Why are dozens of principals leaving Fairfax Co. schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least some of them are retiring to get FCPS pensions while collecting a salary in a new division.

I get the impression Reid actually expects some results from principals and the ones who quit were used to Brabrand’s do-nothing style.

+1. I also get a strong sense from community meetings that Reid is out here pushing for real results - especially for the most disadvantaged and those lagging far behind the norm. I think some principals, specifically those closer to retirement, realize it's going to be hard work to fix the failing schools and jumping ship to a system with less expectations is an easy way out.

Administrator here ... my take is that it is some of both. Dr. Reid IS pushing for real results, but she has horrible interpersonal skills and has not demonstrated an understanding of the nuances and complexities that make up FCPS. She relies on old research to back many of her ideas, and it seems like she is trying to replicate what she did in Washington in a system that is very, very different.

While I do believe she wants what is best for kids and is willing to prioritize that over creating/maintaining a caring culture, I don't believe that the two have to be done in such conflict with one another. Her perceived incompetence/unwillingness to truly understand our system coupled with severe lack of regard for relationships is leading to the admin exit we are seeing.

[Anonymous]

Allow principals to expel the worst offenders, just about every other problem will become easier to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Pretty simple really. They selected a career as an education professional, not as a social worker in charge of creating equal outcomes.

They went into education with the goal of making each student the best they could be, not one where the goal is to get every student to the level of the least common denominator.

Now they have a superintendent and school board with resources (over $3B annual budget) to achieve the goals of DEI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty simple really. They selected a career as an education professional, not as a social worker in charge of creating equal outcomes.

They went into education with the goal of making each student the best they could be, not one where the goal is to get every student to the level of the least common denominator.

Now they have a superintendent and school board with resources (over $3B annual budget) to achieve the goals of DEI.

Spoken like someone who doesn’t work in the schools. The election is over. You can stop posting now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least some of them are retiring to get FCPS pensions while collecting a salary in a new division.

I get the impression Reid actually expects some results from principals and the ones who quit were used to Brabrand’s do-nothing style.

+1. I also get a strong sense from community meetings that Reid is out here pushing for real results - especially for the most disadvantaged and those lagging far behind the norm. I think some principals, specifically those closer to retirement, realize it's going to be hard work to fix the failing schools and jumping ship to a system with less expectations is an easy way out.

Administrator here ... my take is that it is some of both. Dr. Reid IS pushing for real results, but she has horrible interpersonal skills and has not demonstrated an understanding of the nuances and complexities that make up FCPS. She relies on old research to back many of her ideas, and it seems like she is trying to replicate what she did in Washington in a system that is very, very different.

While I do believe she wants what is best for kids and is willing to prioritize that over creating/maintaining a caring culture, I don't believe that the two have to be done in such conflict with one another. Her perceived incompetence/unwillingness to truly understand our system coupled with severe lack of regard for relationships is leading to the admin exit we are seeing.

I wonder what you mean about horrible interpersonal skills? Can you explain elaborate? I haven’t seen that in my several interactions with her (but I am not a principal).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:here are the top reasons IMO:
- the overly litigious nature of some families who have unreasonable expectations of public school and special education.
-the limits placed on disciplining students because some parents fight back and avoid discipline with excuses like discrimination or disabilities.
-not enough staff in elementary schools.
-people are politicizing education.
-parents don’t respect educators and see them as low class stupid babysitters instead of intelligent, skilled, (but human) professionals

I’m a principal in another district, and I’m leaving this year. This is why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least some of them are retiring to get FCPS pensions while collecting a salary in a new division.

I get the impression Reid actually expects some results from principals and the ones who quit were used to Brabrand’s do-nothing style.

+1. I also get a strong sense from community meetings that Reid is out here pushing for real results - especially for the most disadvantaged and those lagging far behind the norm. I think some principals, specifically those closer to retirement, realize it's going to be hard work to fix the failing schools and jumping ship to a system with less expectations is an easy way out.

Administrator here ... my take is that it is some of both. Dr. Reid IS pushing for real results, but she has horrible interpersonal skills and has not demonstrated an understanding of the nuances and complexities that make up FCPS. She relies on old research to back many of her ideas, and it seems like she is trying to replicate what she did in Washington in a system that is very, very different.

While I do believe she wants what is best for kids and is willing to prioritize that over creating/maintaining a caring culture, I don't believe that the two have to be done in such conflict with one another. Her perceived incompetence/unwillingness to truly understand our system coupled with severe lack of regard for relationships is leading to the admin exit we are seeing.

I wonder what you mean about horrible interpersonal skills? Can you explain elaborate? I haven’t seen that in my several interactions with her (but I am not a principal).

