How much teacher turnover is normal in MCPS middle schools (Silver Creek)

[Anonymous]

Student had 3 different teachers last year in one subject, and today it was announced another teacher is leaving this week after starting around late Oct. is this normal? Obviously private matters, but no explanations offered for swift transitions.

[Anonymous]

Not normal. DS had no mid year teacher turnover during his entire North Bethesda Middle School years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Student had 3 different teachers last year in one subject, and today it was announced another teacher is leaving this week after starting around late Oct. is this normal? Obviously private matters, but no explanations offered for swift transitions.

Were any of these teachers long-term subs? Sometimes they can be, but that hasn't been communicated to the parents.

[Anonymous]

I am a parent of a SCMS student who also had this teacher that is suddenly departing. I came on DCUM to find out if other parents whom I don’t know might have similar concerns about this. I’m also asking some of DC’s friends‘ parents whether they have thoughts/suggestions, but so far none of their DCs have had this teacher so are not impacted.
Normally I would go with the flow and trust that the situation will turn out fine, but in this case:
1) the substitute is a nurse, not a science teacher (however motivated she is to switch fields, this isn’t really a good plan for that in terms of ensuring that she is adequately prepared)
2) there is no indication of when a long-term sub would be replaced, and i don’t see any indication that it would be this school year
3) they already had a sub for the first few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Student had 3 different teachers last year in one subject, and today it was announced another teacher is leaving this week after starting around late Oct. is this normal? Obviously private matters, but no explanations offered for swift transitions.

Were any of these teachers long-term subs? Sometimes they can be, but that hasn't been communicated to the parents.

In the case of the one departing this week, the teacher was not a long-term sub. In fact started partway through the year due time required for MCPS background screening for a new hire. So this class already had a sub for 3-4 weeks or so IIRC.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes bad things happen. Here’s three incidents I know of at other schools in the past three years:

Teacher went on mat leave in Oct. Mat leave sub had medical issue and didn’t finish three weeks let alone all six. Short term sub filled in until regular teacher returned.

Teacher went on Mat leave in Dec. Mat leave sub left in Feb although teacher decided to not return after all. Short term subs for weeks. Finally LT sub in April.

Started with LT sub. Teacher kept delaying her return. LT sub took opening at another school. ST subs for 2 weeks until regular teacher cleared to return.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here.

I don't know anything about that school in particular, but rapid turnover like that happens from time to time. I've taught K-12, and middle school is definitely my least favorite. A lot of people can't deal with the hormones and extremes in behaviors. It could also come down to an issue with the leadership (department chair perhaps?) or expectations. If they hired someone in October, then it means someone quit or backed out of the job right before school started. That left them desperate to take what they could get, and maybe that person was equally desperate. I've seen teachers take "anything" just until a better school system or a good school in a higher paying school system calls. Others just leave teaching altogether because they realize it isn't for them. At any rate, it's unfortunate but not unheard of.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not long term subs. Science teacher departing this week and no explanation offered when Spanish teacher left abruptly last year with several subs following. Just seems like a lot of turnover. Isolated events or is it the administration? Hard to tell just curious if this is what to expect in middle school. In all my years of public school, a teacher never left mid-year.

[Anonymous]

My child is at a different MCPS middle school in 8th and I’ve never heard of that happening. I would also worry that it is due to a toxic work environment but it could be totally innocent.

Unless retiring, leaving in the middle of the year is definitely breaking contract and they would not be allowed to take another job.

[Anonymous]

As a former employee of that school, I can tell you that it is an issue with administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not long term subs. Science teacher departing this week and no explanation offered when Spanish teacher left abruptly last year with several subs following. Just seems like a lot of turnover. Isolated events or is it the administration? Hard to tell just curious if this is what to expect in middle school. In all my years of public school, a teacher never left mid-year.

In my experience, abrupt mid-year departures are more of a personal issue, than general dissatisfaction with administration. (Although as PP said, it may be a factor in this case.) When teachers break contract, they are 100% done with MCPS, unless it is a medical issue. If someone still intends to teach, they would wait until transfer season (spring) to get out of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not long term subs. Science teacher departing this week and no explanation offered when Spanish teacher left abruptly last year with several subs following. Just seems like a lot of turnover. Isolated events or is it the administration? Hard to tell just curious if this is what to expect in middle school. In all my years of public school, a teacher never left mid-year.

In my experience, abrupt mid-year departures are more of a personal issue, than general dissatisfaction with administration. (Although as PP said, it may be a factor in this case.) When teachers break contract, they are 100% done with MCPS, unless it is a medical issue. If someone still intends to teach, they would wait until transfer season (spring) to get out of the school.

+1. I remember this happened at our ES when a teacher's spouse was unexpectedly transferred to another country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former employee of that school, I can tell you that it is an issue with administration.

I'm sorry to hear that. This is the new middle school for BCC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not long term subs. Science teacher departing this week and no explanation offered when Spanish teacher left abruptly last year with several subs following. Just seems like a lot of turnover. Isolated events or is it the administration? Hard to tell just curious if this is what to expect in middle school. In all my years of public school, a teacher never left mid-year.

Is the nurse the long term sub? If so, it’s like she was vetted to some extent. A nurse passed college biology and chemistry courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former employee of that school, I can tell you that it is an issue with administration.

Didn’t it just open for the 2017-2018 school year? Did you stay both years? Less? Was it your first school? Are you still teaching?