Staff Reveal Why They Enjoying Working at Framingham High

In June, Framingham High staff was asked ‘What do you like most about working at FHS?” and the most popular response to the open ended questions was “the students.

In June, then-Interim Principal Elyse Torbert asked 200 staff members to take the survey -- 86 participated.

Framingham Patch first published results of the end-of-the-year study last week.

In the survey, Framingham High staff cited morale issues and lack of an administrative vision. School staff also said better communication and more transparency is needed at Framingham High and at central administration level.

One of the reasons for the survey was the fact that three individuals had held the position of principal between June 2014 and June 2015.

After a decade with Framingham High Principal Michael Welch leading the school, a new principal was named for the 2014-15 school year, when Welch left to become the Superintendent of Schools in Dedham.

Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott selected Adam Goldberg as principal after a search and he started in July 2014. He had surgery in the fall, took a leave of absence in winter, and resigned as principal in March 2015.

The second finalist for the principal post then Framingham High Vice Principal Torbert was named Associate Principal in the summer of 2014 and appointed by Scott interim principal in January 2015. Scott later named her principal for the 2015-16 school year. She officially took the helm on July 1.

But while there were issues identified to be addressed by the survey, one thing staff said they enjoyed daily was “the students.”

“This (the students) is why we should all show up and give our best every day,” said one staff member. (The responses to the open-ended questions do not have any names attached to the statements.)

“I love the students that we work with at FHS,” wrote one staff member. “Although there are many tough days and there are always trying students, the group of kids we work with are creative, strong, intelligent and at the end of the day they respect their peers and teachers/administrators.”

“The students here are GREAT,” wrote another staff member.” They are diverse and often challenging but have incredible potential.”

“Working with engaged and excited students,” wrote another staff member.

“Students! teaching a wide variety of students and holding them to a high standard,” wrote one staff member.

“The students are amazing and I enjoy working with them in the classroom as well as seeing them in their extra curricular activities,” wrote another staff member.

“95 % of students are able to come to school everyday and try their best. This is a great place.”

“Honestly, not much right now. But I do like my students and that is the most important piece,” wrote one staff member.

Many staff members were very simple with their answer and just wrote “The Students!”

Besides students, several staff members said their colleagues, other faculty and even administration, despite the overall survey results.

Other open-ended responses to the question included:

• “Despite the adversity this school has faced with recent leadership changes, the faculty has demonstrated the most important thing -- devotion to students and their education.”
• “Excellent co-workers”
• “Parents that are appropriately involved”
• “Fair amount of autonomy in the classroom”
• “Administrators who take care of discipline so that teachers can focus on teaching.”
• “I actually smile every morning when I leave for work. I feel so included at FHS and I feel like I am part of a family. My coworkers are so supportive.”
• “I am surrounded by very intelligent, talented and caring faculty members.”
• “I enjoy going to work and feeling that I am a part of a grater purpose and direction. I feel that everyone in this school buys into what we are doing as a collective. People come in early and stay late. Everyone takes pride in his or her work in the impact it has on our students.”
• “I like the community of teachers and the collaborating with each other. This year we have had less of this due to the many mandated activities from central office.”
• “I like the faculty members.”
• “I love my collaborative and supportive department.”
• “I love working at FHS. I love the staff and students. I love the daycare and BLOCKS.”
• “I really appreciate the degree of freedom and autonomy I have in terms of my curriculum planning and instruction. I appreciate the quality and amount of feedback I receive from my department head and I have a positive feeling about most of my interactions with the administrative team. Generally speaking, I am happy to work at a school this is so authentically diverse and where academic expectations are high.”
• “Many of my colleagues are professional and excellent teachers willing to share experience, ideas and materials, I find them to be invaluable. Many of my peers are also constantly working to improve their practices even though they are veterans and could coast by if they chose.”
• “My department and department head.”
• “The faculty climate, the awesome diverse student population, and the amazing and varied programs offered.”
• “The people I work with ... students and faculty.”
• “We are an awesomely talented staff and we collaborate with each other well. My colleagues are my best resources.”
• “I also feel supported by my DH and the admin team: I have always gotten support in the face of parents. I have always been able to explain “my side” ( I feel listened to); I have been able to approach the admin team with concerns and have, for the most part, gotten clear and sensible answers.”