Honestly, she is willing to ask principals in a really clear, direct manner about metrics, data, results, financial efficiency, etc. She doesn't "wonder" which is a HUGE FCPS cultural way of saying "I need to call this out but can't speak directly to it." In a lot of ways, she reminds me of men I've worked for prior to getting into education and working up into admin at my school. Weirdly, I have heard the most complaining from peers who are either: (1) annoyed she is asking hard questions and (2) annoyed she is finding problems so quickly.

I will say as a personal note, I work in a high needs school. I had a meeting with her and other principals and our exec principal and raised some clear issues around central support that we were "receiving" on paper but in reality were utter BS and ineffective. I won't go into the details but she got to the bottom of the issue quickly (like it's resolved now in Nov. and it was raised this year). She pissed some of the Gatehouse off in the process, but in terms of accountability, I was shocked because in 15 years (plus) in working in FCPS, I never, ever saw anything like this before.

In a nutshell, she's different. That will make some people leave, but it isn't an indictment of her effectiveness if the people who are leaving don't like being held to account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least some of them are retiring to get FCPS pensions while collecting a salary in a new division.

I get the impression Reid actually expects some results from principals and the ones who quit were used to Brabrand’s do-nothing style.

+1. I also get a strong sense from community meetings that Reid is out here pushing for real results - especially for the most disadvantaged and those lagging far behind the norm. I think some principals, specifically those closer to retirement, realize it's going to be hard work to fix the failing schools and jumping ship to a system with less expectations is an easy way out.

Administrator here ... my take is that it is some of both. Dr. Reid IS pushing for real results, but she has horrible interpersonal skills and has not demonstrated an understanding of the nuances and complexities that make up FCPS. She relies on old research to back many of her ideas, and it seems like she is trying to replicate what she did in Washington in a system that is very, very different.

While I do believe she wants what is best for kids and is willing to prioritize that over creating/maintaining a caring culture, I don't believe that the two have to be done in such conflict with one another. Her perceived incompetence/unwillingness to truly understand our system coupled with severe lack of regard for relationships is leading to the admin exit we are seeing.

I wonder what you mean about horrible interpersonal skills? Can you explain elaborate? I haven’t seen that in my several interactions with her (but I am not a principal).

Honestly, she is willing to ask principals in a really clear, direct manner about metrics, data, results, financial efficiency, etc. She doesn't "wonder" which is a HUGE FCPS cultural way of saying "I need to call this out but can't speak directly to it." In a lot of ways, she reminds me of men I've worked for prior to getting into education and working up into admin at my school. Weirdly, I have heard the most complaining from peers who are either: (1) annoyed she is asking hard questions and (2) annoyed she is finding problems so quickly.

I will say as a personal note, I work in a high needs school. I had a meeting with her and other principals and our exec principal and raised some clear issues around central support that we were "receiving" on paper but in reality were utter BS and ineffective. I won't go into the details but she got to the bottom of the issue quickly (like it's resolved now in Nov. and it was raised this year). She pissed some of the Gatehouse off in the process, but in terms of accountability, I was shocked because in 15 years (plus) in working in FCPS, I never, ever saw anything like this before.

In a nutshell, she's different. That will make some people leave, but it isn't an indictment of her effectiveness if the people who are leaving don't like being held to account.

Ok that’s every school in FCPS. No school is getting the support needed from central. No one is getting the solution to move these kids that need another placement.

A lot of that is out of her control with sped laws. But she won’t have time to fix this in all schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Allow principals to expel the worst offenders, just about every other problem will become easier to deal with.

This. We’re just passing kids with horrific offenses a mile long from school to school. Maybe this new school board will allow the Hearings Office to actually expel kids and make their parents get them in a private school.

Then MS and HS principals could do their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least some of them are retiring to get FCPS pensions while collecting a salary in a new division.

I get the impression Reid actually expects some results from principals and the ones who quit were used to Brabrand’s do-nothing style.

+1. I also get a strong sense from community meetings that Reid is out here pushing for real results - especially for the most disadvantaged and those lagging far behind the norm. I think some principals, specifically those closer to retirement, realize it's going to be hard work to fix the failing schools and jumping ship to a system with less expectations is an easy way out.

Administrator here ... my take is that it is some of both. Dr. Reid IS pushing for real results, but she has horrible interpersonal skills and has not demonstrated an understanding of the nuances and complexities that make up FCPS. She relies on old research to back many of her ideas, and it seems like she is trying to replicate what she did in Washington in a system that is very, very different.

While I do believe she wants what is best for kids and is willing to prioritize that over creating/maintaining a caring culture, I don't believe that the two have to be done in such conflict with one another. Her perceived incompetence/unwillingness to truly understand our system coupled with severe lack of regard for relationships is leading to the admin exit we are seeing.

I wonder what you mean about horrible interpersonal skills? Can you explain elaborate? I haven’t seen that in my several interactions with her (but I am not a principal).

