New Wilson Principal and the Beacon paper

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:We received a robocall and email tonight. So perhaps communications is getting back on track.

What'd it say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:We received a robocall and email tonight. So perhaps communications is getting back on track.

What'd it say?

Principal's Letter

Welcome to the start of the school year. It has been quite a whirlwind since my arrival from Colorado, but I am quite happy that the school year is in swing and that the students and teachers have returned. I have visited many classrooms and have seen classrooms full of energy, students who are ready and eager to learn, and classroom teachers beginning the year with great planning and preparation.

I have received considerable feedback from parents around a number of issues for which I will provide brief explanations:

Chinese Teacher We hired a new Chinese teacher this summer who has since decided not to accept the position. We have interviewed and selected a qualified candidate who will begin after the appropriate clearances have been completed.
Sub for Pre-Calculus We learned late in August that one of our Pre-Calculus teachers would not return for first semester. We have found a suitable and qualified candidate for replacement who will begin once the clearance process has been completed.
Communication I realize that the community is accustomed to receiving timely updates and newsletters from the high school. In the spirit of keeping parents aware of the great things happening in and around Wilson, I will send a newsletter with upcoming events, news you can use, and relevant information from a variety of offices in Wilson. Also, parents are encouraged to check the school website to get up-to-date information.
College Application Process- Ms. Maites and Ms. Blitz, our counselors for seniors, will visit all senior English classes beginning next week. They will assist them with their Family Connection accounts and ensure that every senior understands and begins the application process.
Essay Writing Workshop-Ms. Arrington, the College and Career Coordinator, will begin the essay writing workshop series Sept. 16, 2015. They will run every Wednesday after school from 3:30-4:30. They will run through the week before winter break. We will not have the workshop the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. If you would like to join us, please sign up the morning of the workshop in the college and career center. It's on a first come first serve basis.
Clearance Process- We had a number of August resignations, departures, long-term leaves, etc, resulting in August new hires or the use of subs. To ensure that every teacher in our building is healthy and of reputable character, the district has an on-boarding process for all new hires that takes 3-10 days for TB tests, drug test, and background checks. As a result, we started the school year with subs in a music class, history class and others. Those teachers have since been cleared and have been or will begin reporting for duty.

Please do not hesitate to contact an administrator, counselor or other school employee to have questions answered or for information regarding any program or activity. We are always here to help.

I hope you had an enjoyable holiday weekend!

All the best,
Principal Martin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:We received a robocall and email tonight. So perhaps communications is getting back on track.

What'd it say?

Principal's Letter

Welcome to the start of the school year. It has been quite a whirlwind since my arrival from Colorado, but I am quite happy that the school year is in swing and that the students and teachers have returned. I have visited many classrooms and have seen classrooms full of energy, students who are ready and eager to learn, and classroom teachers beginning the year with great planning and preparation.

I have received considerable feedback from parents around a number of issues for which I will provide brief explanations:

Chinese Teacher We hired a new Chinese teacher this summer who has since decided not to accept the position. We have interviewed and selected a qualified candidate who will begin after the appropriate clearances have been completed.
Sub for Pre-Calculus We learned late in August that one of our Pre-Calculus teachers would not return for first semester. We have found a suitable and qualified candidate for replacement who will begin once the clearance process has been completed.
ommunication I realize that the community is accustomed to receiving timely updates and newsletters from the high school. In the spirit of keeping parents aware of the great things happening in and around Wilson, I will send a newsletter with upcoming events, news you can use, and Crelevant information from a variety of offices in Wilson. Also, parents are encouraged to check the school website to get up-to-date information.
College Application Process- Ms. Maites and Ms. Blitz, our counselors for seniors, will visit all senior English classes beginning next week. They will assist them with their Family Connection accounts and ensure that every senior understands and begins the application process.
Essay Writing Workshop-Ms. Arrington, the College and Career Coordinator, will begin the essay writing workshop series Sept. 16, 2015. They will run every Wednesday after school from 3:30-4:30. They will run through the week before winter break. We will not have the workshop the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. If you would like to join us, please sign up the morning of the workshop in the college and career center. It's on a first come first serve basis.
Clearance Process- We had a number of August resignations, departures, long-term leaves, etc, resulting in August new hires or the use of subs. To ensure that every teacher in our building is healthy and of reputable character, the district has an on-boarding process for all new hires that takes 3-10 days for TB tests, drug test, and background checks. As a result, we started the school year with subs in a music class, history class and others. Those teachers have since been cleared and have been or will begin reporting for duty.

