During teacher transfers at the elementary level, those with 3-5 year experience usually move through the system right away, whereas it's quite difficut for seasoned "expensive" teachers to do it unless it's something like media or staff development. When a school gets a new principal, things change. The new person soon starts harrassing and making things quite difficult for specific teachers thus creating a hostile envornment. To get away, teachers try to tranfer within the system or retiring early if they can afford to.
Now, if the big shot staffer is behind all this, the principal of the receiving school will not be able to finalize the transfer because he/she will be told to wait until all involuntary people have been placed -- something that may continue much beyond the 2 week timeframe during the end of May with MCPS. The staffer will then assign someone and the principal has to accept thus not being able to offer the harrassed teacher a spot. The contract language is written in such a way that staffers can manipulate it any way they want to and the union will simply tell the teacher that nothing illegal was done.
Schools with a strong PTA (beyond teacher appreciation day breakfasts and lunches) definitely make a difference.
So parents, if you like your kid's teachers and think or hear they are being targeted, do not dismiss them as rumors. Write emails to the principal thanking him or her for retaining such great teachers.
That's the best gift you can give a dedicated teacher.

During teacher transfers at the elementary level, those with 3-5 year experience usually transfer right away, whereas it's quite difficut for seasoned "expensive" teachers to do it unless it's something like media or staff development. When a school gets a new principal, things change. The new person may not be able to change things around the first year but soon into the year starts making things diffcult for specific teachers thus inderectly forcing them to get away from a hostile envoronment, so tranfer or retire early. Now if the big shot staffer is behind all this, the principal of the receiving school will not be able to finalize the trasnfer because he/she will be told to wait until all involuntary people have been placed -- something that may continue much beyond the 2 week timeframe, or the staffer may assign someone and the principal has to accept. The contract language is written in such a way tha the staffers can manipulate it any way they want to.
Schools with a strong PTA (beyond breakfasts and lunches) definitely make a difference. So parents, if you like your teachers and think or hear they are being targeted, do not dismiss them as rumors. Write emails to the principal thanking him or her for retaining such great teachers.

I have also heard this about public and private schools in the area. Some parents of high schoolers are noting that they have seen a decrease in the number of senior teachers and a large number of very young teachers.

meant hire, not higher.

I have no knowledge of MCPS. But I will say that this kind of thing is happening in all sectors of the economy, so I wouldn't be shocked if it is happening in school systems.

Faced with tight budgets, private and public sector employers have been pushing out employees close to retirement age in order to higher younger staff with lower salary.

I don't think it would be anything unique to MCPS. I think it's been going on for the last several years all over the place.

Anonymous wrote:This did appear to happen in one case that I know of. Teacher seemed to retire earlier than expected and replaced by teacher straight out of college and other newbies were also hired the next year.

Of course the retiring teacher was replaced by one straight out of college. There are certainly more "new" teachers for hire than experienced ones looking to change schools. Newer teachers are lowest on the seniority list and first to get transferred if the school's allocation changes. Veteran teachers are much less likely to change school locations, even if they want to change grade levels or subjects, it's probably better to wait around for an opening within the school rather than start over at completely new one.

Also, with the changes in curriculum, some teachers closer to retirement might understandably choose to leave a little earlier, rather than bother with the hassle of learning the new curriculum, planning, making materials, etc for only a short time.

The OP is nuts.`

This did appear to happen in one case that I know of. Teacher seemed to retire earlier than expected and replaced by teacher straight out of college and other newbies were also hired the next year.

Anonymous wrote:HR Department is getting rid of expensive teachers . Montgomery County Public Schools is supposed to be the best
in this area. But, what is really happening is that staffers are forcing the principles to harass certain teachers
thereby forcing them to quit/retire early so that they can replace them with 22-year-olds.

Bullcrap. Probably a rumor started by a disgruntled 30 year veteran teacher who's still using lessons written 20 years ago and refuses to change.

Crazy post. No one is forcing "principles" to harass older teachers. Older teachers got in with sweet pensions... it is expensive for them to retire.

Most teachers my son had have been teaching for a really really long time...

Plus: MCPS teachers (the older ones ) have excellent pensions, so it's costly when they retire. Doesn't make financial sense to pay Old Teacher a big pension plus continued healthcare PLUS the salary for the Young Teacher.

Not true.

Doesn't seem like that in our school. New teachers come in at all seniority levels. Many transfer from other schools in the county.

What specifically are you talking about?

HR Department is getting rid of expensive teachers . Montgomery County Public Schools is supposed to be the best
in this area. But, what is really happening is that staffers are forcing the principles to harass certain teachers
thereby forcing them to quit/retire early so that they can replace them with 22-year-olds.