teacher turnover in APS

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Don't forget rudeness from students, especially in grades 6-12. It's off the chain.

The Karens get replaced by pint-size version of themselves in middle school, lol.

Rude kids have always existed. The difference is that no one is willing to discipline them anymore. There are very little consequences for rude behavior. Admin needs to actually start imposing consequences. I feel sorry for the kids who’s education keeps getting disrupted by their classmates.

Rude kids are much more common now. Parents don't teach their kids basic manners and then side with their kids if the teacher says something about the rudeness. Parents used to respect teachers, and teach their kids to do the same.

Yes. True. But there is an entire cultural shift. So parents don’t teach their kids basic manners and schools don’t enforce consequences for the lack of manners. We can’t control parental behavior. But schools can control what they do and enforce consequences.

There is a lobbying group in Arlington now dedicated to parents rights called Arlington Parents for Education or APE. They are trying to resurrect their image now but they were awful to teachers during the pandemic and a lot of them are pro private school vouchers so teachers leaving and weakening public schools helps their agenda. They also lobbied against Covid safety and one of their priorities is return to normal. This too has caused teachers who don’t want to get infected over and over with Covid to leave.

This is a pretty twisted and inaccurate narrative. But let's not let the truth get in the way of a good smear.

We saw what we saw. Both teachers and normal non APE parents.

DP. Somebody on this forum always claims there's an APE supporter who keeps piping in. It seems to me that PP may be a singular anti-APE person who has to find an opportunity in every chain of discussion, regardless of topic, to bring up APE.

If you think there's just one anti APE person out there, think again. They alienated a whole lot of people.

But they don't keep coming here posting about it at every turn!!!

Yes, yes they do.

Exactly! Look who first brought it up on this thread.

Yes - ONE anti-APE person brought it up on this thread. THat's my whole point!!! It's the same person over and over; not a slew of different anti-APE people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

Yes, please!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never thought I’d say it, but I’m warming to the idea of vouchers. The current state of APS can’t be what’s best for kids. (Maybe it’s best for kids with no other options, but it’s hardly what’s best for anyone else.)

I loved your previous work in "I'm as liberal as they come, but," "Lifelong Democrat but," and of course "I'm not a racist, but"

lol, yes. also, "I support teachers but..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

The APE nutters went after the teachers who did speak up, contacted their principals, threatened their jobs.

And you think teachers will continue to speak out publicly about those parents after that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

or "COVID"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

Why on earth would they do that? What is the school board going to do? The fact they don't talk to the school board about this doesn't mean this isn't a serious problem for teachers. Nice try....you're probably one of those horrid parents who's just looking for ways to rationalize your entitled behavior.

The teacher complaints I've heard are far more about the APS administration and being jerked around on expectations than parent behavior, but maybe parents at your school are particularly bad. I've seen good parent-teacher interactions.

As one exception, I'll note that we have a handful of parents in SR leadership (eh hem, ventilation lady and her friends) at my school who keep trying to create drama where there is none. They like to pretend that you have to agree with them or you are anti-teacher.

It is time for you to consider that you just may be anti teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

Why on earth would they do that? What is the school board going to do? The fact they don't talk to the school board about this doesn't mean this isn't a serious problem for teachers. Nice try....you're probably one of those horrid parents who's just looking for ways to rationalize your entitled behavior.

The teacher complaints I've heard are far more about the APS administration and being jerked around on expectations than parent behavior, but maybe parents at your school are particularly bad. I've seen good parent-teacher interactions.

As one exception, I'll note that we have a handful of parents in SR leadership (eh hem, ventilation lady and her friends) at my school who keep trying to create drama where there is none. They like to pretend that you have to agree with them or you are anti-teacher.

It is time for you to consider that you just may be anti teacher.

According to SR parents anyone who doesn't have their kid wear a mask all the time is anti-teacher. You know, like 99% of families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

Why on earth would they do that? What is the school board going to do? The fact they don't talk to the school board about this doesn't mean this isn't a serious problem for teachers. Nice try....you're probably one of those horrid parents who's just looking for ways to rationalize your entitled behavior.

The teacher complaints I've heard are far more about the APS administration and being jerked around on expectations than parent behavior, but maybe parents at your school are particularly bad. I've seen good parent-teacher interactions.

