Swanson - surprise choice for new principal

[Anonymous]

None of the problems at Swanson are unique to Swanson. Post covid education has been tough. The kids are behind mentally, not just academically. Make sure your kid isn't the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was at Swanson when Loft was principal. She was great. School experience was very good.

My son had a bullying experience that she responded to swiftly and shut it down.

I doubt this is a demotion but bringing in the firm hand to get things under control again.

It was pretty obvious at the beginning of the year that Loft was on the outs with Duran. He redefined her role and took away the most substantive parts of her position. I think she took the fall internally for the learning loss that happened during COVID (which APS gas-lit parents about for most of the year). My guess is that Loft figured it was this or potentially face a total dismissal. I did hear that she was a good middle school principal, but was just not suited for high school (when she moved to Yorktown) and even less suited for an APS admin position. I'm trying to stay open-minded.

She should take the fall for the learning loss, including the wasted last three months of school in 2020! He wasn’t even on board yet.

Here’s hoping she’s as effective this time as she was last time at Swanson. Truly. And that we get someone better to fill her administrator role.

[Anonymous]

Apparently the interim principal was surprised by the appointment. Not sure what to make of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the interim principal was surprised by the appointment. Not sure what to make of that.

everyone was. they didn't even conduct internal interviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the interim principal was surprised by the appointment. Not sure what to make of that.

everyone was. they didn't even conduct internal interviews.

Given Swanson being in the news for student behavior, this cannot be surprising.

[Anonymous]

Loft got demoted. She was literally responsibile for the decision to not teach anything new in March of. 2020

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the interim principal was surprised by the appointment. Not sure what to make of that.

everyone was. they didn't even conduct internal interviews.

Given Swanson being in the news for student behavior, this cannot be surprising.

Right? There was zero chance of the interim being named permanent. Zero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the interim principal was surprised by the appointment. Not sure what to make of that.

everyone was. they didn't even conduct internal interviews.

Given Swanson being in the news for student behavior, this cannot be surprising.

Actually no one at Swanson applied for it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the interim principal was surprised by the appointment. Not sure what to make of that.

everyone was. they didn't even conduct internal interviews.

Given Swanson being in the news for student behavior, this cannot be surprising.

Right? There was zero chance of the interim being named permanent. Zero.

She was never going to be permanent. She came out of retirement to be interim—that’s it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Right? There was zero chance of the interim being named permanent. Zero.

Because the interim principal is 70 and was called out of retirement as a crisis measure to fill the gap after they very oddly moved Ms Harbor to fill the facilities job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loft got demoted?

Hope new principle is good on discipline.

How is Williamsburg and Hamm or are they just better at hiding problems?

My kid is at WMS and they have nothing like the problems at Swanson. From friends at Hamm, I hear it is wonderful. It is also the smallest. Swanson needs a strong admin and they need to lock down student cell phone use. At WMS cell phones are supposed to be in your lockers except lunch. At Swanson, almost the whole class has them in their pockets.

Swanson parent here, they aren't using lockers this year - maybe that's the problem? I assume it's because of COVID but I remember that being mentioned in the parents' orientation meeting at the beginning of the year.

They use them at Kenmore. They are allowed to use them at the start and end of the day as well as before and after lunch, and possibly one other time. They can’t use them between each class, but they are allowed to carry a drawstring bag at those in between times. I don’t think it’s a Covid issue at least not any longer. It may have started that way, and they kept it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loft got demoted. She was literally responsibile for the decision to not teach anything new in March of. 2020

And the demotion was 100% deserved.

[Anonymous]

Demoted? Nah. She was 100% sick of central office and wanted to go back to where she was happy. I am sure having that position during CoVID was really horrible. So many decisions to make, and no one allowing a misstep. She was going to be a scapegoat, no matter what she did. And she is a good school administrator. Swanson is lucky.

[Anonymous]

My kids were there when Loft was principal. I didn't always agree with her, but she is known to be strict so that's probably what they need right now. I don't think she did well in administration.

In terms of carrying around backpacks all day, this will prepare them for high school when literally NONE of the kids use lockers. At W-L they don't even assign the kids one unless they request it at the beginning of the year. My kids have never used one. It does mean they never wear a winter coat because they don't want to carry it, but if they can walk to school in the winter in a hoodie, more power to them.

[Anonymous]

We were there when Loft was principal. She runs a tight ship and got things done. I really liked here when we were at SMS. I think she was put there to get things back on track. I also think she liked being in a school rather than at Syphax.