Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My spouse taught in FX for ten years and has been in APS for ten years.

Basically, prefers the smaller bureaucracy, but I don't think day to day experience is much different. Spouse likes APS less since it acquired a former FX admin as superintendent.

Nobody likes the former Fairfax Co Administrator. Teachers and many Principals loathe him.

APS is great for smaller class sizes and much smaller bureaucracy--agree with this poster!

APS does close a lot less frequently for weather-related events.

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.




If you consider additional standardized testing--three times a year for Math and Reading in addition to the SOLs--an example of being held more accountable, okay.

But most APS teachers feel it isn't good for the students to test them so often.

I often wonder if APS parents realize just how much of this kind of testing is going on....

I'm an APS parent until June. I say that because we're pulling our kids out because of all the testing that goes on. I'm very aware, but it's only because I asked. Smaller class sizes? If 26-27 is small then maybe. That's the other reason.

PP, are you willing to share what grades and where your kids are headed?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My spouse taught in FX for ten years and has been in APS for ten years.

Basically, prefers the smaller bureaucracy, but I don't think day to day experience is much different. Spouse likes APS less since it acquired a former FX admin as superintendent.

Nobody likes the former Fairfax Co Administrator. Teachers and many Principals loathe him.

APS is great for smaller class sizes and much smaller bureaucracy--agree with this poster!

APS does close a lot less frequently for weather-related events.

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.




If you consider additional standardized testing--three times a year for Math and Reading in addition to the SOLs--an example of being held more accountable, okay.

But most APS teachers feel it isn't good for the students to test them so often.

I often wonder if APS parents realize just how much of this kind of testing is going on....

I'm an APS parent until June. I say that because we're pulling our kids out because of all the testing that goes on. I'm very aware, but it's only because I asked. Smaller class sizes? If 26-27 is small then maybe. That's the other reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.

Plenty of parents dislike Murphy.

--APS parent

Anonymous wrote:I loved teaching in APS. Love the community, love the district. I find it very positive for teachers and I had a lot of autonomy. My 8 years there were pre-NCLB though.

FCPS is way way more bureaucratic, way more regimented. Teachers are treated like robots who are expected to stick to a strict week by week pacing guide dictated by the county. It is a huge mammoth of a system, layers upon layers of mid-level administrators justifying their existence. And the focus on trading and data is out of control. My life is spreadsheets more than kids. Maybe that's NCLB. But I hate it.

Anonymous wrote:I loved teaching in APS. Love the community, love the district. I find it very positive for teachers and I had a lot of autonomy. My 8 years there were pre-NCLB though.

FCPS is way way more bureaucratic, way more regimented. Teachers are treated like robots who are expected to stick to a strict week by week pacing guide dictated by the county. It is a huge mammoth of a system, layers upon layers of mid-level administrators justifying their existence. And the focus on trading and data is out of control. My life is spreadsheets more than kids. Maybe that's NCLB. But I hate it.

I loved teaching in APS. Love the community, love the district. I find it very positive for teachers and I had a lot of autonomy. My 8 years there were pre-NCLB though.

FCPS is way way more bureaucratic, way more regimented. Teachers are treated like robots who are expected to stick to a strict week by week pacing guide dictated by the county. It is a huge mammoth of a system, layers upon layers of mid-level administrators justifying their existence. And the focus on trading and data is out of control. My life is spreadsheets more than kids. Maybe that's NCLB. But I hate it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My spouse taught in FX for ten years and has been in APS for ten years.

Basically, prefers the smaller bureaucracy, but I don't think day to day experience is much different. Spouse likes APS less since it acquired a former FX admin as superintendent.

Nobody likes the former Fairfax Co Administrator. Teachers and many Principals loathe him.

APS is great for smaller class sizes and much smaller bureaucracy--agree with this poster!

APS does close a lot less frequently for weather-related events.

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.


If you consider additional standardized testing--three times a year for Math and Reading in addition to the SOLs--an example of being held more accountable, okay.

But most APS teachers feel it isn't good for the students to test them so often.

I often wonder if APS parents realize just how much of this kind of testing is going on....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse taught in FX for ten years and has been in APS for ten years.

Basically, prefers the smaller bureaucracy, but I don't think day to day experience is much different. Spouse likes APS less since it acquired a former FX admin as superintendent.

Nobody likes the former Fairfax Co Administrator. Teachers and many Principals loathe him.

APS is great for smaller class sizes and much smaller bureaucracy--agree with this poster!

APS does close a lot less frequently for weather-related events.

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.

Anonymous wrote:
My spouse taught in FX for ten years and has been in APS for ten years.

Basically, prefers the smaller bureaucracy, but I don't think day to day experience is much different. Spouse likes APS less since it acquired a former FX admin as superintendent.

Nobody likes the former Fairfax Co Administrator. Teachers and many Principals loathe him.

APS is great for smaller class sizes and much smaller bureaucracy--agree with this poster!

APS does close a lot less frequently for weather-related events.

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.


If you consider additional standardized testing--three times a year for Math and Reading in addition to the SOLs--an example of being held more accountable, okay.

But most APS teachers feel it isn't good for the students to test them so often.

Anonymous wrote:
My spouse taught in FX for ten years and has been in APS for ten years.

Basically, prefers the smaller bureaucracy, but I don't think day to day experience is much different. Spouse likes APS less since it acquired a former FX admin as superintendent.

Nobody likes the former Fairfax Co Administrator. Teachers and many Principals loathe him.

APS is great for smaller class sizes and much smaller bureaucracy--agree with this poster!

APS does close a lot less frequently for weather-related events.

Apparently the APS School Board likes Murphy, since they extended his contract for four more years last summer, after he'd already been the APS Superintendent five years. I gather they think performance has improved under his watch, but that some teachers and principals don't like being held more accountable.

Anonymous wrote:When there are openings at TJHSST, do teachers already at other FCPS schools have an advantage in applying for those positions?

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. How is it more transient, but still more stifling in terms of opportunities available?