Principal hates the involved parents

[Anonymous]

What to do about an elementary school principal who openly detests the PTA and involved parents. Won't let parents into the school to volunteer. Won't engage respond to emails and could care less about having involved families who want to help make the school a welcoming place. Won't allow the PTA to use the school for any clubs or family events even when school isn't in session. It's really awful for the students because they could have so much more.

[Anonymous]

If it’s a title 1 school, leave it as you’ll be outnumbered and defeated. If it’s a “good” school then the parents need to go over his head to the district, since there will probably be sufficient driving force for that

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried...talking to the principal? I'd star there. Put your dukes down and LISTEN to find out why.

[Anonymous]

I assume this isn't not a DC public or public charter school, as this principal would get nowhere.

One nice things about school choice - sh*t like this doesn't fly for long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s a title 1 school, leave it as you’ll be outnumbered and defeated. If it’s a “good” school then the parents need to go over his head to the district, since there will probably be sufficient driving force for that

I'm curious what you mean by out-numbered and defeated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried...talking to the principal? I'd star there. Put your dukes down and LISTEN to find out why.

Hahaha! Listen to the principal? Did you read the post? If the principal can't be bothered to meet with the PTA and talk to parents and won't respond to emails. How are we to listen to the Principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume this isn't not a DC public or public charter school, as this principal would get nowhere.

One nice things about school choice - sh*t like this doesn't fly for long.

DCPS schools are required to have a LSAT (local school advisory team) and meet with them regularly, so that's how you would get access to the principal to address issues like this. I'm guessing this isn't a DCPS school.

[Anonymous]

Normal, I just worked around it and did all that outside.

[Anonymous]

Over involved parents can be so annoying, disruptive, and pushy. I don't blame the principal.

[Anonymous]

There’s an old podcast called Nice White Parents that really shed some light some light on this issue for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried...talking to the principal? I'd star there. Put your dukes down and LISTEN to find out why.

Hahaha! Listen to the principal? Did you read the post? If the principal can't be bothered to meet with the PTA and talk to parents and won't respond to emails. How are we to listen to the Principal?

Well, I can tell from the attitude you are displaying here that there might be a reason the principal has disengaged from your group. So I'd still suggest a 1 on 1 meeting, where you go to listen, not fight. If you've already burned your bridge so far you can't get that done, well this fight is about something much bigger.

[Anonymous]

My attitude is because I've been asking the Principal for a meeting for a year and haven't gotten one. Hence why I'm on here looking for advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over involved parents can be so annoying, disruptive, and pushy. I don't blame the principal.

So the answer is to dissolve the PTA? We all know that all the best schools have no PTA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s an old podcast called Nice White Parents that really shed some light some light on this issue for me.

Thank you. I will look into this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over involved parents can be so annoying, disruptive, and pushy. I don't blame the principal.

So the answer is to dissolve the PTA? We all know that all the best schools have no PTA.

I was a PTA officer for several years at a top performing NOVA public with a principal who didn't like overly involved parents. We survived. In hindsight, however, the PTA was a colossal waste of time that did very little to advance the actual academic mission of the school. We were just annoying busy bodies.