Revolving Door at Holton

[Anonymous]

This is the same person that complained that penny didn’t let her got to the bathroom inside her house just in the basement. You cannot be in your good senses with those comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the same person that complained that penny didn’t let her got to the bathroom inside her house just in the basement. You cannot be in your good senses with those comments.

That wasn't me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the same person that complained that penny didn’t let her got to the bathroom inside her house just in the basement. You cannot be in your good senses with those comments.

That wasn't me.

Ah ok. That person seeemed to be a bitter teacher. I guess you work in holton as well. Very strange that holton parents are not so angry at penny. But mostly her staff.

[Anonymous]

If faculty want to make a statement, they should put their concerns in writing and present them to both the Board of Trustees and the Head. A "no confidence" vote might awaken the BoT to the gravity of the issues being raised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t she sign a long contract, maybe 5 years? So I think the board is stuck with her, or they’d have to pay out her contract. No way they could afford that, even if they did want her gone.

This is the main problem, but the board should consider not just the cost of firing her early. What about the cost of three more years of her abusive and incompetent leadership?

I know what you are saying is just your opinion and not based on any evidence you have presented. Like one or two other PPs, I am interested in any specific examples you can share of abusive and incompetent behavior. Do you have any examples?

Yes, and I'm tired of listing them over and over again just for people to make excuses and attack me because you don't want to believe it. It's also risky for many of us to speak up about details that only a handful of people know. Even innocuous questions and criticisms have led to witch hunts bc the administration is more concerned about punishing critics than addressing issues of quality and propriety.

It's different when you experience and witness this behavior. If a board member wants to reach out to families, staff, and faculty, they can do that. They already distributed surveys that revealed serious concerns, but I'm sure there's spin for it all.

If you have already listed examples of abusive and incompetent behavior, then you run no further risk by listing them again. Are you the cruelty poster? If so, do you have any specific examples of that?

Without specific examples, it’s impossible to believe this is anything more than your opinion. Especially the cruelty allegation. That’s pretty serious.

What's the point in trying to convince you? I didn't make up the cruelty accusations. I have seen and heard multiple examples of cruel behavior. I'm sorry I can't satisfy your curiosity for details. I know it's a serious allegation. I can't believe what the environment of the school has become in just two short years.

No one believes you when you make anonymous accusations with nothing to back them up.

[Anonymous]

New poster (and parent). Our family has been at Holton over ten years.

Personally, I don’t care for the HoS. It is surprising how poorly she speaks and writes. Not a great example for the girls. But that is not a dealbreaker. However, the exodus of teachers this year is very worrisome.

Since my younger daughter is in high school, she is not going to switch schools at this point. But I do not recommend HA to friends when they ask. That’s a change from 2-3 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No one believes you when you make anonymous accusations with nothing to back them up.

Tell us you are Penny's #1 supporter without telling us you are Penny's #1 supporter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one believes you when you make anonymous accusations with nothing to back them up.

Tell us you are Penny's #1 supporter without telling us you are Penny's #1 supporter.

Still making things up and avoiding the issue of proof. Not a good approach.

[Anonymous]

It is immaterial whether you think “proof” about the HOS’s management has been provided on this message board. The proof is being revealed across the school for anyone with eyes to see

Everything that people have predicted has come true

Year 1: Senior administrators who report directly to Penny will be ousted (by her choice or theirs). This has included all 3 division heads, DEI director, Development director, Facilities director, Communications director (x 3)

Year 2: Teacher exodus begins, including some of the best teachers who are eagerly snapped up by other schools, leaving behind a lower quality staff. We still don’t know the identity of all the departures. Some families begin to take note and leave in greater numbers than usual

When Penny came on board 2 years ago, I think parents were hoping for a jolt of energy and maybe a mild course correction. We instead now find ourselves in a complete overhaul which I don’t think anyone was looking for, one going in a direction that not many community members feel good about

Why? Why is this unwanted change allowed to continue at the behest of a newcomer to the community who was unceremoniously dismissed from her previous headship at a lesser school? All these new teachers better be as good as the people they’re replacing or the disquiet is going to get louder

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't assume that the remaining teachers or new hires are bad in any way. It's not some sort of competition.

But 70+ departures in two years is not normal. Poor treatment, rude, hostile environment, yelling, screaming, insults becoming the norm. Dismissive behavior toward staff and faculty. These are the reasons the school is losing faculty and staff and why so many of those who remain are on edge, angry and scared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't assume that the remaining teachers or new hires are bad in any way. It's not some sort of competition.

But 70+ departures in two years is not normal. Poor treatment, rude, hostile environment, yelling, screaming, insults becoming the norm. Dismissive behavior toward staff and faculty. These are the reasons the school is losing faculty and staff and why so many of those who remain are on edge, angry and scared.

The fastest way to roust the BoT is to have a meeting without administrators present and discuss collective action. If administration is unwilling to hear concerns and if the BoT is lending its early only to Penny, then a grievance letter and possible unionization are the way to go. Chicago Latin is a good example. If the parents genuinely care about their children's teachers, then they will acknowledge the problem with a putative leader who yells, threatens, and belittles.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the President of the Board Penny’s biggest cheerleader? Didn’t she feel very strongly about drastic change at Holton which is why she didn’t enroll her own daughters there as soon as they were of age?

It doesn’t seem like she would be in favor of ousting the change that she championed.

I could have incorrect information, but lots of PPs say the the board should do something, but it might be that the board is pleased with these changes.

[Anonymous]

I think that's correct, which is why the PPS suggesting that staff and teachers take it up with the board are being so naive. It is not safe to go to the board.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure that the board members with final say support Penny for ideological reasons. The problem is deeper than that, however. She's an abusive and uninspiring leader. No matter where you fall in the cultural and political spectrum, you should understand that her behavior and treatment of others are bad for the school. She is not an educational leader. What a sad representative for a girls school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the President of the Board Penny’s biggest cheerleader? Didn’t she feel very strongly about drastic change at Holton which is why she didn’t enroll her own daughters there as soon as they were of age?

It doesn’t seem like she would be in favor of ousting the change that she championed.

I could have incorrect information, but lots of PPs say the the board should do something, but it might be that the board is pleased with these changes.

That's the point...if faculty were to meet and later air their grievances, they could do things that would awaken the Board to pay serious attention to their concerns. They could issue a public vote of "no confidence." They could vote to unionize (now THAT would get the Board's attention real fast).

And let's be honest, certain voices among the faculty will carry more weight. For example, if the AP Calculus, Advanced Analytical Chemistry, and Advanced Latin teachers were to insist upon change, the Board would likely listen, knowing those people are hard to replace. There are vets among the lower school whose voices carry a lot weight.

But until the teachers meet and agree to take action, the Board (and likely Penny) will cast aside the gripes on this thread as needless noise.