Will Whittle be around next year?

[Anonymous]

My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that there is literally almost not one person from the founding faculty and staff left at the school less than 3 years from when they started says it all about how empowered (or lack thereof) they felt

Certainly true!

The thing is, though, people generally speak quite highly of that first batch of DC school administrators, too -- i.e., those first heads and assistant heads.....And as an retired teacher, I'd say those are the people who normally disempower you....

But if they were good -- as so many reports indicate -- then exactly who was disempowering the teachers? And exactly how was that disempowerment visible, and how did it play out in the classroom to produce all this bad education that people report?

Again, as a retired teacher, I experienced one quite disempowering and non-supportive and resource-starved situation. And yet I know that I and other teachers were able to provide some pretty strong educational experiences even in such a situation. Not as easily and not as good an education as we could have provided if things were ideal, granted. But still....I got quite a lot of parental and even student priase for teh quality of learning kids were getting in a situation like that.

So the details of exactly where this disempowerment at Whittle was coming from and what form it took that made it impossible for some to do a good job for their kids aer what I'd like to know!

In a writeup of that pre-opening Switzerland conference the faculty and staff attended, teachers were quoted as saying that, for the first time in their careers, they felt fully respected and like true scholars of educaion rather than cogs in a machine.

So what happened in a few months that started sinking the quality of education in more than one classroom, even though class sizes were small and most of the kids came from middle class families who supported education?

Who imposed what on whom that crippled this school?

But that's the thing- it all means nothing untill the rubber hits the road. Withholding information on the health of the school, seeing enrollment drop, a lack of cohesion when trying to make the "vision" real, not addressing problems that come up -- these are all ways Whittle may have dropped the ball. (Not a teacher or a parent at Whittle, but just based on what I know generally.) Being able to create your own curriculum must have felt very freeing, but if the structure isn't there to back it up, it's not worth much.

Yeah, you're right. And I know that's happened now, and certainly was going at least in the second half of 2021.

My confusion, I guess, is just what happened in the first year and a half that caused teachers and administrators to leave and some parents to say the education was awful. My understanding had been that those teachers were fairly well paid and didn't miss any paychecks or see their purchase orders unsent in the school's first year and a half at least and maybe even two years.

So you're probably right that that's not really the case and that the teachers and administrators were already seeing money issues even in the first year and that sapped morale and maybe kept them from doing some things they wanted to do.

That would definitely make more sense of the history.

It's just that so many parents seem surprised by the money problems that have appeared in the third year that I figured Whittle and company must have successfully hidden fhem from everybody in DC for at least the first year and a half or so.....But if DC teachers and administrators saw big financial cracks appearing almost right away, then that would account for the early crowding of the exits.......I wish they're shared that information more widely....But I guess I see why in the interest of not getting further involved or called out for disloyalty, you'd keep mum about what you were seeing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

So basically the education quality really wasn't an issue in the early going.

What happened in the first two years was just the first signs of what's happening now, except that it happened on a small enough scale so that only the teachers and administrators were aware of it -- money problems that threatened to become quite serious.

Then by the third year, the financial issues became so bad they could no longer be hidden from the families. And at the same time the education really did become much dicier because a new group of people have had to start all over again as a less-well-paid and probably much less experienced faculty and administration -- who are seeing their purchase orders go unfilled and their paychecks delayed into the bargain. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It all comes down to one simple fact - money. Or more precisely, the gross financial mismanagement that has been a feature of each of Whittle's schemes and was no different here.

There was a chronic lack of funding from before this school opened - as evidenced by the multiple suits and mechanics liens that far predate COVID19 - and which has only gotten progressively worse to the point that the school now cannot even make payroll and have had their bank accounts garnished. No funds for supplies, musical instruments, books, properly functioning wifi, among a long list of others.

In the face of this, I don't think even the best educators could be functional, much less effective.

This is 100% correct

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

So basically the education quality really wasn't an issue in the early going.

What happened in the first two years was just the first signs of what's happening now, except that it happened on a small enough scale so that only the teachers and administrators were aware of it -- money problems that threatened to become quite serious.

