Freedom Hill principal going to Haycock

[Anonymous]

attached**

[Anonymous]

...didn't really have any issues with Scott Bloom while our DCs were there at Freedom Hill ES...but he was no Tim Stanley! ! !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of experience as a principal— that alone suggests he will be head and shoulders above our last new principal.

That is also my assumption. Freedom Hill may be less intense than Haycock, but it has some challenges that Haycock does not have. If Bloom lasted seven years at a school near Tysons, he should keep things running more smoothly than Donnelly.

This is meant sincerely - can you expand on this - "if he lasted seven years at a school near Tysons" - is that because of the student mix, parents, etc? I only have one kid at Freedom Hill and it's been hard to get insight on the upper elementary years b/c most kids in my kid's grade are the oldest in their family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of experience as a principal— that alone suggests he will be head and shoulders above our last new principal.

That is also my assumption. Freedom Hill may be less intense than Haycock, but it has some challenges that Haycock does not have. If Bloom lasted seven years at a school near Tysons, he should keep things running more smoothly than Donnelly.

This is meant sincerely - can you expand on this - "if he lasted seven years at a school near Tysons" - is that because of the student mix, parents, etc? I only have one kid at Freedom Hill and it's been hard to get insight on the upper elementary years b/c most kids in my kid's grade are the oldest in their family.

The perception is that Haycock is a tough assignment because it’s a big AAP center with a lot of high strung parents either gunning to get their kids into TJ or sensitive to the distinctions made between AAP and GenEd students. Freedom Hill doesn’t have those issues, or at least not to the same degree, as it’s a smaller school that isn’t a center. However, it has a lot of higher-income families, many of whom work in STEM fields, along with lower-income families concentrated in the areas behind GCM, so that mix presents its own challenges. My assumption is that Bloom must be at least reasonably competent if he presided over Freedom Hill for seven years with nothing like the situation that led to Donnelly’s ouster at Haycock (a plan to fundamentally change how teachers taught at the school that was dropped with minimal input from either teachers or parents).

So I’m optimistic Bloom will have a good run - and hope Freedom Hill gets a new principal soon as well (or a very good interim like Fratalli).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of experience as a principal— that alone suggests he will be head and shoulders above our last new principal.

That is also my assumption. Freedom Hill may be less intense than Haycock, but it has some challenges that Haycock does not have. If Bloom lasted seven years at a school near Tysons, he should keep things running more smoothly than Donnelly.

This is meant sincerely - can you expand on this - "if he lasted seven years at a school near Tysons" - is that because of the student mix, parents, etc? I only have one kid at Freedom Hill and it's been hard to get insight on the upper elementary years b/c most kids in my kid's grade are the oldest in their family.

The perception is that Haycock is a tough assignment because it’s a big AAP center with a lot of high strung parents either gunning to get their kids into TJ or sensitive to the distinctions made between AAP and GenEd students. Freedom Hill doesn’t have those issues, or at least not to the same degree, as it’s a smaller school that isn’t a center. However, it has a lot of higher-income families, many of whom work in STEM fields, along with lower-income families concentrated in the areas behind GCM, so that mix presents its own challenges. My assumption is that Bloom must be at least reasonably competent if he presided over Freedom Hill for seven years with nothing like the situation that led to Donnelly’s ouster at Haycock (a plan to fundamentally change how teachers taught at the school that was dropped with minimal input from either teachers or parents).

So I’m optimistic Bloom will have a good run - and hope Freedom Hill gets a new principal soon as well (or a very good interim like Fratalli).

Thanks! Makes perfect sense.

I found Bloom to be very attentive in placements, etc. and good with both the kids and parents. He has a naturally upbeat personality. The first time we met with him I came away very impressed that he's an educator that is very up on the latest developments in his field. I have heard from some PTA friends that he does not like to rock the boat - not necessarily in a bad way - more in managing the cultural diversity that FH has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FH parent here. I am more concerned about how good the incoming FH principal will be.

Maybe talk to the PTA? We're a FH family but are moving out of state, so it won't affect us. If you know someone on the PTA I'd get in touch.

I am part of the PTA but I guess not as actively involved as some of the other parents. His farewell email says families will have an opportunity to provide feedback on what they want from a new principal. Not sure how that will happen. maybe a survey?

[Anonymous]

Just got email that interim principal will be Pamela Morgan, who was a principal at Fairview Elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got email that interim principal will be Pamela Morgan, who was a principal at Fairview Elementary.

* Fairhill

[Anonymous]

I don’t think she’s been retired that long (she’s still in her 50s).

[Anonymous]

I wish Mr. Bloom the best at Haycock, I think if given the chance he will can do some really good things, and I hope Freedom Hill finds an excellent principal who can continue to move the school forward. The situation at Haycock with Mr. Donnelly was really unfortunate. FCPS promoted Mr. Donnelly too soon--he should have had more experience as an AP at different types of schools, learned how to apply pedagogy and work with teachers and parents, and he should never have been placed at a high-performing, 1,000-student school like Haycock for his first principalship. I think Mr. Bloom will work much better with teachers and parents.

[Anonymous]

Will Freedom Hill parents have an opportunity to meet this principal before the start of school?

[Anonymous]

Assistant principal leaving for a principal position at another school.

[Anonymous]

How does this even make sense that FHES gets left with interims for the top two leaders so that other schools can get principals? Is this the normal thing in FCPS

[Anonymous]

How long do interim principals stay? The entire year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does this even make sense that FHES gets left with interims for the top two leaders so that other schools can get principals? Is this the normal thing in FCPS

Shrevewood got their AP. It must have been timing because otherwise surely the AP would have stayed at FH. It really is not good that FH is starting off the year with interims but they will survive—especially since it sounds like they were left in good working order.