As one exception, I'll note that we have a handful of parents in SR leadership (eh hem, ventilation lady and her friends) at my school who keep trying to create drama where there is none. They like to pretend that you have to agree with them or you are anti-teacher.

It is time for you to consider that you just may be anti teacher.

According to SR parents anyone who doesn't have their kid wear a mask all the time is anti-teacher. You know, like 99% of families.

You are just making stuff up and attacking. Come on. You have clearly outed yourself as an APE, this is what APE does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

The APE nutters went after the teachers who did speak up, contacted their principals, threatened their jobs.

And you think teachers will continue to speak out publicly about those parents after that?

Clearly you have made it your sole focus and mission to raise the anti-APE flag to rehash 2020-2021 in every single conversation. If you would devote half as much passion to 2023, maybe you could be effective and beneficial in addressing the current problems and moving APS forward. As long as you keep focused on 2020 and work to keep everyone divided into anti-APE or MAGA extremists, APS will keep sliding downhill without the appropriate parental/community pushback. I'm neither of those two groups - never was; but because I won't keep focusing on 2020, I'm sure you'll just decide I'm APE and therefore nothing I say or believe matters because I'm anti-teacher and anti-kid and anti-whatever. Please, please, please....give it a rest! Your life will improve!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

The APE nutters went after the teachers who did speak up, contacted their principals, threatened their jobs.

And you think teachers will continue to speak out publicly about those parents after that?

Clearly you have made it your sole focus and mission to raise the anti-APE flag to rehash 2020-2021 in every single conversation. If you would devote half as much passion to 2023, maybe you could be effective and beneficial in addressing the current problems and moving APS forward. As long as you keep focused on 2020 and work to keep everyone divided into anti-APE or MAGA extremists, APS will keep sliding downhill without the appropriate parental/community pushback. I'm neither of those two groups - never was; but because I won't keep focusing on 2020, I'm sure you'll just decide I'm APE and therefore nothing I say or believe matters because I'm anti-teacher and anti-kid and anti-whatever. Please, please, please....give it a rest! Your life will improve!

APE is unfortunately very relevant to 2023. You are correct that my life, and the lives of many others, would improve if APE would just go away. But they have not. They are more relevant than ever. Their founder is about to be on the school board, and their other leaders are taking over the APS advisory committees. APE has a vision to remake APS in their image with their values and they are executing that plan. We ignore them at our peril.

Unless in fact you agree with them, which it seems you may.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

The APE nutters went after the teachers who did speak up, contacted their principals, threatened their jobs.

And you think teachers will continue to speak out publicly about those parents after that?

Clearly you have made it your sole focus and mission to raise the anti-APE flag to rehash 2020-2021 in every single conversation. If you would devote half as much passion to 2023, maybe you could be effective and beneficial in addressing the current problems and moving APS forward. As long as you keep focused on 2020 and work to keep everyone divided into anti-APE or MAGA extremists, APS will keep sliding downhill without the appropriate parental/community pushback. I'm neither of those two groups - never was; but because I won't keep focusing on 2020, I'm sure you'll just decide I'm APE and therefore nothing I say or believe matters because I'm anti-teacher and anti-kid and anti-whatever. Please, please, please....give it a rest! Your life will improve!

APE is unfortunately very relevant to 2023. You are correct that my life, and the lives of many others, would improve if APE would just go away. But they have not. They are more relevant than ever. Their founder is about to be on the school board, and their other leaders are taking over the APS advisory committees. APE has a vision to remake APS in their image with their values and they are executing that plan. We ignore them at our peril.

Unless in fact you agree with them, which it seems you may.

What are the specific detrimental policies that are being pushed right now and how are they relevant to teacher turnover in APS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Could we please have even one post that is not about APE or Smart Restart? It is the year of our lord 2023.

We’re discussing teachers. Parental disrespect & bullying of teachers is a relevant & ongoing issue. It’s not the only factor but it surely plays a part.

Hmm funny thing. A lot of teachers speak at school board meetings. They’ve complained about Duran’s leadership, his cabinet, all the paid days off that syphax is getting, class sizes, compensation, caseloads, and so on. Not a single one has said “help us with mean parents”.

