SWW Principal Removed - Reason Unknown

[Anonymous]

Recurring quote from SWW meeting tonight with DCPS leaders regarding the removal of Principal Trogisch, "It was not my decision." "It was not my decision." "It was not my decision."

Okay, we get it. Then whose decision was it? Where is the accountability and leadership in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a newsflash for you:

1. Every single principal in DCPS at one point or another breaks one or more of many many laws, whether it be intentional or not. The DCMR is chalked full of regulations and laws. Central office cherry picks when to enforce the breaking of said laws, and some principals over the years have been naive to the actual level of protection they have from said cult of personality when favor shifts against them.

2. Whichever reason that will be promoted for the SWW principal being fired , be VERY CLEAR that the REAL reason he got cancelled was his vocal pushback against the reopening plans of the Mayor and Chancellor. Be clear.

Seconding this poster, DCPS has a history of holding on to reasons for firing an employee, so that they can dismiss them whenever they become an inconvenience. At least that's the experience of the Washington Teachers' Union.

That's almost certainly not accurate. If you hold on to reasons to fire someone and then try to use that reason when convenient, you are going to open yourself up to a world of trouble. You've handed the employee a great argument that whatever s/he did clearly wasn't that since you let them work for months/years despite knowing about the "misconduct." And, if it really was that bad and you let them stay, you will have a host of problems if they wind up doing something else that is bad.

Sometimes it pays to layoff the tinfoil headgear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:who would you rather fire, principal of most effective selective high school in DCPS or DCPS chancellor? In my mind this cut against most people's answer to that question.

SWW is only effective because they pick and choose who goes there. Nothing special about the curriculum or staff. Trogisch wasn’t awful, and was certainly a fixture, but it has more to do with him targeting students who otherwise have gone private, not because the school is something special. In fact it has been struggling to retain and attract students, as well as lead to positive success rates post-college.

My guess is the DCPS wanted Trogisch out - there has been a lot of tension there for at least 10 years - and took an opportunity. Man, as a parent whose daughter graduated fro SWW a few years ago the stories/drama I saw in that school, particularly between the staff and DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a newsflash for you:

1. Every single principal in DCPS at one point or another breaks one or more of many many laws, whether it be intentional or not. The DCMR is chalked full of regulations and laws. Central office cherry picks when to enforce the breaking of said laws, and some principals over the years have been naive to the actual level of protection they have from said cult of personality when favor shifts against them.

2. Whichever reason that will be promoted for the SWW principal being fired , be VERY CLEAR that the REAL reason he got cancelled was his vocal pushback against the reopening plans of the Mayor and Chancellor. Be clear.

Seconding this poster, DCPS has a history of holding on to reasons for firing an employee, so that they can dismiss them whenever they become an inconvenience. At least that's the experience of the Washington Teachers' Union.

That's almost certainly not accurate. If you hold on to reasons to fire someone and then try to use that reason when convenient, you are going to open yourself up to a world of trouble. You've handed the employee a great argument that whatever s/he did clearly wasn't that since you let them work for months/years despite knowing about the "misconduct." And, if it really was that bad and you let them stay, you will have a host of problems if they wind up doing something else that is bad.

Sometimes it pays to layoff the tinfoil headgear.

Tinfoil headgear? Have you read ANY of the publicly contested principal firings over the last twenty years?

Mark the PP posters words, the waitlist reason was NOT the reason they fired the SWW principal; the waitlist debacle was merely the worst they could find on the guy.

Many MANY DCPS principals have been caught doing far worse (allowing Maryland residents to attend , physically restraining students, stealing money, fixing test scores, etc) and got reprimanded or reassigned, but not fired.

Can you really justify a principal being immediately fired over an alleged waitlist jump instead of reprimanded? It's ok... I'll wait.

[Anonymous]

If he did allow a waitlist jump then F him with the same rolling pin Antwan Wilson was scared of.

Firing for that offence is a great precedent we should keep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he did allow a waitlist jump then F him with the same rolling pin Antwan Wilson was scared of.

Firing for that offence is a great precedent we should keep.

When the Chancellor did it, there was universal outrage. Now, this guy does it and we want to protect him? Because principals break rules all the time? Get out of here. I hope there’s a good bit of embarrassment about jumping to conclusions and kneeling in front of someone’s car on his way to work.

[Anonymous]

This is the guy who chose to dismiss him? - https://patch.com/new-jersey/southbrunswick/jerry-jellig-placed-administrative-leave

[Anonymous]

The only person who can fire a principal is the chancellor. Always was. Still is.

[Anonymous]

If this is his call then where was the chancellor? Why is he sending a disgraced, unqualified to submarine a successful running school? I feel like the common theme from DCPS is "Wasn't me"...who is actually accountable here?

