The good ones are leaving and the bad ones are staying!!

Washington DC is one of the most expensive cities to live in the US. Cost of leaving could be one factor for relocation unless the faculty or staff has family wealth. Some are leaving to attend graduate school, some have spouses whose jobs are relocated. The turnover rate seems reasonable.

I am sorry to hear that the transition teacher is leaving, my DS adored her.

Anonymous wrote:WES wasn't even able to fill its kindergarten class this year. They're having another open house in May for the 2014-15 school year. That's not a good sign.

I really wonder what is going on. They couldn't fill the kindergarten class and staff is leaving.

If the school is going through that many chaplins, sounds like the board needs to do a thorough exit interview of the current chaplin and actually find out why he is really leaving. Maybe the school is just a stepping stone for clergy or maybe there is something wrong with the job or maybe it is something else. Whatever it is, they need to try to find out and do something about it.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's too bad he's leaving.

+1

Yes, it's too bad he's leaving.

Anonymous wrote:Bishops do not tap candidates. Candidates are free to seek employment within as well as without schools/parishes.

Like I said, I am not familiar with the workings of the church. I just know that my kids are going to miss him. One of my sons wanted to know if Father Tim could be his classroom teacher.

Bishops do not tap candidates. Candidates are free to seek employment within as well as without schools/parishes.

Anonymous wrote:PP, I'm sorry that your family has had a difficult year. The WES chaplains appear to use the job as a stepping stone and all of them seem to get some "once in a lifetime" opportunity that they cannot pass up. Makes me wonder why they were looking around for other opportunities -- they had to go on interviews to get these other jobs. How long was Father Tim there -- one year?

Father Tim has been there one year. Again, if the turnover is so high with the chaplains, I would agree that there is a problem that needs to be looked at. On the other hand, I also don't really know how the Episcopal Church works when it comes to its priests. It may be that the chaplains aren't looking for other jobs? Maybe it is a case of the bishop seeing someone who is good at what he/she does and wants to pull that priest into a church? I honestly don't know. If Father Tim cares for his future church the way he has cared for us, then that is one fortunate church.

If you count teachers and omit admin employees, turnover is around 10% this year. I'm including the teacher who left in March. That for a small school is a notable turnover. And, I am sorry to see the Chaplain move on.

PP, I'm sorry that your family has had a difficult year. The WES chaplains appear to use the job as a stepping stone and all of them seem to get some "once in a lifetime" opportunity that they cannot pass up. Makes me wonder why they were looking around for other opportunities -- they had to go on interviews to get these other jobs. How long was Father Tim there -- one year?

From my experience with the schools that we have been involved with, five teachers leaving seems reasonable and consistent with other schools. The frequency of turnover with the chaplain's position is of real concern. If there have been five chaplains in recent years as a previous poster mentioned, then that is a big problem. We are new to the WES community, and we really love the current chaplain. We are not particularly religious, but we have been through a lot this year with illnesses and a death in the family. He has walked with us through all of it, and we are grateful. His leaving is a real loss to the school.

WES wasn't even able to fill its kindergarten class this year. They're having another open house in May for the 2014-15 school year. That's not a good sign.

PP, lets see your benchmarks. Sounds as if you have experience . Day care? Play groups? WES?

Perhaps I am wrong but it is totally within the norm from my years at WES and at a previous other school. Please provide me your benchmarks for comparison.