Teachers, counselors and parents urge board to address involuntary transfers and declining staff morale

Summary

Teachers, counselors and parents told the Austin Public School District board that involuntary reassignments, low staff morale and unresolved classroom behavior problems have driven veteran staff to resign or seek work elsewhere and urged the board to add specific personnel and morale items to future work sessions.

At Monday’s meeting of the Austin Public School District board, multiple teachers, counselors and parents described a wave of involuntary transfers, declining staff morale and recent resignations that they say are harming students and the district’s ability to retain experienced educators.

Rachel Stange, a science teacher at Banfield Elementary, said she resigned this spring after repeated classroom behavior problems and what she described as a lack of administrative support. “With the loving support of my husband, we decided for the mental health of my family that I must resign,” Stange told the board during public comment. She described rising disciplinary referrals and limited follow-up from building leadership.

Several other speakers gave similar accounts. A letter from counselor Kendra Oshkis — read into the record by her husband — said…

Teachers, counselors and parents urge board to address involuntary transfers and declining staff morale

Summary

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