Springbrook HS Staff Letter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no affiliation with Springbrook HS but everything mentioned in the letter seems so minor. It is as if the principals before were very relaxed and then she comes in and puts rules and practices in place. Observations are a given, it does not matter how many times a year. You can have one every day…. I don’t understand how teachers hate her and then expect a glowing reference from her when they try to leave. Nicknames to students is not unheard of and unless a child stated it made them uncomfortable, then it’s not a big deal. I was expecting her to call people crackers and the n word as a nickname. Transfer out teachers. There is a teacher shortage.

Central office Troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Springbrook, and am aware of the letter but do not have a copy. The morale of the staff is abysmal, with constant micromanaging by the principal and her assistants. Armed with her two years of teaching art, it is laughable when she tries to dictate pedagogy to content areas. She shuts down and silences students who question administration. Any bad publicity is covered up, from fighting and vaping, to mold in classrooms, to the three teachers dismissed in the last calendar year for inappropriate interactions with children. We have contacted the union for support, but we just get told to be patient and follow the process. Please, parents: complain. Complain about everything you don’t like, and send it to the superintendent, the Board of Ed, and probably the media at this point.

Oooohhh they don't like that.

My thoughts exactly. The only way to get MCPS to act quickly is to go to the media. This story will get picked up, but someone will have to be brave enough to talk to them - maybe a teacher who is retiring or someone who has nothing to lose.

Already sent to the Post and Parents Coalition. The Post is not reliable on coverage, but Parents' Coalition will probably pick out up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Springbrook, and am aware of the letter but do not have a copy. The morale of the staff is abysmal, with constant micromanaging by the principal and her assistants. Armed with her two years of teaching art, it is laughable when she tries to dictate pedagogy to content areas. She shuts down and silences students who question administration. Any bad publicity is covered up, from fighting and vaping, to mold in classrooms, to the three teachers dismissed in the last calendar year for inappropriate interactions with children. We have contacted the union for support, but we just get told to be patient and follow the process. Please, parents: complain. Complain about everything you don’t like, and send it to the superintendent, the Board of Ed, and probably the media at this point.

Oooohhh they don't like that.

My thoughts exactly. The only way to get MCPS to act quickly is to go to the media. This story will get picked up, but someone will have to be brave enough to talk to them - maybe a teacher who is retiring or someone who has nothing to lose.

Already sent to the Post and Parents Coalition. The Post is not reliable on coverage, but Parents' Coalition will probably pick out up.

Good start. You might want to cast a wider net. Lots of local news channels have education reporters you can find them on the news station’s website. I would also go to Radio.

[Anonymous]

She sounds a lot like Beidleman (minus the alcohol/drug abuse and sexual harassment). MCPS breeds and rewards this toxic style of leadership. It’s a shame Taylor isn’t trying to fix it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She sounds a lot like Beidleman (minus the alcohol/drug abuse and sexual harassment). MCPS breeds and rewards this toxic style of leadership. It’s a shame Taylor isn’t trying to fix it

+1

And think about how long it took to get him out. Plus, McKnight and Minus still did very well afterward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Springbrook, and am aware of the letter but do not have a copy. The morale of the staff is abysmal, with constant micromanaging by the principal and her assistants. Armed with her two years of teaching art, it is laughable when she tries to dictate pedagogy to content areas. She shuts down and silences students who question administration. Any bad publicity is covered up, from fighting and vaping, to mold in classrooms, to the three teachers dismissed in the last calendar year for inappropriate interactions with children. We have contacted the union for support, but we just get told to be patient and follow the process. Please, parents: complain. Complain about everything you don’t like, and send it to the superintendent, the Board of Ed, and probably the media at this point.

Oooohhh they don't like that.

My thoughts exactly. The only way to get MCPS to act quickly is to go to the media. This story will get picked up, but someone will have to be brave enough to talk to them - maybe a teacher who is retiring or someone who has nothing to lose.

Already sent to the Post and Parents Coalition. The Post is not reliable on coverage, but Parents' Coalition will probably pick out up.

Agree the Post doesn't usually care about MoCo, but no one gives a sh*t about the Parents Coalition. It's a group of has beens who are holding on, thinking they are making a difference with all their finger wagging and pointing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no affiliation with Springbrook HS but everything mentioned in the letter seems so minor. It is as if the principals before were very relaxed and then she comes in and puts rules and practices in place. Observations are a given, it does not matter how many times a year. You can have one every day…. I don’t understand how teachers hate her and then expect a glowing reference from her when they try to leave. Nicknames to students is not unheard of and unless a child stated it made them uncomfortable, then it’s not a big deal. I was expecting her to call people crackers and the n word as a nickname. Transfer out teachers. There is a teacher shortage.

Central office Troll.

There was no wiggle room under Durso. He was no slacker. She worked with him. I can recognize some of her behaviors when she was my colleague. I liked her a lot. She was no nonsense.

