New Instructional Superintendent

[Anonymous]

To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

Do instructional superintendents ever meet with parents except if there is a really bad problem with the principal? I'm not sure why they would or should. It isn't really a public-facing role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

These charges were serious enough that he was fired. The only board member who didn't vote for him to be fired was his friend who left early because he was "sick." Comments like this are part of the reason leaders remain corrupt. The benefit of the doubt is given to everyone EXCEPT teachers.

[Anonymous]

I know we kind of live in the shadows here, but I just called DCPS, identified myself as a parent, which I am, asked for the contact information for him, they gave me his work phone number. 202.306.1092. We had a great conversation. I also read some more- he wasn't fired and to say that is just factually inaccurate. He resigned and was bought out, and those two things couldn't be more different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know we kind of live in the shadows here, but I just called DCPS, identified myself as a parent, which I am, asked for the contact information for him, they gave me his work phone number. 202.306.1092. We had a great conversation. I also read some more- he wasn't fired and to say that is just factually inaccurate. He resigned and was bought out, and those two things couldn't be more different.

Yes, you're right. It makes a world of difference.

"After more than a year of battling with the teachers' union and district administrators, the Board placed Jellig on administrative leave May 9. It was a paid leave, so he collected his full salary, $177,500 a year, while the board decided what to do next, said Derlys Gutierrez, an attorney representing the board. But Jellig's decision to resign Monday night voided the remaining three years of his five-year contract with the district."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

Put simply numbers lie. I have a rising 5th grader from the ES downstairs. I was lucky enough to get my child into BASIS but even if I hadn't they wouldn't have gone to WILL. There was a constant police presence at the school and student conduct was atrocious. Furthermore there is only one administrator left from last year's staff. If things were going so well....why all the change and turmoil?

Why is DCPS giving financial and educational control to someone who has A) battled with unions B) poorly spent money in the past? I'm sure the NJ taxpayers loved footing the bill for his trips to Atlantic City and India.

If you don't believe me read for yourself.

http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2015/04/lets-hear-it-for-failure-bullying.html

https://nj1015.com/south-brunswick-superintendent-accused-of-bad-behavior-toward-staff-resigns/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

I don't think one teacher needed to go on the record. They had 200 protesting.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/south-brunswick/articles/south-brunswick-teachers-union-to-protest-super

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

This is promising. That's why you can't only look at the PMF to judge a school. The PMF is wonky - while PARCC scores improved growth fell on the PMF. That seems to be the reason the PMF is declining for Will during his tenure. With a 46.5 PMF score a school as old as KIPP Will would be considered "in trouble" even though PARCC is improving.

[Anonymous]

Why are parents not outraged?? Why are parents not calling and knocking on the mayor's and the ancs doors???? I truly do not understand why parents from all backgrounds are not making a full protest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents not outraged?? Why are parents not calling and knocking on the mayor's and the ancs doors???? I truly do not understand why parents from all backgrounds are not making a full protest.

I literally cannot imagine why exactly you care about this, or what you mean by 'parents from all backgrounds' in this context. What makes this inst superintendant worse than any of the others? Unless you are one of the principals who will report to him, it shouldn't make much of a difference to you or your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents not outraged?? Why are parents not calling and knocking on the mayor's and the ancs doors???? I truly do not understand why parents from all backgrounds are not making a full protest.

I literally cannot imagine why exactly you care about this, or what you mean by 'parents from all backgrounds' in this context. What makes this inst superintendant worse than any of the others? Unless you are one of the principals who will report to him, it shouldn't make much of a difference to you or your kid.

At the bare minimum because the man has several allegations of improper uses of taxpayer money.

[Anonymous]

I just spoke with a friend who worked with him in DC. They said he is still corrupt and has a friend, Melissa Kim, who held a high title in KIPP and now that friend has a higher title in DCPS. That friend looks out for him when he is in need of employment. Jerry also leaves jobs before he is fired so it will not go on record.

