teachers leaving Wootton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard they are hiring some assistant principals with high school admin experience in MCPS. That should be helpful.

What!?

Ms. Vermillion was hired. She transferred from a local MCPS high school. So that is one admin with prior MCPS high school admin experience.

Like I said, good luck to all the staff still there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the OP of this thread. Interesting that DS turned out to have accurate info. He said he was told by a teacher who was among those leaving. Sadly, his beloved counselor has now also left. She was amazing! I think he’s more bothered by this loss then the others as he’s a rising senior and didn’t expect it.

The new principal is excellent so I’m surprised so many chose to leave. It probably didn’t help that they waited so long to make the announcement.

Did that many people leave because of the uncertainty of not knowing who the new principal would be?

I have no idea but I suspect that could have been a factor. Things were a mess under the old principal who was replaced with an interim principal Dr Bostic. I assume most staff gave notice without knowing the interim principal would be made permanent.

Many staff are unhappy with Dr. Bostic - there’s a lot of talk that isn’t backed up by action. The union was heavily involved this spring to try to mediate. Examples: 1. Spring testing and AP exams were a significant problem, with nothing done to adjust and make it better even though teachers and department chairs gave many suggestions. 2. Teachers were not told what they would be teaching next year until the last day of school. At that point in the year, many positions at other schools were already posted and filled, leaving little time to make moves if teachers were unhappy with what courses they were given.

This post rings true. I previously worked with Bostic. He is a nice guy but he wants to be liked by everyone so he says yes to everything but then never follows up with what he promised or agreed to. He is also very good with promoting himself to central office. He has ambitious and lofty goals but the hard work of actually getting things done is sometimes lacking.

+1. He dresses well and talks a good talk, but imo, he lacks substance.

I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion, but Mr. Nelson was down to earth and there were things he could improved on, I feel he was the lesser of the two evils.

It is truly says that Wootton lost many good teachers and counselors.

[Anonymous]

Now it looks like they need a new head of security. This is in addition to some other openings.

I know it is a great deal of turnover in one year, but with change comes the potential for growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the OP of this thread. Interesting that DS turned out to have accurate info. He said he was told by a teacher who was among those leaving. Sadly, his beloved counselor has now also left. She was amazing! I think he’s more bothered by this loss then the others as he’s a rising senior and didn’t expect it.

The new principal is excellent so I’m surprised so many chose to leave. It probably didn’t help that they waited so long to make the announcement.

Did that many people leave because of the uncertainty of not knowing who the new principal would be?

I have no idea but I suspect that could have been a factor. Things were a mess under the old principal who was replaced with an interim principal Dr Bostic. I assume most staff gave notice without knowing the interim principal would be made permanent.

Many staff are unhappy with Dr. Bostic - there’s a lot of talk that isn’t backed up by action. The union was heavily involved this spring to try to mediate. Examples: 1. Spring testing and AP exams were a significant problem, with nothing done to adjust and make it better even though teachers and department chairs gave many suggestions. 2. Teachers were not told what they would be teaching next year until the last day of school. At that point in the year, many positions at other schools were already posted and filled, leaving little time to make moves if teachers were unhappy with what courses they were given.

This post rings true. I previously worked with Bostic. He is a nice guy but he wants to be liked by everyone so he says yes to everything but then never follows up with what he promised or agreed to. He is also very good with promoting himself to central office. He has ambitious and lofty goals but the hard work of actually getting things done is sometimes lacking.

I am sorry to hear that because we had such a good experience with him at Northwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now it looks like they need a new head of security. This is in addition to some other openings.

I know it is a great deal of turnover in one year, but with change comes the potential for growth.

What happened to the head of security? With all the shenanigans going on in schools and no SROs, this position is pretty important.

[Anonymous]

Wow. And now they need to hire teachers for AP Calc and AP Chem this late in the summer…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS came home and told me that dozens of teachers are leaving Wootton at the end of semester. I always expect a few transfers and retirements but it sounds like this goes way beyond. Any parents or staff members know whether this rumor is true and why? I’m worried as we have had so many wonderful teachers that we’d hate to lose.

