Teacher retention, keeping teachers on the Shore is one of the most important and critical issues facing Northampton county. The Mirror has interviewed and talked with several teachers, and the reasons people leave the Northampton school district is multi-faceted. This year, the county lost 25% of its teachers—that means there will be over 35 new teachers that will need to be integrated into the system. The demographics can be broken down into categories such as attrition, moving, etc.; sources tell us that of the 25% that are leaving, at least half are leaving because of job dissatisfaction. Some of the factors included inadequate administrative support, isolated working conditions, poor support and consistency regarding student discipline, lower salaries and a lack of collaborative teacher influence over school decisions, decisions that directly affect performance in the classroom.
Note: This article only sampled around 9% of the teachers in the school system. It should also be noted that we only spoke with teachers who are currently working in the school system. In future articles, we will be talking to teachers that have left, asking why they chose to leave Northampton, or the field in general. While responses varied, we are only presenting those that were most common. While we did not want to paint the entire system with the same brush, was also did not want to throw individual buildings under the bus. As was noted in the Teacher Retention Committee’s surveys, responses vary by school.
Mobility
One way teachers try to avoid burn out is to transfer—either to a new school, or even change the grade level they are teaching. We heard over and over that transfer requests were almost never discussed. Instead, teachers only received a pink slip rubber stamped with a big red ‘DENIED’ notice with no explanation one way or the another. Another issue is the lack of upward mobility at the school system. The major complaint heard from teachers is that the school system rarely if ever hires or promotes from within. In most cases, administration looks to bring people in from outside. While bringing in new blood may be a way freshen a stale system, it also impedes morale, and forces teachers to move out if they want to move up.
Onerous Lesson Plans
Teachers complain about administration’s draconian emphasis on lesson planning, and the rigid scheduling around turning them in. The concern is that teachers don’t have time to prep for the activities that are going to help students because they are so busy writing elaborate lesson plans. How can teachers really be “effective” if they must spend 3 or 4 hours just on lesson plans, which are really just “plans”? The consensus is that lesson plans are important, but they are a formality—what actually happens in the classroom is what matters. In Virginia Beach, every single school has been accredited. The lessons plans used there are, compared to Northampton, very efficient and streamlined. Burdensome lesson plans are unnecessarily stressful and time-consuming exercises which rarely translate to meaningful successes in the classroom.
Lack of respect, professionalism
For teachers in Northampton, one big issue is how much voice, how much say they have in the school-wide decisions that affect their jobs. They do not feel they are treated as professionals. Teachers feel that they are not respected, and are sometimes even belittled by administration. Some feel they don’t have autonomy in their own classroom, and are consistently micromanaged. Teachers say they would like to have real career prospects and more responsibility as professionals. They would like for administration to encourage them to become leaders of educational reform, to be seen as innovators in education, not just passive servants to the SOLs.
The Shun Wall – No Voice in school affairs
A consistent complaint is that teachers feel they have no voice in the affairs of the school system. There is also a fear of speaking out, or to even have a professional discussion about a concern. In an email, a teacher told us, “Since our voice is rather pronounced and specific, often times we are punished for speaking out which may lead some to be apprehensive to give comment.” One teacher referred to this as the ‘Shun Wall’. Once you bring up a concern, the response is basically to be shunned by administration. The inability to voice concerns leads to a feeling of being undervalued. “We tend to feel insignificant, that what we do, our contributions, no one really cares about what we need to be successful…they are only worried about the test scores.”
Need for support and consistency with discipline issues
Successful school systems thrive on consistency. The teachers we talked to complained that there was not a consistent methodology for dealing with discipline problems. Managing a classroom is a challenge no matter where it is, however the population on the Shore presents unique problems. Complaints are that new teachers are not given enough help acclimating to some of the special issues found here, such as long-term generational poverty. In some cases, we have children that are acting as the head of household, sometimes are even the main breadwinner. How do you discipline someone like that? We were told that some teachers have left after just six months because they couldn’t manage the classroom, and were not receiving any support or help from administration.
