SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

Honestly it seems like he may have been not a great fit based on the faculty departures, but that also is Covid related I’m sure. If he was not a good fit this may make the school better in the long run.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think this is a change for the better. Definitely painful in the short term of course but the feeling among the parents I’ve spoken to is that it’s a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're a newly accepted family and considering leaving (even though we never started!). Any ideas where? This seems like a train wreck we don't want to be on. Son is into theater, some ADHD/organizational challenges. And thrives in smaller classes.

To the families who are leaving - where are you going?

Definitely a tough call. Which grade is your kid? Does the school have enough supports for him? And they just let a learning specialist go due to budget issues. Check your withdrawal clause. Perhaps you owe a fraction and that’s ok. Or perhaps contact the board and say you just don’t feel comfortable entering in this climate. It’s not like you’d be pulling out without just cause.

For options - depending on where you live there are many options. It can’t hurt to start calling around to see if there are openings. Worst happens you decide you can’t afford to leave and that’s when you stick it out. But if you find a viable option why risk here right now, your kids aren’t even emotionally connected to this school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

Honestly it seems like he may have been not a great fit based on the faculty departures, but that also is Covid related I’m sure. If he was not a good fit this may make the school better in the long run.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think this is a change for the better. Definitely painful in the short term of course but the feeling among the parents I’ve spoken to is that it’s a good thing.

100% a great thing! Just Rocky in the short term

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

Honestly it seems like he may have been not a great fit based on the faculty departures, but that also is Covid related I’m sure. If he was not a good fit this may make the school better in the long run.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think this is a change for the better. Definitely painful in the short term of course but the feeling among the parents I’ve spoken to is that it’s a good thing.

100% a great thing! Just Rocky in the short term

It is definitely a good thing, ultimately, but there is so much upheaval, with more staff departures as of late last week. I'm not sure when those emails will be sent apprising parents but the head and assistant head of athletics are gone now, too. And three teachers that I think many would consider some of the "best." Seems it will get worse before it gets better and some don't have time for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

It is just one in a long line of serious red flags. So I doubt anyone's decision to "bail" on the school is just for the HOS's departure.

[Anonymous]

There were some teacher resignations late last week. I don't know if from upper, middle or lower but the school can't handle more teachers leaving (or being laid-off).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New family here and we are sticking with it!

Good luck! I think the real issue is how badly off is the school financially? If they can’t afford to hire for the positions left empty by departing staff, as well as recently laid off staff, can’t afford all the pending repairs and US loan - then the place won’t be the educational experience you deserve at $40K+ I think families deserve what they’re paying for now, not what it might become 5 years from now.

I agree! That’s why we don’t plan to stay. No desire to be the schools recovery guinea pigs. My kids deserve better. We live in an area with many school options. Ssfs doesn’t own all the excellent teachers. They definitely have great teachers (though I can list sooo many that left out his year!) the fact is other schools have great teachers too. That’s not unique to Ssfs. But right now the school doesn’t have stable leadership in a single division. I can’t afford to stay in such turmoil when options exist. So we will be leaving.

I don't blame people who leave, but I will say that I think the middle school leadership has been very stable. And despite all the upper head changes, my kids' day to day experience was basically the same for all the years that I've had kids there.

David Blake is awesome. When I said no division has stable leadership I am referring to how David was forced to take on two extra grades next year to cover for the LS mess. That raises concerns regarding even MS stability for at least next year.

Agree about David and also agree that because he's taking on the restructuring of the LS and some of the grades, middle school will suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New family here and we are sticking with it!

Good luck! I think the real issue is how badly off is the school financially? If they can’t afford to hire for the positions left empty by departing staff, as well as recently laid off staff, can’t afford all the pending repairs and US loan - then the place won’t be the educational experience you deserve at $40K+ I think families deserve what they’re paying for now, not what it might become 5 years from now.

I agree! That’s why we don’t plan to stay. No desire to be the schools recovery guinea pigs. My kids deserve better. We live in an area with many school options. Ssfs doesn’t own all the excellent teachers. They definitely have great teachers (though I can list sooo many that left out his year!) the fact is other schools have great teachers too. That’s not unique to Ssfs. But right now the school doesn’t have stable leadership in a single division. I can’t afford to stay in such turmoil when options exist. So we will be leaving.

I don't blame people who leave, but I will say that I think the middle school leadership has been very stable. And despite all the upper head changes, my kids' day to day experience was basically the same for all the years that I've had kids there.

David Blake is awesome. When I said no division has stable leadership I am referring to how David was forced to take on two extra grades next year to cover for the LS mess. That raises concerns regarding even MS stability for at least next year.

Agree about David and also agree that because he's taking on the restructuring of the LS and some of the grades, middle school will suffer.

MS is going to be just fine. It's the division I with about the least. Yes David will be stretched thin, but there is tremendous leadership in the MS as a division. There's a reason that division has so little turnover.