And counselors leaving? What's going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home and told me that dozens of teachers are leaving Wootton at the end of semester. I always expect a few transfers and retirements but it sounds like this goes way beyond. Any parents or staff members know whether this rumor is true and why? I’m worried as we have had so many wonderful teachers that we’d hate to lose.

And counselors leaving? What's going on?

Not leaving. 5 counselors left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home and told me that dozens of teachers are leaving Wootton at the end of semester. I always expect a few transfers and retirements but it sounds like this goes way beyond. Any parents or staff members know whether this rumor is true and why? I’m worried as we have had so many wonderful teachers that we’d hate to lose.

And counselors leaving? What's going on?

Not leaving. 5 counselors left.

to be clear, 5 counselors left Wootton (including resource counselor) and 3 counselors are staying.

on positive note, Dr. Ponce, the new resource counselor, has great experience and spearheaded another MCPS school to Ramp certification with ASCA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home and told me that dozens of teachers are leaving Wootton at the end of semester. I always expect a few transfers and retirements but it sounds like this goes way beyond. Any parents or staff members know whether this rumor is true and why? I’m worried as we have had so many wonderful teachers that we’d hate to lose.

And counselors leaving? What's going on?

Not leaving. 5 counselors left.

I hope one was my daughter's but I guess I would have gotten an email. She is AWFUL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be curious to know why they're leaving.

Is it:

1) General exodus from fatigue with the teaching profession or MCPS shenanigans in general

2) Out of support for Doug Nelson who was ousted earlier this year

3) Out of concern for the continued leadership uncertainly with the principal search just being announced

Re: #2 why and what happened? Was he also ousted from Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS years ago?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home and told me that dozens of teachers are leaving Wootton at the end of semester. I always expect a few transfers and retirements but it sounds like this goes way beyond. Any parents or staff members know whether this rumor is true and why? I’m worried as we have had so many wonderful teachers that we’d hate to lose.

And counselors leaving? What's going on?

Not leaving. 5 counselors left.

I hope one was my daughter's but I guess I would have gotten an email. She is AWFUL

No emails about new counselor except for RC and that went out today. You will only find out if she is leaving if you reach out to her and get an automatic email. Or check the staff directory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be curious to know why they're leaving.

Is it:

1) General exodus from fatigue with the teaching profession or MCPS shenanigans in general

2) Out of support for Doug Nelson who was ousted earlier this year

3) Out of concern for the continued leadership uncertainly with the principal search just being announced

Re: #2 why and what happened? Was he also ousted from Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS years ago?

He became Wootton’s principal 3 years ago. Last school year he was put on leave for mishandling racist issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS came home and told me that dozens of teachers are leaving Wootton at the end of semester. I always expect a few transfers and retirements but it sounds like this goes way beyond. Any parents or staff members know whether this rumor is true and why? I’m worried as we have had so many wonderful teachers that we’d hate to lose.

And counselors leaving? What's going on?

Not leaving. 5 counselors left.

to be clear, 5 counselors left Wootton (including resource counselor) and 3 counselors are staying.

on positive note, Dr. Ponce, the new resource counselor, has great experience and spearheaded another MCPS school to Ramp certification with ASCA.

Did Dr. Ponce just come from Edison? She was at Northwood before that. She knows Dr. Bostic from Northwood. She’s ok but nothing great. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be curious to know why they're leaving.

Is it:

1) General exodus from fatigue with the teaching profession or MCPS shenanigans in general

2) Out of support for Doug Nelson who was ousted earlier this year

3) Out of concern for the continued leadership uncertainly with the principal search just being announced

Re: #2 why and what happened? Was he also ousted from Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS years ago?

He became Wootton’s principal 3 years ago. Last school year he was put on leave for mishandling racist issues.

Seems like they fired him for being White and replaced him with a black principal. It would be interesting to see if Nelson files a lawsuit against the school district if he felt it was anti White for them to put him on leave.