Kenmore, Swanson, or private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Bullying at Gunston. Principal very disliked...but she's moving on to Arlington Community HS next year. Way overcrowded. Band director popular.
Kenmore principal very well liked and respected. Arts program praised. Active and engaged Hispanic parents group.
Williamsburg principal not well liked by many parents, staff. But positive things about certain instruction (which may be happening elsewhere, too; we're out of MS so I don't know).
Swanson overcrowded, bullying. Better diversity than Williamsburg.
Hamm - under-enrolled, so lots of space and small classes; excellent principal.
TJ - fine. Meh principal, but not the negative comments like others. Excellent counseling staff, though the director of counseling left a year or two ago. World language earlier (v. language wheel) due to IB program (that can be a positive or negative depending on personal viewpoint). Hamm's principal was AP at TJ.



Agree with these assessments/opinions.

Interesting focus on principal popularity.

Particularly because some of the reasons they aren’t “popular“ are low key offensive. Eg Complaints about grammatical errors in emails, etc. If you ever took the time to talk to the principals or step foot in the school, you would realized what an amazing job they’re doing. This is such a difficult age to manage in middle school. Most of the people that are complaining about our principal have kids that have nightmare behavior issues, or never bothered to attend a PTA meeting/volunteer. They really don’t have a clue.

First of all, regular grammatical errors from professional educators - the people directly responsible for teaching our children - is not excusable and does not instill confidence in the quality of education our children are receiving. Bad grammar and bad written communication skills are not "offensive" - they are discouraging and worrisome.

Secondly, not all principals are equally good. Some may be doing an outstanding job, but maybe not all are. Now, that doesn't mean any of them are doing a horrendous job; but I'm not going to concede that every middle school principal is doing an amazing job merely because being principal of a middle school is a tough job and middle school kids are a tough age.

Third, I think the parents of children with more significant needs and issues are entitled to have their opinions about the principal just as much as those parents of children who are not behavioral problems. And you don't have to attend a PTA meeting to have a valid opinion of a principal or their professional performance. You don't know what other interactions these parents have had with the principal, or how the principal responded - or didn't respond. An argument could be made that the opinions of the most needy/challenging students and their parents is actually a significant marker of the quality and abilities and effectiveness of a principal. Almost anybody can do an "amazing job" with a bunch of well-behaved kids without emotional or learning disabilities and un-demanding parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



Interesting focus on principal popularity.


Principals are a rather important factor affecting the school experience via staff morale, instruction, atmosphere, sense of community, disciplinary actions and responsiveness to student/parent questions/needs.

Parents don't know a thing about whether a principal treats their staff well, or whether they have anything at all to do with instruction. At many schools, the APs do more of the disciplinary work. Principals are often out of the building at meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Bullying at Gunston. Principal very disliked...but she's moving on to Arlington Community HS next year. Way overcrowded. Band director popular.
Kenmore principal very well liked and respected. Arts program praised. Active and engaged Hispanic parents group.
Williamsburg principal not well liked by many parents, staff. But positive things about certain instruction (which may be happening elsewhere, too; we're out of MS so I don't know).
Swanson overcrowded, bullying. Better diversity than Williamsburg.
Hamm - under-enrolled, so lots of space and small classes; excellent principal.
TJ - fine. Meh principal, but not the negative comments like others. Excellent counseling staff, though the director of counseling left a year or two ago. World language earlier (v. language wheel) due to IB program (that can be a positive or negative depending on personal viewpoint). Hamm's principal was AP at TJ.



Agree with these assessments/opinions.

Interesting focus on principal popularity.

Principals are a rather important factor affecting the school experience via staff morale, instruction, atmosphere, sense of community, disciplinary actions and responsiveness to student/parent questions/needs.

Yes, this is it. The principal is really the pivotal person affecting the staff, and therefore everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Bullying at Gunston. Principal very disliked...but she's moving on to Arlington Community HS next year. Way overcrowded. Band director popular.
Kenmore principal very well liked and respected. Arts program praised. Active and engaged Hispanic parents group.
Williamsburg principal not well liked by many parents, staff. But positive things about certain instruction (which may be happening elsewhere, too; we're out of MS so I don't know).
Swanson overcrowded, bullying. Better diversity than Williamsburg.
Hamm - under-enrolled, so lots of space and small classes; excellent principal.
TJ - fine. Meh principal, but not the negative comments like others. Excellent counseling staff, though the director of counseling left a year or two ago. World language earlier (v. language wheel) due to IB program (that can be a positive or negative depending on personal viewpoint). Hamm's principal was AP at TJ.



