Why is everyone at Holton-Arms leaving?

[Anonymous]

It is definitely a wage issue, if not the overall wage the wage per hour. Maybe teachers are asked to do too many things for the same salary. If the salary doubles I bet you no one will be leaving.

[Anonymous]

There will be variance in reasons for leaving in many individual cases.

However, the two schools that have recently had the most chatter about turnover on DCUM, Maret and Holton, have both also had a lot of chatter about recent leadership changes.

Lot of people probably just looking for schools not going through as big changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be variance in reasons for leaving in many individual cases.

However, the two schools that have recently had the most chatter about turnover on DCUM, Maret and Holton, have both also had a lot of chatter about recent leadership changes.

Lot of people probably just looking for schools not going through as big changes.

Also the schools with the most active trolls, just saying…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to say: there is someone in this thread who seems obsessively focused on blaming Penny for everything. If she could, she would probably blame Penny for climate change or world hunger too. That kind of fixation lowers the quality of the discussion.

Teachers do not leave a school only because of one head of school. The issue is usually more complex than that.

Actually, there is someone on this thread who seems obsessively focused on defending the HOS while multiple posters are pointing out the highly unusual and deeply upsetting teacher turnover and problematic policies instituted by the HOS. I suspect you are the obsessive defender of the administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to say: there is someone in this thread who seems obsessively focused on blaming Penny for everything. If she could, she would probably blame Penny for climate change or world hunger too. That kind of fixation lowers the quality of the discussion.

Teachers do not leave a school only because of one head of school. The issue is usually more complex than that.

Actually, there is someone on this thread who seems obsessively focused on defending the HOS while multiple posters are pointing out the highly unusual and deeply upsetting teacher turnover and problematic policies instituted by the HOS. I suspect you are the obsessive defender of the administration.

Not really. You have to mentally deranged to think that all departures are motivated by a single person. Personality clashes happen all the time, but for most teachers the reason is very simple: they find better opportunities elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to say: there is someone in this thread who seems obsessively focused on blaming Penny for everything. If she could, she would probably blame Penny for climate change or world hunger too. That kind of fixation lowers the quality of the discussion.

Teachers do not leave a school only because of one head of school. The issue is usually more complex than that.

Actually, there is someone on this thread who seems obsessively focused on defending the HOS while multiple posters are pointing out the highly unusual and deeply upsetting teacher turnover and problematic policies instituted by the HOS. I suspect you are the obsessive defender of the administration.

Not really. You have to mentally deranged to think that all departures are motivated by a single person. Personality clashes happen all the time, but for most teachers the reason is very simple: they find better opportunities elsewhere.

Not only is it true that you are the singular defender, it's also true that you're here 24/7 to defend the administration. It won't change people's experiences and what they know to be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to say: there is someone in this thread who seems obsessively focused on blaming Penny for everything. If she could, she would probably blame Penny for climate change or world hunger too. That kind of fixation lowers the quality of the discussion.

Teachers do not leave a school only because of one head of school. The issue is usually more complex than that.

Actually, there is someone on this thread who seems obsessively focused on defending the HOS while multiple posters are pointing out the highly unusual and deeply upsetting teacher turnover and problematic policies instituted by the HOS. I suspect you are the obsessive defender of the administration.

Not really. You have to mentally deranged to think that all departures are motivated by a single person. Personality clashes happen all the time, but for most teachers the reason is very simple: they find better opportunities elsewhere.

Not only is it true that you are the singular defender, it's also true that you're here 24/7 to defend the administration. It won't change people's experiences and what they know to be true.

You are talking nonsense. If you get a salary increase somewhere else you would also leave, and there is nothing wrong with that. The only thing I am defending is the use of logical and coherent arguments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to say: there is someone in this thread who seems obsessively focused on blaming Penny for everything. If she could, she would probably blame Penny for climate change or world hunger too. That kind of fixation lowers the quality of the discussion.

Teachers do not leave a school only because of one head of school. The issue is usually more complex than that.

Actually, there is someone on this thread who seems obsessively focused on defending the HOS while multiple posters are pointing out the highly unusual and deeply upsetting teacher turnover and problematic policies instituted by the HOS. I suspect you are the obsessive defender of the administration.

Not really. You have to mentally deranged to think that all departures are motivated by a single person. Personality clashes happen all the time, but for most teachers the reason is very simple: they find better opportunities elsewhere.

