North Point lost two valuable teachers

I recently read a letter to the editor concerning the loss of two STI teachers from North Point High Schoo. Both retired early out of frustration and lack of appreciation with the human resource department of the board of education.

The North Point motto is “the real world starts here.” That has been shown to be an exaggeration. I know both teachers, Ms. Jones and Coach Brown. Combined, both teachers had more than 50 years of experience. Ms. Jones was the staple of the North Point SkillsUSA club. Coach Brown expanded the drafting program by exposing students like me to the various schools of architecture and giving me and others the opportunity to work on architectural projects throughout Charles County.

More importantly, they created an environment in the classroom in which students excelled because that was the expectation, not the exception. I have always believed and felt that the Charles County Board of Education hired the best teachers for the students and our community, until now. Career technical education teachers are not easily replaced. The experience and knowledge they bring to the classroom come from years of working in the field.

Through no fault of their own, the replacements clearly lack the workplace knowledge and skills of these two former employees. Mr. Simms, the principal of North Point, clearly demonstrated poor leadership in not retaining these valuable employees. It sent a clear and distinct message to the other STI teachers. In the end, the students and the community of North Point will suffer the loss.

To Ms. Jones and Coach Brown, on behalf of your former students, good luck and we will miss you. Rachel Tomlinson, Waldorf