Principal Announcements

[Anonymous]

For the last year, she was at the Philadelphia-based charter management organization Scholar Academies as a DC incubator ("school principal"). Scholar Academies is a charter management organization that operates Stanton Elementary for DCPS and opened a separate charter school, DC Scholars PCS, a few years ago.

If the DCPS plan is to turn over management of West to Scholars similarly to Stanton, then it makes to have someone like Vroman who is close to the CMO.

That may not be a bad thing, but the letter sounds a little padded. If I understand, her resume for 2009-2015 includes TFA teacher for 2 years, TFA teacher trainer in Philadelphia, "founded" a campus of Uplift, an established CMO in Texas, one year at CMO in Philadelphia to incubate school(s) in DC. Zero administrative experience in a non-charter public school.

She may be a great fit for the future of West, but her profile doesn't sound like the internal DCPS hires.

Just saying.

[Anonymous]

Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, West, but I hope Vroman was more impressive in person than she is on paper. She hasn't held a job or done anything more than 2 years at a time. She's only worked for 7 years, and just two of them as a middle school teacher.

Can't help but wonder if Vroman's appointment (and that of the new Wilson principal, whose appointment leaves some scratching their heads) is indicative of how difficult it has gotten for DC to attract incredibly strong, experienced candidates. As several posters have agreed, from the outside a move into DCPS is starting to look like career suicide. So if you've been in education for a long time with a track record of success, as much as you'd love to aid in DC's reform efforts, it's to YOUR benefit and that of your family to stay where you are or go where you'll be respected and given the time to make gains. If you're just a career ladder climber who wants to pad your resume before moving on, DC's becoming the place for you! Serious lifelong educators need not apply.

Of course, none of this is to same those ladies won't do amazing jobs, but...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

Con

...Moe and Curly????

I say give them a chance. But let's not be blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This happens to A LOT of DC teachers a teacher's IMPACT will read as if she's a bumbling illiterate who drools and has a tick.

My son has a tick, and he's brilliant. You are rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This happens to A LOT of DC teachers a teacher's IMPACT will read as if she's a bumbling illiterate who drools and has a tick.

My son has a tick, and he's brilliant. You are rude.

Your son has nothing to do with this thread or post. You're hypersensitive. That poor son of yours. I'd hate to have a tick AND a hypersensitive parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

Having recently been on another panel myself, I agree. The pickings seem to be quite slim across the board. Also, let's not forget: the panels don't actually choose the principal. I would argue that it seems DCPS handpicks a candidate and presents several to a school, hoping/knowing they'll pick the same one DCPS wants for the school. It's a calculated dance, albeit sometimes with really crappy dance partners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

Having recently been on another panel myself, I agree. The pickings seem to be quite slim across the board. Also, let's not forget: the panels don't actually choose the principal. I would argue that it seems DCPS handpicks a candidate and presents several to a school, hoping/knowing they'll pick the same one DCPS wants for the school. It's a calculated dance, albeit sometimes with really crappy dance partners.

My experience on a panel was different. I could guess that one was a preferred candidates, but we didn't select that person and DCPS listened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

Having recently been on another panel myself, I agree. The pickings seem to be quite slim across the board. Also, let's not forget: the panels don't actually choose the principal. I would argue that it seems DCPS handpicks a candidate and presents several to a school, hoping/knowing they'll pick the same one DCPS wants for the school. It's a calculated dance, albeit sometimes with really crappy dance partners.

My experience on a panel was different. I could guess that one was a preferred candidates, but we didn't select that person and DCPS listened.

That's good to hear b/c technically the panel just RECOMMENDS while DCPS chooses.

Curious: What made you guys suspect one was preferred?
What made you go with the other? Was it just to spite DCPS?

A friend recently sat on a panel. They were concerned about how very slim the pickings were. Just young females for a school that needs someone very strong and experienced.

I'm prepared to see many of these vacancies being filled with Vroman prototypes.

DC has really shot itself in the foot with all of its teacher blaming and unfair IMPACTING (the quality of the teaching pool is drying up too), flexing on principals, mass firings, etc. Not all of it is DC's fault as some of those principals needed to go like 3 years ago. But they mistreated and fired wonderful people over the years not realizing the well would dry up. Who lines up and volunteers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

Having recently been on another panel myself, I agree. The pickings seem to be quite slim across the board. Also, let's not forget: the panels don't actually choose the principal. I would argue that it seems DCPS handpicks a candidate and presents several to a school, hoping/knowing they'll pick the same one DCPS wants for the school. It's a calculated dance, albeit sometimes with really crappy dance partners.

My experience on a panel was different. I could guess that one was a preferred candidates, but we didn't select that person and DCPS listened.

That's good to hear b/c technically the panel just RECOMMENDS while DCPS chooses.

