That Takoma Principal

[Anonymous]

Another Takoma parent here. We love the school but can see that angle, sure. I guess I would rather that as a parent than the opposite. Maybe somewhere in the middle.

I lean on the side of appreciating a school that wants to do more than less.

Not disagreeing with any takes here. I imagine it is hard on the staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, he rubbed a lot of DCPS teachers the wrong way in the beginning of the year PD. He insinuated that ONLY teachers working past contract hours were successful and dedicated.

Truth be told, I think this is true. I know it's not the Union answer. My mother was a teacher, and did tons of work at home at night. She was great at what she did!

Or schools could be funded at the staffing level they need. The idea that we should just expect employees to work unpaid instead of hiring the appropriate number of employees needs to end, for all sectors.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I’m a Takoma parent and it’s true that some of the teachers seem exhausted. We have two kids there and there is just too much going on all the time. Field trips and key events I understand. But some of them, the kids would be just fine without it (and us too!) and I think it’s putting a burden on the teachers (some events they need to stay late). He is definitely a passionate leader and has good intentions but the execution might be overly top down (even from a parent perspective). [/quote]

I'm not trying to downplay this, it's rough at the end, but as a parent at a different DCPS school talking to other parents, it feels like this is pretty common.

And the problem is, like another person commented, most of us would prefer to see schools trying more than less. So schools, especially those like Takoma with a lot of diversity and changing neighborhoods, feel in competition to do the most and prove students should stay.

It does seem the Takoma principal has some issues with boundary setting though beyond EOY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, he rubbed a lot of DCPS teachers the wrong way in the beginning of the year PD. He insinuated that ONLY teachers working past contract hours were successful and dedicated.

Truth be told, I think this is true. I know it's not the Union answer. My mother was a teacher, and did tons of work at home at night. She was great at what she did!

Or schools could be funded at the staffing level they need. The idea that we should just expect employees to work unpaid instead of hiring the appropriate number of employees needs to end, for all sectors.

I am a salaried employee (not a teacher) and there are days and weeks where I start my day earlier, work after my kids go to sleep, and an occasional weekend email/report being sent. Why is it different for teachers?

And no- my salary is not higher than some teachers.

Married to a teacher. I see how hard he works. I get it. But the idea that teachers should clock in and clock out like they work at McDonalds is the bigger issue here.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m a Takoma parent and it’s true that some of the teachers seem exhausted. We have two kids there and there is just too much going on all the time. Field trips and key events I understand. But some of them, the kids would be just fine without it (and us too!) and I think it’s putting a burden on the teachers (some events they need to stay late). He is definitely a passionate leader and has good intentions but the execution might be overly top down (even from a parent perspective). [/quote]

I'm not trying to downplay this, it's rough at the end, but as a parent at a different DCPS school talking to other parents, it feels like this is pretty common.

And the problem is, like another person commented, most of us would prefer to see schools trying more than less. So schools, especially those like Takoma with a lot of diversity and changing neighborhoods, feel in competition to do the most and prove students should stay.

It does seem the Takoma principal has some issues with boundary setting though beyond EOY.[/quote]

He talks Sh*t on his teachers to other teachers. Its messy and unprofessional.

- A teacher who has had to listen to him do the talking and have been told when he talks on me. Watching him cry today at promotion truly infuriated me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, he rubbed a lot of DCPS teachers the wrong way in the beginning of the year PD. He insinuated that ONLY teachers working past contract hours were successful and dedicated.

Truth be told, I think this is true. I know it's not the Union answer. My mother was a teacher, and did tons of work at home at night. She was great at what she did!

Or schools could be funded at the staffing level they need. The idea that we should just expect employees to work unpaid instead of hiring the appropriate number of employees needs to end, for all sectors.

I am a salaried employee (not a teacher) and there are days and weeks where I start my day earlier, work after my kids go to sleep, and an occasional weekend email/report being sent. Why is it different for teachers?

And no- my salary is not higher than some teachers.

Married to a teacher. I see how hard he works. I get it. But the idea that teachers should clock in and clock out like they work at McDonalds is the bigger issue here.

It shouldn’t. That’s why I specifically said for all sectors. That being said, I literally DO have to sign in and out like I work at McDonald’s. 😂

It sounds like you are saying teachers shouldn’t be done working at the end of their tour of duty though, so I’m not sure if that’s really what you mean.

[Anonymous]

He also has tried to...with multiple colleagues. I'll leave it at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, he rubbed a lot of DCPS teachers the wrong way in the beginning of the year PD. He insinuated that ONLY teachers working past contract hours were successful and dedicated.

Truth be told, I think this is true. I know it's not the Union answer. My mother was a teacher, and did tons of work at home at night. She was great at what she did!