We did not receive a robocall but glad she sent out an email and notes that communication is important to the community. At least she's learning.........


Please do not hesitate to contact an administrator, counselor or other school employee to have questions answered or for information regarding any program or activity. We are always here to help.

I hope you had an enjoyable holiday weekend!

All the best,
Principal Martin

[Anonymous]

Don't know why my comments didn't print......

We didn't receive a robocall but did get the email and am very glad to see she (finally) recognizes that communication is important to the community. At least she's learning..........Time will tell.

[Anonymous]

It's effective to give people information because it lessens your workload. You and your administrators won't get 100 calls with the same question.

Besides, people just want to feel heard. If you can do that, they will trust you. Good experiences are passed around (i.e. related to others), but not as much bad experiences are.

This is leadership 101.

[Anonymous]

I have to say, I don't find the (belated) letter very responsive or comforting in tone. I think parents are rightly concerned over multiple missing teachers, scheduling screw-ups, and lack of communication. I don't really see anything in this letter that acknowledges that those are legitimate concerns, or expresses any apology or regret about how the first couple of weeks have gone. We were feeling very conflicted about having headed to SWW instead of Wilson, but reading this thread makes me feel like we dodged a bullet. Tone really, really matters -- and when you sound defensive and in denial about what are very legitimate concerns, people don't trust you.

[Anonymous]

How often does a first year principal NOT get their contract renewed?

Does DCPS give them a few years to prove themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say, I don't find the (belated) letter very responsive or comforting in tone. I think parents are rightly concerned over multiple missing teachers, scheduling screw-ups, and lack of communication. I don't really see anything in this letter that acknowledges that those are legitimate concerns, or expresses any apology or regret about how the first couple of weeks have gone. We were feeling very conflicted about having headed to SWW instead of Wilson, but reading this thread makes me feel like we dodged a bullet. Tone really, really matters -- and when you sound defensive and in denial about what are very legitimate concerns, people don't trust you.

SWW went through its own turmoil a few years ago. And tone was the least of the problems. It's how Kaya likes to run the NW schools.

The email at least shows she's listening to concerns. Why a principal needs to be informed that communicating with her community is important is disconcerting because like PP said, that's basic leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to say, I don't find the (belated) letter very responsive or comforting in tone. I think parents are rightly concerned over multiple missing teachers, scheduling screw-ups, and lack of communication. I don't really see anything in this letter that acknowledges that those are legitimate concerns, or expresses any apology or regret about how the first couple of weeks have gone. We were feeling very conflicted about having headed to SWW instead of Wilson, but reading this thread makes me feel like we dodged a bullet. Tone really, really matters -- and when you sound defensive and in denial about what are very legitimate concerns, people don't trust you.

SWW went through its own turmoil a few years ago. And tone was the least of the problems. It's how Kaya likes to run the NW schools.

The email at least shows she's listening to concerns. Why a principal needs to be informed that communicating with her community is important is disconcerting because like PP said, that's basic leadership.

Basic leadership, especially when taking on a new challenge, often entails devoting much much time to things more relevant than completing a PhD...

[Anonymous]

I attended the meeting with Wilson principal - she was very impressive and warm, and smart, I can see why she was selected hands down. That said, having been around the DCPS block for a decade+, it is very clear that Kaya & Co. are making the rules. This is not a woman who doesn't know her own mind, nor is she one who does not understand Leadership 101. Add up the strange silence after the WaPo Beacon etc.., scheduling mishaps, new assignments for Wilson counselors and general mistrust by many based on the murky exit of Cahall points not to Martin but to downtown. Nothing else makes sense. She can't piss off her bosses, nor can she really express herself without their consent, further I think it was Kaya & Co. who sent her after the Beacon. I hope Martin continues the open communication with parents, and begins to see this tightrope she is on is not because of any 2nd tier management or wild eyed parents, but because of the inept people at the top. She needs all of our support so we may all make Wilson continue to work for our kids (and let's not forget, she has a 10th grader who is new to DC -- that's a leap of faith).