Curious: What made you guys suspect one was preferred?
What made you go with the other? Was it just to spite DCPS?

A friend recently sat on a panel. They were concerned about how very slim the pickings were. Just young females for a school that needs someone very strong and experienced.

I'm prepared to see many of these vacancies being filled with Vroman prototypes.

DC has really shot itself in the foot with all of its teacher blaming and unfair IMPACTING (the quality of the teaching pool is drying up too), flexing on principals, mass firings, etc. Not all of it is DC's fault as some of those principals needed to go like 3 years ago. But they mistreated and fired wonderful people over the years not realizing the well would dry up. Who lines up and volunteers

to put themselves and their livelihoods in harm's way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you people need to chill. Clearly the principal panel saw something worthwhile in her. I heard it was the second panel, so it's not like they were swinging at the first pitch.

Second panel?

So this is what they came up with after a 2nd panel?

Yup! Sounds like DC's having a real problem attracting experienced talent.

That Wilson pick had some (myself included) wondering who the hell they had to choose from Larry,

Having recently been on another panel myself, I agree. The pickings seem to be quite slim across the board. Also, let's not forget: the panels don't actually choose the principal. I would argue that it seems DCPS handpicks a candidate and presents several to a school, hoping/knowing they'll pick the same one DCPS wants for the school. It's a calculated dance, albeit sometimes with really crappy dance partners.

My experience on a panel was different. I could guess that one was a preferred candidates, but we didn't select that person and DCPS listened.

That's good to hear b/c technically the panel just RECOMMENDS while DCPS chooses.

Curious: What made you guys suspect one was preferred?
What made you go with the other? Was it just to spite DCPS?

A friend recently sat on a panel. They were concerned about how very slim the pickings were. Just young females for a school that needs someone very strong and experienced.

I'm prepared to see many of these vacancies being filled with Vroman prototypes.

DC has really shot itself in the foot with all of its teacher blaming and unfair IMPACTING (the quality of the teaching pool is drying up too), flexing on principals, mass firings, etc. Not all of it is DC's fault as some of those principals needed to go like 3 years ago. But they mistreated and fired wonderful people over the years not realizing the well would dry up. Who lines up and volunteers

The one was an internal, who had moved few a few positions that, on paper, made them look ideal for the school. Not as convincing in person. I feel like we gave honest reasons why we didn't see them as a fit, and DCPS didn't assign them. Definitely wasn't a spite thing - that would be dumb.

I think that of the candidates we saw, at least a couple could have worked. One - I don't know what they were thinking... no. way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This happens to A LOT of DC teachers a teacher's IMPACT will read as if she's a bumbling illiterate who drools and has a tick.

My son has a tick, and he's brilliant. You are rude.

Your son has nothing to do with this thread or post. You're hypersensitive. That poor son of yours. I'd hate to have a tick AND a hypersensitive parent.

Sorry to go off track. I should have been more direct in my response. (I'm not hypersensitive in the least, actually. lol! If you only knew me.) The post jumped out at me because of my life experience, obviously. But I responded because it seemed off that no one else called pp, who from the post seems to be a DCPS teacher or administrator, on mocking people who are illiterate, have a drooling issue, or ticks. What image or comparison is PP trying draw? How exactly would the IMPACT be written to make a teacher look like a person with a tick? Write the same post and put in dyslexia, Parkinsons, ASD, Tourette's, Down Syndrome, or PANDAS - or a race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic caricature - and see how people respond. It may not be related to the principal churn, but a post like that should not be allowed to slide.

Worse to have a tick and a school system or teacher who is not sensitive to these issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This happens to A LOT of DC teachers a teacher's IMPACT will read as if she's a bumbling illiterate who drools and has a tick.

My son has a tick, and he's brilliant. You are rude.

Your son has nothing to do with this thread or post. You're hypersensitive. That poor son of yours. I'd hate to have a tick AND a hypersensitive parent.

Sorry to go off track. I should have been more direct in my response. (I'm not hypersensitive in the least, actually. lol! If you only knew me.) The post jumped out at me because of my life experience, obviously. But I responded because it seemed off that no one else called pp, who from the post seems to be a DCPS teacher or administrator, on mocking people who are illiterate, have a drooling issue, or ticks. What image or comparison is PP trying draw? How exactly would the IMPACT be written to make a teacher look like a person with a tick? Write the same post and put in dyslexia, Parkinsons, ASD, Tourette's, Down Syndrome, or PANDAS - or a race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic caricature - and see how people respond. It may not be related to the principal churn, but a post like that should not be allowed to slide.

Worse to have a tick and a school system or teacher who is not sensitive to these issues.

Just stop.

Take your issues to the Special Needs thread.


No one in this PC crowd reacted because their ability to read and comprehend are not clouded by hypersensitivity.

[Anonymous]

Any other new principal replacements?