Holton Arms v Stone Ridge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of the usual axe grinding here. I've had DDs at both SR and Holton in the last few years (we're Catholic).

SR is Catholic-lite, compared to Connolly or St Jane, but that's by design. The latter two are directly parochial schools (under ADW) while SR is not. SR has a lovely campus, especially after the latest campus renovation. As for student intake, they have the room to grow. Holton does not -- they have a fixed limit on students due to current zoning regulations.

I think the new HOS at Holton is perfectly fine. She's out and about at events more than the previous head (who I also liked). As for exodus of top admins, that's fairly common when a new head takes over. I haven't noticed it affecting the quality for our DD who is currently at Holton.

Lol - All three division heads, the head of DEI, 2 TWO(!!!) Directors of Communication. Plus numerous other staff that worked with her. Yeah totally normal.

It is very clear that anyone working directly with Penny suffers. She is an abusive and vindictive leader. The school is great despite her terrible leadership. I hope she leaves before she changes what is great about Holton. By sitting silently, the Board has reneged on its duty.

I know teachers and staff will now suffer from a tantrum because of this thread, and I'm sorry to contribute to it for that reason. But how else are concerned members of the community supposed to express concerns?

[Anonymous]

The hiring cycle for private school teachers starts soon. Last year at this time, rank-and-file teachers had no idea what their new Head of School was like. In the subsequent months, they would learn, as their trusted and admired division heads were pushed out or jumped. Now the same has happened in the upper school

By the time teachers saw what was happening, it was very late in the hiring cycle for the current 2024-25 year. They will be able to hit the job market running this year for 2025-26

For people saying your daughter’s experience hasn’t changed, I’m sure that’s true for this year. But it might be a different story next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The hiring cycle for private school teachers starts soon. Last year at this time, rank-and-file teachers had no idea what their new Head of School was like. In the subsequent months, they would learn, as their trusted and admired division heads were pushed out or jumped. Now the same has happened in the upper school

By the time teachers saw what was happening, it was very late in the hiring cycle for the current 2024-25 year. They will be able to hit the job market running this year for 2025-26

For people saying your daughter’s experience hasn’t changed, I’m sure that’s true for this year. But it might be a different story next year

Is this the same poster that posted all last year about the DEI contracts? Just curious if it is the same poster that has a very strong issie with the HOS.

[Anonymous]

NP here. This is the first time I post on this thread.

There are many families who are disappointed by the new HOS. Based on my interactions, I would say she thinks very highly of herself and that is not backed up by substance. I just hope she doesn’t drive away all of the good teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hiring cycle for private school teachers starts soon. Last year at this time, rank-and-file teachers had no idea what their new Head of School was like. In the subsequent months, they would learn, as their trusted and admired division heads were pushed out or jumped. Now the same has happened in the upper school

By the time teachers saw what was happening, it was very late in the hiring cycle for the current 2024-25 year. They will be able to hit the job market running this year for 2025-26

For people saying your daughter’s experience hasn’t changed, I’m sure that’s true for this year. But it might be a different story next year

Is this the same poster that posted all last year about the DEI contracts? Just curious if it is the same poster that has a very strong issie with the HOS.

No, I posted the above but have never posted about DEI

Is this the same crisis communication firm that was hired to mitigate the fallout last year?

[Anonymous]

I'm also a dp.

Imagine how many tuition dollars are being wasted on handling her PR problems.

