Reply to Looking for current input on Sandy Spring Friends School

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Current Lower School family here. We absolutely love the community and the school. The families are down-to-earth and friendly, the teachers and staff are caring and attentive, and it has overall been a wonderful experience and a kind and gentle place for our DC. That said, there seems to be some trouble in paradise. The head of Lower School, who is very well-liked, is leaving at the end of this year, along with several teachers including both 1st grade teachers (one retired, one is leaving). Families are definitely concerned about the turnover. The administration has hosted several parent forums to update families and answer questions, which has been reassuring. They are saying turnover is a problem everywhere, not just at SSFS, and they have shared their short and long-term plans to address it, which seem reasonable. They have identified an interim head of Lower School who seems committed, and are actively recruiting for the open teacher positions. It's a rough patch, for sure. But I wouldn't let it scare you off - the school really is a special place and the staffing issues will get sorted out.[/quote]

We've been in (multiple) private schools in DMV for 15 years.  Turnover is a common occurrence at all private schools (and more so recently with COVID impacts).  Teachers are a transitory bunch for many reasons.  Youth has a big impact with relocations, marriages, babies. At all ages, opportunities to climb ladder are often elsewhere. Teaching is a transplantable skill/job, so even older teachers will leave to follow a spouse to another city for the spouse's work.  They also move closer to family (older parents, own kids/grandkids).  We have also seen teachers choose to retire when there is a change in administration - usually they were already thinking of it and decided it was a good time. [/quote]

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