New Wilson Principal and the Beacon paper

[Anonymous]

Then there's the petition of no confidence:


Top administrators at Aspen High School get votes of no confidence The Aspen Times, June 7, 2014.


http://www.aspentimes.com/news/11726139-113/aspen-association-education-confidence

"Sources close to the Aspen Education Association say the ballots were returned with a majority of “no confidence” votes and that more than 90 percent of Aspen High School faculty members attended the meeting."



Shall we continue? DCPS is really attracting the best and brightest, eh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On Martin's school schedule changes in at AHS last year:

http://aspenjournalism.org/2014/03/11/class-schedule-changes-prompt-debate-at-aspen-high-school/

"AHS Principal Kimberly Martin has been charged with figuring out how to boost math minutes and frequency without damaging the rest of school’s diverse curriculum. Martin has consulted with focus groups of parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders, and now two to three weeks past her target completion date, she hasn’t determined the solution."

This article says that in 2012 Aspen was rated #1 in Colorado in the US News & World Report rankings. Colorado has dropped to #6 in Colorado rankings, i.e. during her tenure.

I posted this in the other thread re Aspen statistics: 89% proficient in reading, and a meager 61% in math, with only 7% of kids identified as economically disadvantaged. That seems really poor and confusing to me if Cahall was fired for having similar results in math and with a greater concentration of economically disadvantaged students. http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/colorado/districts/aspen-school-district/aspen-high-school-3974

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On Martin's school schedule changes in at AHS last year:

http://aspenjournalism.org/2014/03/11/class-schedule-changes-prompt-debate-at-aspen-high-school/

"AHS Principal Kimberly Martin has been charged with figuring out how to boost math minutes and frequency without damaging the rest of school’s diverse curriculum. Martin has consulted with focus groups of parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders, and now two to three weeks past her target completion date, she hasn’t determined the solution."

This article says that in 2012 Aspen was rated #1 in Colorado in the US News & World Report rankings. Colorado has dropped to #6 in Colorado rankings, i.e. during her tenure.

I posted this in the other thread re Aspen statistics: 89% proficient in reading, and a meager 61% in math, with only 7% of kids identified as economically disadvantaged. That seems really poor and confusing to me if Cahall was fired for having similar results in math and with a greater concentration of economically disadvantaged students. http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/colorado/districts/aspen-school-district/aspen-high-school-3974

You might as well give up trying to rationalize the politicos reasons for firing Cahall. No defensible reason was provided. It was a political hit, that's all. Their problem was failing to understand what a mess it would create. Cahall was holding the house of cards together. So, based on that, I DO see some reason to be sympathetic to Kimberly Martin. The best leader in the world may not have been able to fix this situation in a short period of time. It will probably take longer than a year, imo.

[Anonymous]

The only people who came out of the newspaper debacle unscathed are the always awesome Wilson Beacon kids, who published a reasoned editorial. The principal could have explained herself better (and has done a bad job communicating to the community in general. Class schedules are a mess!). The community, as usual, got hysterical, called their friends at NPR and started petitions, rather than letting the kids handle it. The news media reported with poorly researched articles (yep MA--even you. You are usually better.) that failed to draw upon examples from schools.

[Anonymous]

I think the information about her poor performance at Aspen is surprising. It is publicly-available. How did she even get an interview for this job when she couldn't handle being principal of a much easier school?

[Anonymous]

It's called DCPS due diligence

[Anonymous]

My child is still trying to get out of AP History; a class she did not sign up for and was told she could not.

The teacher however, did say she will work with her to get through the semester.

I don't know if I should take let things be or insist on a transfer.

[Anonymous]

The silence from Martin's office is almost frightening, coupled with the boogie man posts here on DCUM, speaking to the students in a creepy way. There is no secret agenda, the school is 2000 strong students and parents who want to get things moving in the right direction. That is impossible with no communications from the principal about ANYTHING. It's eerie! I wonder if some coup is around the corner and the APs and other reliable coordinators are about to be replaced. What is up their sleeves?

[Anonymous]

PP again -- I mean up the sleeves of DOWNTOWN, not the folks running things at Wilson.

[Anonymous]

They did just send out an email about an academy meeting tomorrow night and BTS next week but it would be nice, really essential, to restore the weekly emails and robocalls.

[Anonymous]

The lack of an introductory email and some correspondence regarding the scheduling mishaps is odd. It's a basic part of the job these days.

Albright from Deal would be an ideal coach for Martin. He's a strong communicator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is still trying to get out of AP History; a class she did not sign up for and was told she could not.

The teacher however, did say she will work with her to get through the semester.

I don't know if I should take let things be or insist on a transfer.

World or US history? What grade is she in? I think AP World is mandatory if you're not in remediation or IEP/ESL

[Anonymous]

Here's the latest update about the Principal and the Beacon......they have not worked out an agreement yet. The editors still have to meet with Martin.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/09/02/spj-objects-to-wilson-highs-prior-review-of-school-newspaper-articles/

[Anonymous]

BTW, has anyone seen the update posted on the Beacon website??

"UPDATE: Aug 31, 2015 — As of 3 p.m.: Principal Martin is in the process of reconsidering her prior review policy. The editors are revisiting their editorial policies to instate a clearly outlined chain of responsibilities and verify quotes in all future articles. The editors will send Principal Martin the revised editorial policies and once all policies are mutually agreed on, she’ll discontinue the process of prior review. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is still trying to get out of AP History; a class she did not sign up for and was told she could not.

The teacher however, did say she will work with her to get through the semester.

I don't know if I should take let things be or insist on a transfer.

World or US history? What grade is she in? I think AP World is mandatory if you're not in remediation or IEP/ESL

AP s are mandatory at Wilson with those exceptions? Wow. I would not have my child stay in a class they were not registered for did not need simply because it begs the question, what is it bumping?