Lack of Mentorship
Almost all the teachers interviewed had high praise for the mentors working in the school system. The issue is that there aren’t enough to go around. From what we could gather, the ratio is 1 mentor to 40 teachers (not confirmed). Mentorship is crucial for young teachers. While they receive two weeks of training and orientation before classes begin, once school starts, many find themselves alone on an island. Other, more experienced teachers try to fill the gap helping with lesson plans and showing them how to use the online computer systems, but this does not take the place of a proper mentorship program.
Lack of a solid curriculum
Another important issue that was brought up was the lack of an appropriate yearlong or semester-long curriculum aligned with the state standards in core subjects. If teachers are responsible for creating curriculums, it takes time away from instruction and burdens teachers with extra work and excessive paperwork. This issue is amplified for new teachers.
Isolation
For new teachers moving to the Shore, the community provides a good amount of support helping them acclimate to the area, such as finding housing, services and other resources. After they settle in, and fall turns into winter, the desolation of the area begins to set in. It is very expensive to live here, and given the starting salaries, after paying rent and bills, there is little left for entertainment. Most certainly can’t pay the toll to go across the bay on a regular basis. In many cases, they are left alone, trying to make it to the next pay check. One suggestion was that the school system could organize events such as taking the white bus across the bay to shopping malls or movie theaters (it only costs $1 to cross), or even small events like barbecues. These are small gestures, but getting groups of teachers together once a month just to talk and have fun would mean so much to our young teachers.
Salaries
Most teachers said that while salary was not the most important factor, many times it was the straw that breaks the camel’s back and prompts them to leave Northampton. Most realize that the county is doing more than is required (paying 30% more than is required by the state), however that does not change the fact that it is a hardship. Almost every teacher we talked to worked a second job just to make ends meet. As was mentioned earlier, it is expensive to live here—housing, utilities, food, gas, etc., when it’s all said and done, most teachers wind up living off their credit cards.
The Northampton County school system has lost 25% of its teachers. So why do so many leave? As we illustrated, there are many different reasons. When we asked the teachers that continue to stay on, why they stay, the response was much the same—the kids come first. These teachers, despite the obstacles have formed a unique bond with the students of Northampton County. As one teacher responded, “I love the Eastern Shore. The students of Northampton deserve to have something stable in their very tumultuous lives.”
In the next few months, the School Board will be addressing important issues such as attendance and truancy. Teacher retention should also be at the top of the list. The Teacher Retention Committee has begun to produce some data, as well as a beginning list of recommendations. As one teacher told us, “If meaningful change is going to happen, the work of the TRC, especially the teacher surveys needs to be a priority.”
Connie says
This can be echoed in Accomack County Public Schools. But you won’t read about it in the news anymore because the Superintendant and School Board threatens the only local paper that dares to print anything truthful about them. The rainbow washing has got to go.
Anne says
I teach in Northampton County and agree completely with the points made in this article. I chose to remain in this sytem for 2 reasons: the kids and the beauty of the Eastern Shore. I have made great friends on the shore as well. I will say that my desire to stay may not be strong enough to override the lack of consistent discipline, the lack of being treated as a professional, and the belittling tone often used by my administration. I sincerely hope that our district and our school board make honest efforts to remedy the situations this article brings to light
Thank you Cape Charles Mirror!
Lynn says
Well written and factual. However, please change your picture to the district logo. These problems are district wide as mentioned in the article and not just at the high school. The picture implies that the problems are with the high school.
Note: Agreed.
Cathy Buyrn says
This kind of bashing is unproductive. As a parent, a former NCPS teacher, and an educator who currently works in schools all over eastern VA, I disagree with this hostile characterization of NCPS leadership. Data matters. Lesson plans matter. They are part of the job. NCPS has come a long way. The mentoring program is highly developed. This piece of supposed journalism only sought out people who were angry. How does trash talking NCPS help us recruit and retain teachers? It simply is not true that teachers are not consulted. I’ve sat on a number of committees over the years that included teachers as decision makers. This portrayal isn’t good for the committed professionals in our classrooms or our kids who are getting ready to return to school.
