New Superintendent to be named on February 8th

[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…

I’m not sure how you can read a phrase like “the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult,” and then object to someone pointing out that this looks like finger pointing.

[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…

I’m not sure how you can read a phrase like “the region is developing a reputation for being notoriously difficult,” and then object to someone pointing out that this looks like finger pointing.

Because the region is bigger than MCPS, as is noted by the mention of the 8 other counties, DC and Fairfax. The region is developing a reputation. The fact that MCPS is a hyper example of the region’s reputation is another point altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Listen the Pearson contract just ended. Hopkins contract was a PR distraction.

[Anonymous]

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

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Sigh.

So Darryl was her overall supervisor and Beth Thomas (now at QO) was her direct?

[Anonymous]

Is there any reason to believe Dr Williams applied? It’s in Dr McKnight’s contract that she gets to stay on as deputy superintendent regardless, so maybe that’s a possibility since he worked with her before? Intriguing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

Lol. Most parents don’t sleep in till 10am on a Sunday. Who says posting on this thread was the first thing that PP did? Even so, so what?

BTW - your four year argument to test Dr. McKnight out is the lamest thing I have ever read on DCUM. Four years is 1/3 of a child’s public school education. She was Deputy Superintendent and she was the Interim Superintendent. She has shown to be disconnected from the school system that she is leading. Violence is up. There was next to no planning for the surge of COVID following winter break. No confidence votes by two major unions in MCPS.

Nope. You don’t give her a four year contract. Dr. McKnight has already shown she does not have the skills for the job.

Firstly, I'm a parent as well. Moreover, knowing that there is a pronounced shortage of superintendent candidates nationwide, who else do you recommend, especially when it comes to dealing with very demanding DC area parents? Instead of throwing insults, please note that the four-year "argument" is established Maryland law, and I'd rather have consistency in a critical role. In terms of "violence" being up, correlation does not equal causation. Not every union member voted, it's only the most vocal ones that we end up hearing from.

What shortage? 12 people applied!

And other similar sized districts have had 5 dozen apply for their search. Just because someone applies doesn't mean that they automatically have the mustard to hold their own. For a district like MCPS, 12 is quite low.

Agreed. The Miami Dade job had 16 applicants for an accelerated search and the Broward County had 39, with 8 shortlisted and now 2 finalist. And in at least one of those searches the applicants are named. If MoCo only has 12, one of which is the current interim, it definitely says something.

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.

Exactly. Who is going to apply for a job where the selection process is already and obviously tilted for one candidate? MC BOE also has a history of capricious governance which would also scare away qualified applicants. If the BOE really wanted to test the waters and to have an open competition, they would have appointed someone else interim to ensure that the selection process can be viewed as open and fair. For this very reason in my organization, anyone who is acting is never considered as a replacement for that position when advertised. MCPS is terminally afflicted by poor governance.

Wait! I thought the BoE was a do-nothing, feckless body!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

Lol. Most parents don’t sleep in till 10am on a Sunday. Who says posting on this thread was the first thing that PP did? Even so, so what?

BTW - your four year argument to test Dr. McKnight out is the lamest thing I have ever read on DCUM. Four years is 1/3 of a child’s public school education. She was Deputy Superintendent and she was the Interim Superintendent. She has shown to be disconnected from the school system that she is leading. Violence is up. There was next to no planning for the surge of COVID following winter break. No confidence votes by two major unions in MCPS.

Nope. You don’t give her a four year contract. Dr. McKnight has already shown she does not have the skills for the job.

Firstly, I'm a parent as well. Moreover, knowing that there is a pronounced shortage of superintendent candidates nationwide, who else do you recommend, especially when it comes to dealing with very demanding DC area parents? Instead of throwing insults, please note that the four-year "argument" is established Maryland law, and I'd rather have consistency in a critical role. In terms of "violence" being up, correlation does not equal causation. Not every union member voted, it's only the most vocal ones that we end up hearing from.

What shortage? 12 people applied!

And other similar sized districts have had 5 dozen apply for their search. Just because someone applies doesn't mean that they automatically have the mustard to hold their own. For a district like MCPS, 12 is quite low.

Agreed. The Miami Dade job had 16 applicants for an accelerated search and the Broward County had 39, with 8 shortlisted and now 2 finalist. And in at least one of those searches the applicants are named. If MoCo only has 12, one of which is the current interim, it definitely says something.

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.

Exactly. Who is going to apply for a job where the selection process is already and obviously tilted for one candidate? MC BOE also has a history of capricious governance which would also scare away qualified applicants. If the BOE really wanted to test the waters and to have an open competition, they would have appointed someone else interim to ensure that the selection process can be viewed as open and fair. For this very reason in my organization, anyone who is acting is never considered as a replacement for that position when advertised. MCPS is terminally afflicted by poor governance.

Wait! I thought the BoE was a do-nothing, feckless body!

I’d recommend knowing what words mean before you use them.

[Anonymous]

She was unanimously voted in.

I hope every single one of the BOE gets unanimously voted out. This is unreal.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

So the BOE does not support or listen to teachers, parents, or administrators. Who do they listen to? I thought they represented their constituents.

[Anonymous]

Congrats to her and her loved ones? Any bets on where she'll buy a house in MoCo? She has to move to the county now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats to her and her loved ones? Any bets on where she'll buy a house in MoCo? She has to move to the county now.

She doesn’t live in the Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats to her and her loved ones? Any bets on where she'll buy a house in MoCo? She has to move to the county now.

Does she? Who's going to fire her if she doesn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats to her and her loved ones? Any bets on where she'll buy a house in MoCo? She has to move to the county now.

She doesn’t live in the Montgomery County?

Nope, lives in Bowie.