Anonymous wrote:OP here. By way of background:

Social studies is DS's favorite subject, and it was great that he had a teacher he was excited by -- especially since he's not the most natural student in most other areas. It's his first semester at a new school and the other instruction frankly has been a bit wanting. Not so with (now former) social studies teacher. He is/was awesome.

At the risk of providing too much identifying info, I would also add that since kindergarten, DS has been in MCPS schools with a strong "haves" and "have-nots" dynamic -- ie, where "better teachers" for lack of a better description went to magnet classes.

I was really heartened that my non-magnet kid was benefitting from this teacher's superlative instruction. Unfortunately, it was short-lived.

But life happens. So you deal with it.

OP here. By way of background:

Social studies is DS's favorite subject, and it was great that he had a teacher he was excited by -- especially since he's not the most natural student in most other areas. It's his first semester at a new school and the other instruction frankly has been a bit wanting. Not so with (now former) social studies teacher. He is/was awesome.

At the risk of providing too much identifying info, I would also add that since kindergarten, DS has been in MCPS schools with a strong "haves" and "have-nots" dynamic -- ie, where "better teachers" for lack of a better description went to magnet classes.

I was really heartened that my non-magnet kid was benefitting from this teacher's superlative instruction. Unfortunately, it was short-lived.

I sympathize, OP, and think you have reason to be disappointed, but come on, it's social studies. It's not like it's AP Calculus or some intensive science or a foreign language. Long-term subs are generally not the occasional idiots that show up for daily assignments. Likely the school has a pool of high-quality subs that could be former teachers, and will tap one of them to fill in for the rest of the year. He will learn the material and survive. Relax, there are worse things.

Besides, you say the students have not been considered--perhaps not YOUR student, but apparently the students at the teacher's new school will benefit from having a "highly qualified, well-liked and respected veteran teacher" as their administrator.

When I was in high school, my AP European History teacher retired in the middle of the year. Our school's solution was for all of us to take some other class second semester. I didn't do too well on that AP exam...

I left my fifth grade classroom the first week in November to take an assistant principal position at another school. The position had opened up because that asst principal got a job in another county in August. My old school and new school worked it out so that I had some transition time out of my classroom and so someone else could be hired in my place.

Life happens. Folks get promoted. Schools work to make it as least painful as possible, but in the end, there is going to be some disruption.

So - if you were in the middle of a project, leading a team of ten - and were promoted out of necessity, you'd say no? The teacher has NO say. Many APs (I'm assuming that's the new position.) are moved - are placed.

And while I'm glad he's terrific, I'm sure someone can fill his shoes. We had two fabulous long-term subs who are now our top teachers.

It happens.

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for providing professional growth opportunities for teachers,
but was it really necessary, MCPS, to promote my kid's social studies teacher in mid-year?

I'm told that the teacher, effectively immediately, is going into administration, and he's very capable, which means it
is a terrific outcome for the school system. For him, since it likely means a fatter paycheck, and enhanced career prospects.

But how in blue blazes are the interests of his students being served here? What's so pressing that they could not have made the
promotion effective July 1, after the end of the school year?

It really sucks for the kids, who seem not to have been given much thought at all in this boneheaded move. Instead of getting instruction
from a highly qualified, well-liked and respected veteran teacher, the class now will be taught through the end of the school year by a substitute.

Oh, joy!

OP, first, my kid's principal left in the 1st quarter for a position outside MCPS. I have felt the school has been in a major bind all school year, being down the principal and having the AP as Acting Principal (and doing a fine job), but no "real" AP in place.

The bottom line is that life happens and isn't always fair. You have about 15 weeks of school left, so at least your son was able to benefit from the great teacher for more than 1/2 the school year.

If a transfer is going to be made its going to happen at the semester break. They can't leave a vacant administration position sitting wide open. What if its an assistant principal slot at another school? Your type would be whining that the school didn't have an assistant principal to care for your little darlings needs.

That sucks.

OP here.

I understand that schools lose teachers midyear to give birth -- and usually have many months to prepare for that. I get that emergencies and family crises happen.

And I'm always in favor of getting rid of a bad teacher -- whenever that happens in the school year. We've had that happen in my kid's school experience as well.

It seems different to me, however, to say that the school system couldn't have tried to provide continuity just for another few months for the dozens of kids affected by this change.

Our principal left mid year to be principal of a brand new school that would open the next fall. I had teachers retire in the middle of the year because the principal forced them out. The bottom line is that people are people. They have their own best interests at heart and will do what's best for themselves.

My DC has had long term subs, usually when teachers have given birth (the nerve of them not to schedule their births for June!). The school seems to have been able to get very good teachers to fill in. One was a recently retired teacher who had taught the same subject for years and was an excellent teacher. You may be pleasantly surprised.

You don't know what's going on in the administration, OP. Sometimes there's a pressing need for someone to take over right away, and that need supercedes the need for that person to be in a classroom. In administration, your DC's teacher will have influence over a larger number of people. It's tough if your child likes the teacher, but you can't know what's going on behind the scenes that prompted this move. From a PR aspect, though, it makes them look disorganized.

I'm all for providing professional growth opportunities for teachers,
but was it really necessary, MCPS, to promote my kid's social studies teacher in mid-year?

I'm told that the teacher, effectively immediately, is going into administration, and he's very capable, which means it
is a terrific outcome for the school system. For him, since it likely means a fatter paycheck, and enhanced career prospects.

But how in blue blazes are the interests of his students being served here? What's so pressing that they could not have made the
promotion effective July 1, after the end of the school year?

It really sucks for the kids, who seem not to have been given much thought at all in this boneheaded move. Instead of getting instruction
from a highly qualified, well-liked and respected veteran teacher, the class now will be taught through the end of the school year by a substitute.

Oh, joy!