Melissa Kim is leaving Deal

[Anonymous]

The years of being a principal at DCPS school for a long period is a rare case. At the high-school level the only one who has double digit numbers at the job is Tukeva at CHEC but her school pales in comparison to Wilson, SWW, Banneker and McKinley who have principals with than less double digits in seniority.

As for the Kim it is the right time for her. She's not burning any bridges upon her departure, who knows she could return as our next Chancellor.

[Anonymous]

Nice try but only in DCPS is 7 years as principal a long tenure. In normal, functional school systems teachers stay for more than 3 years and principals stay more than 7.

If she's leaving in October, that says something happened. Yeah, she's got to be fed up. Central Admin is as messed up as ever and Kim deserved the awards that were handed out to principals who have far less talent, experience and success.

I wish Kim all the best. She did good things for DCPS.

[Anonymous]

I would love it if the current Janney principal would take over at Deal.

[Anonymous]

Kim just might be ready to be the superintendent when Kaya leaves in a few years!

[Anonymous]

Kim is definitely more qualified as superintendent than Kaya. Great idea!

[Anonymous]

If she was to be Chancellor, would Kim's ethnicity an issue? Not asking if it is a valid issue, but rather would it be a political issue, especially given what happened with the Chancellor before Henderson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she was to be Chancellor, would Kim's ethnicity an issue? Not asking if it is a valid issue, but rather would it be a political issue, especially given what happened with the Chancellor before Henderson?

Yes, unfortunately. I hope that DC will see beyond race should Kim's name come up for Chancellor. She seems eminently qualified. This would not be an issue if we had two white or two black Chancellors within a short span of time.

[Anonymous]

We didn't hate Rhee because she was Korean. DC hated Rhee because she took a bad situation and made it much worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn't hate Rhee because she was Korean. DC hated Rhee because she took a bad situation and made it much worse.

DC didn't hate Rhee - that is a gross over generalization. If one assumes that every single Gray primary voter hated Rhee - that means 60,000 people hated Rhee in a city of 600,000 people.

[Anonymous]

Interesting comments about Kim. We decided NOT to place our child at Deal (and in fact to leave the system altogether) after a parent/school meeting w/ Kim. Her answers to questions about acceleration, ability grouping and advanced classes and academics were hostile. Her answer I left remembering is the typical stereotype about students who read or do math above level ..."those kids don't need advanced, science, those kids need to learn how to get along with other kids..."

After hearing that stereotype perpetrated by a MS principal, we had very little hope for strong academics and we left the system (and, sadly, the city.)

There are many parents who still don't think Deal is good enough, and Kim was part of that problem.

[Anonymous]

And meanwhile the rest of the city is dying to get into Deal or make a Deal in their neighborhood. And it's not just families with no other options - Deal is teaming with parents who could go elsewhere, but choose to enroll. It may not be for everyone, but Kim made Deal into a very desirable school.

[Anonymous]

Remember at times we ALL get caught up on the name instead of the results. Such as we all love McDonald's until one comes up on the no-no list for restaurants. That is how I equate Deal...many love it but didn't like the head chef. The chef moves on but does the reputation suffer.

This happened when Neal left Eastern, when Ellis retired from Shaw and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't hate Rhee because she was Korean. DC hated Rhee because she took a bad situation and made it much worse.

DC didn't hate Rhee - that is a gross over generalization. If one assumes that every single Gray primary voter hated Rhee - that means 60,000 people hated Rhee in a city of 600,000 people.

Saying DC hated Rhee is just as overstated as saying 60,000 voters hated Rhee is unprovable.

How about this: The primary was a referendum on Rhee and she lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't hate Rhee because she was Korean. DC hated Rhee because she took a bad situation and made it much worse.

DC didn't hate Rhee - that is a gross over generalization. If one assumes that every single Gray primary voter hated Rhee - that means 60,000 people hated Rhee in a city of 600,000 people.

Saying DC hated Rhee is just as overstated as saying 60,000 voters hated Rhee is unprovable.

How about this: The primary was a referendum on Rhee and she lost.

Well. A year later, we have the loss of someone as valuable as Kim. The brain drain will continue. I am disappointed, but not surprised. The trend towards stupidly voting against your interest will also continue.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
How about this: The primary was a referendum on Rhee and she lost.

Well. A year later, we have the loss of someone as valuable as Kim. The brain drain will continue. I am disappointed, but not surprised. The trend towards stupidly voting against your interest will also continue.

Can you explain the connection of Fenty's loss to Kim's leaving? Kim preceded Rhee and DCPS is still run by Rhee disciples. I don't see any connection to the 2010 election.