Haycock Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ES assistant principal. I would *never* take a job at Haycock. The reputation is that the parents are the biggest PITAs in all of FCPS (worse than TJ!). And the existence of this thread is supporting evidence.

It's a heavily active parent-community, but no different than Churchill or SH or Chesterbrook, though we get a bad rap a lot. We stick up for the teachers quite a bit, as shown by what happened with the last principal. The PTA got involved when the teachers reached out to us to convey their concerns when no one else was listening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the Haycock distance learning schedule? Just curious.

Depends on the grade and teacher ...

OK, what's your dc's schedule?

Synchronous via Google Meet and more work than I care to track. My kid is doing it without too much input from me.

Why so cagey? How many hours a day "synchonous"? How many days a week?

It is different for EVERY grade and teacher/ teacher teams. Haycock Distant learning thus far has been great(and even BEOFRE the official start) Teacher and teacher teams seem to have a choice on how they are doing Distant learning so NOT everyone's answer will be the same. My kids teachers are not doing the "1 hour straight of live learning" The younger one has about half hour of either morning meeting or read a long then followed by team taught recordings and assignments, flip grids that you can do whenever throughout the day. The older one has more of a schedule of live classes/bookclubs(with breaks in between classes) all team taught Math, Reading, Science, writing, book club.

This. It's fair to say it's a little all over the place. I have 3 kids in different grades. My 1st grader's teacher has been MIA throughout the entire time we were home, and basically pointed to the inability to do anything because she had a child at home. I work full time, and I have 3 at home. I don't get to use that excuse. My older kids have very structured days, though it is very teacher/teacher team dependent. I think the biggest hit are the Level II and Level III AAP services, but I'm not complaining. It's hard to engage in the principles of AAP while doing distance learning. There will hopefully be some semblance of a regular school year next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there’s an experienced interim principal but you just don’t think he’s appropriately enthusiastic? LOL. I think FCPS has bigger fish to fry right now. I would expect him to be around all next school year.

OP here, I'm not faulting Augie in any way--I think he's an awesome person. Having talked to him in detail, he has clearly expressed some concern about making any short term policy decisions because he knows he is ONLY an interim principal and that the Principal of the school will ultimately control policy and he doesn't want to impede that process. He's actually being VERY considerate, which is why he's amazing. However, that doesn't solve overall problem that Haycock is a ship without a FULL TIME captain, and hence, a school unable to make any formal decision on forward planning activities or initiatives. That's the problem! I get FCPS has bigger fish to fry, but really, the problem should be addressed. FCPS officials should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Might be hard, but not impossible. Do I think Fabio can prioritize the future captain search at Haycock--most definitely I think he can. I doubt he's on tap for solving the "bigger fish" issues absorbing the district. He needs to worry about the bigger fish issues absorbing his Region, one of which is to fill Principal positions that are currently vacant. Or help HR move a disposition on Bloom so that he can be freed up to put the search for a Principal for Haycock back on track. If everyone is waiting around for someone else to do something, nothing gets done. And, there are limits to how long Augie can keep this going. It's smart for us to start asking those questions than saying, 'oh don't be tone deaf, we have bigger problems' ... at some point, school will begin regular session. Just like we're saying how awful FCPS was in forward planning the distance learning program, when things go back to normal, if R2 leadership isn't planning for Haycock leadership, they'll again be caught flat footed. I don't think there's anything wrong with asking these questions now.

I don't know if you realize this, but there's literally nothing in your lengthy post that identifies an actual problem that cries out for a short-term policy decision. It just comes across as kvetching about the fact that the school has an (experienced, thoughtful, well-regarded) interim principal rather than a permanent principal, as if that's a personal slight. Haycock did have a principal earlier who wanted to make some big changes, and the parents and teachers pushed him out. Fabio isn't going to lift a finger for Haycock until Augie says he's done, especially right now.

Fake news! He didn't get pushed out because he wanted to make "some big changes," he got clobbered because he thought he could do unilaterally without proper input from the teaching staff that the big changes would primarily impact and the heavily involved parent community who want a say in how education happens at Haycock. I don't think the OP is saying that the new principal should make big changes without appropriately vetting them with the full Haycock community.

Though I totally agree that Fabio won't do a damn thing until Augie says he's bouncin' into the sunset!

I didn't say that the changes that Donnelly wanted to make were a good idea or the result of a collaborative process. I just said they were "big changes," which they were, and that they led to a successful campaign by teachers and parents to oust him.

Neither you nor OP has identified any big changes that are needed at Haycock, which again begs the question as to whether there is some big issue that only a permanent principal, but not Augie, is capable of addressing, or whether you just think it's unseemly that there's still an interim principal. At least when they needed an interim at Haycock they found one of the very best former principals in FCPS to fill the position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the Haycock distance learning schedule? Just curious.

