Hayfield Principal Moving to Gatehouse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

[Anonymous]

https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/hayfield-principal-fails-up-to-central-office-as-investigation-looms-in-recruiting-scandal/article_4f86dd6b-e2ab-413f-8fdc-26101f0b82ca.html

Haven't read it yet, but the title says it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is absolutely NOT a promotion. Anyone who thinks this is a promotion is greatly misinformed.

Yeah, this is a demotion. I’m not saying he shouldn’t have been fired. But anyone who is saying this is a promotion is wrong.

Anyone can look up the job descriptions. The position he is taking is on the unified salary schedule C, grade 5. The highest step is 20 with a pay of $202K.

A secondary high school principal is on the school-based administrator scale. The highest step is 20 with a pay of $226K.

This was a promotion and pay raise. This is 2 years old but 2 years ago was at $171 (so at a minimum add in the 6% from this year and then whatever increase was year before): https://govsalaries.com/thompson-darin-a-177368986

Job description for Senior Administrator of Nontraditional School Programs is $132 to $201k with least experience being 6 years so he’d be at higher end: https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=a1d52566a76042b2

Interim SA of Nontrad school was Deirdre Lavern who was a HS principal in 2019 at $172k back then: https://govsalaries.com/lavery-deirdre-m-108807952

Damn. The lack of basic research skills is astounding. So instead of just pulling random items, maybe actually look at the actual scales from FCPS. The position he is taking is called “Senior Administrator Non Traditional School Programs.” Its job code is 01215:

https://pf.payfactors.com/client/job-description-management/job-descriptions?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJ0eXBlIjoxLCJjb250ZXh0Ijp7IkNvbXBhbnlJZCI6ODkwNiwiSnd0VHlwZSI6MX19.7-dM2Tr6kdUbsQN8-72suOtz0IBq6A6J85dJWKe9AomGfn4wYnqQXhI_oX8vfD2rufhlFj5_-ekv5XMAClV9lg

Here is the 2026 unified salary scale.

Scroll over to schedule C, column 005 which is designated for the Senior Administrator Non Traditional School program:

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/fy26-unified-12-month-feu-op.pdf

Here is the pay scale for administrators. Scroll over to a secondary high school principal:

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/fy26-school-based-administrator.pdf

Please tell me again how he is getting a promotion and making more money than as a secondary high school principal. Break it down for me using actually pay scales from 2025-26.

I don't know about the money, but to work for Gatehouse is a promotion in the sense that it is a more senior position. Look at the guy's instagram account....it's clear he is after the fame, not just the fortune and based on his actions the past two years at Hayfield, THIS is always what he was after. He could care less about the destruction he is leaving behind. I'm very sorry for the programs that will surely fail under his "leadership".

I don’t know what your connection to FCPS is but that is not the culture in here. It is NOT a more senior position for anyone working in FCPS. The position is NOT even located at Gatehouse. “More senior” positions are asst superintendents and executive principals. He’s going to supervise a couple of alternative high schools and an adult high school. It’s a manager job. Being the principal of Hayfield Secondary was a much more intense and prestigious position.

That said, he should have never been hired and destroyed that football program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

[Anonymous]

Since he was getting moved out of Hayfield anyways it should have occurred in July before the school year started

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/hayfield-principal-fails-up-to-central-office-as-investigation-looms-in-recruiting-scandal/article_4f86dd6b-e2ab-413f-8fdc-26101f0b82ca.html

Haven't read it yet, but the title says it all.

Surprised the Times published such a biased hit piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/hayfield-principal-fails-up-to-central-office-as-investigation-looms-in-recruiting-scandal/article_4f86dd6b-e2ab-413f-8fdc-26101f0b82ca.html

Haven't read it yet, but the title says it all.

Surprised the Times published such a biased hit piece.

This is sarcasm, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/hayfield-principal-fails-up-to-central-office-as-investigation-looms-in-recruiting-scandal/article_4f86dd6b-e2ab-413f-8fdc-26101f0b82ca.html

Haven't read it yet, but the title says it all.

