Ludlow-Taylor getting a new a new Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're a concerned member of the community or if you;ve ever considered LT as an school option for your child PLEASE get involved in the discussion.

The goal is to HELP folks at LT further their cause. So, after we find out what that is specifically we all should back them up.

Yeah and the opinions of parents of LT students should carry more weight then the opinions of parents whose children do not. If you're a part of the neighborhood but not school community its fine to go but be there to listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where's the 6:00 PM meeting? Someone putting this on MOTH too?

LT needs a neighborhood-centric principal who is also a competent manager for the staff. If you have good teachers, make sure the principal isn't a jerk - coz otherwise the teachers will leave. Look at Watkins ....... The principal better take school safety seriously too! Nice to know someone IB to LT knows that a good school increases property values and neighborhood stability. At Watkins someone was arguing that's BS; we're losing neighbors.

Probably the school, at least that's where it typically is. The selection panel for our school included two community members

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where's the 6:00 PM meeting? Someone putting this on MOTH too?

LT needs a neighborhood-centric principal who is also a competent manager for the staff. If you have good teachers, make sure the principal isn't a jerk - coz otherwise the teachers will leave. Look at Watkins ....... The principal better take school safety seriously too! Nice to know someone IB to LT knows that a good school increases property values and neighborhood stability. At Watkins someone was arguing that's BS; we're losing neighbors.

Show me some evidence that property values are decreasing in Stanton Park/North Lincoln Park/H Street. Some are selling, which means that others are purchasing. It's how the housing market operates. The rate of gentrification typically drives property values in urban areas, and schools lag behind because the majority of gentrifiers are young, professional couples without children. Take a look at any number of neighborhoods in DC where property values continue to press upwards even when the neighborhood school remains crappy, at least beyond PS or PK. Brent was a prime example only a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where's the 6:00 PM meeting? Someone putting this on MOTH too?

LT needs a neighborhood-centric principal who is also a competent manager for the staff. If you have good teachers, make sure the principal isn't a jerk - coz otherwise the teachers will leave. Look at Watkins ....... The principal better take school safety seriously too! Nice to know someone IB to LT knows that a good school increases property values and neighborhood stability. At Watkins someone was arguing that's BS; we're losing neighbors.

Show me some evidence that property values are decreasing in Stanton Park/North Lincoln Park/H Street. Some are selling, which means that others are purchasing. It's how the housing market operates. The rate of gentrification typically drives property values in urban areas, and schools lag behind because the majority of gentrifiers are young, professional couples without children. Take a look at any number of neighborhoods in DC where property values continue to press upwards even when the neighborhood school remains crappy, at least beyond PS or PK. Brent was a prime example only a few years ago.

PP, you have a bizarre sense of reality. I tend to think not many agree with you, but carry on as the lone ranger of idiocy.

[Anonymous]

You have no facts to support what seems to be little more than some gut feeling, so you resort to a lame insult? Does this make you feel better in spite of your insecurities? Let me guess, you are the same poster obsessed with the $100,000 loss that supposedly will be realized by selling and moving? Hope your day gets better.

[Anonymous]

^^ You are in favor of "crappy" schools, got it. This thread is about LT and making it better; you're in the wrong area.

[Anonymous]

You're tin foil hat needs adjustment.

[Anonymous]

Your tin foil hat needs adjusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dammit. My daughter's at LT, and despite all the negative talk about the principal, I had full confidence she ran a tight ship and would ensure my daughter got a great education.

I don't care where her successor lives or whether or not s/he is good at wooing IB families -- I want to know s/he will retain Cobbs' excellent hires and the positive environment for learning that she created.

I was counting on keeping my daughter there through 5th, and sending her younger sibling there. Now I have no idea whether I'll be able to stick with that plan or not.

+1,000!!! Cobbs hired excellent teachers and created a great environment. All these haters I see posting on this site have not been to the school lately. I'm there twice a day , every day , and I always come away happy at the environment that my daughter is in. So many great kids, parents and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Booster! Booster! Booster!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why she's leaving? Is there enough time for a proper DCPS panel (with 3 candidates vetted and sent from downtown and then the parents, teachers interviewing and deciding on one)? Or will they have to have an interim principal. I'm glad that she's leaving, I"m certainly no fan, but just hoping that it won't cause undo disruption to the progress being made at L-T.

Cobbs has accepted another job in Colorado (where her two daughters live). She'll be district instructional superintendent for 13 schools. Big job, definitely a step up for Cobbs. I wish her well. She ran a good school and I never perceived any hostility directed toward anyone, though plenty of outrageous claims have been posted in DCUM, anonymously, of course. I too am concerned that the high standards she set re: hiring of teachers/staff and test scores might fall off with a new principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Booster! Booster! Booster!

I call 'em like I see 'em. I'd have no problem posting gripes here if I really had any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Booster! Booster! Booster!

So anyone who claims Cobbs somehow made them feel unwelcome during their one tour of the school is objective and credible, and anyone whose kids actually attend the school, and who likes it, is a booster?

[Anonymous]

I've posted before but not on this thread. My child attended the school. DC is White though I'm not sure that had anything to do with her attitude. She was not just unfriendly and didn't just make us feel supremely unwelcome, she was downright hostile toward me and toward DC. I assumed it was just our particular situation, but having heard personally from multiple other people that she was unwelcoming at best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Booster! Booster! Booster!

So anyone who claims Cobbs somehow made them feel unwelcome during their one tour of the school is objective and credible, and anyone whose kids actually attend the school, and who likes it, is a booster?

Say what you like about parents asserting that Cobbs made them feel unwelcome during their one tour of the school. The fact is that the boosters' enthusiasm hasn't been supported by participation rates: L-T is no more than 6 or 7% white from K up in a catchment area that's now majority white. When your first experience with a principal is negative, you know you're going to have to deal with her on a regular basis for years to make sure that your kid has a good experience at her school, and you have a good alternative, logic dictates that you stay away. Thank goodness that Cobbs is finally exiting the stage, whatever her accomplishments at L-T, opening the door to the installation of an equally competent principal who will make prospective IB parents feel welcome as a general rule. Make no mistake - those of us who've rejected L-T would be pleased as punch if neighborhood families flooded in and stayed through 5th grade.

If you're involved in the hiring process, please keep us posted.