Bit of a rant:Concern about new pool of MCPS subs (from a teacher)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree mcps needs to focus on teachers. Every year, there's some numbers assigned, and schools have to cut positions. 2 months later, when the numbers are back up, the teachers are assigned back. Meanwhile, the teacher who is familiar with the school, the students, the system at the school, Etc has already left to go to other schools. The teachers are treated like widgets, not the professionals they are. They get moved around here there and everywhere, sometimes PT at 2-3 places. mcps treats its greatest asset, teachers, like crap. That needs to change.

+1 There's a disconnect between teachers and the administrators who treat teachers unequally and like pawns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the alternative? There aren't enough people willing to be subs. Raising sub pay? I am asking sincerely.

No one's looking at the root causes.

I told my own two children that if they even thought about teaching, we weren't paying for their college.

I'm very qualified, and I'm also very successful in this profession. However, after 20+ years, I have enough experience to get me through anything. And I've outlasted many principals.

Unfortunately, the smart teachers leave w/in five years, and I don't blame them. They are not prepared for what faces them in the classroom. You can't be afraid of gang members. You have to get used to being the cause of every issue in your classroom. (We don't place onus on the students.) Don't expect your administration to treat you well. In fact, if you're successful, you get punished. tough kids? Give them to So and So. She can handle it. academics? lol - "Earning" an A is different from being GIVEN an A.

We lie about education, and therefore, newbies who enter are disillusioned. No amount of mentoring can stop someone from leaving.

So if teachers don't stay, how can you recruit qualified subs?

Two years ago, when my own daughter was in MS, a kid popped off on a day the class had a sub. He threatened to shoot his classmates and the sub. Guess what? The sub was fired b/c clearly he couldn't "handle the class."

I know - unbelievable. And that kid who popped is still acting up to this day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea: can MCPS start banning teachers from taking the day off right before or after a holiday? This was the policy when I taught for a private school for much less money. I fully support treating teachers like the valued professionals they are, but we can't expect students to be in school before and after holidays if we don't hold teachers responsible for being there. Of course, a doctor's note is a valid reason to be out on these popular days. Perhaps an exception can also be made for faculty who come from abroad and have their only opportunity for a home visit.

We have sick days and I will use them whenever I want. Talk about not treating teachers like professionals! I bet nobody tells my friends working office jobs that they can't take Fridays off. Admins get paid the big bucks and one of the reasons is that they have to figure out coverage. Not my problem.

Ignore the idiot. That person will NEVER understand.

I'm just glad I'm in the system with my own kids. That way I can keep track of their education. Parents are clueless, and while I know it's not their fault, I do question how often they actually TALK to their kids instead of talking AT them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am interested in subbing (and highly qualified), but would only be available on Fridays, due to other commitments Mon-Thursday. Should I apply?

There will definitely be job openings on Friday, I can tell you that

If you decide to schedule your other commitments T-Th, you'll be guaranteed jobs each M and F!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a sub can be a brutal job. They can be pulled in so many directions in a given day. Even wheN I fill in for a staff member for one period, I have had so many problems with student behaviors, bad or nonexistent lesson plans, or students that dont speak any English. It is very easy to get confused quickly, unless the teacher is organized.

At the same time, subs can be very low quality. One sub recently put two dvd discs into my computer at the same time in one drive and broke my computer.

Ding, ding, ding!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the alternative? There aren't enough people willing to be subs. Raising sub pay? I am asking sincerely.

No one's looking at the root causes.

I told my own two children that if they even thought about teaching, we weren't paying for their college.

I'm very qualified, and I'm also very successful in this profession. However, after 20+ years, I have enough experience to get me through anything. And I've outlasted many principals.

Unfortunately, the smart teachers leave w/in five years, and I don't blame them. They are not prepared for what faces them in the classroom. You can't be afraid of gang members. You have to get used to being the cause of every issue in your classroom. (We don't place onus on the students.) Don't expect your administration to treat you well. In fact, if you're successful, you get punished. tough kids? Give them to So and So. She can handle it. academics? lol - "Earning" an A is different from being GIVEN an A.

We lie about education, and therefore, newbies who enter are disillusioned. No amount of mentoring can stop someone from leaving.

So if teachers don't stay, how can you recruit qualified subs?

Two years ago, when my own daughter was in MS, a kid popped off on a day the class had a sub. He threatened to shoot his classmates and the sub. Guess what? The sub was fired b/c clearly he couldn't "handle the class."

I know - unbelievable. And that kid who popped is still acting up to this day.

Disruptive kids are tolerated in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

I will never make over $100k teaching. Where is this?

[Anonymous]

I am a highly qualified SAHM who was very involved with the PTA. I was asked multiple times by the school to consider being a sub or a teacher. I have a bazillion credits in Math and Comp Sci. My polite answer was "Hell, NO"!!!

