New MacAuthur Principal

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry y’all, complain loudly enough and I’m sure you will get the candidate of your dreams: white, ivy grad, with vast prior experience leading a high performing public high school in the area.

Black, female, grad from a scandals-free graduate school, with a few years at some level of leadership in a high-performing high school, keeps the God references to private life. Thanks!

Or even just poach a candidate from Walls or Banneker. The Banneker AP looks like he would have been a good fit. He started up Ron Brown academy and is now at a high-achieving school.

Who says any of them were even interested? So you're listing Banneker #1 on the lottery app.......

Too far to commute from Palisades to Banneker. We deserve competent leadership at our local high school.

Isn't JR your local high school also?

JR is not in Palisades.

LOL...So What high school was Palisades zoned for before the new HS?

LOL. The new high school is in Palisades, which means it is my kids' local high school. Telling me to send my kids across town to another school is a non-starter.

Non starter to send your kids across town to Banneker.
Non starter to send your kids to new IB with black guy that has an online phd.

Guess your non starting self should START working on moving to Virginia. Can you let me know when you list your house on Redfin for 30% less that you could have 2 years ago? I’m looking to move to bigger house?

Thanks!

Oh PS feds raised rates yet again today.

Equity in DC is trolling white people calling them racist and enjoying their disappointment when an institution sabotages its public service to turn white people off of it. Equity in DC is to pretend there are only FARM kids and kids who can go full pay to Sidwell. Equity in DC is to say "Bye Felicia!" to those in-between, hoping that they'll move to the burbs. I don't get this town.

And that folks, is white privilege in one sentence.

Agree but sadly, 5 of her neighbors have already agreed which makes me very fearful for the state of our community.

You’re fearful because people think public schools should embrace a mission of creating strong college students? Can you explain why? PS it is NOT only white parents. That’s what is so annoying about this discussion.

Read the message I bolded again. It explicitly names white people. Also, to me, your statement reads as very disingenuous. DCPS openly promotes its mission to create strong college students. You just disagree with their methods.

Reread what that PP wrote. You misunderstood it.

Also the fact that we cannot even discuss the fact that the new principal has no experience/qualifications in administration for strong college-bound students *without being called racist* proves the point. It is not allowed here - it’s white privilege to advocate for your child’s appropriate challenge.

You are all picking apart a persons resume and experience anonymously making assumptions based on where he worked and what he tweets about. I don't think you should be entitled to do that. I'm sure DCPS and McArthur will provide opportunities for you to ask Dr. (Or, as many of you would prefer, Mr.) Mc.Cray questions. You just won't be able to hide behind anonymity. Seems more fair to me

And that’s racist? All we have to go on is his resume. It speaks for itself - he does not have the experience. That doesn’t mean he will be a disaster, but it absolutely means that parents reasonably are concerned. And yes I would ask these questions to him directly.

Anonymous DCUM says he doesn't have the experience. DCPS and an interview panel think he does. You can hopefully understand why I don't hold your opinion as valid

Is there some experience he has with a high-performing high school that he left off his resume? If not, what questions did the interview panel ask to assess his skills to administer a highschool with kids who need strong academic challenges?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This school is going to have a very soft opening, with a small class of 9th graders and a smattering of 10th graders. There will be time for him to learn by doing.

forgive me if I hoped for more … and if he just doesn’t care about the college bound, what’s the point? he’s literally not allowed to say that academic excellence is a goal, and he doesn’t have any background in that kind of environment either.

I hoped for more too. He sounds like a good guy. Maybe he’ll be good for this school, but it’s not obvious from his background. He has never been to or worked in a high-performing educational institution. I would love for MacArthur to be a high-performing educational institution. It had the opportunity, but DCPS doesn’t care. They are more concerned about a social agenda than an academic one. All their recent hires for NW principals for the same profile.

The racism just jumps out.

It’s not racism. I don’t gaf about the race of the principal. I just want someone with substantial experience in running a high school with a high-performing cohort.

Amazing to think that you get to make these sorts of demands. You are one of many tens of thousands of stakeholders in the school system. Decisions aren't made over what you think you are entitled to

It’s amazing that I think a high school principal should be prepared to serve all the different types of kids in the school, and should support high academic achievement? Ok. What’s amazing is actually the DCPS firm position that college-bound kids are NOT stakeholders (unless lucky enough to get into Walls or Banneker.)

