New Jackson-Reed HS (Wilson HS) School Principal - Sah Brown from Eastern High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000

Anonymous wrote:Imagine a world where a principal was focused on improving the lives of the students they served, rather than “attracting high SES in-boundary families like you”. Get the hell out of here.

Right! OMFG. I can't believe someone actually just complained that the Principal of a school was more interested in serving his school demo than kissing her ass.

NP. Sounds like he is not interested in attracting and meeting the needs of higher SES IB families. And he lied about the IB diploma program rigor.
These are not good signs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

In the last year pre-covid, the majority of Eastern students were chronically truant. They were not in school. It's really hard to learn the material when you're not in school. Also, the vast majority of in boundary kids choose not to go there. These are not mostly rich white kids. You actually can't obtain a good education anywhere, and a school with abysmal tests scores, high truancy, and where most kids opt not to go there is exactly the school where you can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000

Anonymous wrote:Imagine a world where a principal was focused on improving the lives of the students they served, rather than “attracting high SES in-boundary families like you”. Get the hell out of here.

Right! OMFG. I can't believe someone actually just complained that the Principal of a school was more interested in serving his school demo than kissing her ass.

NP. Sounds like he is not interested in attracting and meeting the needs of higher SES IB families. And he lied about the IB diploma program rigor.
These are not good signs.

Not sure how you could have taken that from the prior post. Let's start with, yes, trying to appeal primarily to some UMC white lady isn't more important to him than running a school and focusing on the needs of his current cohort. Also don't know if you have a job, but in what alternative universe would anyone in his role (or any leadership/face of the org role) just lay bare the weaknesses and not try and pivot to strengths. If you think that's "lying" then you fail to understand the term.

I would respectfully put to you and your friends that have a problem with him not making Eastern all about the one or two UMC white folks - how would JR families feel once he's installed as Principal if he started focusing solely on attracting at risk and homeless students (including changing the curriculum thusly) instead of the actual UMC families attending JR. That's what you were asking him to do at Eastern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

In the last year pre-covid, the majority of Eastern students were chronically truant. They were not in school. It's really hard to learn the material when you're not in school. Also, the vast majority of in boundary kids choose not to go there. These are not mostly rich white kids. You actually can't obtain a good education anywhere, and a school with abysmal tests scores, high truancy, and where most kids opt not to go there is exactly the school where you can't.

I think your summary is accurate. What I love is DCUM somehow believing that the Principal is responsible for those systemic and societal failures. If only he concentrated on the IB program all those truant, food insecure and years-behind grade level students would be transformed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

dp: Shouldn’t these facts be available to families? Or is the principal’s vanity more important?

the facts are available. it sounds like they were putting the principal through some kind of public struggle session, and are now coming here to personally bash him because they did not feel properly deferred to. and you wonder WHY principals on the Hill have to develop coping mechanisms to deal with entitled Hill parents!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a JR parent, and I’d really love to hear more specific experiences with/feedback on Mr. Brown. Anyone have anything else to share?

I heard him speak at an ANC meeting and he seemed energetic and capable. I would definitely be positive based on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

Sounds like PP was politely asking for basic information about Eastern's IB Diploma program. She couldn't get it from the school's semi competent senior admin.

I'm not optimistic about Brown either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

dp: Shouldn’t these facts be available to families? Or is the principal’s vanity more important?

the facts are available. it sounds like they were putting the principal through some kind of public struggle session, and are now coming here to personally bash him because they did not feel properly deferred to. and you wonder WHY principals on the Hill have to develop coping mechanisms to deal with entitled Hill parents!?

I’m not sure Hill parents are entitled so much as desperate. Their only certain HS is subpar academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

Sounds like PP was politely asking for basic information about Eastern's IB Diploma program. She couldn't get it from the school's semi competent senior admin.

I'm not optimistic about Brown either.

Having experienced Hill parents in a variety of settings, I feel pretty confident that PP is a total PITA and their opinion should be summarily dismissed by JR parents. I have no idea about Mr Sah other than that he made a very good impression at the ANC meeting I saw. But PP’s view, which boils down to disliking the obvious facts about Eastern and thinking she deserves some kind of red carpet for being who she is, is worth absolutely nothing. All it does is present yet another vignette of deluded Hill parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a JR parent, and I’d really love to hear more specific experiences with/feedback on Mr. Brown. Anyone have anything else to share?

I heard him speak at an ANC meeting and he seemed energetic and capable. I would definitely be positive based on that.

Thank you! Any more experiences people can share?

[Anonymous]

oooh - so that means they will have a new Principal at Eastern? This has possibilities!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

You’re here personally attacking him because you disliked one conversation you had, when you had a completely uniformed perspective on what he could offer you. You’re here accusing him basically of lying, when you were the one who went into that conversation totally uniformed and entitled. It would take like 5 minutes of research to understand the deal at Eastern. Come back when you have an informed opinion about how he administered the school he actually led, not how he did or did not cater to your personal hopes and dreams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

In the last year pre-covid, the majority of Eastern students were chronically truant. They were not in school. It's really hard to learn the material when you're not in school. Also, the vast majority of in boundary kids choose not to go there. These are not mostly rich white kids. You actually can't obtain a good education anywhere, and a school with abysmal tests scores, high truancy, and where most kids opt not to go there is exactly the school where you can't.

I think your summary is accurate. What I love is DCUM somehow believing that the Principal is responsible for those systemic and societal failures. If only he concentrated on the IB program all those truant, food insecure and years-behind grade level students would be transformed!

Nonsense. Nobody here has argued this. The CH parent who spoke to him is hardly the only one who's been turned off by his hedging over the years. I've heard similar stories from other local parents who looked into Eastern's IBD program.

My sense of this appointment is that DCPS could have done much better by both IB and OOB parents at Jackson-Reed. I've heard a couple of Brown's presentations and haven't been impressed. Blah blah blah, DCPS is "rising."