I'm another poster. I think times have changed. People have gotten very sensitive. I had people walk in and out of my class all the time - from all levels. We keep our doors open and unlocked.

Maybe I'm a different person. I left MCPS in 2018. Things have changed, I suppose.

just offering another perspective as a teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She sounds a lot like Beidleman (minus the alcohol/drug abuse and sexual harassment). MCPS breeds and rewards this toxic style of leadership. It’s a shame Taylor isn’t trying to fix it

+1

And think about how long it took to get him out. Plus, McKnight and Minus still did very well afterward.

and Morris

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Springbrook, and am aware of the letter but do not have a copy. The morale of the staff is abysmal, with constant micromanaging by the principal and her assistants. Armed with her two years of teaching art, it is laughable when she tries to dictate pedagogy to content areas. She shuts down and silences students who question administration. Any bad publicity is covered up, from fighting and vaping, to mold in classrooms, to the three teachers dismissed in the last calendar year for inappropriate interactions with children. We have contacted the union for support, but we just get told to be patient and follow the process. Please, parents: complain. Complain about everything you don’t like, and send it to the superintendent, the Board of Ed, and probably the media at this point.

Oooohhh they don't like that.

My thoughts exactly. The only way to get MCPS to act quickly is to go to the media. This story will get picked up, but someone will have to be brave enough to talk to them - maybe a teacher who is retiring or someone who has nothing to lose.

Already sent to the Post and Parents Coalition. The Post is not reliable on coverage, but Parents' Coalition will probably pick out up.

Agree the Post doesn't usually care about MoCo, but no one gives a sh*t about the Parents Coalition. It's a group of has beens who are holding on, thinking they are making a difference with all their finger wagging and pointing

Never underestimate Parents Coalition.

[Anonymous]

My daughter and I attended an open house for the SpringBrook IB program. The principal and PTSA president spoke. I just got a bad vibe from the two off them. I am glad we chose the Blair Magnet for my child instead of the IB program at her home school.
I applaud the staff for putting together this letter and putting up with these despicable creatures to say the least. I hope MCPS does takes action against this bully. She needs to be removed. Can someone deliver this letter to the news channels please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Letter brings a lot to light, but MCEA states teachers can be observed at anytime. Admin also has a right to observe PLCs ... and structured discourse is a county wide focus... SLOs can be school wide...staffing assignments can be changed by admin to fit the school's needs.

If teachers plan for something during PLC, why wouldn't they be teaching it? If teachers are going to write a letter like this, they have to make sure it doesn't seem like they are avoiding being held responsible for their duties.

Teacher here (from a neighboring district)

I don’t read the letter that way AT ALL. These are not teachers avoiding responsibility; these are clearly teachers dealing with a toxic, retaliatory admin. I’ve worked for one and was able to get out, although it took me a couple years because the principal blocked my attempts similar to what is stated in that letter.

Teachers already do far, far, far more than their contracts require. Teachers aren’t afraid of responsibility. They are afraid of hostile administrators, and this clearly is an example of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter and I attended an open house for the SpringBrook IB program. The principal and PTSA president spoke. I just got a bad vibe from the two off them. I am glad we chose the Blair Magnet for my child instead of the IB program at her home school.
I applaud the staff for putting together this letter and putting up with these despicable creatures to say the least. I hope MCPS does takes action against this bully. She needs to be removed. Can someone deliver this letter to the news channels please?

It’s so sad that the principal is driving students away from the school’s signature program. I wonder if she is trying to dismantle the IB program. Anyone know if there’s been turn over in staff in that program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter and I attended an open house for the SpringBrook IB program. The principal and PTSA president spoke. I just got a bad vibe from the two off them. I am glad we chose the Blair Magnet for my child instead of the IB program at her home school.
I applaud the staff for putting together this letter and putting up with these despicable creatures to say the least. I hope MCPS does takes action against this bully. She needs to be removed. Can someone deliver this letter to the news channels please?

The Springbrook PTSA is a tool of Principal Valentine. It’s embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter and I attended an open house for the SpringBrook IB program. The principal and PTSA president spoke. I just got a bad vibe from the two off them. I am glad we chose the Blair Magnet for my child instead of the IB program at her home school.
I applaud the staff for putting together this letter and putting up with these despicable creatures to say the least. I hope MCPS does takes action against this bully. She needs to be removed. Can someone deliver this letter to the news channels please?

It’s so sad that the principal is driving students away from the school’s signature program. I wonder if she is trying to dismantle the IB program. Anyone know if there’s been turn over in staff in that program?

My child is in Springbrook IB, I’m saddened to read this letter. I will be demanding action from central office and the board this week.

As for staff, my kid loves the two coordinators. One was their chemistry teacher and the other was their math teacher. They report seeing them abnormally stressed since December this school year. Wouldn’t be surprised if they try to leave, but it would be a huge loss for the program. They also said their favorite English teacher no longer teaches IB and several other teachers either leaving or retiring this year.

[Anonymous]

Send the letter to the MocoShow