Wilson principal search

[Anonymous]

PP here again--I would like to clarify. When I ask for examples, I mean those that show "dysfunction" and being "almost feudal" and not just examples of decisions in which you may not have agreed with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here again--I would like to clarify. When I ask for examples, I mean those that show "dysfunction" and being "almost feudal" and not just examples of decisions in which you may not have agreed with.

Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Here is the letter:

June 1, 2015
Dear Wilson Senior High School Community:
As you know, every year we conduct a nationwide search for the best principals to lead our schools. To
deliver a high-quality education to all students, it takes a strong school leader who is singularly focused
on raising student achievement. Astounding advances are possible when the right leader is at the helm
of a school.
The Wilson school community supported this search by examining potential candidates and making their
recommendations, and we sincerely appreciate your time and efforts on behalf of our students. After
balancing your input and recommendations with the needed experience and skills that research links to
success, we concluded that your recommendation, Dr. Kimberly Martin, is the strongest candidate to
lead the Wilson school community.
I am happy to report that Dr. Martin has accepted the offer to be the Wilson High School principal. Her
official appointment begins on June 29, 2015.
Kimberly Martin has over 16 years of experience as an educator. She began her career in Lorain, Ohio
where she spent five years teaching high school English and history before being promoted to the
principal of Lorain Admiral King High School in 2003. She spent two years there before transferring to
lead Thomas W. Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio in 2005. Dr. Martin spent seven years as the
principal of Harvey High School before being tapped to lead Aspen High School, Colorado’s number one
public high school in 2012. Dr. Martin has a bachelor’s degree in English and history from Case Western
Reserve University, a master’s degree in education from John Carroll University, and a doctorate in
urban education from Cleveland State University.
I want to thank everyone who participated in the principal selection process, especially the school
community panel that reviewed a number of quality candidates. Dr. Martin is excited to meet all of you,
and I hope you will give her your warm welcome and support as she leads your children toward success.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the letter:

June 1, 2015
Dear Wilson Senior High School Community:
As you know, every year we conduct a nationwide search for the best principals to lead our schools. To
deliver a high-quality education to all students, it takes a strong school leader who is singularly focused
on raising student achievement. Astounding advances are possible when the right leader is at the helm
of a school.

Interesting that the letter is dated June 1 and this is the first time I am seeing it. Who did they send it to yesterday? It doesn't look like it was sent out on the mailing list.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the letter:

June 1, 2015
Dear Wilson Senior High School Community:
As you know, every year we conduct a nationwide search for the best principals to lead our schools. To
deliver a high-quality education to all students, it takes a strong school leader who is singularly focused
on raising student achievement. Astounding advances are possible when the right leader is at the helm
of a school.

Interesting that the letter is dated June 1 and this is the first time I am seeing it. Who did they send it to yesterday? It doesn't look like it was sent out on the mailing list.

It is not on the website or on twitter either.

[Anonymous]

That was the letter sent to the teachers late last night/early this morning. I am sure this will be sent out to the community some time today.

[Anonymous]

On the way to school my DD got a call from a friend and it had been announced at school this morning. I wasn't a fan of someone with little knowledge of DC but her background looks impressive.

I think it's important that she is into urban education. Wilson is really a mixed bag in terms of the student population (and I mean it in a positive way). I'm sure they had their pick of wonderful candidates who want to push themselves.

We will see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

It is now posted on the Wilson High School website.

http://www.wilsonhs.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=358769&id=0

[Anonymous]

Pet peeve here. From her LinkedIn profile and on-line articles about her, it appears she has not yet completed her PhD. If this is the case, it bothers me that DCPS is saying she has and is referring to her as "Dr." Kimberly Martin.

But in any event, as a Wilson parent, I hope she's what the school needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pet peeve here. From her LinkedIn profile and on-line articles about her, it appears she has not yet completed her PhD. If this is the case, it bothers me that DCPS is saying she has and is referring to her as "Dr." Kimberly Martin.

But in any event, as a Wilson parent, I hope she's what the school needs.

Agree that it is irritating. She is ABD, and from what she said in the info posted yesterday, she hasn't been working on her dissertation, so it's not like she'll be getting her Ph.D. soon.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Pet peeve here. From her LinkedIn profile and on-line articles about her, it appears she has not yet completed her PhD. If this is the case, it bothers me that DCPS is saying she has and is referring to her as "Dr." Kimberly Martin.

But in any event, as a Wilson parent, I hope she's what the school needs.

I think this is an error on DCPS's fault. It is premature to refer to her as "Dr.".

[Anonymous]

The letter says she has her doctorate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The letter says she has her doctorate.

And yet this is from her May 12th, 2015 resignation letter:

"It is with careful consideration that I have decided to leave Aspen High School. As many of you know, before coming to AHS I was pursuing a Doctorate in Urban Education and Policy Studies. I have decided to return to my roots, as it were, and begin working in the area of my greatest passion. I’m very excited about the prospect of pursuing a position in a metropolitan area with opportunities for growth and professional development- and perhaps a chance to get back to work on my dissertation. I am very much looking forward to the continued growth and development that awaits me in my new endeavors. My last day at Aspen High School will be June 30th, but I will begin my move back east before that time."

[Anonymous]

Crossing my fingers. The OH school has a demographic more inline with Wilson but Aspen?!?! Maybe that was just a poor choice on her part.

[Anonymous]

No surprise that DCPS can't figure out if someone has a phd or not. And if they don't, you don't call them Dr, which is pretentious IMO.
To the PP who asked for examples of dysfunction, this would be typical of DCPS.