Churchill Getting a New Principal

[Anonymous]

Codes of conduct are great, but you need to know what's going on in your building (so much is right beneath the surface), you need to ask the right questions, you need to be approachable and make it obvious you want to help, you need to expand your circle to include marginalized or more timid students, you need to be willing to deal with conflict, you need to know the rules in that code of conduct handbook, and you need to actually follow them. Most principals sink because they don't have a clue what their students are doing, don't know what to do even if they do know what's going on, or they avoid conflict, or they put off vibes that make kids reluctant to go to them for help. Even being known as too punitive can backfire if kids are afraid to utilize you for help. If you want to know which schools are good for stamping out bullying and bad behavior, look for the schools where the teachers are happy and like one another. Principals who don't let staff mistreat one another are usually good about making kids feel safe too. My current principal is a bury-his-head in the sand kind of administrator, and that affects everyone from teachers to students to specialists. He's friendly but spineless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone who can improve the school climate for all students and staff is greatly needed. I hope the interview team asks the candidates how they would address bullying, harassment, and intimidation problems.

Doesn't matter who is the principal, MCPS approach to anti-discipline is why there are so many issues like what you listed. It is almost impossible to suspend a student even harder to expel. With the restorative justice initiatives MCPS is implementing, there is no real discipline. Central office negatively evaluates principals if they have lots of suspensions. If you're disappointed with the discipline problems blame Jack Smith, part of his legacy of destruction in his 5 years running MCPS.

Because suspending and expelling students has such positive outcomes for society...

OTOH, it might help their victims feel safe to be at school, learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Codes of conduct are great, but you need to know what's going on in your building (so much is right beneath the surface), you need to ask the right questions, you need to be approachable and make it obvious you want to help, you need to expand your circle to include marginalized or more timid students, you need to be willing to deal with conflict, you need to know the rules in that code of conduct handbook, and you need to actually follow them. Most principals sink because they don't have a clue what their students are doing, don't know what to do even if they do know what's going on, or they avoid conflict, or they put off vibes that make kids reluctant to go to them for help. Even being known as too punitive can backfire if kids are afraid to utilize you for help. If you want to know which schools are good for stamping out bullying and bad behavior, look for the schools where the teachers are happy and like one another. Principals who don't let staff mistreat one another are usually good about making kids feel safe too. My current principal is a bury-his-head in the sand kind of administrator, and that affects everyone from teachers to students to specialists. He's friendly but spineless.

+1 A principal’s reaction to a problem is key. Only a few number of incidents will be reported to school administrators. Staff and students will watch the fallout to determine how much they will trust the principal in the future.

If a principal’s reaction is that the incident never happened because she doesn’t want the problem to be data, students learn real fast that the principal is not helpful or caring. It takes a lot for a student to talk with a principal about a problem. Most of the time, there are witnesses and friends. Word goes around the school to not say anything because snitches get stitches. Churchill is no exception to this teenager mentality in which covering up problems can lead to escalating problems. Fights have occurred at Churchill just like they have at other MCPS schools.

Staff have the luxury of transferring to another school if the climate is bad. When you see a lot of older staff who have been in a school for over a decade, chances are the climate is ok. When you see people clocking in their exit cards and first year teachers are the primary hire, teachers are not happy and word of mouth about the principal has spread. Sometimes principals who like to torment staff hire new teachers because they can wield a lot of power over someone who doesn’t have tenure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Codes of conduct are great, but you need to know what's going on in your building (so much is right beneath the surface), you need to ask the right questions, you need to be approachable and make it obvious you want to help, you need to expand your circle to include marginalized or more timid students, you need to be willing to deal with conflict, you need to know the rules in that code of conduct handbook, and you need to actually follow them. Most principals sink because they don't have a clue what their students are doing, don't know what to do even if they do know what's going on, or they avoid conflict, or they put off vibes that make kids reluctant to go to them for help. Even being known as too punitive can backfire if kids are afraid to utilize you for help. If you want to know which schools are good for stamping out bullying and bad behavior, look for the schools where the teachers are happy and like one another. Principals who don't let staff mistreat one another are usually good about making kids feel safe too. My current principal is a bury-his-head in the sand kind of administrator, and that affects everyone from teachers to students to specialists. He's friendly but spineless.

Have you considered becoming an administrator, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All schools deserve good leadership. All staff at school deserve to be respected. All parents and students deserve respect.

Any less than this is why MCPS is crumbling at its foundation.

Are there any "W" schools doing a good job on diversity? Pyle is infamous for its problems, and it seems the Whitman principal is spending a good deal of his time on diversity, equity related matters, but is it helping? Is there a principal who has made a dent and changed the culture of their "white/W" school for the better? I guess I'm wondering how the principals are doing at places like North Bethesda, Silver Creek, Westland, Cabin John, and at high schools like BCC, Walter Johnson, Whitman, and any other in this category that I'm forgetting.

The staff at Cabin John does an amazing job and i think it stems from the principal. He encourages the hiring of diverse applicants so his staff is diverse. Not to mention they are not diverse just to say they are diverse they are great at what they do. Media Center specialist, Dr. Massey, is a huge asset to the CJMS community. Ms. Kumar is a beloved science teacher. The school read Stamped and had Jason Reynolds on a webinar to discuss. All very well done! Half of these kids go on to Churchill so not sure what that means tho?

