New W-L Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duncan holds a Master of Science in Education Administration and Leadership from Trinity University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC. His extensive professional training includes certifications in restorative practices, culturally responsive instruction, special education co-teaching models, and nonviolent crisis intervention.

Hi Duncan!
He is terrible. I taught with him. He speaks a good game but is awful to staff. You cannot express an opinion that is contrary to his.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised the PTA wasn’t consulted. The PTA used to play a huge role in the interview process for principals in APS.

This was a crisis hire. They needed someone fast

No they didn't- they had Willmore. He was completely screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent - Duncan definitely was able to bring more discipline to the school, especially after the December gang-related shutdown of ACHS. The enrollment in the alternative school quadrupled. There seemed to be fewer fights. He initially did not handle the two campuses .7 miles apart well - too heavy-handed with kids who walked because they actually wanted to get to class.
He did oversee the firing and reassignment of almost all deans and APs just last year to bring in his people. Decisions as to who stayed and went seemed to be driven by race.
W-L could do much much better, and, hopefully, ACHS will, however it seems as if the job is just too much to have any long term stability.

Wow I expected you to say personal relations, that caught me off guard.

Yes, enough for a prima facie discrimination complaint (especially in light of Ames v Ohio Dept of Youth Svcs) and in most other communities (outside DMV) it would have been unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Huh this is too bad. I was really considering moving to Ballston to enroll my DC kid in W-L. I’m that annoying white lady who considers diversity a strength. But I know very, very well from my time in DCPS that the principal makes all the difference in a school. My other option was Yorktown (because there is also a small pocket of apartments I can afford zoned for that school) … so I guess my plan is changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have first hand knowledge of him but he gets an F on Rate My Principal and there are about a dozen reviews. WL teachers are deeply upset at his appointment. I know a number of teachers there and they were showing up in mass at tonight's school board meeting hoping to speak on the matter. Several have decided to retire or seek transfers as a result of his appointment. Staff really wanted interim principale Whitmore to get the job and feel betrayed that he didn't.

But do we know if Dr. Wilmore even wanted the job? Was he under consideration? My kids seem to like him, and have said teachers like him.

He did want the job and there were other great candidates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised the PTA wasn’t consulted. The PTA used to play a huge role in the interview process for principals in APS.

Lol. No it didn’t. Never did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent - Duncan definitely was able to bring more discipline to the school, especially after the December gang-related shutdown of ACHS. The enrollment in the alternative school quadrupled. There seemed to be fewer fights. He initially did not handle the two campuses .7 miles apart well - too heavy-handed with kids who walked because they actually wanted to get to class.
He did oversee the firing and reassignment of almost all deans and APs just last year to bring in his people. Decisions as to who stayed and went seemed to be driven by race.
W-L could do much much better, and, hopefully, ACHS will, however it seems as if the job is just too much to have any long term stability.

That’s actually really promising. But the racial discrimination claim is incindiary. what support do you have for that?

[Anonymous]

What the hell are all of you complaining about? By every indication Washington liberty is a high performing school. It has a very diverse population. The new principal is experienced in dealing with both. What the hell do you people want? Why aren’t you willing to even give the guy a chance? You’re just a bunch of overinvolved weirdos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the hell are all of you complaining about? By every indication Washington liberty is a high performing school. It has a very diverse population. The new principal is experienced in dealing with both. What the hell do you people want? Why aren’t you willing to even give the guy a chance? You’re just a bunch of overinvolved weirdos.