Cathy Buyrn says
You didn’t bother to investigate the teacher mentoring program before dismissing it. You didn’t bother to verify your facts. You’ve posted things that are simply not factual. I am contacting you as a former NCPS teacher as you’ve stated you were seeking out. I’m only former because of the money and one day I hope to return to NCPS. You HAVE painted the entire system with a broad one sided brush. I think the new term for that is “fake news”.
Cathy Buyrn says
So anyone critical of your slant on this issue lacks legitimacy? You’d only like to hear from people who admire your negative slant? That certainly sounds familiar. You did not engage in the simple act of fact checking before you published. I see no attempt on your part to contact the NCPS administrators or teacher mentor to fact check. That is Journalism 101. You can refer to any number of division level documents to see the participation of teachers on a variety of leadership teams and committees.
Julie says
Mrs. Buryn,
As a teacher who participated in an interview with The Mirror, I am sorry to say you do not have your facts correct. Yes, there are a few committees that teachers sit on. This was not about that. Teachers do NOT have a voice in certain schools when policies are NOT being followed. When they do complain to admin and even central office they are shunned or worse yet, transfers are denied.
The teachers being interviewed and the issues that are foremost are within the last five years or so. You have not worked in this district for the last approximately 8 years if my memory serves me correct. Therefore, you would NOT be aware of all the working conditions most notebly those at the northern end of the county and the ms/hs as you worked at Kiptopeke. In addition, the previous week the Mirror asked for teachers to come forward to be interviewed. Did you come forward to give input? Instead, you wait to see what is written and then comment. I also recall that you have been a very loud proponent of lack of consistent discipline policies mainly at the middle school. You have also bullied new teachers that taught your children to the point where they almost quit teaching their first year ( it can be corroborated). I also know that you are pursuing your PhD in school leadership. Perhaps what these comments are truly about is you setting yourself up to as you pointed out, come back to this district in the role of Superintendent? Hmmm.. That would explain your negative comments. I ask you this… how many current and former teachers have you talked to in response to this article? We lost 30-35 teachers this year. Have you contacted any of them to ask why they left? Not all left the area. Some are now teaching in Va Beach and pay was not the main factor. Instead of negative and derogatory comments aimed at the mirror, perhaps your time would be better spent on seeking out teachers input. As the Mirror has done. Another suggestion would be for you to run for the school board since you certainly have the knowledge and seemingly the expertise to correct these issues and know what problems the teachers are encountering. Or would you rather sit in the background and post comments on issues you are not aware of?
Cathy Buyrn says
Julie,
Your accusations about me being a proponent of a lack of discipline are simply false. I have not ever bullied a teacher. I have held teachers accountable when they were behaving inappropriately and I could detail the circumstances in every instance. I find it terribly ironic that teachers demanding consistent discipline for students scoff at the suggestion that teachers are also accountable for their behavior.
As far as any corroboration of me bullying a teacher into “almost” quitting I do believe that person later realized that wasn’t what was going on and apparently, he or she is still employed. In fact, I hear that one such person is about to finish their school leadership program. First year teachers are often skittish and defensive when dealing with parents. I can assure you that I do not indiscriminately give teachers a hard time. I know how hard the job is. Dealing with parental concerns professionally is part of the job. You are trading in gossip and partial stories. If you have a specific story you’d like me to respond to, I’m sure that I can do that. Just let me know who you really are.
My questions regarding Mr. Creed’s failure to fully fact check his story have more to do with my undergraduate degree in Journalism and my endorsement to teach Journalism than my current pursuit of an Ed.D. in Curriculum Leadership. I’m not interviewing for any future position by asking Mr. Creed to fact check. It is interesting that you think you know so much about me. Let’s be clear about the actual facts.
The adversarial stance between leadership and teachers that this post has stirred up isn’t an accurate picture of the system as a whole and it does damage to the cause it claims to want to address. As with any situation where supervision is involved there are different perceptions. This post only spotlighted the perceptions of those who clearly have an ax to grind.