[Anonymous]

I hope Cheryl Dyson promotes the Cabin John principal to Churchill. As a parent and staff member, I think that would be the perfect outcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All schools deserve good leadership. All staff at school deserve to be respected. All parents and students deserve respect.

Any less than this is why MCPS is crumbling at its foundation.

Are there any "W" schools doing a good job on diversity? Pyle is infamous for its problems, and it seems the Whitman principal is spending a good deal of his time on diversity, equity related matters, but is it helping? Is there a principal who has made a dent and changed the culture of their "white/W" school for the better? I guess I'm wondering how the principals are doing at places like North Bethesda, Silver Creek, Westland, Cabin John, and at high schools like BCC, Walter Johnson, Whitman, and any other in this category that I'm forgetting.

The staff at Cabin John does an amazing job and i think it stems from the principal. He encourages the hiring of diverse applicants so his staff is diverse. Not to mention they are not diverse just to say they are diverse they are great at what they do. Media Center specialist, Dr. Massey, is a huge asset to the CJMS community. Ms. Kumar is a beloved science teacher. The school read Stamped and had Jason Reynolds on a webinar to discuss. All very well done! Half of these kids go on to Churchill so not sure what that means tho?

Both Taylor and Massey are woke and are trying to indoctrinate kids with books like Stamped. Terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All schools deserve good leadership. All staff at school deserve to be respected. All parents and students deserve respect.

Any less than this is why MCPS is crumbling at its foundation.

Are there any "W" schools doing a good job on diversity? Pyle is infamous for its problems, and it seems the Whitman principal is spending a good deal of his time on diversity, equity related matters, but is it helping? Is there a principal who has made a dent and changed the culture of their "white/W" school for the better? I guess I'm wondering how the principals are doing at places like North Bethesda, Silver Creek, Westland, Cabin John, and at high schools like BCC, Walter Johnson, Whitman, and any other in this category that I'm forgetting.

The staff at Cabin John does an amazing job and i think it stems from the principal. He encourages the hiring of diverse applicants so his staff is diverse. Not to mention they are not diverse just to say they are diverse they are great at what they do. Media Center specialist, Dr. Massey, is a huge asset to the CJMS community. Ms. Kumar is a beloved science teacher. The school read Stamped and had Jason Reynolds on a webinar to discuss. All very well done! Half of these kids go on to Churchill so not sure what that means tho?

Both Taylor and Massey are woke and are trying to indoctrinate kids with books like Stamped. Terrible.

Awwww. Sorry they trigger you snowflake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope Cheryl Dyson promotes the Cabin John principal to Churchill. As a parent and staff member, I think that would be the perfect outcome!

+1. Mr. Taylor is amazing. I’d been hoping he’d have replaced Benz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All schools deserve good leadership. All staff at school deserve to be respected. All parents and students deserve respect.

Any less than this is why MCPS is crumbling at its foundation.

Are there any "W" schools doing a good job on diversity? Pyle is infamous for its problems, and it seems the Whitman principal is spending a good deal of his time on diversity, equity related matters, but is it helping? Is there a principal who has made a dent and changed the culture of their "white/W" school for the better? I guess I'm wondering how the principals are doing at places like North Bethesda, Silver Creek, Westland, Cabin John, and at high schools like BCC, Walter Johnson, Whitman, and any other in this category that I'm forgetting.

The staff at Cabin John does an amazing job and i think it stems from the principal. He encourages the hiring of diverse applicants so his staff is diverse. Not to mention they are not diverse just to say they are diverse they are great at what they do. Media Center specialist, Dr. Massey, is a huge asset to the CJMS community. Ms. Kumar is a beloved science teacher. The school read Stamped and had Jason Reynolds on a webinar to discuss. All very well done! Half of these kids go on to Churchill so not sure what that means tho?

Both Taylor and Massey are woke and are trying to indoctrinate kids with books like Stamped. Terrible.

Awwww. Sorry they trigger you snowflake.

I said indoctrinating, not triggering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope Cheryl Dyson promotes the Cabin John principal to Churchill. As a parent and staff member, I think that would be the perfect outcome!

+1. Mr. Taylor is amazing. I’d been hoping he’d have replaced Benz.

What do you like about him?

[Anonymous]

He motivates his staff, cares about kids and families and works hard. That's it in a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

I guess Mrs. Heckert’s last day was today. MCPS texted at 5pm all business offices and schools are closed tomorrow. It’s not like staff has had enough time off this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess Mrs. Heckert’s last day was today. MCPS texted at 5pm all business offices and schools are closed tomorrow. It’s not like staff has had enough time off this year.

It's a new federal holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope Cheryl Dyson promotes the Cabin John principal to Churchill. As a parent and staff member, I think that would be the perfect outcome!

+1. Mr. Taylor is amazing. I’d been hoping he’d have replaced Benz.

What do you like about him?

I like that he has a vision for where he wanted to take Cabin John and was hands on and creative in terms of executing his vision. Cabin John went from being a cold environment with disengaged staff and students to a warm and friendly environment where the kids were excited to go. I also want to emphasize the hands on. He didn’t sit in his office but was out front and center in the building and engaging with the staff and students. He is building community and school spirit from the ground up. You can just add a pep rally or exclamation points to your email to create school spirit.