The principal at Tyler is leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As pp noted, he did previously teach in Fairfax and he still lives there making for a difficult commute. In his departure letter (I am a current Tyler parent) he noted trying to balance being a good husband, father and principal. I think he just wanted to be closer to home. He may have tried for a principal position in Fairfax before without success. But now he has proven himself at Tyler, probably making it easier to secure a spot close to home. I, for one, wish him the best of luck in his new position.

So sorry you're losing him, pp. Am keeping my fingers crossed that you get a good person as a replacement. My dd is far beyond elementary now but Tyler is my local school and there are lots of kids in this neighborhood who really need all the help they can get through their school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As pp noted, he did previously teach in Fairfax and he still lives there making for a difficult commute. In his departure letter (I am a current Tyler parent) he noted trying to balance being a good husband, father and principal. I think he just wanted to be closer to home. He may have tried for a principal position in Fairfax before without success. But now he has proven himself at Tyler, probably making it easier to secure a spot close to home. I, for one, wish him the best of luck in his new position.

So sorry you're losing him, pp. Am keeping my fingers crossed that you get a good person as a replacement. My dd is far beyond elementary now but Tyler is my local school and there are lots of kids in this neighborhood who really need all the help they can get through their school!

Thank you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. And to clarify a pp...Tyler is preparing to launch the arts program. This teachers are undergoing training this year and will implement in SY'10-'11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And my point is I wonder how many of her 33 yr old principals will bail when they have the chance. Rhee does not value experience. Nice to be the training ground!

Or, he used DCPS as a stepping stone so that he could get a position in Fairfax. Had he been a young principal recruited before Rhee came in, I could see blaming her. But she recruited him. I just don't think you can pin this one on her.

Right--she recruited him. Most educators who have been inspired to commit want to make an impact and give it more than two years. Obviously he did not feel that way. I am just wondering how many more of her 'new hires' will peel off once they have a year or two under their belts. It's an at-will environment she's created anyway.

[Anonymous]

Tyler Parent and current LSRT member here, yes, we are very sad to lose him as a principal, but at the same time we understand his reasons for leaving. I am not very worried about the situation currently, because Tyler has a very strong parent leadership, and we are making sure that Michelle Rhee will send qualified candidates for interviews to Tyler. I am sure that one of the things the panel will look at will be a certain sense of commitment beyond 2 years from a future principal, but as we all know, life can change.

Regarding the arts integration program, as PP noted, we are getting ready to launch it in SY 2010/2011, but most teachers, especially the preschool teachers have already used a very arts oriented curriculum.

[Anonymous]

10:36, you sound new to DCPS. So the parents at Tyler are "making sure" Rhee is sending qualified candidates.

Rhee is regularly touting her nationwide searches to bring in principals. Some come as far as PG and Fairfax to join DCPS.

Rhee has created such a toxic work situation for principals and teachers qualified person would be insane to pull up roots to work for her.

Dade seemed like a good guy and why wouldn't he leave for a job closer to home, with steady experienced leadership and less pressure.

I'm afraid DCPS is going to be stuck with principals with minimal experience.

I hope Tyler gets lucky, but the notion that Rhee can get a commitment from principals for 2 or more years is suspect. After all, she's the one that is so anxious to can people after a year, or mid year, or after test scores don't rise to her liking, or any other reason.

It takes a principal at least 5 years in place to really build a school's culture and assembly a staff that can work together well. I don't think Rhee gets that, probably because she (and the bulk of her staff at 825) have never served as a principal of an urban school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:36, you sound new to DCPS. So the parents at Tyler are "making sure" Rhee is sending qualified candidates.

Rhee is regularly touting her nationwide searches to bring in principals. Some come as far as PG and Fairfax to join DCPS.

Rhee has created such a toxic work situation for principals and teachers qualified person would be insane to pull up roots to work for her.

Dade seemed like a good guy and why wouldn't he leave for a job closer to home, with steady experienced leadership and less pressure.

I'm afraid DCPS is going to be stuck with principals with minimal experience.

I hope Tyler gets lucky, but the notion that Rhee can get a commitment from principals for 2 or more years is suspect. After all, she's the one that is so anxious to can people after a year, or mid year, or after test scores don't rise to her liking, or any other reason.

It takes a principal at least 5 years in place to really build a school's culture and assembly a staff that can work together well. I don't think Rhee gets that, probably because she (and the bulk of her staff at 825) have never served as a principal of an urban school.

No I am not new and I am a special ed parent on top off that, so trust me, I am not going to assume that things will be easy and smooth from the get go. When I said we are "making sure that Rhee sends qualified candidates" I was referring to the fact that we will not just silently let Tyler go downhill because we need a new principal. Parents are going to be part of the selection panel and many parents at Tyler are very involved and educated, so we will do anything possible to make sure we don't get stuck with someone who isn't able to run a school. Remember, people assumed that Dade wasn't going to be able to get the school on the right track because of his lack of experience as well, and I do believe that it was the strong parent involvement that helped him out as well, along with a strong commitment to the school.

Also, you are probably not aware of this: the assistant principal is currently the acting principal until the end of the year, so it's not like Tyler is suddenly left without any leadership.

I am as leary about Rhee as you are, but my message was meant to say that we parents are trying to do our part as best as possible and not so much a message of confidence in DCPS in general. But I am at least hopeful that Tyler being a school on the rise may attract more experiences principals in the long run. Will it happen within in the next few months? I don't know. Even if we end up having to choose a less experienced principal I am going to hope that this person will rise to the occasion.

As much as I want to throw my hands in the air about DCPS and their decisions at times, I am not going to just accept whatever happens or write Tyler off. It is what it is, we need a new principal and while we don't get the sole vote (at all) we can at least be sure that there will be some control over the decision.

