OK, I will start this thread - Sela

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

[Anonymous]

"Dr. Lost"

"fouling principal"

some pretty good autocorrects in this thread...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.

But Sela can't avoid the obvious big question marks raised by the exit of the fouling Principal in the FIRST WEEK of school. And if there were so many questions about her from the beginning (as several PPs have said), equally big red flags are raised: why did they hire her in the first place if she wasn't a good fit? They only figured that out now, and not during the immense planning that went on to get the school open?

That's a big mess.

I don't think their are obvious question marks raised at all. She may not have been a perfect fit, she may have just been good enough. But, as a parent of a kid who also survived cancer, her job is to put her kid first. Period. As an AA Sela mom, I can say I never warmed to her, but I think she was qualified for the position. It's just that in a school as warm as Sela, with extremely outgoing Director, and very warm teachers who email constantly and know you and your kid by name - she was not like that. Middle school in Baltimore is not and warm and fuzzy as a parent/child-centered DC charter elementary school.

But a lack of warm-fuzziness is hardly the only criticism of her that's been stated here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

They're doing a Kaboom challenge for a playground at a temporary space? Haven't they been telling parents they see being at their current space 2, maybe 3 years at most?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

They're doing a Kaboom challenge for a playground at a temporary space? Haven't they been telling parents they see being at their current space 2, maybe 3 years at most?

They have a five year lease with an option to extend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

They're doing a Kaboom challenge for a playground at a temporary space? Haven't they been telling parents they see being at their current space 2, maybe 3 years at most?

They have a five year lease with an option to extend.

That may be, but I understood them to be telling prospective parents that they didn't plan to be there that long. Is the current location one that makes sense to keep long term?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.

But Sela can't avoid the obvious big question marks raised by the exit of the fouling Principal in the FIRST WEEK of school. And if there were so many questions about her from the beginning (as several PPs have said), equally big red flags are raised: why did they hire her in the first place if she wasn't a good fit? They only figured that out now, and not during the immense planning that went on to get the school open?

That's a big mess.

I don't think their are obvious question marks raised at all. She may not have been a perfect fit, she may have just been good enough. But, as a parent of a kid who also survived cancer, her job is to put her kid first. Period. As an AA Sela mom, I can say I never warmed to her, but I think she was qualified for the position. It's just that in a school as warm as Sela, with extremely outgoing Director, and very warm teachers who email constantly and know you and your kid by name - she was not like that. Middle school in Baltimore is not and warm and fuzzy as a parent/child-centered DC charter elementary school.

But a lack of warm-fuzziness is hardly the only criticism of her that's been stated here.

Well, that was my perception and the perception of others I have spoken to - I really think the above comments distill to the same point. She was a little too Baltimore, she was a little aloof, but not unprofessional in any way that I saw. And, I agree, sick kid takes precedence over everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

They're doing a Kaboom challenge for a playground at a temporary space? Haven't they been telling parents they see being at their current space 2, maybe 3 years at most?

They have a five year lease with an option to extend.

That may be, but I understood them to be telling prospective parents that they didn't plan to be there that long. Is the current location one that makes sense to keep long term?

They told us "minimum of five years" unless an excessed building opens up for them that makes senses. It's a large building in great shape, actually, and the kids have already been to the gorgeous recreation center across the street several times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.

But Sela can't avoid the obvious big question marks raised by the exit of the fouling Principal in the FIRST WEEK of school. And if there were so many questions about her from the beginning (as several PPs have said), equally big red flags are raised: why did they hire her in the first place if she wasn't a good fit? They only figured that out now, and not during the immense planning that went on to get the school open?

That's a big mess.

I don't think their are obvious question marks raised at all. She may not have been a perfect fit, she may have just been good enough. But, as a parent of a kid who also survived cancer, her job is to put her kid first. Period. As an AA Sela mom, I can say I never warmed to her, but I think she was qualified for the position. It's just that in a school as warm as Sela, with extremely outgoing Director, and very warm teachers who email constantly and know you and your kid by name - she was not like that. Middle school in Baltimore is not and warm and fuzzy as a parent/child-centered DC charter elementary school.

But a lack of warm-fuzziness is hardly the only criticism of her that's been stated here.

Well, that was my perception and the perception of others I have spoken to - I really think the above comments distill to the same point. She was a little too Baltimore, she was a little aloof, but not unprofessional in any way that I saw. And, I agree, sick kid takes precedence over everything.

What does that mean? What's it like to be "Baltimore"? Drugs? Ghetto?

[Anonymous]

Sorry folks - this is what you get when you abandon neighborhood schools for charters: lack of stability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry folks - this is what you get when you abandon neighborhood schools for charters: lack of stability.

Yeah so my neighborhood school that has 30% proficient readers is SO stable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.

But Sela can't avoid the obvious big question marks raised by the exit of the fouling Principal in the FIRST WEEK of school. And if there were so many questions about her from the beginning (as several PPs have said), equally big red flags are raised: why did they hire her in the first place if she wasn't a good fit? They only figured that out now, and not during the immense planning that went on to get the school open?

That's a big mess.

I don't think their are obvious question marks raised at all. She may not have been a perfect fit, she may have just been good enough. But, as a parent of a kid who also survived cancer, her job is to put her kid first. Period. As an AA Sela mom, I can say I never warmed to her, but I think she was qualified for the position. It's just that in a school as warm as Sela, with extremely outgoing Director, and very warm teachers who email constantly and know you and your kid by name - she was not like that. Middle school in Baltimore is not and warm and fuzzy as a parent/child-centered DC charter elementary school.

But a lack of warm-fuzziness is hardly the only criticism of her that's been stated here.

Well, that was my perception and the perception of others I have spoken to - I really think the above comments distill to the same point. She was a little too Baltimore, she was a little aloof, but not unprofessional in any way that I saw. And, I agree, sick kid takes precedence over everything.

What does that mean? What's it like to be "Baltimore"? Drugs? Ghetto?

I grew up in Baltimore and would like to know that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

They're doing a Kaboom challenge for a playground at a temporary space? Haven't they been telling parents they see being at their current space 2, maybe 3 years at most?

They have a five year lease with an option to extend.

That may be, but I understood them to be telling prospective parents that they didn't plan to be there that long. Is the current location one that makes sense to keep long term?

They told us "minimum of five years" unless an excessed building opens up for them that makes senses. It's a large building in great shape, actually, and the kids have already been to the gorgeous recreation center across the street several times.

There are no playgrounds across the street-there are houses on one street and a church, a lumber shop and a bus lot across the street from the front of the bldg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!

Hear, hear! Want to send some good vibes to Sela? They are currently 6th place in a Kaboom Playground challenge. Vote via FB daily at: https://www.facebook.com/Claritin/app_572778839426900. Don't worry, there are no other DC candidates, so no divided loyalties for parents at other DC schools.

They're doing a Kaboom challenge for a playground at a temporary space? Haven't they been telling parents they see being at their current space 2, maybe 3 years at most?

They have a five year lease with an option to extend.

That may be, but I understood them to be telling prospective parents that they didn't plan to be there that long. Is the current location one that makes sense to keep long term?

They told us "minimum of five years" unless an excessed building opens up for them that makes senses. It's a large building in great shape, actually, and the kids have already been to the gorgeous recreation center across the street several times.

There are no playgrounds across the street-there are houses on one street and a church, a lumber shop and a bus lot across the street from the front of the bldg.

meant to type no recreation centers across the street.

[Anonymous]

Lamond Riggs recreation center is across the street from Sela. Excellent play area.