Changes in the Cap Hill cluster leadership
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Anonymous
One of the Watkins APs is leaving. (The male.) Lots of new leadership on the way. |
Anonymous
| The Watkins AP who is leaving is moving across the country, so he will not be around next year no matter what. |
Anonymous
| How is teacher retention going this year? I know that Watkins lost 18 teachers last year. I have heard rumblings about Peabody teachers leaving. Does anyone know? |
Anonymous
I'm hoping that it is a clean sweep. |
Anonymous
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Here's the Cluster School webpage on the Watkins/Peabody principal selection: http://www.capitolhillclusterschool.org/peabody-early-childhood/watkinspeabody-principal-selection-2015
It says that the appointment should be made in "late May or sometime in June". And here's the email about AP departures that went out in May: Hello Cluster Families, I am writing with news concerning administrative staffing at the Cluster for the coming year. Both AP Harding and AP Lawson will be leaving us at the end of June. This is sad news for Watkins and Peabody as we will miss them both. Anthony will be moving into a principal roll and Scott has chosen to return to teaching. Both their personal letters are attached and should have come home in backpacks today, if not, tomorrow. Moving forward the new principal will be chosing his/her team. Once the principal selection process is completed we will begin the search for both positions. Regards, Principal Clemens Dear Watkins Families, As many of you may have heard, I will not be returning to Watkins Elementary School next year. It is with great excitement that I will be starting a new adventure in Denver, Colorado as a principal while my partner will begin in a new position as well as assistant professor at Metro State University of Denver. At the same time, it is with great sadness that I will be leaving the Watkins community – a place I have called home for the past two years. I have been proud to serve as assistant principal and watch the growth of both our students and teachers. We have seen our highest scores in school history in mathematics and will be hosting our first science fair this year in partnership with Payne Elementary. I have no doubt that Watkins will continue to grow and flourish under new leadership. We have set a solid foundation to become the best elementary school in the city and I am proud to say I was part of it. I wish all the staff, students and families the best of luck in the future. Best, Anthony Lawson Dear Peabody and Cluster Community, I want to thank you for allowing me to serve your family this past school year. This has been one of the most challenging and most rewarding chapters of my life, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity. I must also acknowledge the endless support of our PTA Working Group parents and our teacher leaders, whose encouragement has meant the world to me. I am writing today to inform you that I have made the decision not to return to Peabody and the Cluster for the 2015-2016 school year. While there may be some leadership shifts at our campus, I am confident that our incredible staff will continue the award winning instructional work your children have enjoyed. As many of you know, I love working with young children- it has always been a personal passion. As a result, I have decided to join Van Ness Elementary’s instructional team this summer to prepare for the upcoming school opening and will later serve in the classroom and support teacher development. Van Ness, located in the Navy Yard, will be opening this fall, and I am eager to continue serving the students of DCPS in this new role. Again, thank you for your support and partnership this past year. AP Harding |
Anonymous
| Lawson's letter showed have stated that they also lost the greatest amount of teachers in the history of the school under his leadership. A large percentage of the veteran teachers in those testing grades are gone. What will happen with test scores this year. Way too many variables last year for him to take any credit. |
Anonymous
Off-hand I know of a few departures -- all for random reasons (e.g., one teacher moving overseas; another, who was likely a poor fit to begin with, moving on after just one year; another having a baby in September -- presumably returning after maternity leave?). I also know of one amazing teaching aide who's returning next year as a full-time teacher. Anyway, as a parent I have no serious concerns about retention issues -- though I sure hope the new Principal and AP are great, and are able to recruit and retain talent. |
Anonymous
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The new principal for Watkins and Peabody is Elena Bell, currently principal at Vanderpoel Elementary Magnet School in Chicago. Announcement letter copied below.
And a few links: School website: http://vanderpoelelementary.org/index.jsp School profile: http://schools.chicagotribune.com/school/vanderpoel-elementary-magnet-school_chicago; shows that about two-thirds of students are poor, but test scores were around the state average. 2013 profile of Principal Bell from a Chicago neighborhood site:: http://www.bapa.org/article.asp?articleid=2001 June 10, 2015 Dear Peabody and Watkins Elementary School Communities: As you know, every year we conduct a nationwide search for the best principals to lead our schools. To deliver a high-quality education to all students, it takes a strong school leader who is singularly focused on raising student achievement. Astounding advances are possible when the right principal is leading a school. Many of you have engaged in the selection process for the principal over both Peabody and Watkins schools by examining the candidates and making a recommendation to me, and I sincerely appreciate your time and efforts on behalf of our students. After balancing your input and recommendations with the needed experience and skills that research links to success, we concluded that your recommendation, Elena Bell, is the strongest candidate to join the Capitol Hill Cluster and lead the Peabody and Watkins school community. We are happy to report that Ms. Bell has accepted the offer to be the Peabody and Watkins Elementary School principal. Her official appointment begins on June 29, 2015. Elena Bell began her career in education as a second grade teacher in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent five years as a teacher at Alfred Blalock Elementary School before transitioning to work as an early intervention program coordinator and instructor for Bolton Academy, where she remained for two years. In 2010, Ms. Bell was accepted into the Harvard University principal residency program where she spent one year as the resident principal at Edward Devotion School in Massachusetts. In 2011, she served as the resident principal for E. Dunne Technology Academy in Chicago, Illinois before being named the principal of John Vanderpoel Magnet School in 2012. Ms. Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Spelman College and a master’s degree in school leadership from Harvard University. I want to thank everyone who participated in the principal selection process, especially the school community panel that interviewed a number of quality candidates. Ms. Bell is excited to meet all of you, and I hope you will give her your warm welcome and support as she leads your children toward success. Sincerely, Kaya Henderson Chancellor |
Anonymous
| What is the other Watkins AP going to do? |
Anonymous
| Please DCUM. Give this poor woman a second to get ramped up before you start posting her custody hearing and property sale details. |
Anonymous
What??? |
Anonymous
Veiled reference to what a recent thread about new Wilson principal devolved into. |
Anonymous
| And other Principals as well. See the "bullying in DCPS" thread. People suck sometimes. |
Anonymous
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So, I was not on the Principal interview committee, so this is second-hand....
But the "word" is that everybody wanted this woman--and that other schools were seeking to hire her, as well. As a parent, I have strong hopes! |
Anonymous
I can confirm that "word" from another perspective. Consider yourselves very lucky. |