[Anonymous]

I am here to tell you the honeymoon period is over with Rhee. If any indications of how her latest town-hall meetings have been going, then what she's telling her principal corps has to be brutally honest. To have a school employee to leave in the midst of school-year is telling-sign but if the "commute rationale" is plausible, then chalk it up. Many of Rhee's top-stars are leaving but remember she was able to attract many other jurisdictions top-stars to work for her. This is coming upon Rhee's 3rd year at the helm of DCPS and the most controversial year to say the least. I think many principals are re-evaluating the fact of whether to continue to work with Rhee or have the ability to work without her. If you think the WTU's contract has bells and whistles...you AIN'T seen nothing yet when it comes to the upcoming Principal union contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: have a school employee to leave in the midst of school-year is telling-sign but if the "commute rationale" is plausible, then chalk it up.

I don't think he's leaving mid-year. He announced in April (the end of the year) that he won't be back next year.

[Anonymous]

Hey 10:18, I haven't been to one of her town hall type meetings since her first year. At the time, she had everyone charmed and was capable of diffusing and disarming.

What's happening these days? Is the old Rhee charm no longer working?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am here to tell you the honeymoon period is over with Rhee. If any indications of how her latest town-hall meetings have been going, then what she's telling her principal corps has to be brutally honest. To have a school employee to leave in the midst of school-year is telling-sign but if the "commute rationale" is plausible, then chalk it up. Many of Rhee's top-stars are leaving but remember she was able to attract many other jurisdictions top-stars to work for her. This is coming upon Rhee's 3rd year at the helm of DCPS and the most controversial year to say the least. I think many principals are re-evaluating the fact of whether to continue to work with Rhee or have the ability to work without her. If you think the WTU's contract has bells and whistles...you AIN'T seen nothing yet when it comes to the upcoming Principal union contract.

I thought the city refused to sign off on the contract because DC taxpayers could be left holding the bag on the bonuses (promised by the foundations) who will back out as soon as Rhee leaves. Can somebody confirm or deny?

[Anonymous]

The contract was certified two days ago by the CFO. Next step is a vote by the teachers.

[Anonymous]

TYLER related questions. Seeking advice from parents there. How does Tyler's 3 programs, one school model work? Is there coordination or are they run as tracks? Is there a "dominant" program or ones that have more resources or focus from DCPS? I'm asking because we're slated to go to a school with "unique" programs. Principal and chancellor turnover is inevitable. What parent group models work and how? Ok, too many questions. TIA

[Anonymous]

Not a Tyler parent, but I know several Tyler families.

Is there coordination or are they run as tracks?
This is somewhat at the teacher's discretion. I've heard oe of PreS traditional teachers coordinates heavily with the bilingual PreS teachers and the other doesn't (and is weak in general). Most people love the bilingual program and teachers and mix of families.

Is there a "dominant" program or ones that have more resources or focus from DCPS?

Some parents of kids in the bilingual program complained that Terry Dade neglected the bilingual program and focused his eneregy on the traditional program and raising test scores of kids in the traditional program. In the past, the traditional program served predominantly very poor children- this is changing. The parents in the bilingual program felt (1) resented by parents in the traditional program who felt that the kids in teh bilingual program were getting more while (2) putting huge efforts into improving the whole school.

If my kids get into either of these programs I will be happy as they are both superior to my in boundary school.

[Anonymous]

Hey 10:18, I haven't been to one of her town hall type meetings since her first year. At the time, she had everyone charmed and was capable of diffusing and disarming.

What's happening these days? Is the old Rhee charm no longer working?

No I don't think her charm has waivered...she definitely has more of a swagger in her dissemination of information. As I have been told her weekly meeting with her principals equates to public forums of praises and punishments. Literally, principals are being called on the carpet in front of each other and therefore I think there's a more of a solidarity movement amongst her principal corps. That is why she's hiring more instructional superintendents...because the gripe sessions are becoming a little bit too overwhelming for the present group.

I am finding that the "head-hunter" attitude of finding principals through national searches are becoming a tad-bit overrated. Yes, Rhee was chased down by city-officials to run DCPS...but I finding it comical to say that we are becoming a joke in the principal selection committee realm. It's almost as if it is a badge of courage if you are a principal under Rhee's leadership, where selections committes are equating if you can work in that system under those conditions...then returning to the counties is a cake-walk.

In all honesty...this is like Rhee is running a "Principal Fit Club"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hey 10:18, I haven't been to one of her town hall type meetings since her first year. At the time, she had everyone charmed and was capable of diffusing and disarming.

What's happening these days? Is the old Rhee charm no longer working?

No I don't think her charm has waivered...she definitely has more of a swagger in her dissemination of information. As I have been told her weekly meeting with her principals equates to public forums of praises and punishments. Literally, principals are being called on the carpet in front of each other and therefore I think there's a more of a solidarity movement amongst her principal corps. That is why she's hiring more instructional superintendents...because the gripe sessions are becoming a little bit too overwhelming for the present group.

I am finding that the "head-hunter" attitude of finding principals through national searches are becoming a tad-bit overrated. Yes, Rhee was chased down by city-officials to run DCPS...but I finding it comical to say that we are becoming a joke in the principal selection committee realm. It's almost as if it is a badge of courage if you are a principal under Rhee's leadership, where selections committes are equating if you can work in that system under those conditions...then returning to the counties is a cake-walk.

In all honesty...this is like Rhee is running a "Principal Fit Club"

PP, would you clarify this statement about the gripe sessions? Are the public forums of praises and punishments too much for the current set of instructional superintendents and so she is hiring more? Or is it too much for the principals and they are rebelling and she feels she has to hire more instructional superintendents? Or are her demands so great that she feels she has to hire more instructional superintendents?