DCPS principals

[Anonymous]

The recent thread about the Takoma principal, and comments about other schools, made me realize that DCPS principals seem to have disproportionate influence in schools, compared to surrounding districts. Does DCPS central give them more latitude? Less oversight? Is that overall good, because they can be more creative? Or bad, because they can become demigods? Or is DCPS siimilar to other places?

[Anonymous]

My experience is it varies widely based on Instructional Superintendent. The Cluster IV IS has a grip of death on principals I previously respected as willing to standup for what their schools need.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, DCPS is corrupt. They have decided that only certain teachers matter (the ones who agree with them).

They do not follow science or what is best practice as a whole and when great principals push back that is often a fast track to be fired or the principal quitting.

Principals are allowed to use their biases in evaluations, if they do not like you -you can get a low score. DESPITE your test scores or other data showing all of your students who come to school are making strong gains.

It is a DCPS wide issue, the difference is most principals have more discernment and digression than the Takoma principal. They do things to silence the staff and never do things publicly in front of parents or many staff members at a time.

This school does not often come up but Raymond Elementary school is such a school. 20+ staff members leave every single year and 7+ have already left mid-year.

The principal and the older AP gaslight teachers, move the goal post, give you information 1-2 days before, and do not support staff. They pretend to care but they only want staff who they can take advantage of such as those whose will do hours of free labor and listen to their every last minute whim.

Despite this some teachers stay for the children.

DCPS can be a much better school system when we hold those in higher positions accountable -not just (most) teachers.

[Anonymous]

The only person worse than our principal is our AP and the only person worse than her is our IS. Our school is great: Teachers are wonderful. Parents are great. Kids are lovely. If only we could get the admin to match…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The recent thread about the Takoma principal, and comments about other schools, made me realize that DCPS principals seem to have disproportionate influence in schools, compared to surrounding districts. Does DCPS central give them more latitude? Less oversight? Is that overall good, because they can be more creative? Or bad, because they can become demigods? Or is DCPS siimilar to other places?

We have only dealt with three DCPS principals. Two are good and one is awful at Shepherd Elementary. The mayor, who has her kid there, is even aware of her shortcomings and no change is imminent. I suspect it may have something to do with the contracts. I am open to any information on how to hold a poor performing principal accountable. Poor performing does not mean test scores. Parents should not have the power but when the teachers and parents take issue with the administration and the mayor finds a way to support the principal and status quo despite numerous reported shortcomings, I have a problem.

[Anonymous]

Now seeing the type of personalities that are selected for DCPS principals except for a few like Whittier, these types of people will often twist facts to fit their own narrative, especially when reporting to their bosses and others in positions of power like the mayor. I would assume that in their version of events they cast themselves as the victims of unhinged, irrational parents - those in positions of power “choose” to believe that story

[Anonymous]

Any sense as to whether DCPS is different than other districts though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any sense as to whether DCPS is different than other districts though?

Based on venturing to the MoCo board... Probably not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any sense as to whether DCPS is different than other districts though?

Based on venturing to the MoCo board... Probably not

So sad

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think DCPS principals have a disproportionate amount of power, and that's largely through wielding Impact as a tool to drive teachers into submission. However, they (principals) themselves are also at the whim of their IS so they can be easily replaced if they don't follow what is expected of them. It will be very interesting if the WTU's endorsed candidate for mayor wins and they eliminate Impact. I have mixed feelings about that idea but there would definitely be some positives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any sense as to whether DCPS is different than other districts though?

Yes, the power they wield is different. MoCo has a better system overall. Is it perfect? No.

Principals can also be fired. I promise if they are blatantly acting like the current Takoma principal they’d be fired.

[Anonymous]

What about DC charter schools? Any different?

[Anonymous]

There’s no accepted way to measure competence or performance so of course selection is going to get political. In the long run you get an administrative class that is more capable politically than managerially.

DC is by no means the only place where this happens, it’s a problem with school administration universally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s no accepted way to measure competence or performance so of course selection is going to get political. In the long run you get an administrative class that is more capable politically than managerially.

DC is by no means the only place where this happens, it’s a problem with school administration universally.

Have you worked in multiple DCPS schools and multiple school systems?

It is universal however, DCPS has a nice heaping spoonful of extra corruption. One that students, staff, and parents don’t deserve to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any sense as to whether DCPS is different than other districts though?

Yes, the power they wield is different. MoCo has a better system overall. Is it perfect? No.

Principals can also be fired. I promise if they are blatantly acting like the current Takoma principal they’d be fired.

Isn't the whole thing in MoCo that the superintendent is terrible and wildly powerful and also a bunch of principals, including the one who was eventually (only after awhile) fired for sexual assault, get re-hired easily sometimes by the district office?