Leadership turnover at WIS Upper School

[Anonymous]

Today it was announced that the associate principal for 11th and 12th grades is leaving at the end of this week to take a job in the corporate sector.

Over the summer, the assistant principal for 9th and 10th grades left to become the US Dean of Students at the Park School in Baltimore.

Last spring, it was announced that the Upper School principal would be leaving, quickly followed by an announcement that instead she would be working half-time for personal/health reasons.

I’m wondering if there is more to the story than these three people’s personal and career circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Lots of adms are coming up with demands for schedule's flexibility, forgetting they are working for a school, not a corporation.
Still, it doesn't sound good. Perhaps there is a problem at the very top? A common denominator?

[Anonymous]

There’s been a lot of turnover in all divisions. This year 3/4 of the counselors are new, one of the primary school assistant principals left at the end of the year after 1 year, lots of teacher turnover too. Not sure what the problem is but it seems… widespread

[Anonymous]

Agreed. Too much turnover. We have really enjoyed having out kids at the school and generally think it is a great environment, but the turnover in the last few years is taking its toll. One thing I would add is that the board has been MIA for years. There is almost no communication from the board and they seem to avoid any interactions with parents. It isn't their role to manage hiring issues, but they are responsible for the steady management of the school and ensuring WIS has what it needs to keep staff.

[Anonymous]

I have also been wondering. You know it is bad when people (especially administrators) quit/leave without notice during the school year. Good and committed educators do not leave mid-year. We (or at least my kids) have had anywhere from 2 to 6 months notice for some teachers in the past. Even teachers that were not at the school for very long. It sounded to me like the others at least thought about the timing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have also been wondering. You know it is bad when people (especially administrators) quit/leave without notice during the school year. Good and committed educators do not leave mid-year. We (or at least my kids) have had anywhere from 2 to 6 months notice for some teachers in the past. Even teachers that were not at the school for very long. It sounded to me like the others at least thought about the timing.

I agree- leaving mid year should be very unusual. I might turn it around though and say at good schools that are committed to their students and staff, people don’t leave mid year. When it’s happening over and over it seems like a systemic problem. Anyone know more of what’s going on over there?

[Anonymous]

When there’s silence at the bottom look to the tippy top