Sidwell LS Principal

[Anonymous]

DS has been attending Sidwell LS for about a year and half now.

The Principal seems a bit of an oddball. Seems very selective in who's presence he acknowledges and who he ignores. DH and I have been routinely ignored by him on multiple occasions, even when it is only two or three people standing around. At the same time, he seems extraordinarily friendly with some other parents. We thought it was something we did until we realized (observed) that he is strangely selective in this manner and appears to ignore many others as well. It is surprising to us that the Principal of one of the top schools in the city could be lacking in social graces to this extent. It just seems unprofessional. Anyone with knowledge about any of this care to comment?

[Anonymous]

Imagine that. Another Sidwell thread!

[Anonymous]

True. Our experience too. "Methinks he might be getting long in the tooth" as the Bard would say.

Anonymous wrote:DS has been attending Sidwell LS for about a year and half now.

The Principal seems a bit of an oddball. Seems very selective in who's presence he acknowledges and who he ignores. DH and I have been routinely ignored by him on multiple occasions, even when it is only two or three people standing around. At the same time, he seems extraordinarily friendly with some other parents. We thought it was something we did until we realized (observed) that he is strangely selective in this manner and appears to ignore many others as well. It is surprising to us that the Principal of one of the top schools in the city could be lacking in social graces to this extent. It just seems unprofessional. Anyone with knowledge about any of this care to comment?

[Anonymous]

I think he's more shy than selective. He seems to engage with anyone who makes an effort to engage with him, but he's unlikely to make the first move. I've been going out of my way to talk to him recently, and now that he recognizes me, he's starting to warm up. I think many adults are like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he's more shy than selective. He seems to engage with anyone who makes an effort to engage with him, but he's unlikely to make the first move. I've been going out of my way to talk to him recently, and now that he recognizes me, he's starting to warm up. I think many adults are like this.

No, most adults are not like this - especially those who are division heads for a school that costs $30K a year. No excuse for that type of behavior.

Then again, maybe you were one of the ones who had to write a parental essay on the spot and he didn't care for it.

[Anonymous]

He is rude. He sucks up to donors. I personally can't stand him.

But the kids love him and the lower school is very, very strong.

[Anonymous]

every division head sucks up to big donors. thats how private school works.

[Anonymous]

Agree that there's an element of shyness or poor social skills involved; agree that there's also an element of sucking up to big donors and/or parents with high-profile jobs (but, hey, welcome to SFS); and agree that the kids love him (even years after they've moved on to MS and US). Not sure I agree that the lower school is all that -- Sidwell's real strength is the US.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the guy, but it occurs to me that his standoffishness may be a reaction to how incredibly, intensely involved the parents there want to be. Maybe it's a conscious first line of defense?

[Anonymous]

Yes, the parents at Sidwell are incredibly intense. But that precludes him being pleasant at school events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:every division head sucks up to big donors. thats how private school works.

Not true. Our division head is way more comfortable talking with average parents.

[Anonymous]

I am 8:46 again. He's plenty pleasant at school events. I watch him being very friendly with many other people, and now that I've gone out of my way to engage him, he's getting friendly with me. Many of the people he's friendly with, including me, are not high-profile people or big donors. The common link seems to be that he's friendly with people he knows, but not particularly engaging with those he doesn't. If you want him to be friendly, then you should start talking to him rather than waiting for him to come to you.

Also, as someone noted, the kids really like him. If given the choice, I'd rather have someone who's friendlier with the kids than the parents, than the opposite.

[Anonymous]

US is amazing and intense, but i also think lower school is pretty great. Part of the reason is that the head is not afraid to fire teachers who don't work out. That is not true at all at the US or the MS. And I will add, that I have already stated on this thread that I think the LS head is really obnoxious. But I do respect him as an educator. For all his faults, he doesn't F&*k around when it comes to running that school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US is amazing and intense, but i also think lower school is pretty great. Part of the reason is that the head is not afraid to fire teachers who don't work out. That is not true at all at the US or the MS. And I will add, that I have already stated on this thread that I think the LS head is really obnoxious. But I do respect him as an educator. For all his faults, he doesn't F&*k around when it comes to running that school.

There are many fabulous teachers in the US, but agree that there are also some who need to be re-energized . . . or, if that's not possible, asked to leave. Also agree with PP who suggested that teachers and administrators sometimes adopt a "all parents are guilty of being crazy unless proven innocent" mindset when dealing with parents. This is a big problem at Sidwell, and division heads should lead the way in trying to forge more cooperative and open relationships with parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US is amazing and intense, but i also think lower school is pretty great. Part of the reason is that the head is not afraid to fire teachers who don't work out. That is not true at all at the US or the MS. And I will add, that I have already stated on this thread that I think the LS head is really obnoxious. But I do respect him as an educator. For all his faults, he doesn't F&*k around when it comes to running that school.

There are many fabulous teachers in the US, but agree that there are also some who need to be re-energized . . . or, if that's not possible, asked to leave. Also agree with PP who suggested that teachers and administrators sometimes adopt a "all parents are guilty of being crazy unless proven innocent" mindset when dealing with parents. This is a big problem at Sidwell, and division heads should lead the way in trying to forge more cooperative and open relationships with parents.

Very true, and YES!