Shepherd principal leaving after this year

[Anonymous]

Also, some parents would prefer a white principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good!

You must be in the minority. I have heard nothing but amazing reviews of her.

I'm a Shepherd Parent, and there's been a LOT of discontent about her this year -- terrible communication about several issues, including the music teacher; dismissive of parent and teacher concerns, including about discipline; failure to cultivate a positive school culture; and a general feeling that she just wasn't motivated to improve a school that has so much going for it.

[Anonymous]

Is the answer to a principal who isn't performing firing them and bringing in yet another one?

Why can't DCPS provide clear feedback, set performance metrics and coaching if needed and, if they don't improve, then let them go.

The churn every year across the city is so bad. There has to be a better way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, some parents would prefer a white principal.

This white parent with in-boundary kids attending Shepherd for five years would prefer a Black principal. And we were also satisfied with Principal Brawley, and quite sorry to see her go. Parents pushing for change have never gone through the turmoil that onboarding a new DC public school principal can bring. The years Shepherd went through several principals in several years were quite chaotic and ended up aggravating and pushing out some of the school's stronger teachers at the time. Overall, Shepherd has a large number of truly *amazing* teachers, right now, in large part thanks to Principal Brawley. I worry what the coming changes could do to the current pool of teachers/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is typical timing. There is a process where a panel of parents and teachers interviews candidates. Then they match you with the person they want you to have regardless of the panel's opinion.

This. Happened to us at Powell and now we're stuck.

Not what happened. The panel actually chose her.

Did downtown want a different candidate and defer to the panel, or did downtown and the panel want the same thing?

From what I understand from people who were on the panel, it was clear that even though multiple candidates were presented, only one was really being considered likely by DCPS. No one I talked to from the panel seemed particularly enthused about any of the candidates.

In general, it seems like these family panels are really just for show - by the time it gets down to two or three candidates it's likely that DCPS has a preference based on what they want for the school, and goes through the motions of engaging families but isn't really swayed by their feedback, positive or negative.

[Anonymous]

She was a Mary Jane Patterson Fellowship 2015-2016 class. I wasn't on the panel, but to me, that was a plus in her favor. It also includes mentorship during the first year as principal.

https://dcps.dc.gov/node/976222

I know this fellowship hasn't been around long, but does anyone know how other former fellows are doing?

My opinion of Ms. Brawley is mixed--she was personable, but not great with timely communication or taking parents' feedback seriously about a couple of teachers. And, she never seemed to have a comprehensive vision for the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, some parents would prefer a white principal.

This white parent with in-boundary kids attending Shepherd for five years would prefer a Black principal. And we were also satisfied with Principal Brawley, and quite sorry to see her go. Parents pushing for change have never gone through the turmoil that onboarding a new DC public school principal can bring. The years Shepherd went through several principals in several years were quite chaotic and ended up aggravating and pushing out some of the school's stronger teachers at the time. Overall, Shepherd has a large number of truly *amazing* teachers, right now, in large part thanks to Principal Brawley. I worry what the coming changes could do to the current pool of teachers/

Another white family and agree with PP above. Never heard a single person express a desire for a white principal!! You have to be a troll. Lol. All the parents who were unhappy with Brawley wanted better communication, better discipline styles (responsive classroom!!), and clean classrooms (rodent dropping gone).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the answer to a principal who isn't performing firing them and bringing in yet another one?

Why can't DCPS provide clear feedback, set performance metrics and coaching if needed and, if they don't improve, then let them go.

The churn every year across the city is so bad. There has to be a better way.

Do you think there were no warnings? Parents have been meeting with her through the years! Voicing their concerns and requests. There was a lack of follow-through.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would anyone want to be a principal in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, some parents would prefer a white principal.

This white parent with in-boundary kids attending Shepherd for five years would prefer a Black principal. And we were also satisfied with Principal Brawley, and quite sorry to see her go. Parents pushing for change have never gone through the turmoil that onboarding a new DC public school principal can bring. The years Shepherd went through several principals in several years were quite chaotic and ended up aggravating and pushing out some of the school's stronger teachers at the time. Overall, Shepherd has a large number of truly *amazing* teachers, right now, in large part thanks to Principal Brawley. I worry what the coming changes could do to the current pool of teachers/

Another white family and agree with PP above. Never heard a single person express a desire for a white principal!! You have to be a troll. Lol. All the parents who were unhappy with Brawley wanted better communication, better discipline styles (responsive classroom!!), and clean classrooms (rodent dropping gone).

Just because they don’t say it doesn’t mean they don’t think it (and communicate it implicitly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, some parents would prefer a white principal.

This white parent with in-boundary kids attending Shepherd for five years would prefer a Black principal. And we were also satisfied with Principal Brawley, and quite sorry to see her go. Parents pushing for change have never gone through the turmoil that onboarding a new DC public school principal can bring. The years Shepherd went through several principals in several years were quite chaotic and ended up aggravating and pushing out some of the school's stronger teachers at the time. Overall, Shepherd has a large number of truly *amazing* teachers, right now, in large part thanks to Principal Brawley. I worry what the coming changes could do to the current pool of teachers/

Another white family and agree with PP above. Never heard a single person express a desire for a white principal!! You have to be a troll. Lol. All the parents who were unhappy with Brawley wanted better communication, better discipline styles (responsive classroom!!), and clean classrooms (rodent dropping gone).

Just because they don’t say it doesn’t mean they don’t think it (and communicate it implicitly).

Can you give an example? Otherwise this is just spreading rumors. I never heard anyone say or imply anything of the sort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, some parents would prefer a white principal.

This white parent with in-boundary kids attending Shepherd for five years would prefer a Black principal. And we were also satisfied with Principal Brawley, and quite sorry to see her go. Parents pushing for change have never gone through the turmoil that onboarding a new DC public school principal can bring. The years Shepherd went through several principals in several years were quite chaotic and ended up aggravating and pushing out some of the school's stronger teachers at the time. Overall, Shepherd has a large number of truly *amazing* teachers, right now, in large part thanks to Principal Brawley. I worry what the coming changes could do to the current pool of teachers/

Another white family and agree with PP above. Never heard a single person express a desire for a white principal!! You have to be a troll. Lol. All the parents who were unhappy with Brawley wanted better communication, better discipline styles (responsive classroom!!), and clean classrooms (rodent dropping gone).

Just because they don’t say it doesn’t mean they don’t think it (and communicate it implicitly).

Can you give an example? Otherwise this is just spreading rumors. I never heard anyone say or imply anything of the sort.

Yes give an example, please. There aren’t that many white families to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is typical timing. There is a process where a panel of parents and teachers interviews candidates. Then they match you with the person they want you to have regardless of the panel's opinion.

This. Happened to us at Powell and now we're stuck.

Not what happened. The panel actually chose her.

Yes the panel chose her, but DCPS basically pushed her own us.

[Anonymous]

I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

[Anonymous]

She's expecting, this could be the reason she's resigning?