Removal of Eaton Principal Steven Eskay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole thing sounds ridiculous. I highly doubt that a principal would be bold enough to say these things to colleagues. Some teachers probably were oversensitive when it came to something that Principal Eskay addressed with them. People really need to grow some thicker skin.

This sounds like a person who has never worked in DCPS. You would be absolutely mistaken to think that this can't happen at Eaton...because not only is it HIGHLY likely that it is ABSOLUTELY happening there, but it is happening at my school as well.

[Anonymous]

"This is happening at my NW DCPS elementary school as well. The entire scenario sounds so similar, except it's our AP that is an abusive nightmare. She gaslights everyone, talks inappropriately about parents, staff, and students and turns the school against each other...so many shady practices between the principal and AP. The principal is fully aware of the toxic environment, so many staff have reached out, but he does nothing about it....then again....he does nothing about anything. Many grievances have been submitted but we don't have the demographics for DCPS or loud communities like DCUM to give a crap. We don't have the unity that Eaton has because we are walking on eggshells each day, no one trusts one another because of the manipulation and lies that have been orchestrated across the building by the AP. A teacher even called police on the AP earlier in the year, during school hours.

I admire Eaton and support their teachers and staff 100%."

Let me tell you that the same problem with the AP also has it in Eaton.
Eaton's AP is incompetent, manipulative and believed to be the only person in possession of the truth, she thinks is always right.
What I would like to see at Eaton is to also see the teachers and parents come together to take charge of doing something with the AP like they are doing with the Principal.

I hope this serves to open an investigation into this person since also has several complaints made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"This is happening at my NW DCPS elementary school as well. The entire scenario sounds so similar, except it's our AP that is an abusive nightmare. She gaslights everyone, talks inappropriately about parents, staff, and students and turns the school against each other...so many shady practices between the principal and AP. The principal is fully aware of the toxic environment, so many staff have reached out, but he does nothing about it....then again....he does nothing about anything. Many grievances have been submitted but we don't have the demographics for DCPS or loud communities like DCUM to give a crap. We don't have the unity that Eaton has because we are walking on eggshells each day, no one trusts one another because of the manipulation and lies that have been orchestrated across the building by the AP. A teacher even called police on the AP earlier in the year, during school hours.

I admire Eaton and support their teachers and staff 100%."

Let me tell you that the same problem with the AP also has it in Eaton.
Eaton's AP is incompetent, manipulative and believed to be the only person in possession of the truth, she thinks is always right.
What I would like to see at Eaton is to also see the teachers and parents come together to take charge of doing something with the AP like they are doing with the Principal.

I hope this serves to open an investigation into this person since also has several complaints made.

I am PP. It seems like the root of the toxicity at Eaton is the principal and everyone who works there seems to be in alignment on that.

I’m saying that at my school, the principal AND AP have created and maintain a toxic structure together, hand in hand. AP is the abuser, principal is the enabler of the abuse because he is spineless and lazy. They both spend the day cackling in each other’s offices (if the principal is even there, which is like 40% of the time). They work hand in hand to keep the school from growing so they don’t have to be real leaders, just controlling ones that collect massive checks for doing nothing: nothing for the students, nothing for the teachers, nothing for the families, nothing for the community. They both need to be removed, along with the principal of Eaton, and anyone else running their schools like tyrants.

We are not saying the same thing. I hope that DCPS starts paying attention to the schools that have been drowning under the weight of crappy leadership. I worry so much for my school because the teachers and students and families deserve so much better. The teachers at my school lead themselves and are an incredible and passionate body but I worry that because of our demographics and the tenure of our principal, this will continue to be swept out of sight.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happens at my DCPS school as well. The turnover is crazy and the principal could care less. Interesting that this isn't unique to one school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thing sounds ridiculous. I highly doubt that a principal would be bold enough to say these things to colleagues. Some teachers probably were oversensitive when it came to something that Principal Eskay addressed with them. People really need to grow some thicker skin.