Agree with these assessments/opinions.

Interesting focus on principal popularity.

Particularly because some of the reasons they aren’t “popular“ are low key offensive. Eg Complaints about grammatical errors in emails, etc. If you ever took the time to talk to the principals or step foot in the school, you would realized what an amazing job they’re doing. This is such a difficult age to manage in middle school. Most of the people that are complaining about our principal have kids that have nightmare behavior issues, or never bothered to attend a PTA meeting/volunteer. They really don’t have a clue.

First of all, regular grammatical errors from professional educators - the people directly responsible for teaching our children - is not excusable and does not instill confidence in the quality of education our children are receiving. Bad grammar and bad written communication skills are not "offensive" - they are discouraging and worrisome.

Secondly, not all principals are equally good. Some may be doing an outstanding job, but maybe not all are. Now, that doesn't mean any of them are doing a horrendous job; but I'm not going to concede that every middle school principal is doing an amazing job merely because being principal of a middle school is a tough job and middle school kids are a tough age.

Third, I think the parents of children with more significant needs and issues are entitled to have their opinions about the principal just as much as those parents of children who are not behavioral problems. And you don't have to attend a PTA meeting to have a valid opinion of a principal or their professional performance. You don't know what other interactions these parents have had with the principal, or how the principal responded - or didn't respond. An argument could be made that the opinions of the most needy/challenging students and their parents is actually a significant marker of the quality and abilities and effectiveness of a principal. Almost anybody can do an "amazing job" with a bunch of well-behaved kids without emotional or learning disabilities and un-demanding parents.

Lady, we’re talking about hot mess moms complaining about lack of outside lunch when it’s her kid and his friends who lost that privilege for else because he can’t resist playing fight club with his friends. Same mom calls the principal low key racist names using grammar as an excuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Bullying at Gunston. Principal very disliked...but she's moving on to Arlington Community HS next year. Way overcrowded. Band director popular.
Kenmore principal very well liked and respected. Arts program praised. Active and engaged Hispanic parents group.
Williamsburg principal not well liked by many parents, staff. But positive things about certain instruction (which may be happening elsewhere, too; we're out of MS so I don't know).
Swanson overcrowded, bullying. Better diversity than Williamsburg.
Hamm - under-enrolled, so lots of space and small classes; excellent principal.
TJ - fine. Meh principal, but not the negative comments like others. Excellent counseling staff, though the director of counseling left a year or two ago. World language earlier (v. language wheel) due to IB program (that can be a positive or negative depending on personal viewpoint). Hamm's principal was AP at TJ.



Agree with these assessments/opinions.

Interesting focus on principal popularity.

Particularly because some of the reasons they aren’t “popular“ are low key offensive. Eg Complaints about grammatical errors in emails, etc. If you ever took the time to talk to the principals or step foot in the school, you would realized what an amazing job they’re doing. This is such a difficult age to manage in middle school. Most of the people that are complaining about our principal have kids that have nightmare behavior issues, or never bothered to attend a PTA meeting/volunteer. They really don’t have a clue.

First of all, regular grammatical errors from professional educators - the people directly responsible for teaching our children - is not excusable and does not instill confidence in the quality of education our children are receiving. Bad grammar and bad written communication skills are not "offensive" - they are discouraging and worrisome.

Secondly, not all principals are equally good. Some may be doing an outstanding job, but maybe not all are. Now, that doesn't mean any of them are doing a horrendous job; but I'm not going to concede that every middle school principal is doing an amazing job merely because being principal of a middle school is a tough job and middle school kids are a tough age.

Third, I think the parents of children with more significant needs and issues are entitled to have their opinions about the principal just as much as those parents of children who are not behavioral problems. And you don't have to attend a PTA meeting to have a valid opinion of a principal or their professional performance. You don't know what other interactions these parents have had with the principal, or how the principal responded - or didn't respond. An argument could be made that the opinions of the most needy/challenging students and their parents is actually a significant marker of the quality and abilities and effectiveness of a principal. Almost anybody can do an "amazing job" with a bunch of well-behaved kids without emotional or learning disabilities and un-demanding parents.

Lady, we’re talking about hot mess moms complaining about lack of outside lunch when it’s her kid and his friends who lost that privilege for else because he can’t resist playing fight club with his friends. Same mom calls the principal low key racist names using grammar as an excuse.

Individual whackos happen; but you grouped all the criticizers of principals into that group when they are outliers. Just because there are some extremists, doesn't mean all principals are doing an amazing job or that others don't have legitimate complaints.