WTU calls out Bully Principals at Lafayette ES, Truesdell EC, Orr ES, West EC and Jefferson MS

[Anonymous]

PP, I agree with you. I work for DCPS (not at Lafayette but have frequent contact/collaboration with the principal.) She is a breath of fresh air to work with. The previous principal was probably the most unprofessional person I had ever met in terms of a school leader. She hated the way DCPS was run--okay, that's fine--but the things she would say to people went beyond the pale. Now that she's gone, the folks that really liked her approach are not necessarily supportive of a school leader who no longer takes an antagonistic approach to the school district. I cannot speak for the chancellor but my general understanding is that the new Lafayette principal has the continuing support of DCPS. I'm sorry if some don't like that.

[Anonymous]

Jeff, you should delete this entire thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is gross. And there's a fair amount of misogyny. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't as a principal. If you don't lead firmly, you're a pushover and can't "clean up." If you're decisive and don't pander, you're a bully. WTU should be ashamed this is something they've posted. I, too, would be embarrassed if I were a member.

One can be decisive and firm without bullying his/her staff. I left one of the schools mentioned in the blog post, and my current principal is able to do just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Important blog post by WTU.


"As the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) General Vice President, I hear countless stories of DC Public Schools teachers being bullied by their own local school principals. Like spousal abuse, this is our dirty little secret.

The extent to which our teachers suffer at the hands of cruel administrators is a hidden fact of school life... Some of the workplace bullying complaints that have been alleged right here on our doorsteps have occurred at Jefferson MS, Lafayette ES, Orr ES (2014), Truesdell EC, Watkins ES (2014), and West EC. Out of all of the complaints I have received on workplace bullying; only one teacher was willing to come forward. "

http://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com

I get that teachers are reluctant to call out bully principals, but how are we as parents supposed to believe anonymous complaints?

I would gladly support serious teacher complaint protection laws to prevent retaliation. I'm not sure how else to break the logjam.

I hear you. Research shows that poor school leadership is often one of the main contributors of teacher turnover. I worked at one of the schools mentioned on Ms. Peterson's blog, and I wish there were more outlets to voice bullying concerns and improve a school's professional culture. Say a teacher goes to a parent. Then what? Is the parent going to potentially hurt their relationship and their child's relationship with the principal over a teacher's concerns? Would the parent truly keep the teacher's name anonymous when pressed by the principal? What can we do so that good teachers are not leaving in droves, while ensuring that school leaders are receiving the type of feedback that they desperately need. In my experience, the union is pretty powerless when the principal (in my school's case, a principal quite popular with Central Office) has the full backing of Central Office.

[Anonymous]

This is the same set of concerns any managerial organization with end customers lives with daily. I don't see why there needs to be some sort of pandering or anonymous accusations on the union's part. Is there not an HR dept or similar function at DCPS? If there is, then the serious, verifiable claims should be dealt with quickly and firmly, and the kooks like our OP should be ignored. If that's what's happening what's the problem here? Is there literally no where to go if you're being treated inappropriately by your boss wishing DCPS? I find that hard to believe.

[Anonymous]

Wishing = within

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I get that teachers are reluctant to call out bully principals, but how are we as parents supposed to believe anonymous complaints?

I would gladly support serious teacher complaint protection laws to prevent retaliation. I'm not sure how else to break the logjam.

I hear you. Research shows that poor school leadership is often one of the main contributors of teacher turnover. I worked at one of the schools mentioned on Ms. Peterson's blog, and I wish there were more outlets to voice bullying concerns and improve a school's professional culture. Say a teacher goes to a parent. Then what? Is the parent going to potentially hurt their relationship and their child's relationship with the principal over a teacher's concerns? Would the parent truly keep the teacher's name anonymous when pressed by the principal? What can we do so that good teachers are not leaving in droves, while ensuring that school leaders are receiving the type of feedback that they desperately need. In my experience, the union is pretty powerless when the principal (in my school's case, a principal quite popular with Central Office) has the full backing of Central Office.