This sounds like a person who has never worked in DCPS. You would be absolutely mistaken to think that this can't happen at Eaton...because not only is it HIGHLY likely that it is ABSOLUTELY happening there, but it is happening at my school as well.

+1

I worked for a ‘beloved’ principal a few years ago who got many positive comments on DCUM. Around staff he made racist, sexist and inappropriate comments on a regular basis. Parents truly have no idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher (not Eaton) here. I don’t condone any of the behavior described here. Overall, it is REALLY tough to be a DCPS principal these days. I wouldn’t do it for any amount of money! If you fail to do everything exactly by the book you risk legal jeopardy. But if you do everything y the book you face the wrath of some parents and teachers (e.g. - and this is an imaginary example- if policy requires indoor recess when there is a storm watch but skies are actually 100% blue, you keep students indoors and get 20 calls from angry parents and frustrated teachers and students, or if policy requires you to not restrain a violent student and that student attacks another child, or if policy states you must have 3 adults in a given situation but you literally do not have enough adults in the building to cover every room…). A wrong step in each of these situations can put you in legal or professional jeopardy. The stakes are very high and there are so many stakeholders to please and satisfy. You have to be tough as nails and willing to be criticized by all parties when you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

So what’s even your point in this situation? Yeah principaling is hard. That doesn’t excuse being a misogynist, racist, verbally abusive tyrant. Do you really want a person of with such lack of character around your kids?

You got my point - that principaling is hard. That was it. I also clearly said that I do NOT condone any of this alleged behavior. That part you missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same thing happens at my DCPS school as well. The turnover is crazy and the principal could care less. Interesting that this isn't unique to one school.

The deal yearbook this year lists all the new teachers. It’s eye opening.

[Anonymous]

DEAL is the next school where you are going to see teachers sign a petition to get rid of the principal.

[Anonymous]

When are we going to know the resolution of the dcps on the principal?
What is next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy had such a good reputation at Payne. He was beloved. I am literally flabbergasted.

Who said that! Did you talk to anyone from PAYNE 😳

[Anonymous]

I honestly believe that these allegations are untrue. I work at Central Office and everyone loves Principal Eskay. This is most likely an isolated incident involving one teacher who is clearly disappointed by feedback provided during coaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly believe that these allegations are untrue. I work at Central Office and everyone loves Principal Eskay. This is most likely an isolated incident involving one teacher who is clearly disappointed by feedback provided during coaching.

What an embarrassing post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly believe that these allegations are untrue. I work at Central Office and everyone loves Principal Eskay. This is most likely an isolated incident involving one teacher who is clearly disappointed by feedback provided during coaching.

You have to love Central Office. They create incentives for school admins to suck up to them and then take that as confirmation that they are great. So, so lame.

Really, who do you think know the experience of working daily under Eskay--teachers or bureaucrats off in an office building?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly believe that these allegations are untrue. I work at Central Office and everyone loves Principal Eskay. This is most likely an isolated incident involving one teacher who is clearly disappointed by feedback provided during coaching.

These are serious claims and every party (Central Office, principal, teachers, & parents) is worried about how things will move forward. Please go and troll elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly believe that these allegations are untrue. I work at Central Office and everyone loves Principal Eskay. This is most likely an isolated incident involving one teacher who is clearly disappointed by feedback provided during coaching.

You have to love Central Office. They create incentives for school admins to suck up to them and then take that as confirmation that they are great. So, so lame.

Really, who do you think know the experience of working daily under Eskay--teachers or bureaucrats off in an office building?

It is so deeply troubling that there are people that would actually be skeptical of the unified voice of a collective majority vs a single white man’s defense. I simply cannot even imagine how someone’s rational mind can be presented with this data and still be partial to siding with the principal here.

Even if I didn’t work in DCPS and know definitively that this is happening elsewhere too, I would still be partial to hearing out and empathizing with a group of workers vs thinking they are lying about the abusive and toxic behaviors of their boss.