Not only is it true that you are the singular defender, it's also true that you're here 24/7 to defend the administration. It won't change people's experiences and what they know to be true.

You are talking nonsense. If you get a salary increase somewhere else you would also leave, and there is nothing wrong with that. The only thing I am defending is the use of logical and coherent arguments.

Different poster. At least two of the 10 teachers are leaving without another job lined up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to say: there is someone in this thread who seems obsessively focused on blaming Penny for everything. If she could, she would probably blame Penny for climate change or world hunger too. That kind of fixation lowers the quality of the discussion.

Teachers do not leave a school only because of one head of school. The issue is usually more complex than that.

Actually, there is someone on this thread who seems obsessively focused on defending the HOS while multiple posters are pointing out the highly unusual and deeply upsetting teacher turnover and problematic policies instituted by the HOS. I suspect you are the obsessive defender of the administration.

Not really. You have to mentally deranged to think that all departures are motivated by a single person. Personality clashes happen all the time, but for most teachers the reason is very simple: they find better opportunities elsewhere.

Not only is it true that you are the singular defender, it's also true that you're here 24/7 to defend the administration. It won't change people's experiences and what they know to be true.

You are talking nonsense. If you get a salary increase somewhere else you would also leave, and there is nothing wrong with that. The only thing I am defending is the use of logical and coherent arguments.

Different poster. At least two of the 10 teachers are leaving without another job lined up.

They might prefer to take a break from work.

[Anonymous]

Yet another poster here to corroborate this. We shared a conversation with one of our favorite teachers for our girls just yesterday. She doesn't have anything lined up, and quietly shared that she will figure that next job out this summer; just needed to get out of this one. It's a shame. She has been here for a long time, and is an integral part of the Holton community. She's been our daughter's advisor, teacher x3, and even chaperoned multiple years of Junior Journeys. To leave a school so abruptly with no plans afterwards even though she has dedicated her life to educating... says something about the place she is leaving.

And before you come for us, we like Penny. We have no idea what goes on in her meetings. It's probably not all her fault. But something is going on in the upper echelons of the school, and even if it isn't "Penny's fault", she is the HOS and it is her job to take care of it. We are not seeing her do that.

[Anonymous]

The quality of the discussion can improve when is data-based, not when is the gut feeling from a troll that states the HoS is the only one to blame. A simple survey would give the necessary information to see how to improve faculty retention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are multiple posters talking about the damage Penny has done. It's not just one.

There IS at least one normalizing all the problematic trends.

So what’s the issue then besides the HoS?

Ask the teachers. If you are calm, they will tell you.

Teachers can be biased, and also teachers can be wrong. They can tell you their side of things, but it likely also isn't the whole story. A lot of teachers criticize school administration unfairly because they don't want to be held to basic standards and expectations.

[Anonymous]

There are seven open teaching positions on HA’s website at the moment. That’s a relatively large number, especially this late in the school year. Private school contracts usually renew in late January to early March. Prior to contract renewal, there is a period where teachers who do not plan to come back can provide notice. Hiring usually takes place in March and April. Some schools are still looking to hire in May, and sometimes resignations occur over summer break.

I grew up in the area and work in education. Several friends are alumnae and/or have worked for HA. The new head has put off a lot of experienced teaching and administrative staff. That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a bad choice of head. The school seems to be doing just fine with enrollment, fundraising, and revenue. However, if things don’t settle soon, sustainably staffing the school with high-quality educators may become difficult.

[Anonymous]

Y'all still have Penny? They put a Trumper in charge and then wonder why the school is falling apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are seven open teaching positions on HA’s website at the moment. That’s a relatively large number, especially this late in the school year. Private school contracts usually renew in late January to early March. Prior to contract renewal, there is a period where teachers who do not plan to come back can provide notice. Hiring usually takes place in March and April. Some schools are still looking to hire in May, and sometimes resignations occur over summer break.

I grew up in the area and work in education. Several friends are alumnae and/or have worked for HA. The new head has put off a lot of experienced teaching and administrative staff. That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a bad choice of head. The school seems to be doing just fine with enrollment, fundraising, and revenue. However, if things don’t settle soon, sustainably staffing the school with high-quality educators may become difficult.

This is all true, and anyone who knows anything about private schools knows it.