[Anonymous]

The main job for the HOS of Holton is to raise money, right? I'm curious to know how much she has raised in contrast to how much she has cost:
1. A whole new administrator salary for an associate head because she doesn't want to deal with the day to day of running the school.
2. Crisis communication costs.
3. The full time salary of whoever has to spin each faculty/staff departure.
4. High end retreats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main job for the HOS of Holton is to raise money, right? I'm curious to know how much she has raised in contrast to how much she has cost:
1. A whole new administrator salary for an associate head because she doesn't want to deal with the day to day of running the school.
2. Crisis communication costs.
3. The full time salary of whoever has to spin each faculty/staff departure.
4. High end retreats

Don’t forget…
5. A brand new house, entirely renovated and decorated on tuition dollars. (And a rumored six-figures lost when she fired the first decorator.) Fac/staff and students are hosted in the backyard. Board and select donors allowed indoors. Instagram provides some decent snapshots of events hosted pre and post PBE that reflect her penchant for investing in appearances and VIPs. #CheckReceipts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The hiring cycle for private school teachers starts soon. Last year at this time, rank-and-file teachers had no idea what their new Head of School was like. In the subsequent months, they would learn, as their trusted and admired division heads were pushed out or jumped. Now the same has happened in the upper school

By the time teachers saw what was happening, it was very late in the hiring cycle for the current 2024-25 year. They will be able to hit the job market running this year for 2025-26

For people saying your daughter’s experience hasn’t changed, I’m sure that’s true for this year. But it might be a different story next year

100% this. All of it. The Board has their head in the sand and they'll be scrambling to figure out what do when half the faculty up and leaves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also a dp.

Imagine how many tuition dollars are being wasted on handling her PR problems.

Thats why she's trotting out all the funding pitches during all the Back to School events... It's tacky tbh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main job for the HOS of Holton is to raise money, right? I'm curious to know how much she has raised in contrast to how much she has cost:
1. A whole new administrator salary for an associate head because she doesn't want to deal with the day to day of running the school.
2. Crisis communication costs.
3. The full time salary of whoever has to spin each faculty/staff departure.
4. High end retreats

Don’t forget…
5. A brand new house, entirely renovated and decorated on tuition dollars. (And a rumored six-figures lost when she fired the first decorator.) Fac/staff and students are hosted in the backyard. Board and select donors allowed indoors. Instagram provides some decent snapshots of events hosted pre and post PBE that reflect her penchant for investing in appearances and VIPs. #CheckReceipts

And she has the gall to say that the MS can't have a debate team because it's "too expensive."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hiring cycle for private school teachers starts soon. Last year at this time, rank-and-file teachers had no idea what their new Head of School was like. In the subsequent months, they would learn, as their trusted and admired division heads were pushed out or jumped. Now the same has happened in the upper school

By the time teachers saw what was happening, it was very late in the hiring cycle for the current 2024-25 year. They will be able to hit the job market running this year for 2025-26

For people saying your daughter’s experience hasn’t changed, I’m sure that’s true for this year. But it might be a different story next year

100% this. All of it. The Board has their head in the sand and they'll be scrambling to figure out what do when half the faculty up and leaves.

I hope they don't wait for that.

I do think there are probably hostile workplace concerns, if she is screaming at meetings and threatening people to the point of them announcing departures without even having a plan for the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main job for the HOS of Holton is to raise money, right? I'm curious to know how much she has raised in contrast to how much she has cost:
1. A whole new administrator salary for an associate head because she doesn't want to deal with the day to day of running the school.
2. Crisis communication costs.
3. The full time salary of whoever has to spin each faculty/staff departure.
4. High end retreats

Don’t forget…
5. A brand new house, entirely renovated and decorated on tuition dollars. (And a rumored six-figures lost when she fired the first decorator.) Fac/staff and students are hosted in the backyard. Board and select donors allowed indoors. Instagram provides some decent snapshots of events hosted pre and post PBE that reflect her penchant for investing in appearances and VIPs. #CheckReceipts

And she has the gall to say that the MS can't have a debate team because it's "too expensive."

Wonder how MS parents feel about that.

[Anonymous]

So she's spending significant money and driving away talent. At what point is the Board going to do their job, to preserve the future and identity of the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So she's spending significant money and driving away talent. At what point is the Board going to do their job, to preserve the future and identity of the school?

I think this is the same group of posters that were mad last year about the DEI being omitted from contracts.