Shepherd principal leaving after this year

[Anonymous]

NP, here. Is she married? I don’t know much about her personal life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

I'm one of the PPs and I'm black. While it's possible this stuff has been said by a few, I've never heard it, which is why I asked for examples that corroborate your claim that white Shepherd parents want a white principal.

Also, it's possible for people to be critical of incorrect grammar without necessarily wanting a white principal--just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

Ok troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP, here. Is she married? I don’t know much about her personal life.

Look, she is a great person but had some issues as a principal. I don’t think her personal life is relevant to this discuss. She deserves her privacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's expecting, this could be the reason she's resigning?

No seriously, she angered many parents over the teacher incident and the handling of the rodent infestation. Parents went to city council for rodent abatement help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

Ok troll.

Which is why I said "some parents," not "all parents" or "white parents," some. Some AA parents may also prefer a white principal for whatever reason. When white people describe black woman as "angry" or "bossy" or "dismissive" and talk about body language and grammar - this is usually conscious or unconscious bias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

Ok troll.

Which is why I said "some parents," not "all parents" or "white parents," some. Some AA parents may also prefer a white principal for whatever reason. When white people describe black woman as "angry" or "bossy" or "dismissive" and talk about body language and grammar - this is usually conscious or unconscious bias.

I agree people have unconscious bias. However parents have voiced very specific concerns and none were addressed over the years... and none had anything to do with her being dismissive, bossy, or angry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's expecting, this could be the reason she's resigning?

No seriously, she angered many parents over the teacher incident and the handling of the rodent infestation. Parents went to city council for rodent abatement help.

In her defense and I'm not a Shepherd parent, but it take parents calls and emails to get things done in DCPS for certain things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

Ok troll.

Which is why I said "some parents," not "all parents" or "white parents," some. Some AA parents may also prefer a white principal for whatever reason. When white people describe black woman as "angry" or "bossy" or "dismissive" and talk about body language and grammar - this is usually conscious or unconscious bias.

I agree people have unconscious bias. However parents have voiced very specific concerns and none were addressed over the years... and none had anything to do with her being dismissive, bossy, or angry.

Right....she’s being held to a standard that you would likely not hold a white man to. She’s being made the scapegoat for DCPS.


Right...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

Ok troll.

Which is why I said "some parents," not "all parents" or "white parents," some. Some AA parents may also prefer a white principal for whatever reason. When white people describe black woman as "angry" or "bossy" or "dismissive" and talk about body language and grammar - this is usually conscious or unconscious bias.

I agree people have unconscious bias. However parents have voiced very specific concerns and none were addressed over the years... and none had anything to do with her being dismissive, bossy, or angry.

Right....she’s being held to a standard that you would likely not hold a white man to. She’s being made the scapegoat for DCPS.


Right...

And with this post it is very clear, you are not a Shepherd Elementary school parent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from some white parents what I consider code language about her grammar, body language, and governing style. Just because you can't comprehend it because of your privilege (which you should firmly check), doesn't mean it's not there.

Ok troll.

Which is why I said "some parents," not "all parents" or "white parents," some. Some AA parents may also prefer a white principal for whatever reason. When white people describe black woman as "angry" or "bossy" or "dismissive" and talk about body language and grammar - this is usually conscious or unconscious bias.

I agree people have unconscious bias. However parents have voiced very specific concerns and none were addressed over the years... and none had anything to do with her being dismissive, bossy, or angry.

Actually, she has been dismissive of parental concerns. And no, I wouldn't be cool with a white principal being dismissive of my concerns either. Some people have biases, but in this situation it's not fair to suggest race as a motivator when there are clear cut performance gaps. That said, I thank Ms. Brawley for some of the good things she's accomplished and wish her the best. I hope she finds a position that's a great fit for her.

The good news is we're getting a new Principal and Assistant Principal. We have an opportunity to start fresh and with a much needed new executive position (AP). Shepherd has a very strong in boundary community, and there's a lot we could achieve with the right leadership in place. I hope we can all come together to build on our strengths. We have a good thing going and are poised to make it even better.

[Anonymous]

I see pros and cons to this.

She has seemed to have a good rapport with her teachers and staff and managed them effectively. A few toxic personnel at the school disappeared during her tenure, and I think she may have aided in their departure, so I'm grateful for that. I think the kids have nothing but admiration and respect for her, so there's a lot to be said for that as well.

Any issues we had were ultimately addressed or resolved - not always in the most timely fashion, and not always quite the way we wanted. But I will give some slack - a DCPS principal has a LOT to manage. She has/had no vice principal, which lots of DCPS have.

Her communication skills and responsiveness have always been a bit lacking. Not awful, just lacking. I'd give a B-. Will we get an A+ candidate? Hard to say. I think if the PTA is able to exert influence over the new candidate (and current PTA leadership is *amazing*, so I'm hopeful), we could get someone great. If the central office exerts their candidate over the parents' preferences, well, meh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see pros and cons to this.

She has seemed to have a good rapport with her teachers and staff and managed them effectively. A few toxic personnel at the school disappeared during her tenure, and I think she may have aided in their departure, so I'm grateful for that. I think the kids have nothing but admiration and respect for her, so there's a lot to be said for that as well.

Any issues we had were ultimately addressed or resolved - not always in the most timely fashion, and not always quite the way we wanted. But I will give some slack - a DCPS principal has a LOT to manage. She has/had no vice principal, which lots of DCPS have.

Her communication skills and responsiveness have always been a bit lacking. Not awful, just lacking. I'd give a B-. Will we get an A+ candidate? Hard to say. I think if the PTA is able to exert influence over the new candidate (and current PTA leadership is *amazing*, so I'm hopeful), we could get someone great. If the central office exerts their candidate over the parents' preferences, well, meh.

So, so true. And the Gala planning seems to be going wonderfully. Hoping there will be a good turnout this weekend (we won't be there, but are bidding online).

[Anonymous]

I had interactions with her during her first year and I always appreciated how she spoke respectfully to children. I can’t say the same for the teachers. She seemed like she was going to try to be present but from even those early days she never seemed to be available to parents. Not everyone is perfect so hopefully she’ll find a good school and be given the power to hire/fire early on. But if you want more neighborhood buyin? I would recommend the new principal get out into the neighborhood if he wants to make it a neighborhood school versus just talking to the same old parents who think the school is amazing - it could be SO much better with neighborhood buy in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had interactions with her during her first year and I always appreciated how she spoke respectfully to children. I can’t say the same for the teachers. She seemed like she was going to try to be present but from even those early days she never seemed to be available to parents. Not everyone is perfect so hopefully she’ll find a good school and be given the power to hire/fire early on. But if you want more neighborhood buyin? I would recommend the new principal get out into the neighborhood if he wants to make it a neighborhood school versus just talking to the same old parents who think the school is amazing - it could be SO much better with neighborhood buy in.

Curious why you think this? I’d like a principal who would actively drum up more neighborhood buy-in too, even if for selfish reasons (more walking play dates! running into families at the playground, etc.). But there have been some great, engaged OOB families too over the years. Not sure fewer OOB would necessarily make the school “better.”