Jefferson-Houston Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher in DC and a renter in Alexandria (no kids yet, but I'm obviously interested in APS given my profession and it's where I live).

I think the point folks saying "JH was going to change x years ago and it didn't" are missing is that there are two factors that now will cause JH to change no matter what: 1) The SB got rid of administrative transfers and 2) The bottom tier of the housing stock in that part of Old Town is completely changing.

I know from personal experience that schools can change fast (for the better and for the worst). If you look at Maury Elementary School on Capitol Hill in DC, in a matter of 5 years the school demographics, test scores, everything completely changed (and I'm talking the whole school, up through 5th grade) to the point where once it had literally 0 white kids and now it's extremely coveted by everyone in Capitol Hill. Interestingly enough, they didn't even have the two external factors that JH has - they just had all of the middle class and up folks in the neighborhood say, "you know what? we want our neighborhood school to be a great school. We're going to send our kids, we're going to get involved, we're going to hold the entire staff to a high bar" - and they did it.

It happens all the time with charter and independent schools, and there, parents are founding a school from scratch. At JH, there's a beautiful school building with an attendance zone pulling from two awesome neighborhoods. I went to a few workshops with teachers and the assistant principals last year and they seem incredibly dedicated and doing smart instruction (things like Number Talks). Research has shown that test scores are simply a reflection of parent socio-economic status - often, the best teaching is happening at schools with diverse student bodies. At those schools where parents simply send their kids to private tutoring outside of school, the teaching is often much lazier, because it can be.



In my opinion, JH just needs a critical mass of neighborhood families attending.

I agree with much of what you said. Things can and do change. However, in my personal and professional experience its never as simple as one group of people (parents in this case) deciding to make it better. It the system is flawed or resistant to change or incompetent or whatever there is only so much that can happen. And its rarely quick enough to benefit the agitators (again, parents in this case) past the point of the damage that has been done. I applaud parents wanting to make this happen, but I guess I'm super selfish because I am not willing to make my kid the test case guinea pig . I am not willing to deal with the fallout of 1-2 lost years of learning and/or having them subjected to the poor and inappropriate behavior that I see on that playgroup, etc.

Good luck to you, and I mean that sincerely.

This times a million. My kid isn't going to be the proverbial point man in battle who sacrifices his life so the guy 4 people behind him survives.

My kid's education means more to me than some other kid's education. That what the SB and idealists forget.

Under no circumstances will my kid attend JH.

Oh, and breaking news- they didn't meet full accreditation.

https://alextimes.com/2018/09/acpsaccreditation/

Proverbial point man in battle? I’ve never heard of a point man in battle. Is that used often?

[Anonymous]

Potomac Yard Civic Association (PYCA), invites all fellow Potomac Yard parents of young children to meet the new principal of Jefferson-Houston K-8 School and learn more about the school. The PYCA has scheduled a meeting with Principal Berkowitz, his staff, and the PTA on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 6:30 pm.
This first meeting will begin the process of the PYCA engaging with the leadership of our local public school. The goals of these meetings are to provide a forum for Potomac Yard parents to get the right information to decide on the best academic environment for our children and to help introduce parents to the PTA and school leadership.
Snacks and beverages will be provided by the PYCA.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-principal-berkowitz-jefferson-houston-prek-8-school-tickets-50984122884

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like ACPS just hired a new principal for Jefferson Houston.

How long until he quits?

I give it two years.

This was the first post in the thread. Man, OP nailed it. I don't know if he quit or was fired, but either way he is out, in two years.

[Anonymous]

So is JH on the upswing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is JH on the upswing?

Maybe now that they have hired a new principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is JH on the upswing?

Maybe now that they have hired a new principal.

ACPS appears to have been looking for a stronger leader: https://www.topschooljobs.org/job/1011994/transformational-head-of-school-principal-pk-8-school-for-hire-july-1-2020-/

[Anonymous]

https://www.acps.k12.va.us/Page/3069

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.acps.k12.va.us/Page/3069

Looks like this one will be around and do a good job.

[Anonymous]

The bigger problem for the new principal is the school system he is joining, not the population the school serves. Hutchings is doing a good job however he works for an inept School Board that undermines him at ever turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bigger problem for the new principal is the school system he is joining, not the population the school serves. Hutchings is doing a good job however he works for an inept School Board that undermines him at ever turn.

Examples? How do you know this?

[Anonymous]

For real? You're asking how I know that the School Board is inept? Ummm...I live in Alexandria that's how I know. It isn't a state secret. All you have to do is look at their track record and watch their meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For real? You're asking how I know that the School Board is inept? Ummm...I live in Alexandria that's how I know. It isn't a state secret. All you have to do is look at their track record and watch their meetings.

You are the one that says they undermine him. Anyone can make a blanket statement. I watch the meetings too and I don’t see undermining. Back up your statement with some examples. If you can’t, then stop putting statements out there like that.

He is a good superintendent, but don’t go starting stuff that may not be true. I’ll wait for your example.

[Anonymous]

The incoming principal for JH has no chance of succeeding with the current dynamic in place. I hope he has a back up plan for himself. When I delved into his background it appeared as though prior turnarounds were supported by leadership. Unfortunately that isn't the case here. Hutchings may support him but the School Board will undercut and undermine Hutchings ever chance they can. Just like always. Watch the meetings.