Teacher turnover

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it any different than prior years? And is it purely about teachers being disgruntled? It sounds like some teachers moved because they....uh....wanted their kids to go to school in person and they are just staying someplace else?

I’m leaving my NW ES purely bc the families showed themselves to be really rude and entitled during the reopening period. I’m very excited to get out of the toxic W3 school culture.

So are you going to a different DCPS? Or what?

Yep different DCPS EOTP don’t want to get too detailed on here but it wasn’t too hard to find a school happy to take on a teacher with 5 straight years of highly effective scores. Looking forward to getting back to working with kids instead of placating overbearing parents

It really frustrates me when educators assume that low income parents won't have (or shouldn't have) expectations and desires and be as engaged and demanding as higher income parents. It sometimes feels as if certain educators talk about the importance of family engagement but don't really want it and worse look for a certain student body assuming there won't be parents asking questions or keeping an eye out.

I’d also add you’re conflating “overbearing” with having high expectations. Dog whistle a blowin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont blame after the pandemic and craziness. Teachers can make so much more money in the private sector doing corporate training. After reading a ton of posts here, parents in DC suck too.

Yep. I left at the end of SY 19-20 and got a $20k raise to do corporate training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It really frustrates me when educators assume that low income parents won't have (or shouldn't have) expectations and desires and be as engaged and demanding as higher income parents. It sometimes feels as if certain educators talk about the importance of family engagement but don't really want it and worse look for a certain student body assuming there won't be parents asking questions or keeping an eye out.

I’m sorry that you’re frustrated, but my observations come from extensive (5+ Years) in both situations. On one side, a majority of families consider themselves an integral part of a team; on the other side you have families that think their tax dollars equal ownership over your life

I'm the PP you are replying to and I'll end by saying I'm highly skeptical of this reply. And, I wonder what biases you are bringing to this EOTP school. At the Title I schools where I've worked we haven't had families many, if any at all, families considering themselves an integral part of the team. We have families we can't reach more than anything else. And while the party line has always been we need to get these families involved, the other side of the coin seems to be what you're saying ... only if that involvement supports what the leadership and teachers want to do. Not if it asks questions and even makes demands. (I am not saying 4 emails a day and constant nitpicking is appropriate. But asking questions about why schools weren't reopening as they were around the country may feel pushy and entitled but seems fair to me.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it any different than prior years? And is it purely about teachers being disgruntled? It sounds like some teachers moved because they....uh....wanted their kids to go to school in person and they are just staying someplace else?

I’m leaving my NW ES purely bc the families showed themselves to be really rude and entitled during the reopening period. I’m very excited to get out of the toxic W3 school culture.

So are you going to a different DCPS? Or what?

Yep different DCPS EOTP don’t want to get too detailed on here but it wasn’t too hard to find a school happy to take on a teacher with 5 straight years of highly effective scores. Looking forward to getting back to working with kids instead of placating overbearing parents

It really frustrates me when educators assume that low income parents won't have (or shouldn't have) expectations and desires and be as engaged and demanding as higher income parents. It sometimes feels as if certain educators talk about the importance of family engagement but don't really want it and worse look for a certain student body assuming there won't be parents asking questions or keeping an eye out.

I’d also add you’re conflating “overbearing” with having high expectations. Dog whistle a blowin

"integral part of the team" = don't do anything to rock the boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's probably going to be a lot of turnover in a lot of professions. The pandemic has a lot of people rethinking their career choices.

Teachers in DC seem like they have a pretty cushy gig. They are extremely well paid and their union runs the schools. If they move somewhere else, they're likely going to take a pay cut and other school systems are not going to be so deferential to all their demands.

Good lord stop the teacher bashing. The only thing I’ve demanded of our union this year was to stop throwing up roadblocks to reopening schools. It is unhelpful to throw around cheap shots like that. And if you think $75K/year is extremely well-paid for a highly-effective teacher with 8 years of experience, living in DC, I’m not sure what you would consider a reasonable salary. I consider it adequate, but would be making twice as much if I’d remained in my previous field. MANY of us felt poorly represented by the WTU this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's probably going to be a lot of turnover in a lot of professions. The pandemic has a lot of people rethinking their career choices.

Teachers in DC seem like they have a pretty cushy gig. They are extremely well paid and their union runs the schools. If they move somewhere else, they're likely going to take a pay cut and other school systems are not going to be so deferential to all their demands.

Good lord stop the teacher bashing. The only thing I’ve demanded of our union this year was to stop throwing up roadblocks to reopening schools. It is unhelpful to throw around cheap shots like that. And if you think $75K/year is extremely well-paid for a highly-effective teacher with 8 years of experience, living in DC, I’m not sure what you would consider a reasonable salary. I consider it adequate, but would be making twice as much if I’d remained in my previous field. MANY of us felt poorly represented by the WTU this year.

DP here, but why did you leave your previous field then?

