New Superintendent to be named on February 8th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Finally, some common sense on this thread! Why would any superintendent want this job seeing half of the comments on this thread? Not every situation has some one-sided narrative that sticks and spreads. Although a reason why there may only be 12 applicants is that people were scared away by the interim title, as most of those candidates end up getting the job. Having a year-plus head start and knowing the system is very hard to beat.

Are you saying we're stuck with McKnight because all the good applicants refused the job?

I'm saying that applicants probably didn't reply because the DC area has a reputation of over-involved stakeholders (especially parents - for example, we know how wacky W school parents can get). People also probably refrained from applying because it's hard to beat out an incumbent/interim.

I’d add i,n the fact Maryland has 8 counties of smaller size looking for a Super doesn’t help, two of which are neighboring. Neither does the fact that Fairfax is looking for a Super and its similarly sized and-demographics and also neighboring. Not to mention all that went down in DCPS last year. As PP said, the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult, stressful, political, and a burnout. Add in a Pandemic and also an area with a high number of competitive private schools, its not as attractive a position as some of ya’ll might think.

What a very MCPS-centric view of the world that everything is not their fault.

DP but the PP is right and is living in the real-world, but it is obvious you're living in the DCUM-world.

[Anonymous]

I just have to say (as someone who was a former W parent now gone from MCPS) we should have been listened to with regards to Curriculum 2.0. We called b.s. and it took a DECADE and a half a million dollar contract to Johns Hopkins to end it. (Wow and what a cost to the kids). A wise superintendent would have listened to those ‘wacky’ W parents weeks after that drivel was thrust upon MCPS pupils. County would not have to hire all those ‘PR professionals’ to talk about how great one school - Blair Magnet - provides a world class education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems odd that they are allotting 90 minutes on the agenda for 'Conditional Appointment of the Superintendent of Schools' and then going into closed session for 2 hours, before opening the meeting again at 12:30. What is going to be happening in the open meeting between 9 and 10:30, once they announce the name of the new superintendent?

Here is the answer:

Following the vote, Board members and the appointed superintendent will hold a media briefing.

The Board meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. The media briefing is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=13103&type=&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=

Darryl Williams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Finally, some common sense on this thread! Why would any superintendent want this job seeing half of the comments on this thread? Not every situation has some one-sided narrative that sticks and spreads. Although a reason why there may only be 12 applicants is that people were scared away by the interim title, as most of those candidates end up getting the job. Having a year-plus head start and knowing the system is very hard to beat.

Are you saying we're stuck with McKnight because all the good applicants refused the job?

I'm saying that applicants probably didn't reply because the DC area has a reputation of over-involved stakeholders (especially parents - for example, we know how wacky W school parents can get). People also probably refrained from applying because it's hard to beat out an incumbent/interim.

I’d add i,n the fact Maryland has 8 counties of smaller size looking for a Super doesn’t help, two of which are neighboring. Neither does the fact that Fairfax is looking for a Super and its similarly sized and-demographics and also neighboring. Not to mention all that went down in DCPS last year. As PP said, the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult, stressful, political, and a burnout. Add in a Pandemic and also an area with a high number of competitive private schools, its not as attractive a position as some of ya’ll might think.

What a very MCPS-centric view of the world that everything is not their fault.

DP but the PP is right and is living in the real-world, but it is obvious you're living in the DCUM-world.

Is this a parody? It’s like that Simpson’s Principal Skinner meme in real life. DMV parents are not particularly toxic. What is particular to DC and MD is that we now both share poor governance at the Board of Education level. Montgomery County’s problem is a board structure due to voting and poor compensation that has allowed it to be easily hijacked by special interest with ideological axes to grind. The first iteration of this was in the mid-80s when the BOE was taken over by a right wing ideological faction. The opposite has now happened and the BOE has been taken over by an ideological faction that seems more political agenda oriented than education oriented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Finally, some common sense on this thread! Why would any superintendent want this job seeing half of the comments on this thread? Not every situation has some one-sided narrative that sticks and spreads. Although a reason why there may only be 12 applicants is that people were scared away by the interim title, as most of those candidates end up getting the job. Having a year-plus head start and knowing the system is very hard to beat.

