Principal at Bunker Hill Elementary School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Bunker Hill community is not going to wait ten years. The fundamentals are in place to correct many of the mistakes that Central Administration created-namely, adding a middle school. That was a terrible mistake. However, with a new vibrant leader, an a great staff and student body, watch Bunker Hill take off and become a excellent alternative for many parents who are looking for a student centered school.

Thank you, central office.

[Anonymous]

If you want to locate me at central in order to make you happy, that's OK. However, Bunker Hill ES is going to be a great place for learning. See you and your child at Back to School Night.

[Anonymous]

No one said you should wait 10 years. I said it will take 10 years and yes that is if you start now. To think you can flip that school by your next Back to School Night is quite silly.

[Anonymous]

Flip is a term used in real estate and not in education. The pathway to academic improvement has started and will continue this year.

[Anonymous]

Ah you really are from DCPS. Well as an actual parent in the community let me know how I can help. Assuming I don't mess up and use the wrong vocab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to locate me at central in order to make you happy, that's OK. However, Bunker Hill ES is going to be a great place for learning. See you and your child at Back to School Night.

How are they going to make it a great place for learning? Need to do outreach to community before you see us at back to school night!

[Anonymous]

+!

[Anonymous]

If you are the new principal, and I hope you are, I encourage you to join the Brookland Kids listserv TODAY, and start open houses, playdates and coffees with neighborhood parents this summer. A little engagement in Brookland goes a long way.

[Anonymous]

Although, I am not the principal, your recommendation is the first thing that you said that make sense. Much success in real estate and when the school host a "parent" meeting, maybe I will get a chance to introduce you to my kids.

[Anonymous]

I think there are many people posting on this thread.

Many people have said that principal outreach to the community is key, that Burroughs' principal's willingness to do so has been key to increasing community interest in that school.

if you know the new principal or other admin at Bunker Hill, please urge them to set up some outreach today. Post it on the Kids list. Post it here.

That's the first step of the way forward to a high-performing in boundary school.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread is rather heartbreaking to me. I remember when Bunker Hill used to have a waiting list in the 90's. You were considered lucky to get a job there. Carolyn Preston, legendary principal, was a force to be reckoned with. Test scores were high and many middle class parents was involved. Unfortunately, a bad principal in 2000 turned that all around. One hundred fifty students found charter schools more appealing. Now, 10 or so principals later, the school has made very little progress. It has been 15 years since the school's mass exodus.

Unless, the new principal has a magic wand, turn around will not be quick. I'm not even sure that it is even possible to rebuild the community's trust in the new culture of the building. Many promises and high hopes with little or no results. I would love to see that school rebound. You could not ask for a better location - quiet, near the Metro, and developing.

My fingers are crossed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this thread is rather heartbreaking to me. I remember when Bunker Hill used to have a waiting list in the 90's. You were considered lucky to get a job there. Carolyn Preston, legendary principal, was a force to be reckoned with. Test scores were high and many middle class parents was involved. Unfortunately, a bad principal in 2000 turned that all around. One hundred fifty students found charter schools more appealing. Now, 10 or so principals later, the school has made very little progress. It has been 15 years since the school's mass exodus.

I've heard similar stories about a school near me, was once very popular but began to deteriorate soon after a principal's departure. It's quite frightening that the success of some of these schools is dependent on the presence of one individual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's really sad. It is a great location and great building and you're right new families are moving in. Many of those families paying 700k+ for their homes. I've lived in brookland for over 10 years and I sent my kids to charters. The school has a really bad rep and it will take several years for it to turn around. I'm hopeful for Brookland Middle but I'm not sure how many families are going to send their kids there because of Noyes and Bunker Hill. Burroughs is the only viable DCPS option in this neighborhood.

Well, 4 short years ago Burroughs was god-awful, with the former principal telling a group of us parents they were going to hire a new language teacher, then firing the one they had for another math teacher. Burroughs turned around fast with a dynamic new principal and Bunker Hill can do the same. It's a BEAUTIFUL location.

[Anonymous]

The new principal will be encouraged to act on some of your suggestions. It does take a village to build a school.

[Anonymous]

That would be awesome.