Under his leadership, 2 assistant principals were removed for inappropriate conduct with staff members, HR complaints were filed against him many times over the last few years and teachers kept a running list and recordings of his unethical actions including stealing from the school. It got so bad, the workers in operations would not sign off on his puchases without sending them to THEIR supervisors. They did not want to be associated with his puchases. According to my friend, Jerry is all about the data and the data does lie. He forced teachers to give passing grades to students, even those who didn't do their work. There was a no discipline system which he called restorative justice. There was no restoration. KIPP has a network wide system of logging behaviors. In order to keep behaviors out of the system, he and his leadership team would delete the negative behaviors or mark them as resolved even though they weren't. He would then brag about the data in staff meetings. My friend gave me an earful and has recordings. According to them, many staff members recorded conversations and meetings with him because he was so inappropriate and often threatened their jobs. Especially if you were a teacher who spoke up. This last year, music, art or language weren't offered to students. Instead, he invested in a game room which students rarely used.

Talk to him if you want, he is wordy but those words will mean nothing. My friend said he WAS removed as principal of WILL and placed in a different position within the KIPP network so he wouldn't be in a school setting before accepting the DCPS job. They also said in the announcement he made about leaving the school as principal, he stated he need to be closer to his family who is still in Jersey and he called his 12 year old daughter a bitch which they found weird and unsettling.

Parents should be upset and fight this. He has no business being in the business of our children. Fact is, he can't get a job closer to home because of his reputation. And there is no Melissa Kim in the other districts to hire him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, on the new STAR rating the new Superintendent's former school, WILL Academy, was the highest of the KIPP MSs, even higher than some ESs and less than a 1/2 point from 4 stars. Also, OSSE names their Most Improved Schools every summer. WILL Academy was the most improved MS after his first year, 2018. And something obviously went wrong in NJ, but why, even after he was bought out (which is a board admission of fault) did not one teacher go on the record with a single complaint? They employ 1200 teachers, not one? I'm taking a wait and see approach, may even try and meet him. Has anyone tried to speak with him or get a face to face?

Hi Jerry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just spoke with a friend who worked with him in DC. They said he is still corrupt and has a friend, Melissa Kim, who held a high title in KIPP and now that friend has a higher title in DCPS. That friend looks out for him when he is in need of employment. Jerry also leaves jobs before he is fired so it will not go on record.

Under his leadership, 2 assistant principals were removed for inappropriate conduct with staff members, HR complaints were filed against him many times over the last few years and teachers kept a running list and recordings of his unethical actions including stealing from the school. It got so bad, the workers in operations would not sign off on his puchases without sending them to THEIR supervisors. They did not want to be associated with his puchases. According to my friend, Jerry is all about the data and the data does lie. He forced teachers to give passing grades to students, even those who didn't do their work. There was a no discipline system which he called restorative justice. There was no restoration. KIPP has a network wide system of logging behaviors. In order to keep behaviors out of the system, he and his leadership team would delete the negative behaviors or mark them as resolved even though they weren't. He would then brag about the data in staff meetings. My friend gave me an earful and has recordings. According to them, many staff members recorded conversations and meetings with him because he was so inappropriate and often threatened their jobs. Especially if you were a teacher who spoke up. This last year, music, art or language weren't offered to students. Instead, he invested in a game room which students rarely used.

Talk to him if you want, he is wordy but those words will mean nothing. My friend said he WAS removed as principal of WILL and placed in a different position within the KIPP network so he wouldn't be in a school setting before accepting the DCPS job. They also said in the announcement he made about leaving the school as principal, he stated he need to be closer to his family who is still in Jersey and he called his 12 year old daughter a bitch which they found weird and unsettling.

Parents should be upset and fight this. He has no business being in the business of our children. Fact is, he can't get a job closer to home because of his reputation. And there is no Melissa Kim in the other districts to hire him.

Ugh. DCPS just shoots itself in the foot over and over.

[Anonymous]

The allegations surrounding corruption, poor school-based management, and creating a divisive and toxic environment for students, families and staff is accurate. I was beyond shocked to learn that he was promoted into this position with DCPS after the MESS he made with WILL Academy. Fortunately, WILL has an amazing and resilient student body and staff, they WILL recover. It’s just extremely unfortunate that such an immoral, unethical and poor educator such as Jerry has yet again been given the opportunity to remain in this field. He is unworthy!