What tells you that this man is not prepared to do this? His degree? The fact that he has experience at certain types of schools? I simply can’t put my finger on it. I wish Jeff would delete this whole thread. A bunch of anonymous people flaming a named individual they know nothing about. I mean for multiple pages people were moaning he had no HS experience, which come to find out, is wrong. It would be rich if you all scare him away before he even starts. I’m sure someone who meets your every demand is in the pool.

His degree is from a disreputable institution.
His experience is exclusively with high poverty schools.
His public persona is that of a religious preacher. The constitution prohibits public schools from indoctrinating children in religion and public school sponsorship of religious activities. A principal saying on social media to focus on what God thinks, or talking about having led teachers in prayer are red flags.

This school will serve a couple hundred students starting in about 8 months. Those students' parents are important stakeholders. Those specific students' needs should be evaluated objectively, and staffing decisions should be made to address those students' needs.

I hear you. I’ve read all your posts. I just don’t agree with you. And I just went to his twitter and definitely not getting preacher vibes. I see tweets about football and education. I’m not disputing that’s he tweeted the posted tweets, but someone took the time to cherry pick them, excluding those showing enthusiasm about education and his current school. Why? Why do that?

The 'preacher" aspect and the emphasis on the PhD from a disreputable institution -make- his twitter handle @drhspeaks .

[Anonymous]

As much as some commenters would like to make this a racial issue, I think that the posters criticizing the resume of this particular candidate (on-line PhD, no experience with high performing high schools) would have the exact same criticism of a white candidate with those same credentials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As much as some commenters would like to make this a racial issue, I think that the posters criticizing the resume of this particular candidate (on-line PhD, no experience with high performing high schools) would have the exact same criticism of a white candidate with those same credentials.

People making a big deal about the PhD is such a nothing burger. The principals of Banneker, J-R, and Walls all do not have doctorate degrees and they seem to be doing fine. People just need reasons to pre judge people they haven't met.

[Anonymous]

If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

that’s not how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

Black people don't roll like that. You are utterly clueless to even think that.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

Black people don't roll like that. You are utterly clueless to even think that.

Do educate us!

[Anonymous]

Can anyone speak more to the programming for MacArthur HS?

It sounds like AP, dual enrollment and technical education will be prioritized. I’m curious as to how fast they can stand up the AP programs.

The new high school will offer rigorous academics including Advanced Placement and Dual College Enrollment, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, arts programming, and a range of athletic and club options, shaped by community feedback and the interests of the first cohorts of students. By enrolling in MacArthur at its founding, the first cohorts of students will have access to exceptional leadership opportunities and will help to shape the character of the district’s newest high school.

For the 2023-2024 School Year, MacArthur will open with cohorts of students in 9th and 10th grade and will expand student enrollment each subsequent year through the 20252026-2027 School Year. For next year, MacArthur will enroll students in two ways:

Enroll based on boundary and feeder rights — Students who live in the MacArthur boundary will have an in-boundary right to enroll starting in April 2023. Students graduating from Hardy Middle School will have a feeder right to enroll for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Apply through the My School DC lottery — Students from outside the boundary and feeder pattern can apply to MacArthur through the district’s common public school lottery. Students who currently attend Jackson-Reed HS, or one of its feeder middle schools of , Deal MMS, and Oyster Adams EC, will get a preference in the lottery. Seats will also be reserved for students who meet at-risk criteria as the first DCPS high school to participate in the Equitable Access Designated Seats program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak more to the programming for MacArthur HS?

It sounds like AP, dual enrollment and technical education will be prioritized. I’m curious as to how fast they can stand up the AP programs.

The new high school will offer rigorous academics including Advanced Placement and Dual College Enrollment, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, arts programming, and a range of athletic and club options, shaped by community feedback and the interests of the first cohorts of students. By enrolling in MacArthur at its founding, the first cohorts of students will have access to exceptional leadership opportunities and will help to shape the character of the district’s newest high school.

For the 2023-2024 School Year, MacArthur will open with cohorts of students in 9th and 10th grade and will expand student enrollment each subsequent year through the 20252026-2027 School Year. For next year, MacArthur will enroll students in two ways:

Enroll based on boundary and feeder rights — Students who live in the MacArthur boundary will have an in-boundary right to enroll starting in April 2023. Students graduating from Hardy Middle School will have a feeder right to enroll for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Apply through the My School DC lottery — Students from outside the boundary and feeder pattern can apply to MacArthur through the district’s common public school lottery. Students who currently attend Jackson-Reed HS, or one of its feeder middle schools of , Deal MMS, and Oyster Adams EC, will get a preference in the lottery. Seats will also be reserved for students who meet at-risk criteria as the first DCPS high school to participate in the Equitable Access Designated Seats program.