Are you saying we're stuck with McKnight because all the good applicants refused the job?

I'm saying that applicants probably didn't reply because the DC area has a reputation of over-involved stakeholders (especially parents - for example, we know how wacky W school parents can get). People also probably refrained from applying because it's hard to beat out an incumbent/interim.

I’d add i,n the fact Maryland has 8 counties of smaller size looking for a Super doesn’t help, two of which are neighboring. Neither does the fact that Fairfax is looking for a Super and its similarly sized and-demographics and also neighboring. Not to mention all that went down in DCPS last year. As PP said, the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult, stressful, political, and a burnout. Add in a Pandemic and also an area with a high number of competitive private schools, its not as attractive a position as some of ya’ll might think.

What a very MCPS-centric view of the world that everything is not their fault.

And this type of feedback/snark is exactly what I’m talking about. We didn’t mention anything about fault. We mentioned why the job is not as attractive in the open market as some seem to believe it is. But like always if it doesn’t align with your sentiments then it can’t possibly be reality…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just have to say (as someone who was a former W parent now gone from MCPS) we should have been listened to with regards to Curriculum 2.0. We called b.s. and it took a DECADE and a half a million dollar contract to Johns Hopkins to end it. (Wow and what a cost to the kids). A wise superintendent would have listened to those ‘wacky’ W parents weeks after that drivel was thrust upon MCPS pupils. County would not have to hire all those ‘PR professionals’ to talk about how great one school - Blair Magnet - provides a world class education.

Funnily, Smith did listened and went about getting rid of it in a manner that no one contest or claim was not ethical ( Hence the contract to John Hopkins and the curriculum RFP, evaluation, and selection. Now ask the forum how they talked about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Finally, some common sense on this thread! Why would any superintendent want this job seeing half of the comments on this thread? Not every situation has some one-sided narrative that sticks and spreads. Although a reason why there may only be 12 applicants is that people were scared away by the interim title, as most of those candidates end up getting the job. Having a year-plus head start and knowing the system is very hard to beat.

Are you saying we're stuck with McKnight because all the good applicants refused the job?

I'm saying that applicants probably didn't reply because the DC area has a reputation of over-involved stakeholders (especially parents - for example, we know how wacky W school parents can get). People also probably refrained from applying because it's hard to beat out an incumbent/interim.

I’d add i,n the fact Maryland has 8 counties of smaller size looking for a Super doesn’t help, two of which are neighboring. Neither does the fact that Fairfax is looking for a Super and its similarly sized and-demographics and also neighboring. Not to mention all that went down in DCPS last year. As PP said, the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult, stressful, political, and a burnout. Add in a Pandemic and also an area with a high number of competitive private schools, its not as attractive a position as some of ya’ll might think.

What a very MCPS-centric view of the world that everything is not their fault.

And this type of feedback/snark is exactly what I’m talking about. We didn’t mention anything about fault. We mentioned why the job is not as attractive in the open market as some seem to believe it is. But like always if it doesn’t align with your sentiments then it can’t possibly be reality…

DP. McKnight is the Interim Superintendent now. She was the Deputy Superintendent since, what, Aug 19? If she hasn't done a good job by now, do you think it will be even better next year? If McKnight did well, would anyone complain?

That's the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems odd that they are allotting 90 minutes on the agenda for 'Conditional Appointment of the Superintendent of Schools' and then going into closed session for 2 hours, before opening the meeting again at 12:30. What is going to be happening in the open meeting between 9 and 10:30, once they announce the name of the new superintendent?

Here is the answer:

Following the vote, Board members and the appointed superintendent will hold a media briefing.

The Board meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. The media briefing is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=13103&type=&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=

Darryl Williams

Intriguing...he's been BCPS superintendent for less than 3 years

[Anonymous]

But he worked in MCPS for years and was very well regarded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Finally, some common sense on this thread! Why would any superintendent want this job seeing half of the comments on this thread? Not every situation has some one-sided narrative that sticks and spreads. Although a reason why there may only be 12 applicants is that people were scared away by the interim title, as most of those candidates end up getting the job. Having a year-plus head start and knowing the system is very hard to beat.