Clearly you are a fan of Mr. Creed and his blog. This seems like the definition of “coming after” me. Message received loud and clear. You really showed me didn’t you?
I do not typically read the Mirror unless someone I am connected to shares a story. I won’t be contributing any further to this discussion in this forum. This will be the last time I read it or comment on anything said here. That is if it even makes it through “moderation”.
Miss M says
Cathy,
I agree with everything Julie has said. I have witnessed you do those things, and then you go on to do the same thing saying that only angry people responded. We lost thirty teachers this year, and that is just routine. The reason we are speaking out is stop so many of us, who are frustrated from leaving. I thank the mirror for letting me give my perspective. Your negative comments are off base and suspicious. Mr Creed just listened and what was in the mirror was accurate. Julie may have it pegged that your siding with administration against teachers is your way of getting a job a Central.
Cathy Buyrn says
So you moderated and deleted my comment in response to your dismissal of my “Fake News” comment? You have violated the basic tenants of ethical journalism here and you’re not man enough to publish direct challenges to your ego. I see you. You have zero legitimacy here.
Julie says
Mrs. Buyrn,
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think it is interesting that you stated you are a “former” employee. In fact, I have personally overheard you say that one reason you are not teaching here is because of the pay and the cost of health care. Which just so happens to be one of the many issues plaguing our teachers. Another point you made was that only “angry” teachers were interviewed. I also happen to be one of the teachers interviewed. I certainly am NOT an angry teacher. In fact, I love the students and where I live. I want to better the working conditions for myself and my collegues. You also mentioned lesson plans. When you worked in the county, your lessson plans were very simplistic. The schools were also awarded the Blue Ribbon distinction. How could that have happened if complex lesson plans equate to successful fully accrediated schools? In addition, Va Beach schools are ALL fully accrediated and I assure you, their teachers are NOT required to write 15-20 page lesson plans. Yes, a lesson plan is part of our job but it is a plan… not a step by step, question by question directive. One other piece of information you may not be aware of is that certain members of the school board want to discontinue the teacher retention survey. They feel it is not helpful and no longer needed. They would like nothing better for this all to go away and bury their heads in the sand. I ask you this, is that what you want your children taught? To bury their heads in the sand when problems come along and not stand up and try to change things? I teach my children to stand up for what they believe in and try to make a difference. That is what the teachers of Northampton County are now trying to do. We invite you to stand with us to make changes and not stand against us. Attend school board meetings and let your voice be heard in support of your childrens teachers!
Cathy Buyrn says
Julie,
As I stated above your reply, I am only gone because of the compensation and cost of health insurance. That is the only reason. If I’m not mistaken, you overheard me talk about that while we were sitting on a leadership committee where you were representing teachers. My experience over the years is that of having been a very vocal supporter of NCPS and has included taking on hard issues. I’ve been at odds at times with a number of leaders in the system and have not ever been bullied into being quiet either as a teacher or a parent. In fact, I’ve been met with consideration and a willingness to collaborate even when we disagreed across several administrations and boards. You can ask any current or former school leaders or board members who have come into contact with me. I call them like I see them…..and this is quite simply how I see this one. It is a negative way to be starting the school year as our new teachers arrive and our students prepare to come back to school. It is an attempt to exaggerate and exploit negatives for the purpose of creating drama. I don’t appreciate it.
Julie Head says
Just for clarification the Julie making these comments is not Julie Head.
Julie Head says
Cathy,
Please be aware that I have not been involved in the above discussion. Should you wish to contact me, please do so through Accomack County Public Schools, my new employer.
Julie Head
Powers says
Apples and oranges.. VirgiMia Beach doesnt serve the population that we do. The support providers and resources they have is quadruple to what we have
Amber baines says
So sad they don’t care anyone but themselves, it’s so sad I took my daughter to another school just to do sports and she so excited. Punish kids to end up on drugs or even sex taking enjoyment away is the worst.
Dana says
These are all reasons I left Accomack county, plus I wanted to move back home to be closer to my family. But I now have a ton of credit card debt because I never made enough there to make ends meet.