Then by the third year, the financial issues became so bad they could no longer be hidden from the families. And at the same time the education really did become much dicier because a new group of people have had to start all over again as a less-well-paid and probably much less experienced faculty and administration -- who are seeing their purchase orders go unfilled and their paychecks delayed into the bargain. Got it.

It was clear from Fall 2020 that the school was having financial issues. Teachers did not get paid at that time and an upper school humanities teacher walked out. The head of the upper school - found a new position in January 2021 and left in June, as did many other true educators. As a parent, we knew which is why we applied out in the fall of 2020 - so child would have a new school in for fall 2021. As did many others. I knew early on it was a mistake, and 6 weeks into school was applying out. The families that drank the Cool aide believed in Chris whittle lies and made the choice to stay and many were enticed by the tuition discount. Did my child receive a solid education for that one year. No. But a few of the teachers tried. Science was a joke, and my child needed to repeat a year of math and spanish. However, the humanities teacher was great as well as the director of curriculum and the upper school head. Do I wish I made a different choice for that year? Absolutely - but I am also thankful I saw the writing on the wall pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

So basically the education quality really wasn't an issue in the early going.

What happened in the first two years was just the first signs of what's happening now, except that it happened on a small enough scale so that only the teachers and administrators were aware of it -- money problems that threatened to become quite serious.

Then by the third year, the financial issues became so bad they could no longer be hidden from the families. And at the same time the education really did become much dicier because a new group of people have had to start all over again as a less-well-paid and probably much less experienced faculty and administration -- who are seeing their purchase orders go unfilled and their paychecks delayed into the bargain. Got it.

This is pretty much correct. The first year was great up until COVID hit. There were some hiccups but not unexpected from a new school. In fact Whittle had an advantage because COID hit China first and Whittle's former sister school in Shenzhen shared knowledge with the DC campus on virtual learning. Some teachers left after year 1. Year 2 full virtual learning kids performed as best as they could but again some teachers/faculty left mid year and the end of year. No one new why. Again teachers/faculty signed NDAs. There was speculation and various reasons given, but no concrete direct messaging from faculty, teachers, or board of any kind as to why there was so much staff turnover. Although COIVD was mentioned for not being able to raise capital. The serious of the situation all became apparent in year 3 when parents received the Christmas letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

So basically the education quality really wasn't an issue in the early going.

What happened in the first two years was just the first signs of what's happening now, except that it happened on a small enough scale so that only the teachers and administrators were aware of it -- money problems that threatened to become quite serious.

Then by the third year, the financial issues became so bad they could no longer be hidden from the families. And at the same time the education really did become much dicier because a new group of people have had to start all over again as a less-well-paid and probably much less experienced faculty and administration -- who are seeing their purchase orders go unfilled and their paychecks delayed into the bargain. Got it.

It was clear from Fall 2020 that the school was having financial issues. Teachers did not get paid at that time and an upper school humanities teacher walked out. The head of the upper school - found a new position in January 2021 and left in June, as did many other true educators. As a parent, we knew which is why we applied out in the fall of 2020 - so child would have a new school in for fall 2021. As did many others. I knew early on it was a mistake, and 6 weeks into school was applying out. The families that drank the Cool aide believed in Chris whittle lies and made the choice to stay and many were enticed by the tuition discount. Did my child receive a solid education for that one year. No. But a few of the teachers tried. Science was a joke, and my child needed to repeat a year of math and spanish. However, the humanities teacher was great as well as the director of curriculum and the upper school head. Do I wish I made a different choice for that year? Absolutely - but I am also thankful I saw the writing on the wall pretty quickly.

Thanks very much for this clarification...A much fuller story than I'd been able to piece together on my own.

Glad things are working out better for your family now. And sorry so many people have had to go through this.



Hope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

So basically the education quality really wasn't an issue in the early going.

What happened in the first two years was just the first signs of what's happening now, except that it happened on a small enough scale so that only the teachers and administrators were aware of it -- money problems that threatened to become quite serious.

Then by the third year, the financial issues became so bad they could no longer be hidden from the families. And at the same time the education really did become much dicier because a new group of people have had to start all over again as a less-well-paid and probably much less experienced faculty and administration -- who are seeing their purchase orders go unfilled and their paychecks delayed into the bargain. Got it.