[Anonymous]

Haven't people on this board been talking for a while about how SWW doesn't seem to admit many special needs kids? Or am I thinking of a different school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven't people on this board been talking for a while about how SWW doesn't seem to admit many special needs kids? Or am I thinking of a different school?

The selective high schools are allowed to. It's not just Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a newsflash for you:

1. Every single principal in DCPS at one point or another breaks one or more of many many laws, whether it be intentional or not. The DCMR is chalked full of regulations and laws. Central office cherry picks when to enforce the breaking of said laws, and some principals over the years have been naive to the actual level of protection they have from said cult of personality when favor shifts against them.

2. Whichever reason that will be promoted for the SWW principal being fired , be VERY CLEAR that the REAL reason he got cancelled was his vocal pushback against the reopening plans of the Mayor and Chancellor. Be clear.

Seconding this poster, DCPS has a history of holding on to reasons for firing an employee, so that they can dismiss them whenever they become an inconvenience. At least that's the experience of the Washington Teachers' Union.

That's almost certainly not accurate. If you hold on to reasons to fire someone and then try to use that reason when convenient, you are going to open yourself up to a world of trouble. You've handed the employee a great argument that whatever s/he did clearly wasn't that since you let them work for months/years despite knowing about the "misconduct." And, if it really was that bad and you let them stay, you will have a host of problems if they wind up doing something else that is bad.

Sometimes it pays to layoff the tinfoil headgear.

I don't think it is accurate either. However, having worked in HR, I know that it can sometimes take months to fully investigate an issue. Sometimes it's not necessary to put the employee on leave while investigating. We don't know what the case is here. It's surprising to me that so many don't know what happened but calling for his return anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven't people on this board been talking for a while about how SWW doesn't seem to admit many special needs kids? Or am I thinking of a different school?

There is an entrance exam that tests academic skills and they (SWW admin) set a score minimum each year, I believe. So if a kid has special needs and is not at grade level or struggles academically, they likely won't reach the minimum score.
It's an academic high school, there are requirements to get in.

Also, the teachers are not special ed teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a newsflash for you:

1. Every single principal in DCPS at one point or another breaks one or more of many many laws, whether it be intentional or not. The DCMR is chalked full of regulations and laws. Central office cherry picks when to enforce the breaking of said laws, and some principals over the years have been naive to the actual level of protection they have from said cult of personality when favor shifts against them.

2. Whichever reason that will be promoted for the SWW principal being fired , be VERY CLEAR that the REAL reason he got cancelled was his vocal pushback against the reopening plans of the Mayor and Chancellor. Be clear.

Seconding this poster, DCPS has a history of holding on to reasons for firing an employee, so that they can dismiss them whenever they become an inconvenience. At least that's the experience of the Washington Teachers' Union.

That's almost certainly not accurate. If you hold on to reasons to fire someone and then try to use that reason when convenient, you are going to open yourself up to a world of trouble. You've handed the employee a great argument that whatever s/he did clearly wasn't that since you let them work for months/years despite knowing about the "misconduct." And, if it really was that bad and you let them stay, you will have a host of problems if they wind up doing something else that is bad.

Sometimes it pays to layoff the tinfoil headgear.

Tinfoil headgear? Have you read ANY of the publicly contested principal firings over the last twenty years?

Mark the PP posters words, the waitlist reason was NOT the reason they fired the SWW principal; the waitlist debacle was merely the worst they could find on the guy.

Many MANY DCPS principals have been caught doing far worse (allowing Maryland residents to attend , physically restraining students, stealing money, fixing test scores, etc) and got reprimanded or reassigned, but not fired.

Can you really justify a principal being immediately fired over an alleged waitlist jump instead of reprimanded? It's ok... I'll wait.

Enrollment shenanigans was enough to force Chancellor Wilson to resign. Why wouldn't that be enough to cause a principal to lose his job? Especially as these issues have become more prominent and it has gotten harder and harder to get into many schools through the lottery, it makes perfect sense to me that they would crack down hard on someone abusing the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't people on this board been talking for a while about how SWW doesn't seem to admit many special needs kids? Or am I thinking of a different school?

There is an entrance exam that tests academic skills and they (SWW admin) set a score minimum each year, I believe. So if a kid has special needs and is not at grade level or struggles academically, they likely won't reach the minimum score.
It's an academic high school, there are requirements to get in.

Also, the teachers are not special ed teachers.

You are overlooking the fact that some kids with SNs can get the scores and do the work AND that any public school is obligated to provide appropriate services and accommodations to these students. Being a test-in school does not absolve them of the responsibility to do this and they should have the necessary staff to support every kid who meets their requirements.