Honestly, she is willing to ask principals in a really clear, direct manner about metrics, data, results, financial efficiency, etc. She doesn't "wonder" which is a HUGE FCPS cultural way of saying "I need to call this out but can't speak directly to it." In a lot of ways, she reminds me of men I've worked for prior to getting into education and working up into admin at my school. Weirdly, I have heard the most complaining from peers who are either: (1) annoyed she is asking hard questions and (2) annoyed she is finding problems so quickly.

I will say as a personal note, I work in a high needs school. I had a meeting with her and other principals and our exec principal and raised some clear issues around central support that we were "receiving" on paper but in reality were utter BS and ineffective. I won't go into the details but she got to the bottom of the issue quickly (like it's resolved now in Nov. and it was raised this year). She pissed some of the Gatehouse off in the process, but in terms of accountability, I was shocked because in 15 years (plus) in working in FCPS, I never, ever saw anything like this before.

In a nutshell, she's different. That will make some people leave, but it isn't an indictment of her effectiveness if the people who are leaving don't like being held to account.

Thank you for explaining! To me, this doesn’t sound like a bad thing and I guess I stand by my earlier post where I said she wanted results and people were used to Brabrand’s do- nothing style. I think hard questions need to be asked and changes should be made. And I am so happy she was able to get you central office support that hadn’t been happening. I think FCPS needs hard questions and accountability, even if some highly paid central office staff or principals need to move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least some of them are retiring to get FCPS pensions while collecting a salary in a new division.

I get the impression Reid actually expects some results from principals and the ones who quit were used to Brabrand’s do-nothing style.

+1. I also get a strong sense from community meetings that Reid is out here pushing for real results - especially for the most disadvantaged and those lagging far behind the norm. I think some principals, specifically those closer to retirement, realize it's going to be hard work to fix the failing schools and jumping ship to a system with less expectations is an easy way out.

Administrator here ... my take is that it is some of both. Dr. Reid IS pushing for real results, but she has horrible interpersonal skills and has not demonstrated an understanding of the nuances and complexities that make up FCPS. She relies on old research to back many of her ideas, and it seems like she is trying to replicate what she did in Washington in a system that is very, very different.

While I do believe she wants what is best for kids and is willing to prioritize that over creating/maintaining a caring culture, I don't believe that the two have to be done in such conflict with one another. Her perceived incompetence/unwillingness to truly understand our system coupled with severe lack of regard for relationships is leading to the admin exit we are seeing.

I wonder what you mean about horrible interpersonal skills? Can you explain elaborate? I haven’t seen that in my several interactions with her (but I am not a principal).

I’m a principal in FCPS. I disagree that Reid has horrible interpersonal skills. I’ve spent a lot of time with her in association meetings. I think she was not prepared for how political the job is. But she has adjusted. Her goal in the first year was to connect with the community, and she’s been doing that. Principals were not her first priority, and honestly, I wasn’t offended by that. She came in WITHOUT a unanimous board vote and had to prove herself. She did that by going to every event everywhere.

I think she is listening to principals now and has course-corrected. I’m very happy with the increase i got in my October paycheck. But there’s only so much change one person can do quickly in such a large organization. She came in with a Human Resources Dept in shambles. If anyone can make the changes that need to happen, she is the one who can. She’s very passionate about do what’s best for kids, very smart and up for the challenge. She’s not perfect, but no one is. It’s an incredibly hard job. I know I couldn’t do it. Anyone here up for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, my impression is that principals do not have nearly enough oversight or supervision. They pretty much seem to do what they want. I know they get way too much pressure about test scores and are pressured to minimize behavior statistics.

Yup and the behaviors they deal with all day....how can anyone get the other things they have to do done? It's a horrible working environment for school staff all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty simple really. They selected a career as an education professional, not as a social worker in charge of creating equal outcomes.

They went into education with the goal of making each student the best they could be, not one where the goal is to get every student to the level of the least common denominator.

Now they have a superintendent and school board with resources (over $3B annual budget) to achieve the goals of DEI.

This is actually what I see. The best principals who are good administrators and have their teachers' backs - they are retiring or moving. The new ones coming in are not the right people for the job. And you can see it in the schools.

[Anonymous]

There is too much power, and not enough understanding of reality, in the people who are overseeing the school based administration. In other words, the executive principals, region superintendents, assistant superintendents, and superintendent.

That puts incredible pressure on school principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here are the top reasons IMO:
- the overly litigious nature of some families who have unreasonable expectations of public school and special education.
-the limits placed on disciplining students because some parents fight back and avoid discipline with excuses like discrimination or disabilities.
-not enough staff in elementary schools.
-people are politicizing education.
-parents don’t respect educators and see them as low class stupid babysitters instead of intelligent, skilled, (but human) professionals

I’m a principal in another district, and I’m leaving this year. This is why.

I’m a parent in FCPS, and I’m taking out my kids this year because many “educators” lied to us in our faces over and over again, protect the bullies, attack inquisitive minds (instead of nurturing them).