Teachers— do any of you love your principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many places where parents love a principal does not mean the teachers do. It is a different set of skills and personality to authentically be loved and respected by those you manage professionally and who depend on you for their bonus.

Signed,
Mom and former DC teacher

This.

This is my current situation. I cannot for the life of me figure out the love for the principal. And it’s not like we are a high performing school on track to be high performing. Teachers are miserable.

Happy teachers might make for happy students but you need to look critically at which teachers love or hate their principal. For too many years, under-performing DC schools have had principals who prioritize “happy teachers” over having high expectations for them and holding them accountable for actually doing their job well. Strong teachers are happy when their principals expect high-quality instruction from all teachers and demand excellence for all students.

I’m at a school where most parents and teachers merely tolerate the principal. She’s inexperienced and borderline unprofessional. So while nobody is necessarily happy, the vibe isn’t miserable either. When she does decide to leave for greener pastures, I assure you no one will be sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Murch principal is great, as is the AP. Supportive but not overbearing, and nice people.

Is this a teacher? Because he's good but there are definitely issues I hear about from the teachers. Honestly curious...

PP here, and I'm a teacher. Nobody is perfect, but I do think he is great.

[Anonymous]

I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Sounds great. She got a kid the help they needed and pushed out a poorly performing teacher. Just what good bosses are supposed to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

No. She didn't violate procedural safeguards. In cases of extreme safety, the 45 day waiting period can be waived. Without giving details, this is absolutely necessary. No child nor staff member was safe with this child in the room. And the colleague was the most awful person I've worked with in 25 years. So, no, I'm not young and not confused. This colleague was doing things that should not be done and not doing other things that should be done. In violation of law.
You can use stupid trumpisms like bigly all you wish. But this principal is bad ass. We ALL love her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

No. She didn't violate procedural safeguards. In cases of extreme safety, the 45 day waiting period can be waived. Without giving details, this is absolutely necessary. No child nor staff member was safe with this child in the room. And the colleague was the most awful person I've worked with in 25 years. So, no, I'm not young and not confused. This colleague was doing things that should not be done and not doing other things that should be done. In violation of law.
You can use stupid trumpisms like bigly all you wish. But this principal is bad ass. We ALL love her.

I wish you would name the school or give a clue so I could figure it out and go work there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

No. She didn't violate procedural safeguards. In cases of extreme safety, the 45 day waiting period can be waived. Without giving details, this is absolutely necessary. No child nor staff member was safe with this child in the room. And the colleague was the most awful person I've worked with in 25 years. So, no, I'm not young and not confused. This colleague was doing things that should not be done and not doing other things that should be done. In violation of law.
You can use stupid trumpisms like bigly all you wish. But this principal is bad ass. We ALL love her.

No, it can’t.
And your principal should have used Impact to get rid of ineffective teacher.
But sure- cussing makes me think you are at a wonderful school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

+1
Yes, protect your students. That means all the students you can not just kick out the hard cases. I feel really bad for any iep kids and families at your school. Sounds like she will just push whomever doesn't work for you or her out the door.
The teacher leaving mid year.. If it was a safety issue great. If it was a you stood up to me issue.. Not cool.

[Anonymous]

So, it'd be okay with you that a student was shoving kids down on the playground, daily? That the student was threatening to kill staff while holding scissors and running after them? That the student was climbing on furniture, jumping off and body slamming other kids? And that's just the start. Nope, not "pushing out" the "hard" kids. We have plenty of those. She got an unsafe child OUT. We've had other absolutely violent kids like this over the years and had to suffer through it because our former principals just let our sped team do whatever it is they do (and it isn't working with kids, that's for sure). This principal is an actual leader. Again. Bad ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, it'd be okay with you that a student was shoving kids down on the playground, daily? That the student was threatening to kill staff while holding scissors and running after them? That the student was climbing on furniture, jumping off and body slamming other kids? And that's just the start. Nope, not "pushing out" the "hard" kids. We have plenty of those. She got an unsafe child OUT. We've had other absolutely violent kids like this over the years and had to suffer through it because our former principals just let our sped team do whatever it is they do (and it isn't working with kids, that's for sure). This principal is an actual leader. Again. Bad ass.

+1

I worked at a school years ago where a child tried to suffocate another kid with a pillow because they wouldn't play with him. The principal let the violent kid's parents railroad her. It was such an unsafe situation for all and that child needed serious help. I left after that school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, it'd be okay with you that a student was shoving kids down on the playground, daily? That the student was threatening to kill staff while holding scissors and running after them? That the student was climbing on furniture, jumping off and body slamming other kids? And that's just the start. Nope, not "pushing out" the "hard" kids. We have plenty of those. She got an unsafe child OUT. We've had other absolutely violent kids like this over the years and had to suffer through it because our former principals just let our sped team do whatever it is they do (and it isn't working with kids, that's for sure). This principal is an actual leader. Again. Bad ass.

If I were a parent with a violent, unsafe kid I would appreciate any efforts school leadership would take to get my kid in a more appropriate educational setting, which is what seems to have happened in this case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

No. She didn't violate procedural safeguards. In cases of extreme safety, the 45 day waiting period can be waived. Without giving details, this is absolutely necessary. No child nor staff member was safe with this child in the room. And the colleague was the most awful person I've worked with in 25 years. So, no, I'm not young and not confused. This colleague was doing things that should not be done and not doing other things that should be done. In violation of law.
You can use stupid trumpisms like bigly all you wish. But this principal is bad ass. We ALL love her.

I wish you would name the school or give a clue so I could figure it out and go work there!

Me too. At least if it’s a charter or DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in my current school 5 years now. We just got a new principal this year. She's absolutely fabulous. Hands down the best principal I've ever known or heard of. She gets shit done. She provides a lot of positive feedback to staff who work hard. She is in classrooms a lot and even helps us do some of our assessments (which take up copious amounts of time). She got a 1:1 aide within 4 weeks for a kid in my room who didn't have an IEP (and that NEVER happens)who was doing unsafe things and then pushed the eval date up, and pushed to get him outplaced. In 4 months!!! With any other principal we all would have suffered with this kid for 12-18 months. She also ensured a really terrible colleague resigned mid year. (there were major, major safety issues in the classroom) I've never seen a principal willing to do the hard work to protect teachers and all the children who may or may not have issues, may or may not have an IEP, from the really out of control, unsafe kids. Ever. I'll follow her anywhere.

Ummm- by pushing the evaluation date up did she violate procedural safeguards? There is a good reason why things in the IEP process take time.
And the teacher who quit kid year- yea, no.
You sound young & are confusing rash with good leadership. That stuff will backfire. Bigly.

+1
Yes, protect your students. That means all the students you can not just kick out the hard cases. I feel really bad for any iep kids and families at your school. Sounds like she will just push whomever doesn't work for you or her out the door.
The teacher leaving mid year.. If it was a safety issue great. If it was a you stood up to me issue.. Not cool.

I recall a young, dumb NW principal who did this and had a handful of lawsuits by the end of her first year.

[Anonymous]

Anybody have kids at Powell? What's your opinion of your principal?