Treatment of New Special Ed teachers hired by MCPS

[Anonymous]

I'm not usually an MCPS apologist, but doesn't this sound like an issue on the part of the intermediary organization, not MCPS itself?

There's some contracting company in the middle, I assume, and it was their decision not to allow shipping and their decision not to provide sheets.

Maybe we figure out who they are rather than blaming the school district?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not usually an MCPS apologist, but doesn't this sound like an issue on the part of the intermediary organization, not MCPS itself?

There's some contracting company in the middle, I assume, and it was their decision not to allow shipping and their decision not to provide sheets.

Maybe we figure out who they are rather than blaming the school district?

Sure, but we love to find fault and complain about all things MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not usually an MCPS apologist, but doesn't this sound like an issue on the part of the intermediary organization, not MCPS itself?

There's some contracting company in the middle, I assume, and it was their decision not to allow shipping and their decision not to provide sheets.

Maybe we figure out who they are rather than blaming the school district?

It is the contract they signed.

It is on MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not usually an MCPS apologist, but doesn't this sound like an issue on the part of the intermediary organization, not MCPS itself?

There's some contracting company in the middle, I assume, and it was their decision not to allow shipping and their decision not to provide sheets.

Maybe we figure out who they are rather than blaming the school district?

It is the contract they signed.

It is on MCPS.

MPCS is the employer. They are ultimately sponsoring the visas and responsible for these employees. Sure, if they hired a horrible third party agency then they bear responsibility as well, but ultimately the school district is holding the bag here. They should have selected a more reputable agency, or done more due diligence. If the teachers are in training with MCPS and other educators are aware of and crowdsourcing basic household items for them, the district is aware of the issue and bears some responsibility. At a minimum they should be working with the agency to handle this for the teachers and not turning a blind eye while the community, teachers, and parents try to rely on charity and donations to provide these folks with the basics. God knows they waste enough money, if they can find millions for DEI surveys they should be able to give each of
these teachers a thousand dollar relocation allowance and charter a bus to IKEA.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. Well they are adults that signed a contract they will have to figure it out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. Well they are adults that signed a contract they will have to figure it out

BOE members are adults? How do they continually sign off on contracts without terms?

[Anonymous]

Give them$100 send them to goodwill

[Anonymous]

Yikes. This is the worst I have ever seen international teachers treated in an country.

[Anonymous]

Washington Post, MOCO360 and "Local" Media - Please research and report on this allegation!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ALL teachers don't get paid until September, it takes forever to get that first paycheck, we all know this. MCPS posts pay schedules every year.

I feel for them but how is it different for anyone else who moves somewhere new for a job? Unless the company is very wealthy, they typically wouldn't pay for your furniture and living expenses?

Many American born teachers who work for MCPS can't even afford to live in the county, I don't think MCPS is doing anything for them either.

Am I missing something in your post?

I'm an American teacher who has spent most of my career teaching at American international schools in the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. The standard package for an international teacher is: housing provided or a housing stipend, annual flights home, global private health insurance, moving/shipping allowance that is paid upon arrival in the new country or just before new arrival, a salary that is more (sometimes much, much more) than what the teacher would receive if staying in home country, and more. Australia, which is also experiencing a teacher shortage like the US, has begun trying to target the international US/UK teachers, and in some public school districts is matching the standard international school package.

I am sure these teachers from the Philippines arriving in the DMV are not receiving anything near what a US/UK international teacher would be getting. It's exploitation.

Also, I have worked with teachers from the Philippines, and their training and preparation was not always suitable for working with US/European kids and culture. They will need a lot of support to make a smooth, successful transition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. This is the worst I have ever seen international teachers treated in an country.

Yep. Literally treated worse than migrant farm labor. Better paid, but worse treatment. Piss poor welcome from MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ALL teachers don't get paid until September, it takes forever to get that first paycheck, we all know this. MCPS posts pay schedules every year.

I feel for them but how is it different for anyone else who moves somewhere new for a job? Unless the company is very wealthy, they typically wouldn't pay for your furniture and living expenses?

Many American born teachers who work for MCPS can't even afford to live in the county, I don't think MCPS is doing anything for them either.

Am I missing something in your post?

I'm an American teacher who has spent most of my career teaching at American international schools in the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. The standard package for an international teacher is: housing provided or a housing stipend, annual flights home, global private health insurance, moving/shipping allowance that is paid upon arrival in the new country or just before new arrival, a salary that is more (sometimes much, much more) than what the teacher would receive if staying in home country, and more. Australia, which is also experiencing a teacher shortage like the US, has begun trying to target the international US/UK teachers, and in some public school districts is matching the standard international school package.

I am sure these teachers from the Philippines arriving in the DMV are not receiving anything near what a US/UK international teacher would be getting. It's exploitation.

Also, I have worked with teachers from the Philippines, and their training and preparation was not always suitable for working with US/European kids and culture. They will need a lot of support to make a smooth, successful transition.

Would you recommend this to a teacher about to retire from mcps? I have a few years left and my 30 years also coincides with my youngest graduating from college. I’ll need to work but am ready to get out of mcps. I’m an elementary teacher.

[Anonymous]

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/news/mcps-news/2024/06/philippines-cultural-exchange-program-welcome

[Anonymous]

Are you all aware that MoCo has been doing this for years with life guards? Most local pool management companies rely on exploiting J-1 Visa hires for cheap labor. I’ve heard some of our visa guards ask non-visa guards not to tel their supervisor about a mistake because if they get fired they can’t pay their rent and they can’t return to their home country u til they’ve paid the debts they signed up for through their program.

People want to blame a labor shortage, but there I no shortage of private Special Ed providers. The issue is the MCPS working conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you all aware that MoCo has been doing this for years with life guards? Most local pool management companies rely on exploiting J-1 Visa hires for cheap labor. I’ve heard some of our visa guards ask non-visa guards not to tel their supervisor about a mistake because if they get fired they can’t pay their rent and they can’t return to their home country u til they’ve paid the debts they signed up for through their program.

People want to blame a labor shortage, but there I no shortage of private Special Ed providers. The issue is the MCPS working conditions.

Because there is a labor shortage.

https://www.frontlineeducation.com/blog/special-education-teacher-shortage/