Also keep in mind that teacher salaries are for 10 months of the year, so your $75K would be $90K if full-time. That's actually a very good salary for someone with only 8 years experience. You could earn more money over the summer if you choose to work full-time instead of the just the 10 month teacher contract with summers off.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Ah, you’re the “butt hurt” teacher! I knew I recognized you. Yes, you should move schools.

Best word I have to describe parents that hate teachers for closing schools (incorrect), lumping all teachers in as the WTU (also incorrect), or think teachers are lazy and paid too much.

And you use it all the time.

What word would you use to describe parents who don’t do any of the above and yet still wanted their kids to go to school in person during the last 15 months? Perhaps more than 40 hours in person during that entire time? Or even any amount of in-person? Even one hour?

You paint with the same broad brush as do the parents you are trying to avoid. Strange bedfellows you have.

That’s why I only use it with the butthurt ones, such as you. Love 99% of my families but some people on this site gotta get got

So if you love 99% of your families, why are you changing schools?

And you didn’t answer the question about the lack of in-person learning. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, you’re the “butt hurt” teacher! I knew I recognized you. Yes, you should move schools.

Best word I have to describe parents that hate teachers for closing schools (incorrect), lumping all teachers in as the WTU (also incorrect), or think teachers are lazy and paid too much.

And you use it all the time.

What word would you use to describe parents who don’t do any of the above and yet still wanted their kids to go to school in person during the last 15 months? Perhaps more than 40 hours in person during that entire time? Or even any amount of in-person? Even one hour?

You paint with the same broad brush as do the parents you are trying to avoid. Strange bedfellows you have.

That’s why I only use it with the butthurt ones, such as you. Love 99% of my families but some people on this site gotta get got

So if you love 99% of your families, why are you changing schools?

And you didn’t answer the question about the lack of in-person learning. Any thoughts?

Sure: teachers don’t set the terms of their employment. I teach in person 7 hours per day but due to restrictions set in place by DC DOH and DCPS students can only be in school some of that time. Your beef isn’t with teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it any different than prior years? And is it purely about teachers being disgruntled? It sounds like some teachers moved because they....uh....wanted their kids to go to school in person and they are just staying someplace else?

I’m leaving my NW ES purely bc the families showed themselves to be really rude and entitled during the reopening period. I’m very excited to get out of the toxic W3 school culture.

So are you going to a different DCPS? Or what?

Yep different DCPS EOTP don’t want to get too detailed on here but it wasn’t too hard to find a school happy to take on a teacher with 5 straight years of highly effective scores. Looking forward to getting back to working with kids instead of placating overbearing parents

translation: you don’t want to be held accountable by parents so you’re moving to a school where you hope that less affluent parents will be less uppity.

DP. It’s not being held accountable. It’s parents being overbearing and “bulldozer” parents.

Overbearing "bulldozer" parents are why those schools opened. And hence why PP is moving to a school where parents demand less accountability. She doesn't like it.

Yes you opened the schools. Great. But when you continue to act like that pre and post pandemic. It’s runs people out. I have one parent who emails me at least 4 times A DAY. And complains about every single thing you can think of. Everything. Attempts to debate every single assignment grade, every assessment, etc. This parent is an extreme example and their kid is literally the hot potato of the grade. But if you have 10-15 kids like this with the parents acting even 25% this crazy...it runs teachers out. People can only deal with things like this so long.

Fellow teacher here who appreciates the term “hot potato”. It is so true that obnoxious parents earn a reputation among teachers at a school and NOBODY wants their kid in their class. Parents should know that the lack of respect you might choose to show teachers ends up impacting your child negatively. As much as we all try to put blinders on to spare the child any negative feelings we might have toward their parent, we’re only human. And we DEFINITELY don’t want to have to deal with YOU on a daily basis. So even if your child is wonderful we still hope they’ll end up in someone else’s class.

[Anonymous]

I should add that most parents are wonderful, supportive, and kind in my experience. But there are some doozies out there who think of you as their personal hired help (it’s their tax dollars, after all, they say).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it any different than prior years? And is it purely about teachers being disgruntled? It sounds like some teachers moved because they....uh....wanted their kids to go to school in person and they are just staying someplace else?

I’m leaving my NW ES purely bc the families showed themselves to be really rude and entitled during the reopening period. I’m very excited to get out of the toxic W3 school culture.

So are you going to a different DCPS? Or what?

Yep different DCPS EOTP don’t want to get too detailed on here but it wasn’t too hard to find a school happy to take on a teacher with 5 straight years of highly effective scores. Looking forward to getting back to working with kids instead of placating overbearing parents

translation: you don’t want to be held accountable by parents so you’re moving to a school where you hope that less affluent parents will be less uppity.

DP. It’s not being held accountable. It’s parents being overbearing and “bulldozer” parents.

Overbearing "bulldozer" parents are why those schools opened. And hence why PP is moving to a school where parents demand less accountability. She doesn't like it.