Depends on the grade and teacher ...

OK, what's your dc's schedule?

Synchronous via Google Meet and more work than I care to track. My kid is doing it without too much input from me.

Why so cagey? How many hours a day "synchonous"? How many days a week?

It is different for EVERY grade and teacher/ teacher teams. Haycock Distant learning thus far has been great(and even BEOFRE the official start) Teacher and teacher teams seem to have a choice on how they are doing Distant learning so NOT everyone's answer will be the same. My kids teachers are not doing the "1 hour straight of live learning" The younger one has about half hour of either morning meeting or read a long then followed by team taught recordings and assignments, flip grids that you can do whenever throughout the day. The older one has more of a schedule of live classes/bookclubs(with breaks in between classes) all team taught Math, Reading, Science, writing, book club.

It sounds like your kids are getting a lot more quality distance learning then most other FCPS schools. Book clubs? Writing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ES assistant principal. I would *never* take a job at Haycock. The reputation is that the parents are the biggest PITAs in all of FCPS (worse than TJ!). And the existence of this thread is supporting evidence.

As an ES asst principal, how do you have any idea what TJ parents are like? I have found the TJ parents to be much less demanding and much more deferential to administration than Haycock or Longfellow parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ES assistant principal. I would *never* take a job at Haycock. The reputation is that the parents are the biggest PITAs in all of FCPS (worse than TJ!). And the existence of this thread is supporting evidence.

As an ES asst principal, how do you have any idea what TJ parents are like? I have found the TJ parents to be much less demanding and much more deferential to administration than Haycock or Longfellow parents.

I doubt any particular assistant principal has special insight into the cultures of hundreds of FCPS schools. They can be just as catty as the next person to put down "in demand" schools.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP. Haycock isn't going to live down firing their principal. Not for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Haycock isn't going to live down firing their principal. Not for years.

When your teachers raise hell against you, the Principal, it's best to hang up your hat and take the exit walk. I've never known teachers to be voice their concerns as much as they did with him present, along with his boss, and tons of parents. I don't think there was any choice but for him to leave. I don't think he has been fired, just sitting elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there’s an experienced interim principal but you just don’t think he’s appropriately enthusiastic? LOL. I think FCPS has bigger fish to fry right now. I would expect him to be around all next school year.

OP here, I'm not faulting Augie in any way--I think he's an awesome person. Having talked to him in detail, he has clearly expressed some concern about making any short term policy decisions because he knows he is ONLY an interim principal and that the Principal of the school will ultimately control policy and he doesn't want to impede that process. He's actually being VERY considerate, which is why he's amazing. However, that doesn't solve overall problem that Haycock is a ship without a FULL TIME captain, and hence, a school unable to make any formal decision on forward planning activities or initiatives. That's the problem! I get FCPS has bigger fish to fry, but really, the problem should be addressed. FCPS officials should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Might be hard, but not impossible. Do I think Fabio can prioritize the future captain search at Haycock--most definitely I think he can. I doubt he's on tap for solving the "bigger fish" issues absorbing the district. He needs to worry about the bigger fish issues absorbing his Region, one of which is to fill Principal positions that are currently vacant. Or help HR move a disposition on Bloom so that he can be freed up to put the search for a Principal for Haycock back on track. If everyone is waiting around for someone else to do something, nothing gets done. And, there are limits to how long Augie can keep this going. It's smart for us to start asking those questions than saying, 'oh don't be tone deaf, we have bigger problems' ... at some point, school will begin regular session. Just like we're saying how awful FCPS was in forward planning the distance learning program, when things go back to normal, if R2 leadership isn't planning for Haycock leadership, they'll again be caught flat footed. I don't think there's anything wrong with asking these questions now.

I don't know if you realize this, but there's literally nothing in your lengthy post that identifies an actual problem that cries out for a short-term policy decision. It just comes across as kvetching about the fact that the school has an (experienced, thoughtful, well-regarded) interim principal rather than a permanent principal, as if that's a personal slight. Haycock did have a principal earlier who wanted to make some big changes, and the parents and teachers pushed him out. Fabio isn't going to lift a finger for Haycock until Augie says he's done, especially right now.

Fake news! He didn't get pushed out because he wanted to make "some big changes," he got clobbered because he thought he could do unilaterally without proper input from the teaching staff that the big changes would primarily impact and the heavily involved parent community who want a say in how education happens at Haycock. I don't think the OP is saying that the new principal should make big changes without appropriately vetting them with the full Haycock community.

Though I totally agree that Fabio won't do a damn thing until Augie says he's bouncin' into the sunset!