Kim Koch says
I worked at NCPS for three years, two at Kiptopeke, and one at NHS. I find the points in this article very valid. At Kiptopeke I felt appreciate and valued by my Vice Principal, I loved my kids, and enjoyed my co-workers. I also felt overworked, found it hard to make ends meet, and did not feel discipline issues were always handled well. But it was more like a family there and I was happy.
The year at the high school, however, was the worst of my professional career. I did not feel valued in the least, I was expected to teach 4 different preps for the first half of the year without a classroom. The lesson plan format was horrendous. The administration was unhelpful and on more than one instance frightening.
I found the membership program very through, however, even if the ratio was far off. I found several incredible, experienced, caring teachers who were thrilled to help out a newcomer. I found some of the best kids I have ever worked with, and some of the most dedicated parents.
I learned a lot and had some incredible experiences at Northampton County, BUT, there are changes that could and should be made. Those teachers who are still there, the ones who haven’t given up, are some of the greatest in the world. The district needs to do everything it can to keep them.
Alex Froehlich says
That doesn’t mean that you weren’t one of the best teachers that went thought Northampton!
Kim Koch says
Thank you Alex. Your opinion means so much.
Tim says
This article is spot on accurate for Occohannock Elementary. Some points such as discipline, salary, student demographics are applicable to KES, but the principal at KES is excellent. OES administration are both tyrants and bullies. They do not care about the life of teachers, it was stated by the principle “your personal life doesn’t matter to me” when confronted about Wednesday lesson plan due dates asking for some leniency on due date extension. They tell the students things behind the teachers backs and openly admit it stating, “we knew you all wouldn’t agree with this decision so we didn’t let you know about it.” OES made accreditation yes, but who should get the credit? Teachers.. have a conversation with OES administration and all pronouns are ” I.” No credit given to teachers. You speak out your ideas or suggestions or even concerns and you are tormented and bashed with extra evaluations on lesson plans, instructional observations, and even obvious disrespect in conversation. Demands are made and suggestions are never considerations rather “You better do it.” This is not from an angry teacher, this is simply factual statements. If you view this as negative information then the school needs some changes.
Dawn says
I agree he is awful and is in the position for the power and money. He’s a bully!
Michaela Lewis says
Northampton yall didn’t teach me [edit], if anything you made the “best years of my life” the absolute worst. Bullying and disrespect is a problem & many teachers are so unprofessional and play favoritism to certain students. THANK YOU NORTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR MAKING ME CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE DAILY!
Lynn says
This is not an article about how bad the schools are. This is about teacher retention. This comment has no place under this story. I’m disappointed that the Mirror would publish such trash.
Note: We understand, but also try to give everyone say…the comment may not be entirely off topic though.
Kira says
I agree this comment is not off topic at all. The concerns of the teachers in turn affect the students. If there are concerns with effective and consistent discipline a bullied student would absolutely be the aftermath. If there are concerns that teachers are forced to spend more time creating lesson plans to the liking of administrators than actually teaching students’ education suffers. Teacher relations have everything to do with the students’ experience and their experience is what matters most.
Julie Head says
Michaela, that might be a little harsh. I would take exception to not teaching you anything and I even got Madi through Algebra 2. I do believe that the level of education provided has gone downhill in the years since Chris graduated. NCPS now has very few electives which contributes to making school less interesting.
Dawn says
Kes has an excellent administrative team where as oes principal is a bully and ego maniac who has forgot what it was like for him in the classroom. Where is central office at to talk to the teachers about him. Do test scores mean people should work in fear.
Stuart Bell says
Have your Husband, Boyfriend, or Dad stop by and ‘introduce’ himself to the bully/ego maniac principal.
It works every time.
Marcella Auer says
20 years ago when we moved here all the schools were blue ribbon schools. Both of my boys made and attended NHH school. it was so bad both walked out and went right to the college and studied and received their GED certificates. My one son in under a year became a manager of a large restaurant chain and my other son walked into a job making 80K a year. Don’t under estimate the power of a GED. The school conditions are horrible. The PC environment is absolutely horrible in these schools. Under certain conditions students are coerced into signing papers they have no business signing unless a parent is there. Being coerced is a crime, yet these schools get away with it.
