Skyview High School Admin Staff Posted

[Anonymous]

Potential academic pathways reads like an aviation and tech magnet school to me. Not even trying to hide it anymore. But hey the board voted for a traditional high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potential academic pathways reads like an aviation and tech magnet school to me. Not even trying to hide it anymore. But hey the board voted for a traditional high school.

No fixed boundaries yet, and unclear messaging about the focus. Why "pathways" as opposed to an academy?

I guess you'd sign up if you really don't want to go to Westfield or South Lakes, or excited about the potential aviation/tech support courses. Otherwise, it's looking like an underwhelming school in a fancy building. DCPS has plenty of those.

[Anonymous]

They have discussed the pathways every since the school was settled. It started as an aviation academy, which was rejected, and then moved into these pathways. They are the same concept as the pathways at Chantilly. This is not new information or a new concept. There will be some specific electives kids can take as part of a specific pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have discussed the pathways every since the school was settled. It started as an aviation academy, which was rejected, and then moved into these pathways. They are the same concept as the pathways at Chantilly. This is not new information or a new concept. There will be some specific electives kids can take as part of a specific pathway.

It says "potential" on the pathways--it won't be all of those. Agree. This has not changed.

I'm more hopeful now that staff is announced. I just hope the boundaries are realistic and not one of Reid's manipulations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have discussed the pathways every since the school was settled. It started as an aviation academy, which was rejected, and then moved into these pathways. They are the same concept as the pathways at Chantilly. This is not new information or a new concept. There will be some specific electives kids can take as part of a specific pathway.

Your post contradicts itself. Chantilly has an academy program. As you acknowledge, they aren't describing this as an academy, but instead "pathways." It seems to be more analogous to the "Global STEM Challenges Program" at Edison than anything at Chantilly, but they've been awfully non-committal as to what it will ultimately entail ("Please note that pathway and course information is subject to change").

[Anonymous]

why did Principal leave region job? seems like a downgrade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why did Principal leave region job? seems like a downgrade?

I think that opening a new school is a different challenge and I doubt anyone would see it as a downgrade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why did Principal leave region job? seems like a downgrade?

I thought that regional principals are a fail up category of jobs, a place where fcps puts principals like the hayfield football principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why did Principal leave region job? seems like a downgrade?

I thought that regional principals are a fail up category of jobs, a place where fcps puts principals like the hayfield football principal.

Sometimes but not always. Sometimes they are rewards for principals who’ve done well at their schools but are ready for a quieter desk job and can mentor other principals. Penny Gros at Justice and Jay Pierson at Marshall, who became executive principals, fit that description. On the other hand, there have also been some really bad principals who ended up in even more senior Gatehouse roles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why did Principal leave region job? seems like a downgrade?

I think that opening a new school is a different challenge and I doubt anyone would see it as a downgrade.

+1

[Anonymous]

MCPS built a brand new school at Crown for about $230 million. That school was designed as a MCPS high school.

FCPS will probably end up spending more on Skyview because it was built as a private school and will require a lot of retrofitting.

I don’t envy the school officials who will end up having to manage community expectations for Skyview. They can keep playing up all the bells and whistles in that building, but the question is whether it will ever have the meat and potatoes.

[Anonymous]

The principal has gone from Mountain View (HS) to Skyview. Talk about moving up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why did Principal leave region job? seems like a downgrade?

I thought that regional principals are a fail up category of jobs, a place where fcps puts principals like the hayfield football principal.

Sometimes but not always. Sometimes they are rewards for principals who’ve done well at their schools but are ready for a quieter desk job and can mentor other principals. Penny Gros at Justice and Jay Pierson at Marshall, who became executive principals, fit that description. On the other hand, there have also been some really bad principals who ended up in even more senior Gatehouse roles.

Rebecca Baenig comes to mind as a fail up.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Fasick (AP) is moving from Madison. Walker (AP) is moving from Fairfax. West Springfield field is losing its Director of Student Services, Basta. Woodson is losing its Director of Student Activities, Smith.

Bummer

FCPS really has a target on WSHS. They keep pillaging their staff

The staff applied for the positions.

Exactly. The PP should be asking themselves why everyone wants to leave WSHS, not blaming FCPS for giving them other opportunities.

Why would you say everyone wants to leave WSHS? I can see wanting to leave Madison, but not WS. Maybe the positions are closer to the new administrators’ homes, and you get promoted to principal or above within FCPS by working in different environments.

There is not a target on WSHS staff, the staff their keep applying for jobs to leave WSHS, therefor FCPS isn't going in and removing people unwillingly from WSHS. People are applying for jobs elsewhere.

However, it certainly doesn't mean people are wanting to leave. If they're leaving for better opportunities that's incredibly logical and wise for their careers. If they're leaving for later or even lower jobs elsewhere (outside of a better commute, work/life balance etc) then you'd wonder if WSHS has issues.

WSHS lost people to TJ when Mukai moved over. That’s not surprising and is not a reflection on the school. Being a charter staff member at a new school is an exciting opportunity for many people. It may pay the same, but you get to build the ship from the ground up, which excites a lot of career educators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fasick (AP) is moving from Madison. Walker (AP) is moving from Fairfax. West Springfield field is losing its Director of Student Services, Basta. Woodson is losing its Director of Student Activities, Smith.

Bummer

FCPS really has a target on WSHS. They keep pillaging their staff

The staff applied for the positions.

Exactly. The PP should be asking themselves why everyone wants to leave WSHS, not blaming FCPS for giving them other opportunities.

Why would you say everyone wants to leave WSHS? I can see wanting to leave Madison, but not WS. Maybe the positions are closer to the new administrators’ homes, and you get promoted to principal or above within FCPS by working in different environments.

There is not a target on WSHS staff, the staff their keep applying for jobs to leave WSHS, therefor FCPS isn't going in and removing people unwillingly from WSHS. People are applying for jobs elsewhere.

However, it certainly doesn't mean people are wanting to leave. If they're leaving for better opportunities that's incredibly logical and wise for their careers. If they're leaving for later or even lower jobs elsewhere (outside of a better commute, work/life balance etc) then you'd wonder if WSHS has issues.

WSHS lost people to TJ when Mukai moved over. That’s not surprising and is not a reflection on the school. Being a charter staff member at a new school is an exciting opportunity for many people. It may pay the same, but you get to build the ship from the ground up, which excites a lot of career educators.

I think that the people who are so focused on the process, which has been crap, are missing out that there are reasons that people are excited. It is a new school with new opportunities and a chance to shape the future. That is scary but exciting at the same time. For veteran teachers, this is an opportunity to help frame the curriculum and the shape of their new departments.

You can be excited by the opportunity and dislike the process.