McLean High School Leadership updates

[Anonymous]

Now that the year is headed towards the close… what is the update on overall leadership? Lots of new changes this year, what are the strengths ( and weaknesses) of the new team in place?

[Anonymous]

I personally have been sad that there seems to be a progressive loss of freedom for the kids. Things that used to be allowed are now being limited. I don’t have enough perspective- so maybe all necessary? But seems more like a principal trying to exert her authority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally have been sad that there seems to be a progressive loss of freedom for the kids. Things that used to be allowed are now being limited. I don’t have enough perspective- so maybe all necessary? But seems more like a principal trying to exert her authority.

Can you give examples? What used to be allowed that is now limited?

[Anonymous]

The PP is probably talking about cell phones or the rule that kids can't just wander wherever they want during lunchtime. Ms Jones is doing a good job so far. A couple of the APs are stellar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP is probably talking about cell phones or the rule that kids can't just wander wherever they want during lunchtime. Ms Jones is doing a good job so far. A couple of the APs are stellar.

The cell phone policy is state law - and the law is actually more strict than what FCPS enforces so that isn't a McLean leadership decision.

Hall wandering is a problem everywhere and McLean certainly is trying to curb it, which, to me, is a good thing!

[Anonymous]

At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP is probably talking about cell phones or the rule that kids can't just wander wherever they want during lunchtime. Ms Jones is doing a good job so far. A couple of the APs are stellar.

Were there new AP courses that were added by the new principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP is probably talking about cell phones or the rule that kids can't just wander wherever they want during lunchtime. Ms Jones is doing a good job so far. A couple of the APs are stellar.

Were there new AP courses that were added by the new principal?

I think PP is referring to the Assistant Principals, not Advanced Placement courses.

Three of the four APs were already at McLean before Raven Jones was hired. The fourth came over from Chantilly, where he’d won awards as an outstanding school employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

Chesterbrook has Chinese for the FLES program and Longfellow offers it. I would expect those students who continued with Chinese in HS would be the most affected. I don’t know how many students that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

The Chinese program has been struggling with low enrollment for years. It is being consolidated with the programs from other schools with low enrollment and will be at Marshall HS I believe. The students can still continue to take Chinese, just as an Academy class basically. It is also my understanding that this was a Gatehouse decision, not one from Jones. Does it suck? Absolutely. But when a class doesn't have enough students sign up, that class doesn't happen. Electives generally need a minimum of 20 to run (25+ is better).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

Chesterbrook has Chinese for the FLES program and Longfellow offers it. I would expect those students who continued with Chinese in HS would be the most affected. I don’t know how many students that is.

What kind of scaffolding are you looking for? Maybe I'm not understanding your point, but the school isn't responsible for students taking AP classes they aren't ready for or for students taking too many APs (which is the main issue). Parents and students select their classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

The Chinese program has been struggling with low enrollment for years. It is being consolidated with the programs from other schools with low enrollment and will be at Marshall HS I believe. The students can still continue to take Chinese, just as an Academy class basically. It is also my understanding that this was a Gatehouse decision, not one from Jones. Does it suck? Absolutely. But when a class doesn't have enough students sign up, that class doesn't happen. Electives generally need a minimum of 20 to run (25+ is better).

The reassignment of McLean kids to Langley probably contributed to the lower enrollment.

The recent history of McLean HS has been nothing but neglect, boundary changes to reassign kids, and disinvestment in academic resources. If enrollment in FCPS continues to decline, parents can look forward to FCPS announcing in a few years that renovating McLean would be too expensive, and that the school will be shut down with the kids moved to Langley, Marshall, and Falls Church.

We regret moving to this county and enrolling our kids in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

Chesterbrook has Chinese for the FLES program and Longfellow offers it. I would expect those students who continued with Chinese in HS would be the most affected. I don’t know how many students that is.

What kind of scaffolding are you looking for? Maybe I'm not understanding your point, but the school isn't responsible for students taking AP classes they aren't ready for or for students taking too many APs (which is the main issue). Parents and students select their classes.

All I've heard is Jones paying occasional lip service to the idea that kids shouldn't over-extend themselves. But you're right that it should be up to kids and families to decide how many APs kids should take. We have no problem in FCPS with kids exerting themselves for an IB diploma, but somehow it's fashionable to obsess over kids taking too many AP courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High.

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere? There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire. I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design. Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.

Chesterbrook has Chinese for the FLES program and Longfellow offers it. I would expect those students who continued with Chinese in HS would be the most affected. I don’t know how many students that is.

What kind of scaffolding are you looking for? Maybe I'm not understanding your point, but the school isn't responsible for students taking AP classes they aren't ready for or for students taking too many APs (which is the main issue). Parents and students select their classes.

The school absolutely has a role here. Enrollment controls are used in other districts in the US where an A in pre-calc is required before AP Calc, capping simultaneous APs, mandatory counselor sign-off, dedicated AP study halls or peer tutoring built into the schedule (not just offered as an afterthought), mandatory study skills course for any student enrolled in 3+ APs, teacher-flagging system: if two AP teachers flag the same student as struggling, a counselor intervenes proactively rather than waiting for the student to self-report. Ms. Jones could put real policy behind her words instead of leaving it entirely to 15-year-olds and their ambitious parents to self-regulate. She may not be liked for some of these decisions, but it would set her up for making real positive changes to the lives of the students at Mclean. It would cause a shift and could actually move the student population in the direction that she is preaching.