The ups and downs of March have left me roaring. Mostly on the inside, since I’m a professional and must remain neutral in the classroom. I’m reeking from the daily assault of this moral cesspool of an administration. Sometimes the only response is taking to the streets singing. Or roaring like a March lion.
Then there’s the weather. It’s 80 degrees one day, then 32 the next. I’ve had to cancel many after-school rowing team practices. High winds, weather extremes, coaching drama. Always hopeful, I focus on the kids who show up, no matter what.
Like in the classroom. My superpower is just showing up every day with a plan. If they can remember even one thing I’ve said or made them feel or understand, then I count myself successful. My superpower is just showing up.
I’ve shown up this month to support my ELD colleagues across MCPS. As a member of the MCEA Collaboration and Labor-Management committees, I’ve been at the table sharing ELD teacher concerns with top leaders of the Division of Multilingual Education (DME). For years, teachers have been roaring for reform. Only to be dismissed, as if “equity” is the only consideration. When students don’t have enough English to ask for a hall pass, it’s not equitable to expect them to read “A Raisin in the Sun.”
In January, 21 of the 25 high school ELD Resource Teachers (RTs) sent a well-crafted 13-page Letter of No Confidence to the Superintendent and the Board of Education. In our committee meetings, we asked for a formal response. Nothing. We’re toothless. Then the scandalous reveal from a leaked document where the DME leadership team was taking notes on body language, eye rolls, sidebar conversations, and “possible leverage” of these behaviors in a closed-door RT meeting. Egregious breach of trust from top leadership.
I’ve been asked to keep all this silent. But when the cognitive dissonance of performing my job duties clashes with everything I’ve learned and know from 25 years of teaching EMLs, then it’s time to speak up. It’s time to speak up when MCPS policies might actually harm our students, some of the most vulnerable in the school system. My claws are out.
I also wrote a letter to the Superintendent — as an individual teacher, not as a representative of any school or union committee — expressing my deep frustrations with the leadership of the DME Division.
Roar!
Eva K. Sullivan 