Not one, but multiple - yes, definitely. Let's say, for example, that multiple teachers have expressed their concerns to multiple parents. Parents talk. And we can make loud demands of DCPS. Don't you have a PTA leader or something like that?
We (and I'll speak for everyone here) don't want to see good teachers leave, so we care about this. I would keep the teachers' names anonymous - I get no benefit from stifling real complaints.

See, central office is still beholden to politicians. And politicians listen to loud crowds of parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I get that teachers are reluctant to call out bully principals, but how are we as parents supposed to believe anonymous complaints?

I would gladly support serious teacher complaint protection laws to prevent retaliation. I'm not sure how else to break the logjam.

I hear you. Research shows that poor school leadership is often one of the main contributors of teacher turnover. I worked at one of the schools mentioned on Ms. Peterson's blog, and I wish there were more outlets to voice bullying concerns and improve a school's professional culture. Say a teacher goes to a parent. Then what? Is the parent going to potentially hurt their relationship and their child's relationship with the principal over a teacher's concerns? Would the parent truly keep the teacher's name anonymous when pressed by the principal? What can we do so that good teachers are not leaving in droves, while ensuring that school leaders are receiving the type of feedback that they desperately need. In my experience, the union is pretty powerless when the principal (in my school's case, a principal quite popular with Central Office) has the full backing of Central Office.

Not one, but multiple - yes, definitely. Let's say, for example, that multiple teachers have expressed their concerns to multiple parents. Parents talk. And we can make loud demands of DCPS. Don't you have a PTA leader or something like that?
We (and I'll speak for everyone here) don't want to see good teachers leave, so we care about this. I would keep the teachers' names anonymous - I get no benefit from stifling real complaints.

See, central office is still beholden to politicians. And politicians listen to loud crowds of parents.

The other thing is that teachers use parents to help fight their battles which I guess is ok and probably happens a lot at schools. At Lafayette it is happening all over the place. Parents put themselves in situations where they listen to concerns (which may or may not be legitimate) and that starts up the rumor mill, heavy gossip, etc. Teachers talk to the parents about what is happening, how they feel, what they don't like, sharing personal details about other kids, maybe other parents, families etc. This seemed to be ok at Lafayette before so transitioning a culture into a more professional environment has to be uncomfortable and threatening, especially for those who have worked there for many years and don't know any other way.

[Anonymous]

It's a neighborhood school. DC is a village filled with lawyers and lobbyists, people who trade information and talk for living. Jeez-- know your customer.

[Anonymous]

Even if trae concerns are founded. Posting personal info about people doesn't help your cause. It makes you crazy.

[Anonymous]

All public info on google. central doesn't want to deal w renovation

[Anonymous]

^ info you had to hunt down and then which you selectively edited before posting. Central doesn't want to deal with psychotic, unfounded, evidence lacking accusations? Can't fault them. Come back with some legitimate complaint beyond some private, ancient nebulous data and we'll talk. Before then, I'm taking central's side and you should get a different hobby

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ info you had to hunt down and then which you selectively edited before posting. Central doesn't want to deal with psychotic, unfounded, evidence lacking accusations? Can't fault them. Come back with some legitimate complaint beyond some private, ancient nebulous data and we'll talk. Before then, I'm taking central's side and you should get a different hobby

Nope it's on the first page. Plenty of evidence. Not sure why you care about this without ties to Lafayette teachers and staff.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps because PP doesn't want to listen to your scurrilous attacks on a qualified school leader nor entertain whatever petty ax to grind that you have against said school leader. And neither do I--and I work directly to help support said school leader and this just strengthens my resolve to continue to do so even more.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Honestly it just creeps me out to no end that you'd post details about someone's personal situation (information that pertained to her CHILDREN) when critiquing their professional life. Its low and you should be ashamed of yourself but you don't appear to have even the slightest ability to step back from your fixation on crushing her and see why that is deplorable.

I know I should probably be extending some sympathy to you because you're clearly ill, but you make it pretty damn tough.