My eldest daughter had a piece of clothing on that was Red, my husband was immediately called to come pick her up because Red represents the gang color. My husband said he would be there as soon as he was notified that the flag was removed as Red and Blue represented gang colors and white stripes, white supremacy. Parents are too quick to roll over for these PC administration who spend more time policing than they do worrying about the level and element of teaching.
Another issue that really bothers me an has me concerned is that our younger children are being forced to ride busses with older more mature children and attend the same school. 7th and 8th graders are bullied and affected by the older children and have NO BUSINESS attending a high school with older children. They shut down our middle school and pushed them into the high school. The middle school was deemed unfit to attend so the story goes but it is still used on a yearly basis by faculty. Something stinks here.
We have 1 daughter left in school and I notice from year to year they have the students doing fund raisers all through out the year. My daughter want’s to be a successful chef like her father, not a sales person. Donations of materials or charges for them are constantly being requested. The excuse the teachers have to pay for them. Being very familiar with taxes, if a teacher spends money on school supplies for students they can claim that expense and get a credit for it on their yearly taxes. What a crock. If you want schools with a game that is fixed and tables that are tilted against.both the teachers and students, you’ve picked the right county. Just a year ago, in the news paper NHC had the WORST schools in VA. I don’t see that changing.
Lynn says
This article is NOT about how you feel about the schools. This is about retaining teachers and what can be done to help keep the teachers we have (whether you feel they are good or bad). If you want to air your grivances about the school district and its policies then please get in touch with Mr. Creed and perhaps he will write an article concerning those. In the future, I hope you recall your schooling and stick to the main idea of what you are responding to.
sheena taylor says
So what are the board members, parents and the community is going to do about it? There are children that are trying to get an education. I am a 1981 graduate of Northampton high school. I am very sad and disappointed in the school system.
Lynn says
The school board is sticking its head in the sand. They have known about the tyrant and his sidekick and their reign of terror at OES for years and refuse to take action. Their teachers work in fear every day at their job. You dont know one day to another what is going to happen or what he will say and he has openly admitted that he likes it that way!! What is sad is that both of them were once teachers here in the district. Somewhere along the line they were given power and it went to their heads.
Case and point…. OES just barely made accreditation. Was it the admin that taught those students who scored well enough to pass?? No, it sure wasnt and yet were the teachers given credit? Sadly, again the answer is NO. Instead, they put a picture of themselves on fb showing a sign that claims accreditation. Where are the teachers who did the hard work?? Where is the thank you to them? As a parent, that display disgusted me. Our other elementary school made accrediation the prior year. The administrator at KES publically denounces her role and gave the credit to her teachers. Maybe the school board needs to take a look at how that admin treats her teachers and model their other schools after KES ( which has a lower turn over rate).
Change begins at the top Northampton County!! Perhaps we need a change in school board members to ones who value the bread and butter of the district… the TEACHERS. If they keep putting their heads in the sand the community has the power to make changes… VOTE THEM OUT!! The community needs to demand action and change starting with central office and the school board. Stand up for our children and the good teachers we have here.
TMom says
How many of you have attended a School Board meeting this year or prior years? Ahhhh, thought so….
Ann Fritz says
I will be willing to talk to someone at The Mirror about teacher retention! I’m a former NCPS teacher that left after 19 years in the system.
Charles Taylor says
The issue relating to “lesson plans” is confusing. I thought preparing and executing lesson plans was integral to the teaching process. So the complaints about a core task such as that do not gain significant support. If you prepare a lesson plan for a given class and teach the same subject in another year, most of the work is done for the second time around. Isn’t it a matter of updating the material to suit the current schedule? So, I come down on the side of the Administration on this issue—teachers should not be able, or expected to “wing it” in the classroom. There should be goals/objectives (committed to in Lesson Plans) and a proven way of testing the effectiveness of what was planned. On this issue the teachers get a “W” score for “Whining”.