Are you saying we're stuck with McKnight because all the good applicants refused the job?

I'm saying that applicants probably didn't reply because the DC area has a reputation of over-involved stakeholders (especially parents - for example, we know how wacky W school parents can get). People also probably refrained from applying because it's hard to beat out an incumbent/interim.

I’d add i,n the fact Maryland has 8 counties of smaller size looking for a Super doesn’t help, two of which are neighboring. Neither does the fact that Fairfax is looking for a Super and its similarly sized and-demographics and also neighboring. Not to mention all that went down in DCPS last year. As PP said, the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult, stressful, political, and a burnout. Add in a Pandemic and also an area with a high number of competitive private schools, its not as attractive a position as some of ya’ll might think.

What a very MCPS-centric view of the world that everything is not their fault.

And this type of feedback/snark is exactly what I’m talking about. We didn’t mention anything about fault. We mentioned why the job is not as attractive in the open market as some seem to believe it is. But like always if it doesn’t align with your sentiments then it can’t possibly be reality…

DP. McKnight is the Interim Superintendent now. She was the Deputy Superintendent since, what, Aug 19? If she hasn't done a good job by now, do you think it will be even better next year? If McKnight did well, would anyone complain?

Yes! According to this Board the last 4-5 Super’s haven’t done a good job. And only Smith and McKnight have had to deal with the pandemic.

That's the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Finally, some common sense on this thread! Why would any superintendent want this job seeing half of the comments on this thread? Not every situation has some one-sided narrative that sticks and spreads. Although a reason why there may only be 12 applicants is that people were scared away by the interim title, as most of those candidates end up getting the job. Having a year-plus head start and knowing the system is very hard to beat.

Are you saying we're stuck with McKnight because all the good applicants refused the job?

I'm saying that applicants probably didn't reply because the DC area has a reputation of over-involved stakeholders (especially parents - for example, we know how wacky W school parents can get). People also probably refrained from applying because it's hard to beat out an incumbent/interim.

I’d add i,n the fact Maryland has 8 counties of smaller size looking for a Super doesn’t help, two of which are neighboring. Neither does the fact that Fairfax is looking for a Super and its similarly sized and-demographics and also neighboring. Not to mention all that went down in DCPS last year. As PP said, the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult, stressful, political, and a burnout. Add in a Pandemic and also an area with a high number of competitive private schools, its not as attractive a position as some of ya’ll might think.

What a very MCPS-centric view of the world that everything is not their fault.

And this type of feedback/snark is exactly what I’m talking about. We didn’t mention anything about fault. We mentioned why the job is not as attractive in the open market as some seem to believe it is. But like always if it doesn’t align with your sentiments then it can’t possibly be reality…

DP. McKnight is the Interim Superintendent now. She was the Deputy Superintendent since, what, Aug 19? If she hasn't done a good job by now, do you think it will be even better next year? If McKnight did well, would anyone complain?

Yes! According to this Board the last 4-5 Super’s haven’t done a good job. And only Smith and McKnight have had to deal with the pandemic.

That's the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But he worked in MCPS for years and was very well regarded.

I'm warming up to him a little based on these articles. He seems honest? Can you provide examples?

https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/10/11/superintendent-of-baltimore-county-public-schools-awarded-2021-excellence-in-education-award/
https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2021-09-29/superintendent-williams-acknowledges-problems-within-bcps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But he worked in MCPS for years and was very well regarded.

I'm warming up to him a little based on these articles. He seems honest? Can you provide examples?

https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/10/11/superintendent-of-baltimore-county-public-schools-awarded-2021-excellence-in-education-award/
https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2021-09-29/superintendent-williams-acknowledges-problems-within-bcps

Based on what the finding in a 756 page report? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in anyway calling him dishonest. I’m just trying to understand what is causing you to warm up to him?

[Anonymous]

Darryl Williams was McKnight's former supervisor when she was Ridgeview's principal and he was Associate Superintendent of Middle Schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But he worked in MCPS for years and was very well regarded.

27+ years.