Surprised the Times published such a biased hit piece.

This is sarcasm, right?

It wasn’t biased? It wasn’t a hitpiece?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

You can read I assume? Someone said there are no reasons for him to be fired. I’m giving one. Usually not showing up for your job is a good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

You can read I assume? Someone said there are no reasons for him to be fired. I’m giving one. Usually not showing up for your job is a good reason.

A principal working from home is definitely not appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

You can read I assume? Someone said there are no reasons for him to be fired. I’m giving one. Usually not showing up for your job is a good reason.

Are you really this dense? FCPS would have to show a pattern of him not showing up for work and the impact that had on operations. They would have to show that he was warned about it and given an opportunity to correct it. Do you know how difficult that is to do when your supervisor (the region asst supt) doesn’t even work in the same location? I’m not saying that this behavior is acceptable. What I’m saying is that it’s really difficult for an employer to fire someone for this reason. The same holds true for teachers. Unless they’re doing g something so publicly egregious, it’s really, really difficult to fire someone who is sub-par. Not impossible. Just difficult.

[Anonymous]

There is a multi-year DCUM thread on FCPS' "Failed Principal to Central Office pipeline". Interested folks should search for it, then weep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

You can read I assume? Someone said there are no reasons for him to be fired. I’m giving one. Usually not showing up for your job is a good reason.

Seems like the football mess would have been enough.

Are you really this dense? FCPS would have to show a pattern of him not showing up for work and the impact that had on operations. They would have to show that he was warned about it and given an opportunity to correct it. Do you know how difficult that is to do when your supervisor (the region asst supt) doesn’t even work in the same location? I’m not saying that this behavior is acceptable. What I’m saying is that it’s really difficult for an employer to fire someone for this reason. The same holds true for teachers. Unless they’re doing g something so publicly egregious, it’s really, really difficult to fire someone who is sub-par. Not impossible. Just difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

You can read I assume? Someone said there are no reasons for him to be fired. I’m giving one. Usually not showing up for your job is a good reason.

Are you really this dense? FCPS would have to show a pattern of him not showing up for work and the impact that had on operations. They would have to show that he was warned about it and given an opportunity to correct it. Do you know how difficult that is to do when your supervisor (the region asst supt) doesn’t even work in the same location? I’m not saying that this behavior is acceptable. What I’m saying is that it’s really difficult for an employer to fire someone for this reason. The same holds true for teachers. Unless they’re doing g something so publicly egregious, it’s really, really difficult to fire someone who is sub-par. Not impossible. Just difficult.

Maybe they should be at will employees like most Americans are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And for every “promotion” to Gatehouse the county could be hiring 3 new teachers with the salary saved if the employee was let go instead of being “promoted”.

Meh. I’m not so sure. It’s really difficult to fire someone if they haven’t done something like shown up to work completely wasted and stealing funds. He could’ve easily fought it and then the county would’ve paid out a lot more in legal fees.

He barely showed up to work. Most of the time he was "working from home". Is that what a Principal should do?

No. Of course not. What is your point and how is it related to the post you are replying to?

You can read I assume? Someone said there are no reasons for him to be fired. I’m giving one. Usually not showing up for your job is a good reason.

Are you really this dense? FCPS would have to show a pattern of him not showing up for work and the impact that had on operations. They would have to show that he was warned about it and given an opportunity to correct it. Do you know how difficult that is to do when your supervisor (the region asst supt) doesn’t even work in the same location? I’m not saying that this behavior is acceptable. What I’m saying is that it’s really difficult for an employer to fire someone for this reason. The same holds true for teachers. Unless they’re doing g something so publicly egregious, it’s really, really difficult to fire someone who is sub-par. Not impossible. Just difficult.

You definitely don’t know what dense means. You also contradicted yourself. Someone said you need reasons to fire him and I gave one. How the proof is gathered is a different conversation. Was he a terrible principal and deserve to be fired for MANY reasons? Absolutely. You are getting worked up over nothing. Calm down.