Etta Robins, retired KES teacher says
Mr Taylor, lesson plans are not the issue! The required template than is 14+ pages is the issue! A good teacher knows he/she can’t use the same lesson plan year after year because each group of students is different! The lack of planning time plus the burdensome lesson plan template is the issue, at least for elementary teachers!
Paul Grossman says
The Mirror’s article contains a caveat at the beginning that states that only about 9% of current teachers were sampled. That may be so but the conclusions presented were spot on with the board’s own Teacher Retention Committee Report presented at the June 8 board work session (with current survey data). I was there when the presentation by teachers and a board member was made, and was very surprised at the board’s questions and reactions (e.g., should we even continue with this committee?). For the facts on board comments, I refer you to the meeting minutes that were approved at the June 22nd meeting. These comments with associated board names point out who is really interested in this issue and who is not. You make up your own mind after reading the comments. Since the board requested more time to think about the recommendations presented, the meeting minutes documented that a follow-up discussion on this presentation would be held at the August 8th work session. However, the chairperson omitted it from the agenda for that meeting!
A follow-up discussion on teacher retention is now scheduled in September. I hope.
Parents, teachers and public are encouraged to attend board meetings to understand the facts collected and witness who are the contributors, who are the blockers, and who just sit there and do not contribute at all, meeting after meeting. Decide for yourself, voice your concerns, and vote in November accordingly.
S. says
Paul,
As a current teacher in the county, It is not a matter of creating a lesson plan, that is part of the job. It is the type of lesson plans being required which grow more ridiculous every year. Our lesson plans are anywhere from 10- 20 pages per week and some are even longer. There is no research behind these type of lesson plans that support increased student achievement. Again, we are not arguing the fact of creating lesson plans , that is part of teaching. Please read all the comments under the article so you have a full understanding of the issue teachers are having with this. This is NOT ” whining” from the teachers, its a matter of having a life outside of school which we cannot because it takes every waking moment of our “home” time to write explicitly detailed plans of 20-30 pages per week. We ARE not given planning time to create these.
My own children are dreading me going back to school because they know they will not have family time once I go back. My time at home, after cooking dinner consists of writing plans for 3-4 hours EVERY night and at least one full day on the weekend so as to meet my weekly deadline. As my admin has told us… he does not care about our families or what little time we have he only cares about us submitting plans on his deadline. To answer your other statement… no we are NOT allowed to tweak our previous years lesson plans and submit them. They were for a different set of students.
Charles Taylor says
Honestly, Julie Head’s credibility is suspect. She left NPS for Accomack, not just for a long scenic drive.
Chris P. Bacon says
I LOVE OES!! The staff is made up of some of my closest friends. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else <3
#EGOMANIACSareawesome
#IloveSIDEKICKS
M says
I know of several amazing teachers that left because of the pay, the students, and/or no support from administration. They can be amazing people to work with, but as the years go by, you can see the students are changing. It doesn’t help that you have middle schoolers with the high schoolers. Most think they are full grown adults and do whatever, so they have no respect for the teacher. When he teaCher sends them to MLS, and writes them up, the student is back in class the next day. I once watched a teacher send a classmate to the office for doing something, and the next day they were back in class, all because their parent came to the principal to complain. That leads to no support from administration. How can somebody stay without support? This is suppose to be a team, but no. It’s old teachers against new teachers, or teachers against the administration. The teachers can’t get anywhere if administration doesn’t help them get through it. They have to have support when the decision is made. Lastly, the pay. Many do complain about it and some left to get a higher paying job. The cost of living is not cheap, so the pay cannot be measly either.
Lisa says
Just by reading the comments from different ones, looks like the school board needs to looked at if all the concerns and comments are being made. The was a woman came in and changed the dress code and later left they the system. Be careful who put in the office.
Justin Case says
As the school year grows nearer, we should all focus on the positive:)
Here’s to Peace, Love and Accreditation all around