The kind of disrespect shown to teachers, the utter disruption and lawlessness in the classroom by handful of students and the constant stress that teachers are under was worse than anything I had seen in my years in the corporate world. The administration cannot remove these students and they are basically slaves to what central office wants.

Unless you are poorly educated and are in dire need of money, no one should be working as a sub in this school system. Alternatively, if you DNGAF and can put on headphones and do Soduku and take the $100 at the end of the day, this is the perfect gig for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will never make over $100k teaching. Where is this?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/ersc/employees/pay/schedules/salary_schedule_current.pdf

You need at least 15 years experience depending on your degree, leadership roles in the school, National Board certification, after school roles, etc. But you have a good chance of 100k after 20 years in the system as long as you are full time and have been taking courses to keep up your certification.



DC public schools is a bit higher if you are interested in that direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am interested in subbing (and highly qualified), but would only be available on Fridays, due to other commitments Mon-Thursday. Should I apply?

There will definitely be job openings on Friday, I can tell you that

If you decide to schedule your other commitments T-Th, you'll be guaranteed jobs each M and F!

Not PP, but sent my resume, I have BA, can follow a lesson plan and haven't heard from anybody. I'm in DC though and thought they are short of subs also.
I really want to sub math at elementary level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am interested in subbing (and highly qualified), but would only be available on Fridays, due to other commitments Mon-Thursday. Should I apply?

There will definitely be job openings on Friday, I can tell you that

If you decide to schedule your other commitments T-Th, you'll be guaranteed jobs each M and F!

Not PP, but sent my resume, I have BA, can follow a lesson plan and haven't heard from anybody. I'm in DC though and thought they are short of subs also.
I really want to sub math at elementary level.

At the elementary level you wouldn't just be subbing for math. You would be subbing for the whole day. You might luck in to a grade level that is departmentalized at a certain school, but you can't specify subjects you want to teach at the elementary level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Phd in the humanities and an undergraduate degree in French plus 10 years 10 experience teaching (overseas during grad school and adjuncting at the university level). I could teach English history and French and actually teach those subjects but I'm afraid of behavior issues in high schools. My youngest kid will be in school full-time this year for the first time and I've toyed with the idea of subbing. What is it like at Whitman? What about Pyle? I'd only be looking at schools fairly close to me (western side of the county). Can any teachers weigh in?

+1 but my Phd is in math. I've taught at the college level. I've never had an interest in being in the school systems full time because there seems to be too much time spent on other activities rather than actually teaching and helping students understand the material. With my kids now in school, I'd be willing to pick up a few days here and there.

What does "certified" and "non certified" entail? I don't have an education degree or state teaching license.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Phd in the humanities and an undergraduate degree in French plus 10 years 10 experience teaching (overseas during grad school and adjuncting at the university level). I could teach English history and French and actually teach those subjects but I'm afraid of behavior issues in high schools. My youngest kid will be in school full-time this year for the first time and I've toyed with the idea of subbing. What is it like at Whitman? What about Pyle? I'd only be looking at schools fairly close to me (western side of the county). Can any teachers weigh in?

+1 but my Phd is in math. I've taught at the college level. I've never had an interest in being in the school systems full time because there seems to be too much time spent on other activities rather than actually teaching and helping students understand the material. With my kids now in school, I'd be willing to pick up a few days here and there.

What does "certified" and "non certified" entail? I don't have an education degree or state teaching license.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/personnel/certification/newhires/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Phd in the humanities and an undergraduate degree in French plus 10 years 10 experience teaching (overseas during grad school and adjuncting at the university level). I could teach English history and French and actually teach those subjects but I'm afraid of behavior issues in high schools. My youngest kid will be in school full-time this year for the first time and I've toyed with the idea of subbing. What is it like at Whitman? What about Pyle? I'd only be looking at schools fairly close to me (western side of the county). Can any teachers weigh in?

+1 but my Phd is in math. I've taught at the college level. I've never had an interest in being in the school systems full time because there seems to be too much time spent on other activities rather than actually teaching and helping students understand the material. With my kids now in school, I'd be willing to pick up a few days here and there.

What does "certified" and "non certified" entail? I don't have an education degree or state teaching license.

This is going to sound mean, but no one cares about your PhD. They want a warm body & someone who can control kids. So you think you'll be teaching as a sub?

Answer is - nope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will never make over $100k teaching. Where is this?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/ersc/employees/pay/schedules/salary_schedule_current.pdf

You need at least 15 years experience depending on your degree, leadership roles in the school, National Board certification, after school roles, etc. But you have a good chance of 100k after 20 years in the system as long as you are full time and have been taking courses to keep up your certification.



DC public schools is a bit higher if you are interested in that direction.

That is much more effort than required of other professionals with similar education and experience.