Teachers—Anyone switch from ACPS to FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers teach, not buildings!

Spoken like someone who's never been a teacher. Anyone who's ever worked in a rundown school can tell you how false this statement is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ACPS is improving the pay scales, they may not be giving a “step increase” this year but due to improvement in scales, they will be giving increase almost equivalent to a step increase. I don’t like this about teachers, they never bother to understand the complete message and just start protesting, whining based on incomplete understanding.

Not a teacher, but “almost equivalent to a step increase” sounds like a worse scenario than receiving a step increase. Why do you think teachers should be okay with this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers teach, not buildings!

Spoken like someone who's never been a teacher. Anyone who's ever worked in a rundown school can tell you how false this statement is.

Poll: Two-thirds say they'd pay higher taxes to increase teachers' salaries[/quote]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/390283-poll-two-thirds-say-theyd-pay-higher-taxes-to-increase-teachers

We are going to fix ACPS schools too. We all agree it is past time. Heaven knows where our past City Council members were on this important matter. Ask them all, whenever you see them around town. It's not the citizens fault. Many of us spoke up over and over again for ACPS, it's facilities, and it's academic rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ACPS is improving the pay scales, they may not be giving a “step increase” this year but due to improvement in scales, they will be giving increase almost equivalent to a step increase. I don’t like this about teachers, they never bother to understand the complete message and just start protesting, whining based on incomplete understanding.

Not a teacher, but “almost equivalent to a step increase” sounds like a worse scenario than receiving a step increase. Why do you think teachers should be okay with this?

Totally agreed, PP. I think the FP is completely off track. I got someone to send me the message teachers received. It is as clear as mud. I tried to find it on the website (to post a link) but could not. Teachers should be angry. They are getting the run around again and they are not getting the amounts they expected and are counting on. As much as we want them to stay in Alexandria, I honestly don't know why do when they are treated so poorly.

[Anonymous]

Pp—Please copy/paste the contents of the message you had someone forward to you so that folks can see it for themselves. I received the message and found it’s quite clear and not at all open to interpretation.

[Anonymous]

Helen why don't you post the message yourself since you think it is so clear? I'll verify it against what I received. Yes I'm calling you out and calling you untruthful. Probably why I can't find it on the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ACPS is improving the pay scales, they may not be giving a “step increase” this year but due to improvement in scales, they will be giving increase almost equivalent to a step increase. I don’t like this about teachers, they never bother to understand the complete message and just start protesting, whining based on incomplete understanding.

Perhaps it is you who don't understand what this means to a teacher in the system.

Let's assume that SY1718 Step 1 is 10,000 and Step 2 is 11,000 and Step 3 is 12,000

Let's now say that for SY1819 School Board has increased the pay scale so that Step 1 is 11,000, Step 2 is 12,000, Step 3 is 13,000 etc. And as part of this they freeze your step for this year.

So a teacher who was Step 1 and expected to go to Step 2 (and get paid 11k) will now stay at Step 1 (and still get paid 11k) for the next year.

So what you say? Well, a teacher that comes into the system will be paid (and placed in the step) relative to their years of experience.

So if you are in ACPS and have 2 years of experience, you will be frozen at step 2 for year 3. Whereas a person with 2 years coming in for their 3rd year will be at Step 3 for year 3.

Policy becomes a hiring incentive and not a retention incentive. Shows current teachers where the SB's care and motivation lies. Not with current employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ACPS is improving the pay scales, they may not be giving a “step increase” this year but due to improvement in scales, they will be giving increase almost equivalent to a step increase. I don’t like this about teachers, they never bother to understand the complete message and just start protesting, whining based on incomplete understanding.

Perhaps it is you who don't understand what this means to a teacher in the system.

Let's assume that SY1718 Step 1 is 10,000 and Step 2 is 11,000 and Step 3 is 12,000

Let's now say that for SY1819 School Board has increased the pay scale so that Step 1 is 11,000, Step 2 is 12,000, Step 3 is 13,000 etc. And as part of this they freeze your step for this year.

So a teacher who was Step 1 and expected to go to Step 2 (and get paid 11k) will now stay at Step 1 (and still get paid 11k) for the next year.

So what you say? Well, a teacher that comes into the system will be paid (and placed in the step) relative to their years of experience.

So if you are in ACPS and have 2 years of experience, you will be frozen at step 2 for year 3. Whereas a person with 2 years coming in for their 3rd year will be at Step 3 for year 3.

Policy becomes a hiring incentive and not a retention incentive. Shows current teachers where the SB's care and motivation lies. Not with current employees.

Very well said, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers teach, not buildings!

Spoken like someone who's never been a teacher. Anyone who's ever worked in a rundown school can tell you how false this statement is.

UPDATE 10:43 am – Caller question on salary increases for teachers in Virginia. Northam says his wife is an educator and that he teaches too, that they’re big advocates for education. “Our current budget…if we can get it passed today has a 3% raise for teachers.” Teachers in Virginia making $9,200 less than the national average – “we have to pay them.”

http://bluevirginia.us/2018/05/video-live-blog-gov-ralph-northam-on-wtops-ask-the-governor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers teach, not buildings!

Spoken like someone who's never been a teacher. Anyone who's ever worked in a rundown school can tell you how false this statement is.

We are significantly increasing funding to K-12 education. In addition to completely funding the biennial “rebenchmarking” ($481 million), we have approved the state share of a 3% salary increase for school positions, effective July 1, 2019, assuming we hit revenue targets. Several pilot and innovative initiatives have been funded. For example, Wolftrap’s early education program in the arts is being expanded into various parts of the state.

Virginia State Sen. Janet Howell Highlights “by far the best budget we have produced in decades”
By lowkell - June 2, 2018 241
http://bluevirginia.us/2018/06/virginia-state-sen-janet-howell-highlights-by-far-the-best-budget-we-have-produced-in-decades

[Anonymous]

That is good news for teachers. It should be more but it is what it is. Virginia teachers (aggregate, so not just NoVA) are the 38th worst paid in the country. This should help nudge Virginia teachers up a bit.

[Anonymous]

I have taught in both Alexandria and Arlington. Never even considered Fairfax because it's known that you will not get raises. Not only does Arlington pay better than ACPS, I have found the administration to be much more supportive, and does not ask for crazy amounts of data that they will never do anything with. APS all the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have taught in both Alexandria and Arlington. Never even considered Fairfax because it's known that you will not get raises. Not only does Arlington pay better than ACPS, I have found the administration to be much more supportive, and does not ask for crazy amounts of data that they will never do anything with. APS all the way.

Arlington has better benefits too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is good news for teachers. It should be more but it is what it is. Virginia teachers (aggregate, so not just NoVA) are the 38th worst paid in the country. This should help nudge Virginia teachers up a bit.

Although thinking about it, I betcha anything that the reason why ACPS didn't give a step or even the equivalent in $ is because they are counting on the state's 3%. Cheap b*st*rds. So Alexandria teachers keep falling further and further behind.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, which is APS and which is ACPS?
And how does Loudon compare to these salaries? I’m considering becoming a teacher, and can move to where I get a job,