Reply to 7 Math teachers are leaving Richard Montgomerry HS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is an RM student here who has talked to some of the IB teachers that are leaving. There are 7 total teachers who are leaving and not all of them teach IB but the whole entire IB precalculus department is leaving. This means that 95% of the rising sophomore class will have a teacher who is unfamiliar with teaching IB precalculus according to the HL and SL pathways.  One of the teachers confirmed that they along with other IB affiliated teachers  were leaving because Ms. Goetz was being pushed down from being the department head. We have heard that Ms. Goetz, a great math teacher with tons of experience in the IB curriculum (like all the precalculus teachers that are leaving) will soon be leaving. Students feel confused and frustrated that we’re not getting any straight answers about WHY they’re leaving and what the future of IB math is going to look like,[b] as well as the fact that we feel unsupported in the school.[/b] It feels like the administration doesn’t like IB, and it doesn’t feel too great to go to a school where you feel like the outsiders even though you walk in and out of the same doors that kids zoned for RM do. With the new IB administration, there is much confusion about DP pathways and there is not much support when high achievers try to aim high and take rigorous course loads. I guess this is just an insider’s perspective. [/quote]

That is not new right? My kid graduated RMIB 4 years ago and spent two years under the current Principal. Even then I remember my kid telling me that kids don't think the current Principal likes the program. I remember criticisms I heard were - no school (RM) spirit, not integrated with main body, hangs by themselves...etc. I sense at the time was that the new guy really didn't understand and didn't appreciate the particular needs of these kids. Hoover did but she got pushed out for protecting the program. My guess is that these teachers' tried to hang on but just couldn't do it any longer. I really feel that the program is dying. Sad story actually... [/quote]
I am curious to know if the program has suffered since the new Principal took over.   I remember when my child was admitted a few years ago 93% of the RMIB program earned an IB diploma.  Their website says that in 2017 88% received a diploma.  Curious about what happened in 2018[/quote]
I'm a parent of a current IB student. Despite bashing RMIB being a favorite pastime of several DCUM posters, from my viewpoint, the program seems fine. Why kids don't earn diplomas was discussed at a PAC meeting. Sometimes kids don't complete some very specific things required by IB, such as finishing their extended essay, or sitting one of their exams. Once they have gotten into college, some don't see the need to actually get their IB diploma. Steps are being taken to address some of that. Students that don't meet certain milestones in their Junior year will have to meet with parents and magnet administrators and may be "counseled out" of the program.

Also - a PP said current magnet coordinators were confused about math pathways. Actually sounds like PP is confused - IB just rolled out changes to the math courses and testing, so RM had to respond by adjusting their various courses and pathways for the magnet (9th & 10th) program and the diploma program. This also was presented to parents at a PAC meeting.

https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/mathematics/
[quote]Four courses are currently available in mathematics and these courses will have their last assessment in November 2020:

mathematical studies standard level
    mathematics standard level
    mathematics higher level
    further mathematics higher level

From August 2019 the following courses, with first assessment in May 2021, will be available:

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL
    Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL
    Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL
    Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL
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