[Anonymous]

What happened at the meeting PP that makes you think Kaya is trying to run the show at Wilson and that Kaya was behind the Beacon decision? I've also been in DCPS for over a decade, so nothing would surprise me, and I'm no fan of Kaya.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended the meeting with Wilson principal - she was very impressive and warm, and smart, I can see why she was selected hands down. That said, having been around the DCPS block for a decade+, it is very clear that Kaya & Co. are making the rules. This is not a woman who doesn't know her own mind, nor is she one who does not understand Leadership 101. Add up the strange silence after the WaPo Beacon etc.., scheduling mishaps, new assignments for Wilson counselors and general mistrust by many based on the murky exit of Cahall points not to Martin but to downtown. Nothing else makes sense. She can't piss off her bosses, nor can she really express herself without their consent, further I think it was Kaya & Co. who sent her after the Beacon. I hope Martin continues the open communication with parents, and begins to see this tightrope she is on is not because of any 2nd tier management or wild eyed parents, but because of the inept people at the top. She needs all of our support so we may all make Wilson continue to work for our kids (and let's not forget, she has a 10th grader who is new to DC -- that's a leap of faith).

So, are you saying that because Martin's not stupid, we must blame malice? Or, are you saying because Martin's not stupid, we must assume she was carrying out the will of someone else, from the powers above? And, if it's the latter, then would you rather say that the powers above are stupid, or malicious? Hanlon's razor would lead us to blame, sourced from some causative authority above, the stupid:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor

[Anonymous]

Nothing from the meeting per se. Seeing the principal in the first person, and as I already described, made a very good impression. It made no sense to me that this professional would have allowed the blunders of the first week at Wilson to go un-addressed, radio silence, if she had more reign. There were also the odd statements made NOT by the principal of Wilson but by spokespeople for Kaya when the school paper hit the Post/Washingtonion. Why didn't they let the principal speak for herself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended the meeting with Wilson principal - she was very impressive and warm, and smart, I can see why she was selected hands down. That said, having been around the DCPS block for a decade+, it is very clear that Kaya & Co. are making the rules. This is not a woman who doesn't know her own mind, nor is she one who does not understand Leadership 101. Add up the strange silence after the WaPo Beacon etc.., scheduling mishaps, new assignments for Wilson counselors and general mistrust by many based on the murky exit of Cahall points not to Martin but to downtown. Nothing else makes sense. She can't piss off her bosses, nor can she really express herself without their consent, further I think it was Kaya & Co. who sent her after the Beacon. I hope Martin continues the open communication with parents, and begins to see this tightrope she is on is not because of any 2nd tier management or wild eyed parents, but because of the inept people at the top. She needs all of our support so we may all make Wilson continue to work for our kids (and let's not forget, she has a 10th grader who is new to DC -- that's a leap of faith).

I was there too and I got a similar impression.
As I listened to this smart, experienced educator I realized that there is more to the story. Either she didnt do much homework over the summer or she is being totally set up by downtown.
If she is expected to be a pawn for downtown, i bet she walks.

I also read an old article from when principal martin first went to colo and she said something like waiting to make changes so that she could see what was in place and that she wanted to respect the traditions already in place. Completely different than the beacon situation.
She did explain that there was no adult review at all and she believes that an adult needs to read the material before it gets posted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to say, I don't find the (belated) letter very responsive or comforting in tone. I think parents are rightly concerned over multiple missing teachers, scheduling screw-ups, and lack of communication. I don't really see anything in this letter that acknowledges that those are legitimate concerns, or expresses any apology or regret about how the first couple of weeks have gone. We were feeling very conflicted about having headed to SWW instead of Wilson, but reading this thread makes me feel like we dodged a bullet. Tone really, really matters -- and when you sound defensive and in denial about what are very legitimate concerns, people don't trust you.

SWW went through its own turmoil a few years ago. And tone was the least of the problems. It's how Kaya likes to run the NW schools.

The email at least shows she's listening to concerns. Why a principal needs to be informed that communicating with her community is important is disconcerting because like PP said, that's basic leadership.

Basic leadership, especially when taking on a new challenge, often entails devoting much much time to things more relevant than completing a PhD...

I agree---the tone of the email is disconcerting and essentially suggests that she hasn't internalized how critical it is to proactively communicate to our community. The email is basically a laundry list of random issues, with no clear order (why bring up the Chinese teacher first, then discuss other vacancies later in the email???)

It would be nice to feel that she understands that the first two weeks of school have been overly chaotic due to a host of issues. I get that problems happen, but this feels like an attempt to minimize the issues or sweep them under the rug.