Or schools could be funded at the staffing level they need. The idea that we should just expect employees to work unpaid instead of hiring the appropriate number of employees needs to end, for all sectors.

I am a salaried employee (not a teacher) and there are days and weeks where I start my day earlier, work after my kids go to sleep, and an occasional weekend email/report being sent. Why is it different for teachers?

And no- my salary is not higher than some teachers.

Married to a teacher. I see how hard he works. I get it. But the idea that teachers should clock in and clock out like they work at McDonalds is the bigger issue here.

Good for you, I guess? Like you said, you are not a teacher. We have a union and we have a contract that lays out our working conditions and tour of duty, meaning when our day starts and ends and how many hours we are expected to work. Any expectation outside of those hours is a violation of our contract. Many teachers volunteer to work extra but that should be voluntary. A principal has no right under our contract to require more than that. Sorry your job doesn't have the same protections.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m a Takoma parent and it’s true that some of the teachers seem exhausted. We have two kids there and there is just too much going on all the time. Field trips and key events I understand. But some of them, the kids would be just fine without it (and us too!) and I think it’s putting a burden on the teachers (some events they need to stay late). He is definitely a passionate leader and has good intentions but the execution might be overly top down (even from a parent perspective). [/quote]

I'm not trying to downplay this, it's rough at the end, but as a parent at a different DCPS school talking to other parents, it feels like this is pretty common.

And the problem is, like another person commented, most of us would prefer to see schools trying more than less. So schools, especially those like Takoma with a lot of diversity and changing neighborhoods, feel in competition to do the most and prove students should stay.

It does seem the Takoma principal has some issues with boundary setting though beyond EOY.[/quote]

He talks Sh*t on his teachers to other teachers. Its messy and unprofessional.

- A teacher who has had to listen to him do the talking and have been told when he talks on me. Watching him cry today at promotion truly infuriated me. [/quote]

NP and also Takoma parent here, and this . . . does not surprise me. He seems to really have high hopes for the school and love for the kids, but his professionalism is lacking. I'll admit I laughed at the "they not like us" tagline the first time, but I thought it was a one-off zeitgeisty joke for meet the teachers. Not a year-long "grammar is for nerds" touchstone. And why are teachers moved from grade to grade every single year? We can't even get any tips from parents about what teachers to hope for next year, because they'll be anwhere from PK3 to 5th.

The school is a mixed bag (like most schools!), and the principal is part of that. I don't think he's a bad guy but he doesn't set an inspiring standard and I doubt I'd like having him as my boss.

[Anonymous]

Today he gave the "employee of the year" to his friend from Florida, who is nasty to teachers and kids, while our coach who ran multiple sports and testing shared that they were leaving.

of the 20 classroom teachers, THREE will be in the same roles next year.

Yeah, they not like us. Because THEY wouldn't run a school by shaking a snow globe to make classroom assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today he gave the "employee of the year" to his friend from Florida, who is nasty to teachers and kids, while our coach who ran multiple sports and testing shared that they were leaving.

of the 20 classroom teachers, THREE will be in the same roles next year.

Yeah, they not like us. Because THEY wouldn't run a school by shaking a snow globe to make classroom assignments.

Oh damn, DD really likes him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today he gave the "employee of the year" to his friend from Florida, who is nasty to teachers and kids, while our coach who ran multiple sports and testing shared that they were leaving.

of the 20 classroom teachers, THREE will be in the same roles next year.

Yeah, they not like us. Because THEY wouldn't run a school by shaking a snow globe to make classroom assignments.

Oh damn, DD really likes him.

Oh no! He did so much with the basketball team. Why's he leaving?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the previous AP who moved onto Hearst left because of the principal. She was at Takoma only for 2 years but was very good, communicative and engaging with the kids and parents. Since then the AP role was divided into two - one for lower elementary and another for upper. To be honest we hear nothing from the lower elementary AP and have no idea what she does. Zero direct communication to the parents except for the principal praising her in newsletters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today he gave the "employee of the year" to his friend from Florida, who is nasty to teachers and kids, while our coach who ran multiple sports and testing shared that they were leaving.

of the 20 classroom teachers, THREE will be in the same roles next year.

Yeah, they not like us. Because THEY wouldn't run a school by shaking a snow globe to make classroom assignments.

NP and I am a teacher and I can’t stand when principals just switch grade level assignments for no reason. There is so much institutional knowledge when you teach the same grade for a few years. I understand a few changes or requests but everyone but 3 people? To me that’s a sign of poor instructional leadership. Or a school that is failing.

[Anonymous]

We have kids there. We don’t get a school is failing vibe. Our children are doing great. But we aren’t happy about the constant teacher changing. Someone posted about the lower school AP. you’re right. Never hear from her.