Yes you opened the schools. Great. But when you continue to act like that pre and post pandemic. It’s runs people out. I have one parent who emails me at least 4 times A DAY. And complains about every single thing you can think of. Everything. Attempts to debate every single assignment grade, every assessment, etc. This parent is an extreme example and their kid is literally the hot potato of the grade. But if you have 10-15 kids like this with the parents acting even 25% this crazy...it runs teachers out. People can only deal with things like this so long.

Fellow teacher here who appreciates the term “hot potato”. It is so true that obnoxious parents earn a reputation among teachers at a school and NOBODY wants their kid in their class. Parents should know that the lack of respect you might choose to show teachers ends up impacting your child negatively. As much as we all try to put blinders on to spare the child any negative feelings we might have toward their parent, we’re only human. And we DEFINITELY don’t want to have to deal with YOU on a daily basis. So even if your child is wonderful we still hope they’ll end up in someone else’s class.

nice threat there. and you wonder why more vulnerable/less savvy parents EOTR keep their mouths shut? Due to explicit or implicit threats like this. I have no choice but to advocate for my kid. It’s my job. And if parents had stayed silent this year our school would still be closed, and DL would have been even more if a sh*tshow that it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it any different than prior years? And is it purely about teachers being disgruntled? It sounds like some teachers moved because they....uh....wanted their kids to go to school in person and they are just staying someplace else?

I’m leaving my NW ES purely bc the families showed themselves to be really rude and entitled during the reopening period. I’m very excited to get out of the toxic W3 school culture.

So are you going to a different DCPS? Or what?

Yep different DCPS EOTP don’t want to get too detailed on here but it wasn’t too hard to find a school happy to take on a teacher with 5 straight years of highly effective scores. Looking forward to getting back to working with kids instead of placating overbearing parents

translation: you don’t want to be held accountable by parents so you’re moving to a school where you hope that less affluent parents will be less uppity.

It’s not your job though. It’s the job of your child’s teachers, principal and district leadership. I think the issue is exacerbated in many upper NW schools bc parents think that they’re entitled to private school type accommodations from their teachers and forget that public schools only can do so much.


DP. It’s not being held accountable. It’s parents being overbearing and “bulldozer” parents.

Overbearing "bulldozer" parents are why those schools opened. And hence why PP is moving to a school where parents demand less accountability. She doesn't like it.

Yes you opened the schools. Great. But when you continue to act like that pre and post pandemic. It’s runs people out. I have one parent who emails me at least 4 times A DAY. And complains about every single thing you can think of. Everything. Attempts to debate every single assignment grade, every assessment, etc. This parent is an extreme example and their kid is literally the hot potato of the grade. But if you have 10-15 kids like this with the parents acting even 25% this crazy...it runs teachers out. People can only deal with things like this so long.

Fellow teacher here who appreciates the term “hot potato”. It is so true that obnoxious parents earn a reputation among teachers at a school and NOBODY wants their kid in their class. Parents should know that the lack of respect you might choose to show teachers ends up impacting your child negatively. As much as we all try to put blinders on to spare the child any negative feelings we might have toward their parent, we’re only human. And we DEFINITELY don’t want to have to deal with YOU on a daily basis. So even if your child is wonderful we still hope they’ll end up in someone else’s class.

nice threat there. and you wonder why more vulnerable/less savvy parents EOTR keep their mouths shut? Due to explicit or implicit threats like this. I have no choice but to advocate for my kid. It’s my job. And if parents had stayed silent this year our school would still be closed, and DL would have been even more if a sh*tshow that it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's probably going to be a lot of turnover in a lot of professions. The pandemic has a lot of people rethinking their career choices.

Teachers in DC seem like they have a pretty cushy gig. They are extremely well paid and their union runs the schools. If they move somewhere else, they're likely going to take a pay cut and other school systems are not going to be so deferential to all their demands.

Cush gig. That’s hysterical. And west of the park schools are not necessarily better managed. And then there’s still IMPACT, the extremely punitive evaluation instrument whose creator has chosen not to use it at his district because it creates a “climate of fear”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there will be a ton of turnover this summer. But it’s looking like that in a lot of industries.

Wouldn't we know already, if our school has already announced who is leaving? Didn't they already have to commit for the next year?

No. The internal transfer deadline is in July. If you leave DCPS they can fine you $1000. But they never do.

Well the internal transfer may be until July but the cutoff is late April and your principal can block you from transferring to another school.[/quote]

Clarification. The deadline to resign/retire from DCPS is April 15. The Internal Transfer deadline is July 15. The principal CANNOT block an internal transfer until July 16th. If teachers want to transfer they need to make sure they have that offer letter signed by July 15th to avoid any problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont blame after the pandemic and craziness. Teachers can make so much more money in the private sector doing corporate training. After reading a ton of posts here, parents in DC suck too.

Yep. I left at the end of SY 19-20 and got a $20k raise to do corporate training.

My SO is thinking about it. He’s been a teacher for almost 20 years and it’s the only thing he ever wanted to do. The students are great. But the parents are ridiculous. Teaching isn’t customer service. I have a portfolio of clients and they treat me better and with more respect for my competency and time than these parents treat my SO.