This is pretty much correct. The first year was great up until COVID hit. There were some hiccups but not unexpected from a new school. In fact Whittle had an advantage because COID hit China first and Whittle's former sister school in Shenzhen shared knowledge with the DC campus on virtual learning. Some teachers left after year 1. Year 2 full virtual learning kids performed as best as they could but again some teachers/faculty left mid year and the end of year. No one new why. Again teachers/faculty signed NDAs. There was speculation and various reasons given, but no concrete direct messaging from faculty, teachers, or board of any kind as to why there was so much staff turnover. Although COIVD was mentioned for not being able to raise capital. The serious of the situation all became apparent in year 3 when parents received the Christmas letter.

Wow, thanks for this account.

So there were NDAs. ... I wondered....

Terrible to ask an educator to sign such a thing but I suppose they talked about it being necessary for the investors or something.

[Anonymous]

The NDAs were essential for CW to be able to hoodwink newcomers to the party.. Seems like all his NDAs as well as his reputed powers of persuasion have finally met their Waterloo. So sad that there is so much collateral damage this man has inflicted. Most unconscionable of all, the damage he's caused to the kids caught up in this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was at the school last year and the Sr staff and many teachers were excellent. I am so happy they all left when we did and found solid positions at reputable independent schools. Those people are true educators - and I respected them and what they were trying to accomplish. That is the one and only reason we signed on.

So basically the education quality really wasn't an issue in the early going.

What happened in the first two years was just the first signs of what's happening now, except that it happened on a small enough scale so that only the teachers and administrators were aware of it -- money problems that threatened to become quite serious.

Then by the third year, the financial issues became so bad they could no longer be hidden from the families. And at the same time the education really did become much dicier because a new group of people have had to start all over again as a less-well-paid and probably much less experienced faculty and administration -- who are seeing their purchase orders go unfilled and their paychecks delayed into the bargain. Got it.

This is pretty much correct. The first year was great up until COVID hit. There were some hiccups but not unexpected from a new school. In fact Whittle had an advantage because COID hit China first and Whittle's former sister school in Shenzhen shared knowledge with the DC campus on virtual learning. Some teachers left after year 1. Year 2 full virtual learning kids performed as best as they could but again some teachers/faculty left mid year and the end of year. No one new why. Again teachers/faculty signed NDAs. There was speculation and various reasons given, but no concrete direct messaging from faculty, teachers, or board of any kind as to why there was so much staff turnover. Although COIVD was mentioned for not being able to raise capital. The serious of the situation all became apparent in year 3 when parents received the Christmas letter.

I know a teacher who worked there the first year then wisely got the heck out. “The first year was great” does NOT mesh with the stories I was told.

[Anonymous]

The school was never okay financially. They projected having far more students from the start, but failed in that.

[Anonymous]

How are those 'X-Days' and 'Acceleration Blocks' working out for current families??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are those 'X-Days' and 'Acceleration Blocks' working out for current families??

What an obnoxious fu*king post. I have no horse in the race, no kid at Whittle. I think CW is a criminal that will be the subject of many documentaries, research pieces and salacious episodes of crime TV series. And he deserves it.

But what kind of a**hole feels better about themselves by dumping salt into the painful wounds of families with kids there. As we have learned, every family received significant discounts, many of whom presumably sacrificed to get their kid into what they thought was a better situation than their available public. They are the victims. And you are an ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are those 'X-Days' and 'Acceleration Blocks' working out for current families??

What an obnoxious fu*king post. I have no horse in the race, no kid at Whittle. I think CW is a criminal that will be the subject of many documentaries, research pieces and salacious episodes of crime TV series. And he deserves it.

But what kind of a**hole feels better about themselves by dumping salt into the painful wounds of families with kids there. As we have learned, every family received significant discounts, many of whom presumably sacrificed to get their kid into what they thought was a better situation than their available public. They are the victims. And you are an ass.

+1000

[Anonymous]

If you overpay for a clearly distressed house and forgo a simple home inspection that would reveal all sorts of structural issues, you’re not a victim just a poor consumer.