Why on earth would they do that? What is the school board going to do? The fact they don't talk to the school board about this doesn't mean this isn't a serious problem for teachers. Nice try....you're probably one of those horrid parents who's just looking for ways to rationalize your entitled behavior.

The teacher complaints I've heard are far more about the APS administration and being jerked around on expectations than parent behavior, but maybe parents at your school are particularly bad. I've seen good parent-teacher interactions.

As one exception, I'll note that we have a handful of parents in SR leadership (eh hem, ventilation lady and her friends) at my school who keep trying to create drama where there is none. They like to pretend that you have to agree with them or you are anti-teacher.

It is time for you to consider that you just may be anti teacher.

According to SR parents anyone who doesn't have their kid wear a mask all the time is anti-teacher. You know, like 99% of families.

You are just making stuff up and attacking. Come on. You have clearly outed yourself as an APE, this is what APE does.

Come one what? I consider that the APS administration is the biggest contributor to teachers leaving. I think APS leaves too much up to principals and is too disorganized in how it rolls out changes (e.g., new curricula) and requirements. It makes the whole system super inconsistent, unpredictable and haphazard. It would drive me nuts as a teacher to work in that environment. It also means that resources are spent in stupid places instead of supporting teachers in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

NP to this thread. I don't like APE but haven't complained about them in this thread before. I can see that prior APE shenanigans at school board meetings and PTA meetings has created a somewhat more hostile work environment for teachers (questioning whether they should receive shots, complaining that they weren't teaching remotely when most teachers I saw were putting in long hard hours, not giving them credit for working under difficult circumstances, generally having a "my way or the highway" attitude with teachers who are professionals with important jobs to teach our youth and not specifically your babysitters. All of that would make me question whether I belong in the system fwiw.

Also, honestly, I don't think Dr. Duran's position toward staff is great. I saw another thread about staff being allowed to work remotely and getting more paid time off than they used to get -- similar to teachers -- which doesn't really seem right to me. Teachers should have more privileges than staff. Teachers are on the front lines. That could also be causing teachers to migrate to cushier staff positions, which would not be ideal imho.

So, anyway, I have a lot of APE thoughts that aren't positive but I don't come into every DCUM thread to post them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP to this thread. I don't like APE but haven't complained about them in this thread before. I can see that prior APE shenanigans at school board meetings and PTA meetings has created a somewhat more hostile work environment for teachers (questioning whether they should receive shots, complaining that they weren't teaching remotely when most teachers I saw were putting in long hard hours, not giving them credit for working under difficult circumstances, generally having a "my way or the highway" attitude with teachers who are professionals with important jobs to teach our youth and not specifically your babysitters. All of that would make me question whether I belong in the system fwiw.

Also, honestly, I don't think Dr. Duran's position toward staff is great. I saw another thread about staff being allowed to work remotely and getting more paid time off than they used to get -- similar to teachers -- which doesn't really seem right to me. Teachers should have more privileges than staff. Teachers are on the front lines. That could also be causing teachers to migrate to cushier staff positions, which would not be ideal imho.

So, anyway, I have a lot of APE thoughts that aren't positive but I don't come into every DCUM thread to post them.

These thoughts are all two years old. Time for some new thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP to this thread. I don't like APE but haven't complained about them in this thread before. I can see that prior APE shenanigans at school board meetings and PTA meetings has created a somewhat more hostile work environment for teachers (questioning whether they should receive shots, complaining that they weren't teaching remotely when most teachers I saw were putting in long hard hours, not giving them credit for working under difficult circumstances, generally having a "my way or the highway" attitude with teachers who are professionals with important jobs to teach our youth and not specifically your babysitters. All of that would make me question whether I belong in the system fwiw.

Also, honestly, I don't think Dr. Duran's position toward staff is great. I saw another thread about staff being allowed to work remotely and getting more paid time off than they used to get -- similar to teachers -- which doesn't really seem right to me. Teachers should have more privileges than staff. Teachers are on the front lines. That could also be causing teachers to migrate to cushier staff positions, which would not be ideal imho.

So, anyway, I have a lot of APE thoughts that aren't positive but I don't come into every DCUM thread to post them.

These thoughts are all two years old. Time for some new thoughts.

You don't think it's demoralizing to teachers that the leader of this group is about to be on the school board? I do.