[Anonymous]

What’s going on with the Upper School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were some teacher resignations late last week. I don't know if from upper, middle or lower but the school can't handle more teachers leaving (or being laid-off).

How did you find this out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

Honestly it seems like he may have been not a great fit based on the faculty departures, but that also is Covid related I’m sure. If he was not a good fit this may make the school better in the long run.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think this is a change for the better. Definitely painful in the short term of course but the feeling among the parents I’ve spoken to is that it’s a good thing.

100% a great thing! Just Rocky in the short term

It is definitely a good thing, ultimately, but there is so much upheaval, with more staff departures as of late last week. I'm not sure when those emails will be sent apprising parents but the head and assistant head of athletics are gone now, too. And three teachers that I think many would consider some of the "best." Seems it will get worse before it gets better and some don't have time for that.

I don’t understand leaving in the summer-is it because of toxic culture or is leaving in the summer (with no search) normal for that role? (Thinking of the athletic director here.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

Honestly it seems like he may have been not a great fit based on the faculty departures, but that also is Covid related I’m sure. If he was not a good fit this may make the school better in the long run.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think this is a change for the better. Definitely painful in the short term of course but the feeling among the parents I’ve spoken to is that it’s a good thing.

100% a great thing! Just Rocky in the short term

It is definitely a good thing, ultimately, but there is so much upheaval, with more staff departures as of late last week. I'm not sure when those emails will be sent apprising parents but the head and assistant head of athletics are gone now, too. And three teachers that I think many would consider some of the "best." Seems it will get worse before it gets better and some don't have time for that.

I don’t understand leaving in the summer-is it because of toxic culture or is leaving in the summer (with no search) normal for that role? (Thinking of the athletic director here.)

Leaving in the summer is not typical. Reasons usually are either: (1) Unexpected life change like a move or illness Or (2 and most likely the case give the current situation at the school) Decided just to leave due to the work environment or had been looking for a new position and just got one.

Wishing everyone at SSFS well. It’s going to be tough for awhile but the school should come out the other side okay if the Board hires a strong and experienced interim (agree with a PP that they should look for a retired head who does this for schools) and then finds the right new head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While a change in the head of school is disruptive, deciding to immediately bail on the school at this stage (summer) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - unless you were particularly wedded to the previous head of school and cannot imagine your child attending without him there.

Honestly it seems like he may have been not a great fit based on the faculty departures, but that also is Covid related I’m sure. If he was not a good fit this may make the school better in the long run.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think this is a change for the better. Definitely painful in the short term of course but the feeling among the parents I’ve spoken to is that it’s a good thing.

100% a great thing! Just Rocky in the short term

It is definitely a good thing, ultimately, but there is so much upheaval, with more staff departures as of late last week. I'm not sure when those emails will be sent apprising parents but the head and assistant head of athletics are gone now, too. And three teachers that I think many would consider some of the "best." Seems it will get worse before it gets better and some don't have time for that.

I don’t understand leaving in the summer-is it because of toxic culture or is leaving in the summer (with no search) normal for that role? (Thinking of the athletic director here.)

Leaving in the summer is not typical. Reasons usually are either: (1) Unexpected life change like a move or illness Or (2 and most likely the case give the current situation at the school) Decided just to leave due to the work environment or had been looking for a new position and just got one.

Wishing everyone at SSFS well. It’s going to be tough for awhile but the school should come out the other side okay if the Board hires a strong and experienced interim (agree with a PP that they should look for a retired head who does this for schools) and then finds the right new head.

PP here- was referring to faculty and admin departures in 1st paragraph, not the Head of School. A sudden Head departure like this generally
means the Head was let go by the Board.

[Anonymous]

I feel like the elephant in the room is that the board colossally screwed up (for a period of years) by allowing this situation to develop, agreeing to a part time (but full pay!) HOS, and wholeheartedly endorsing both Rodney’s brand (as extra special celeb HOS who we were just so lucky to have) and his vision of the school as the main priority (rather than prioritizing, you know, learning math and whatnot.)

My kids are almost done so I’m not going to switch them but if they were younger I would unless there is some serious house cleaning on the board (and public statements that they are going to try to do better.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the elephant in the room is that the board colossally screwed up (for a period of years) by allowing this situation to develop, agreeing to a part time (but full pay!) HOS, and wholeheartedly endorsing both Rodney’s brand (as extra special celeb HOS who we were just so lucky to have) and his vision of the school as the main priority (rather than prioritizing, you know, learning math and whatnot.)

My kids are almost done so I’m not going to switch them but if they were younger I would unless there is some serious house cleaning on the board (and public statements that they are going to try to do better.)

Amazing. It’s like you’re reading my mind. My kids were almost done too but I’m pulling them out. I need a school that prioritizes “learning math and whatnot”