I didn't say that the changes that Donnelly wanted to make were a good idea or the result of a collaborative process. I just said they were "big changes," which they were, and that they led to a successful campaign by teachers and parents to oust him.

Neither you nor OP has identified any big changes that are needed at Haycock, which again begs the question as to whether there is some big issue that only a permanent principal, but not Augie, is capable of addressing, or whether you just think it's unseemly that there's still an interim principal. At least when they needed an interim at Haycock they found one of the very best former principals in FCPS to fill the position.

OP here, we are just talking past each other. I am simply pointing out that we NEED a permanent Principal, as most schools in the district need/have permanent principals. This isn't to cast doubt on Augie, as you seem to be taking it. But, he's 'interim' for a reason. The ship isn't going to keep sailing with him at the helm. At some point, someone has to be paying attention that the school doesn't have a permanent person on the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Haycock isn't going to live down firing their principal. Not for years.

When your teachers raise hell against you, the Principal, it's best to hang up your hat and take the exit walk. I've never known teachers to be voice their concerns as much as they did with him present, along with his boss, and tons of parents. I don't think there was any choice but for him to leave. I don't think he has been fired, just sitting elsewhere.

If you think everyone doesn't know that Haycock parents fired the Haycock principal, you're delusional.

You all are going to have poor Augie for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Haycock isn't going to live down firing their principal. Not for years.

When your teachers raise hell against you, the Principal, it's best to hang up your hat and take the exit walk. I've never known teachers to be voice their concerns as much as they did with him present, along with his boss, and tons of parents. I don't think there was any choice but for him to leave. I don't think he has been fired, just sitting elsewhere.

If you think everyone doesn't know that Haycock parents fired the Haycock principal, you're delusional.

You all are going to have poor Augie for a very long time.

Try not to grind your axe so hard - the “you all” and “poor Angie” phrasing is kind of a dead giveaway.

[Anonymous]

NP. I think every Haycock parent would be thrilled to have the interim principal stay permanently. Obviously that is not what he is looking for. OP is asking some understandable questions. My opinion is that this interim is likely better than anyone Haycock can hire, that we are fortunate to have him, and that, as long as he is willing to stay, I am happy for the process to move slowly.

Re: the last principal, I don't disagree that many Haycock parents are a PITA, but it was the teachers who had issues with the principal. The parents sided with the teachers for both logical and likely personal reasons. It had become an untenable situation and something major needed to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I think every Haycock parent would be thrilled to have the interim principal stay permanently. Obviously that is not what he is looking for. OP is asking some understandable questions. My opinion is that this interim is likely better than anyone Haycock can hire, that we are fortunate to have him, and that, as long as he is willing to stay, I am happy for the process to move slowly.

Re: the last principal, I don't disagree that many Haycock parents are a PITA, but it was the teachers who had issues with the principal. The parents sided with the teachers for both logical and likely personal reasons. It had become an untenable situation and something major needed to change.

What exactly did the last principal want to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Haycock isn't going to live down firing their principal. Not for years.

When your teachers raise hell against you, the Principal, it's best to hang up your hat and take the exit walk. I've never known teachers to be voice their concerns as much as they did with him present, along with his boss, and tons of parents. I don't think there was any choice but for him to leave. I don't think he has been fired, just sitting elsewhere.

If you think everyone doesn't know that Haycock parents fired the Haycock principal, you're delusional.

You all are going to have poor Augie for a very long time.

OP here, the Haycock parents didn't get the principal fired. He's still on the payroll for FCPS. He's no longer the principal at Haycock. The parents got involved in the dispute when the teachers and APs reached out to the PTA to intervene. If teachers and APs are asking for help because they have a fundamental issue with his leadership, I'm not sure why you think the parents should have sat idly by. If you knew anything substantive about what occurred, you would have known that it wasn't the parents as much as it was the rest of his subordinates who bailed on him. (I think there's a YouTube video of that fateful PTA meeting when there was mutiny on his hands. Go look that up and it should give you a good idea of where the teaching staff landed with him as the principal.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I think every Haycock parent would be thrilled to have the interim principal stay permanently. Obviously that is not what he is looking for. OP is asking some understandable questions. My opinion is that this interim is likely better than anyone Haycock can hire, that we are fortunate to have him, and that, as long as he is willing to stay, I am happy for the process to move slowly.

Re: the last principal, I don't disagree that many Haycock parents are a PITA, but it was the teachers who had issues with the principal. The parents sided with the teachers for both logical and likely personal reasons. It had become an untenable situation and something major needed to change.

What exactly did the last principal want to do?

He wanted to implement the newest best practices. And he had poor people skills.