I had heard there might be International Baccalaureate, but sounds like that went away. That's a bummer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak more to the programming for MacArthur HS?

It sounds like AP, dual enrollment and technical education will be prioritized. I’m curious as to how fast they can stand up the AP programs.

The new high school will offer rigorous academics including Advanced Placement and Dual College Enrollment, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, arts programming, and a range of athletic and club options, shaped by community feedback and the interests of the first cohorts of students. By enrolling in MacArthur at its founding, the first cohorts of students will have access to exceptional leadership opportunities and will help to shape the character of the district’s newest high school.

For the 2023-2024 School Year, MacArthur will open with cohorts of students in 9th and 10th grade and will expand student enrollment each subsequent year through the 20252026-2027 School Year. For next year, MacArthur will enroll students in two ways:

Enroll based on boundary and feeder rights — Students who live in the MacArthur boundary will have an in-boundary right to enroll starting in April 2023. Students graduating from Hardy Middle School will have a feeder right to enroll for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Apply through the My School DC lottery — Students from outside the boundary and feeder pattern can apply to MacArthur through the district’s common public school lottery. Students who currently attend Jackson-Reed HS, or one of its feeder middle schools of , Deal MMS, and Oyster Adams EC, will get a preference in the lottery. Seats will also be reserved for students who meet at-risk criteria as the first DCPS high school to participate in the Equitable Access Designated Seats program.

I had heard there might be International Baccalaureate, but sounds like that went away. That's a bummer.

DCPS can’t support an IB program properly (case in point, Eastern). That’s why it went away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

You know it’s not just about him, right? There are hundreds of families that have to make a decision whether to send their children to this start-up school.

With every decision that has come up about this in-the-works school, DCPS has acted in a way as to discourage rather than inspire confidence among many (most? nearly all?) of the families zoned for the school.

I would like for this guy to have a good experience at his next job. But far more important to me is that the hundreds of kids being funneled towards this school have an excellent high school experience that meets their needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

You know it’s not just about him, right? There are hundreds of families that have to make a decision whether to send their children to this start-up school.

With every decision that has come up about this in-the-works school, DCPS has acted in a way as to discourage rather than inspire confidence among many (most? nearly all?) of the families zoned for the school.

I would like for this guy to have a good experience at his next job. But far more important to me is that the hundreds of kids being funneled towards this school have an excellent high school experience that meets their needs.

And this, right here, is more of the privilege. In W3 you have choices now between multiple high ses HS to send your kids. Most of the city doesn't have these options. Be appreciative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

You know it’s not just about him, right? There are hundreds of families that have to make a decision whether to send their children to this start-up school.

With every decision that has come up about this in-the-works school, DCPS has acted in a way as to discourage rather than inspire confidence among many (most? nearly all?) of the families zoned for the school.

I would like for this guy to have a good experience at his next job. But far more important to me is that the hundreds of kids being funneled towards this school have an excellent high school experience that meets their needs.

And this, right here, is more of the privilege. In W3 you have choices now between multiple high ses HS to send your kids. Most of the city doesn't have these options. Be appreciative

Huh? Do you try to claim literally anything anyone says is “white privilege”?

Families in-bounds for MacArthur have very little HS choice.

For two years, families will get to choose between J-R and MacArthur. After those two years, there is no choice.

Some people have the choice of private schools, most of us don’t. Some kids will get into Walls or other application HSs. Otherwise, very few DCPS high schools and very few charter schools — other than J-R — are logistically feasible from NW.

The only alternative for my family is moving out of the District. That is a big and costly choice, but we’re considering it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were him reading all of these posts, I would feel so defeated without even been given a chance. He has the job now and can be judged based on his performance once he starts, so what else is there to say? This thread needs to end.

You know it’s not just about him, right? There are hundreds of families that have to make a decision whether to send their children to this start-up school.

With every decision that has come up about this in-the-works school, DCPS has acted in a way as to discourage rather than inspire confidence among many (most? nearly all?) of the families zoned for the school.

I would like for this guy to have a good experience at his next job. But far more important to me is that the hundreds of kids being funneled towards this school have an excellent high school experience that meets their needs.

As someone who has been actively involved with every step of this process, I strongly disagree with your assessment. I'm guessing it is a grievance borne of ignorance and a smattering of anger over misperceived feelings of neglect.