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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
demoralized in MCPS
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Anonymous
It would be nice to entirely restructure teacher training to the multi year system some European countries have. Almost like the old medieval apprentice-journeyman-master arc with only team teaching for the first few years. I’d also like to see colleges require an extra semester so graduation is in Dec, giving grads the entire spring to sub in local districts and gain classroom management experience and feedback from principals. The extra semester could be spent on learning how to communicate with high conflict parents, working with children are in poverty or experiencing other traumas, how to be an effective teacher with students on the spectrum, etc. Too often these topics are two sessions in a hodgepodge seminar. |
Anonymous
Yes, it takes courage to leave a place run by inefficient administrators who choose not to see the reality of what’s going on. We apply to job fairs, invest time and energy to transfer to a good fit where we will be appreciated or merely left alone to do our job to the best of our ability. We are happy with the new place until there’s a new administrator and things change dramatically. There are several of us, underrepresented minorities, who are looked down and criticized for every little thing by our peers while administrators choose not to notice or interfere. One such example is something that happened to me recently. A parent heard how two teachers were caught laughing and saying how I had finally found my niche. It was late in the evening and I was helping building service clean up after international night. The parent who heard these words and much more was so shocked that she told me she would take time from work the next day and report what she heard to the principal. Three weeks have passed and no word has been said to me by administrator. So as students are being told to accept differences and embrace diversity, a different racial value system is luring on those of us who are considered “other”. |
Anonymous
Kick it up the chain. Ask the parent to email Jack Smith and CC you and everyone in the leadership for your cluster. I’m an AA woman. Over the course of almost 17 years, I’ve dealt with a fair amount of BS in MCPS, including incompetent admins and constant infighting in departments. I’ve dealt with racist parents and students. But if I was dealing with racism from colleagues, the folks at Central Office would know me by first name. You have a parent witness. It doesn’t get much more powerful than that. Get off DCUM and make some noise where it counts. |
Anonymous
| Well us white folks are singled out with borderline harrassment as well if we are the minority race at our schools too. Maybe it's not so much racism but a culture of disrespect and power tripping with racial bias undertones. Either way, accountability of admin would be helpful. If the climate sux how about treating admin like they treat teachers who have tough impulse crazy kids. Fire them. Bully them. Letem know the taste of their medicine. Teachers don't grow on trees. |
Anonymous
| Not to minimize the racial bias piece, but as a white woman who got absolutely demolished by a white mid level supervisor, I can tell you that a.) some people are rotten to their core and b.) some admin won’t risk the ire of the person causing harm. Or maybe the bully kisses up and kicks down and the principal doesn’t know who to believe. But I think they know when it’s as bad as what I experienced. Anyway, I got out. It was a no-brainer. Still think about the mistreatment all of the time though. The more time that passes, in fact, the more it sinks in how outrageous and illegal it all was. But I had zero support and was too depressed by that to take action. Basically decided the best revenge is living well and moving on. I’ve fared far better than the person who kicked the sh*t out of me. They’re still in that same mid level position and acting petty and miserable to new victims. I don’t feel angry, but I’m sad that I allowed myself to suffer for so long. I totally understand now why it takes harassment victims years to come forward. So much misplaced shame. |
Anonymous
Except we kinda do. Yes, we have a teacher shortage, but fresh bodies are also a renewable resource. Every year, state universities will unleash a flood of 22 year education majors. States will authorize alt-cert programs that bring on career-changers like myself. No one is really worried that the well will run dry. |
Anonymous
Have you looked at the stats? I don't believe you have b/c your tone is too casual. The teacher shortage is an epidemic. I, too, am a career-changer, but I've also put in over 20 years. I'm wiling to bet you haven't been in long enough to experience the destruction. And yes, destruction is an entirely appropriate word. I was a student when Greenblatt and Ewing were on the BOE. At that time, Harry Pitt was the deputy superintendent. I've been "ruled" by three superintendents: Weast, Starr, and now this self-serving teacher-hater, Smith. In other words, I've seen a lot. "Fresh bodies" - I've worked with my share - USED to stay. They were given practical support b/c there was time to actually plan with our colleagues for our own students. Unhealthy environments are revolving doors. I have friends in central (I was there as well.) who cannot believe how many teachers are leaving NOW - before we even hit mid-year. Look up careers to see the number of LT sub positions advertised. I'll end it with this analogy. A healthy relationship (married or not - platonic or friendly) has its ups and downs but it lasts. MCPS is abusive, and as such, "partners" come and go. The smart ones leave, or they try to find a niche in another school. Many soon learn, however, that every school is basically the same. You're either being beaten down by kids - who have more rights than you do - or by administrators who are too stupid (maybe too self-serving?) and fearful to stand up for what's right. I've coached a few young teachers out, and today, they're much better off. My own children know I won't pay for college if they study education. I am NOT the only one who feels this way. |
Anonymous
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Dear Teachers,
I’m so sorry. I’ve grown concerned over how MCPS has been headed lately. Now after reading through this, I’m afraid we parents (and voters!) have been asleep at the switch. How do we get better candidates on the ballet that teachers like? What is your opinion on the Apple Ballot? Thank you to the many teachers who have taught my kids for never letting an ounce of this despair show in the classroom. But we need to know what’s going on to help you! ~ Concerned Parent |
Anonymous
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Did anyone else see the proposed salary scale for 2021? Teacher salaries for teachers mid career and higher will decrease. We will be bullied into accepting it like the year we gave up our steps and we’re promised no new initiatives until our steps were restored. That was a bald faced lie. There is no way in hell we should accept that. Oh, and the administrators will get raises!
Pay attention and get involved. Don’t let MCEA scare you into believing that if we don’t accept this then we could end up with even less. This is MCPS culture at its worst. And it’s very clear that they view teachers as sheep. Even the people we pay a crapload of money to every month to “work in our best interests”. MCEA leadership should be ashamed of the way they “stand up” for teachers. |
Anonymous
| ^^^*were* |
Anonymous
I’m sorry, is that a typo? Salary DECREASES FOR SENIOR TEACHERS? Parents are begging for more senior teachers!!!! |
Anonymous
Not a typo. |
Anonymous
Sorry, that wasn’t a typo but “bald faced lie” was. I was going for “bold faced lie”, but autocorrect struck again. I guess either one could work in this case though. |
Anonymous
Where can we find the proposed 2021 salary schedule? |
Anonymous
This is hard to believe so much so that I think it's not true. |