I’m the DCPS parent who posted above. I totally agree with you that there is a subset of parents who will be aggrieved at anything they feel they were not personally consulted about, and are unreasonably triggered by the notion of having to share resources with different types of people. But … it is still true that W-L has a college bound cohort who deserve to be seen as legitimate stakeholders and not just “rich white kids who will be fine no matter what.” And while Duncan’s record on disciple seems promising (just based on what the ACPS parent wrote here) I also am wary of the very very bad “woke”” educational trends that eviscerate academics, like getting rid of honors programs and “tracking,” endless redos, no or little homework, and failure to focus on content. So yeah, I would be more comfortable if he had a background in some kind of college prep program environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent - Duncan definitely was able to bring more discipline to the school, especially after the December gang-related shutdown of ACHS. The enrollment in the alternative school quadrupled. There seemed to be fewer fights. He initially did not handle the two campuses .7 miles apart well - too heavy-handed with kids who walked because they actually wanted to get to class.
He did oversee the firing and reassignment of almost all deans and APs just last year to bring in his people. Decisions as to who stayed and went seemed to be driven by race.
W-L could do much much better, and, hopefully, ACHS will, however it seems as if the job is just too much to have any long term stability.

That’s actually really promising. But the racial discrimination claim is incindiary. what support do you have for that?

Yes, because WL is overrun with gangs and fights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the hell are all of you complaining about? By every indication Washington liberty is a high performing school. It has a very diverse population. The new principal is experienced in dealing with both. What the hell do you people want? Why aren’t you willing to even give the guy a chance? You’re just a bunch of overinvolved weirdos.

What exactly in his record supports experience with high performing and academically rigorous schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His introduction by SB:

“Brings a proven track record of of instructional leadership, school transformation, and a deep commitment to equity and student success”

Is instructional leadership saying he will bring rigor and accountability to academic performance?

Why are we still emphasizing equity as a primary driver. Just say student success for all students, why do we have these trigger words?

School transformation — is WL having problems, does it NEED a TRANSFORMATION??

There's nothing wrong with an equity focus. It strives to make sure that those at the bottom have the same opportunities to succeed as those who don't have the same struggles or better resources.

I feel like that APS could have been more transparent with the principal selection process and brought more stakeholders into it. I don't know anything about Duncan, but Wiltmore is quite popular even with his short tenure there. Whoever made the final decision (Duran?) should explain more why he chose one over the other, just for parents and staff sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What the hell are all of you complaining about? By every indication Washington liberty is a high performing school. It has a very diverse population. The new principal is experienced in dealing with both. What the hell do you people want? Why aren’t you willing to even give the guy a chance? You’re just a bunch of overinvolved weirdos.

I’m the DCPS parent who posted above. I totally agree with you that there is a subset of parents who will be aggrieved at anything they feel they were not personally consulted about, and are unreasonably triggered by the notion of having to share resources with different types of people. But … it is still true that W-L has a college bound cohort who deserve to be seen as legitimate stakeholders and not just “rich white kids who will be fine no matter what.” And while Duncan’s record on disciple seems promising (just based on what the ACPS parent wrote here) I also am wary of the very very bad “woke”” educational trends that eviscerate academics, like getting rid of honors programs and “tracking,” endless redos, no or little homework, and failure to focus on content. So yeah, I would be more comfortable if he had a background in some kind of college prep program environment.

Thank you, this is a succinct explanation of my similar concerns. Basically high performing kids are an after thought, taken for granted, and deal with shrinking resources, larger classes, and less rigor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His introduction by SB:

“Brings a proven track record of of instructional leadership, school transformation, and a deep commitment to equity and student success”

Is instructional leadership saying he will bring rigor and accountability to academic performance?

Why are we still emphasizing equity as a primary driver. Just say student success for all students, why do we have these trigger words?

School transformation — is WL having problems, does it NEED a TRANSFORMATION??

There's nothing wrong with an equity focus. It strives to make sure that those at the bottom have the same opportunities to succeed as those who don't have the same struggles or better resources.

I feel like that APS could have been more transparent with the principal selection process and brought more stakeholders into it. I don't know anything about Duncan, but Wiltmore is quite popular even with his short tenure there. Whoever made the final decision (Duran?) should explain more why he chose one over the other, just for parents and staff sake.

Equity should be assumed, and they should emphasize instead challenging and growing students and preparing them for the real world — which won’t be equitable.

Equity is what has gotten rid of homework, test retakes, diversity of curriculum which often brings in lower quality material, mixed classrooms which necessitate teachers to focus on the struggle students exclusively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well guess the kids will be allowed to leave for lunch again.

They were not allowed to? Even seniors?