lies.

[Anonymous]

Honestly y'all...

I think it's time we took a stand and did what is right for our daughters. Holton has been going down the path of Wokeism for too long with Susanna, and Penny is nothing more than a punching bag- she might appear ready to help correct the course but she will buckle under pressure and give in to what the Radiacal Left parents want- we saw this clearly with the communications on the terrible attacks against Israel.

I personally will be pulling my DD out of school. I have decided it will be better if she stays at home and learns TRUE FEMININE values like sewing and piano. We will hire a governess who is NOT woke and recognizes the beauty in the feminine divine as appointed to us by GOD. I can only hope that other parents follow my lead so we can hopefully bring an end to the Radical Woke Left taking over our schools and our daughters' minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I assure you that many parents will be applying out this Fall if the current HOS is still at Holton. I suspect the majority of departures will come from LS because parents won’t want to commit to so many years with the current HOS.

LS parent here. So far we've seen no exodus among students for issues like this. There was one who left due to behavioral issues, and another due to family moving, that I know of. I'm doubtful there will be some mass exodus next year, based on my discussions with various LS parents. They rarely talk about the HOS at all. It's usually about teachers, sports, or other activities -- the very same topics they talked about when the previous HOS was there.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There were complaints with the prior HOS. There were departures. This happens at all schools. Sometimes the HOS is there too long. Sometimes the new one is too much of a departure from the old. I've lived through many a head of schools at Holton and other schools. If you are a prospective family and you have concerns, call the school and ask questions. The MS person leaving would have happened had the prior HOS still been there. The head of DEI said she was leaving no matter who came in after her. It always was her plan. That was no surprise. I don't know why the LS director left. Maybe she has a son and wants to be where her son is in school. I don't know. But, there are valid reasons why people leave that have nothing to do with the HOS. If you don't like the HOS, that's fine. But not everyone liked the prior one either. It's just the way that it is. I can't stand the head of school at my other kid's school, but I don't see him doing any harm.

This is not a Holton parent. The DEI director was not planning on leaving. In fact, she's broken up about it. And the LS head has a girl kid enrolled at Holton.

Lies. Lies. Lies.

I'm not part of the anti-Penny brigade (personally I think she deserves more time to prove herself), but the assertion that the DEI head planned to leave runs contrary to what she's shared with many people.

[Anonymous]

Why does every Holton thread turn into drama...if this is the kind of culture /environment that our girls will face at school because of these parents...yikes...