SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s going on with the Upper School?

What do you mean what’s going on with US? They’ll be on their 4th head in 4 years. The new one has no formal degree in an an academic field or relevant teaching experience. She was most recently the registrar (barely half a year as assistant head before being promoted probably out of desperation but that was hardly enough admin experience) and before that she was the MS secretary. Her promotion is only because another search would never draw external candidates at this point.

The rest of the US admin are being shuffled around. They lost one college counselor and the remaining one can’t handle the load. Lost one social emotional counselor too. Lost many teachers some of whom had been here 20+ years. They consider their arts program their signature program yet teachers routinely struggle with lack of resources and support for the arts. They lacked the funding to repair the performing arts center all year.

Their curriculum doesn’t have nearly as many electives or APs as other local schools in the same price bracket. There is a lot going on with the US - none that I would call particularly reassuring and certainly not worth the recent tuition hikes.

[Anonymous]

The board failed miserably and is complicit in all of this. The email from the board is also unacceptable. Christine who worked directly under Rodney is not the answer. They need someone from the outside to come help clean this up. The timing also couldn’t be worse.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if he will keep his seat on Lowell’s board. Maybe he’ll convince the Lowell HOS to follow his lead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s going on with the Upper School?

What do you mean what’s going on with US? They’ll be on their 4th head in 4 years. The new one has no formal degree in an an academic field or relevant teaching experience. She was most recently the registrar (barely half a year as assistant head before being promoted probably out of desperation but that was hardly enough admin experience) and before that she was the MS secretary. Her promotion is only because another search would never draw external candidates at this point.

The rest of the US admin are being shuffled around. They lost one college counselor and the remaining one can’t handle the load. Lost one social emotional counselor too. Lost many teachers some of whom had been here 20+ years. They consider their arts program their signature program yet teachers routinely struggle with lack of resources and support for the arts. They lacked the funding to repair the performing arts center all year.

Their curriculum doesn’t have nearly as many electives or APs as other local schools in the same price bracket. There is a lot going on with the US - none that I would call particularly reassuring and certainly not worth the recent tuition hikes.

I’m with you on the rest but the new head of the upper school is literally the only good decision they’ve made in years, imo.

[Anonymous]

I strongly urge families not to leave the school. The teachers are amazing and they are the ones that are in the trenches everyday making sure your children learn. The teachers across all three divisions are dedicated to your children and invested in their learning. Please do not confuse the priorities of someone who is now gone with the priorities of the community. This school has has big transitions before and has come back strong. However if too many jump ship, teachers will lose their jobs and what is so special about SSFS will be lost. I have never witnessed such teacher dedication as I have at this school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s going on with the Upper School?

What do you mean what’s going on with US? They’ll be on their 4th head in 4 years. The new one has no formal degree in an an academic field or relevant teaching experience. She was most recently the registrar (barely half a year as assistant head before being promoted probably out of desperation but that was hardly enough admin experience) and before that she was the MS secretary. Her promotion is only because another search would never draw external candidates at this point.

The rest of the US admin are being shuffled around. They lost one college counselor and the remaining one can’t handle the load. Lost one social emotional counselor too. Lost many teachers some of whom had been here 20+ years. They consider their arts program their signature program yet teachers routinely struggle with lack of resources and support for the arts. They lacked the funding to repair the performing arts center all year.

Their curriculum doesn’t have nearly as many electives or APs as other local schools in the same price bracket. There is a lot going on with the US - none that I would call particularly reassuring and certainly not worth the recent tuition hikes.

I’m with you on the rest but the new head of the upper school is literally the only good decision they’ve made in years, imo.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The board failed miserably and is complicit in all of this. The email from the board is also unacceptable. Christine who worked directly under Rodney is not the answer. They need someone from the outside to come help clean this up. The timing also couldn’t be worse.

I am concerned about Christine as well. Not only is she a Rodney hire, but her experience is early childhood education, that's all theyve talked about. I dont see how she fits in as a whole school admin, when she was already tasked with being the interim LS head. That seems like a bad plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The board failed miserably and is complicit in all of this. The email from the board is also unacceptable. Christine who worked directly under Rodney is not the answer. They need someone from the outside to come help clean this up. The timing also couldn’t be worse.

THIS! Too many people are complicit. They need a huge cleanup. Parents and teachers reached out to the board and their response was to reach out to Rodney with concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The board failed miserably and is complicit in all of this. The email from the board is also unacceptable. Christine who worked directly under Rodney is not the answer. They need someone from the outside to come help clean this up. The timing also couldn’t be worse.

I am concerned about Christine as well. Not only is she a Rodney hire, but her experience is early childhood education, that's all theyve talked about. I dont see how she fits in as a whole school admin, when she was already tasked with being the interim LS head. That seems like a bad plan.

She is the acting Head until an interim HOS can be found.

[Anonymous]

I’m really worried about the earlier post mentioning more resignations last week. I’m wondering if a normal school year is going to be possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m really worried about the earlier post mentioning more resignations last week. I’m wondering if a normal school year is going to be possible.

Maybe some of those folks will reconsider with this week’s announcement.

[Anonymous]

The head of the upper school is amazing and has been the shadow leader of that division for years. She is steady, capable and a leader in every way. And the head of middle school is also incredible. My kids have learned “math and whatnot” - like critical reasoning and dissecting the fallacies in my arguments (that part, I don’t love per se). While I think the current board is a bit of a dumpster fire (and lots of boards right now are in turmoil across schools), the core of this school is solid - thanks to the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The head of the upper school is amazing and has been the shadow leader of that division for years. She is steady, capable and a leader in every way. And the head of middle school is also incredible. My kids have learned “math and whatnot” - like critical reasoning and dissecting the fallacies in my arguments (that part, I don’t love per se). While I think the current board is a bit of a dumpster fire (and lots of boards right now are in turmoil across schools), the core of this school is solid - thanks to the teachers.

I agree the new head of the US school is great as is the middle school head. I’m glad your kids haven’t been affected academically by the insane turnover and school culture/priority issues of the last few years but mine have. I’d be mindful of sounding dismissive of other people’s experience and legitimate concerns-that attitude is a big part of what the problem has been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The board failed miserably and is complicit in all of this. The email from the board is also unacceptable. Christine who worked directly under Rodney is not the answer. They need someone from the outside to come help clean this up. The timing also couldn’t be worse.

Zero faith in this board - the old Quakers are meager and cannot stand up to the few toxic individuals on the Board who will take down the school if someone doesn’t take charge. This is no longer about the HOS, he is gone, goodbye. It is about the inept board. Who holds them accountable so they don’t impact the bigger school ecosystem from teachers to students!

[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).

As a current family, this is scary and devastating to hear. I have no expertise on how to run a school, but if I was SSFS, I would start by writing my wrongs..First thing first get Chanelle back by any means necessary! We lost a lot of staff that have been dedicated to the school for years.