Anonymous wrote:I don’t know what’s worse:
– seeing teachers leave without knowing whether it’s because of the Head of School or something else,
or
– witnessing this kind of behavior among parents in a school community we’re part of.

I’ve always worried that all-girls schools might foster a “mean girls, mean parents” culture—but I haven’t seen this level or frequency of drama at other all-girls schools.

Has the community at this school always been like this?

Every thread like this over the past two years eventually circles back to the HOS drama. Posters get mean, start calling names, and make accusations—then the thread gets removed by the moderator.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The board selected the HOS to appeal to conservative donors and families, overlooking her lack of qualifications, poor people skills, and troubling professional history.

There must be a candidate that can share the board's values/vision, appeal to new families and donors, AND be an appropriate leader for the school that doesn't chase away valuable members of the community.

The board should really consider how they failed Holton. It's time to change course.

Your assessment doesn’t seem to be objective but based on how much teachers dislike penny. I couldn’t care less about your feelings or that there is HOS that you like. The bottom line is if my daughter is receiving a high quality education that is consistent with the amount of tuition I pay. So far that is the case so I am not so worried about a teacher complaining about penny anonymously.

Of course your child is getting a great education! She's at Holton, with a long legacy of caring for, inspiring, and educating young women. Over the last two years that is happening inspite of Penny, not because of her.

So to improve the education the teachers need to like the HOS? I think they are a bit spoiled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The board selected the HOS to appeal to conservative donors and families, overlooking her lack of qualifications, poor people skills, and troubling professional history.

There must be a candidate that can share the board's values/vision, appeal to new families and donors, AND be an appropriate leader for the school that doesn't chase away valuable members of the community.

The board should really consider how they failed Holton. It's time to change course.

Your assessment doesn’t seem to be objective but based on how much teachers dislike penny. I couldn’t care less about your feelings or that there is HOS that you like. The bottom line is if my daughter is receiving a high quality education that is consistent with the amount of tuition I pay. So far that is the case so I am not so worried about a teacher complaining about penny anonymously.

Of course your child is getting a great education! She's at Holton, with a long legacy of caring for, inspiring, and educating young women. Over the last two years that is happening inspite of Penny, not because of her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The board selected the HOS to appeal to conservative donors and families, overlooking her lack of qualifications, poor people skills, and troubling professional history.

There must be a candidate that can share the board's values/vision, appeal to new families and donors, AND be an appropriate leader for the school that doesn't chase away valuable members of the community.

The board should really consider how they failed Holton. It's time to change course.

Your assessment doesn’t seem to be objective but based on how much teachers dislike penny. I couldn’t care less about your feelings or that there is HOS that you like. The bottom line is if my daughter is receiving a high quality education that is consistent with the amount of tuition I pay. So far that is the case so I am not so worried about a teacher complaining about penny anonymously.

I'm sorry...who do you think is providing the high quality education you are paying for??? And if they all leave and are replaced by rookie teachers?? Dismissing the concerns of the teachers HAS led to a drop in quality of education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The board selected the HOS to appeal to conservative donors and families, overlooking her lack of qualifications, poor people skills, and troubling professional history.

There must be a candidate that can share the board's values/vision, appeal to new families and donors, AND be an appropriate leader for the school that doesn't chase away valuable members of the community.

The board should really consider how they failed Holton. It's time to change course.

Your assessment doesn’t seem to be objective but based on how much teachers dislike penny. I couldn’t care less about your feelings or that there is HOS that you like. The bottom line is if my daughter is receiving a high quality education that is consistent with the amount of tuition I pay. So far that is the case so I am not so worried about a teacher complaining about penny anonymously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The board selected the HOS to appeal to conservative donors and families, overlooking her lack of qualifications, poor people skills, and troubling professional history.

There must be a candidate that can share the board's values/vision, appeal to new families and donors, AND be an appropriate leader for the school that doesn't chase away valuable members of the community.

The board should really consider how they failed Holton. It's time to change course.

Your assessment doesn’t seem to be objective but based on how much teachers dislike penny. I couldn’t care less about your feelings or that there is HOS that you like. The bottom line is if my daughter is receiving a high quality education that is consistent with the amount of tuition I pay. So far that is the case so I am not so worried about a teacher complaining about penny anonymously.

Anonymous wrote:The board selected the HOS to appeal to conservative donors and families, overlooking her lack of qualifications, poor people skills, and troubling professional history.

There must be a candidate that can share the board's values/vision, appeal to new families and donors, AND be an appropriate leader for the school that doesn't chase away valuable members of the community.

The board should really consider how they failed Holton. It's time to change course.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staff and faculty have been told by the HOS that they are replaceable. They have also been reminded that she is the only one with a multi year contract.

All true.

.

That is a super shitty thing to say to a group of teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the President of the Board Penny’s biggest cheerleader? Didn’t she feel very strongly about drastic change at Holton which is why she didn’t enroll her own daughters there as soon as they were of age?

It doesn’t seem like she would be in favor of ousting the change that she championed.

I could have incorrect information, but lots of PPs say the the board should do something, but it might be that the board is pleased with these changes.

That's the point...if faculty were to meet and later air their grievances, they could do things that would awaken the Board to pay serious attention to their concerns. They could issue a public vote of "no confidence." They could vote to unionize (now THAT would get the Board's attention real fast).

And let's be honest, certain voices among the faculty will carry more weight. For example, if the AP Calculus, Advanced Analytical Chemistry, and Advanced Latin teachers were to insist upon change, the Board would likely listen, knowing those people are hard to replace. There are vets among the lower school whose voices carry a lot weight.

But until the teachers meet and agree to take action, the Board (and likely Penny) will cast aside the gripes on this thread as needless noise.

Unionize at a private school? Good luck with that!