Advice to Kaya Henderson

[Anonymous]

It's obvious DCPS Central Office (and I'm quite sure Kaya herself) read and post on DCUM. I'm sure they reach out to school leaders when something is written about their schools and ask them to respond. It's no coinkydink that principals just happen to show up and respond on topics that deal with their schools. We saw it happen with Wilson's new principal recently. But I've also seen Eugene Pinkard respond when he was principal and the IB Coordinator at Eastern speak out on a thread about the program at her school. And let's not forget Central Office employees openly posted asking for feedback just last year.

SO, now that we know we have their attention, what advice would you give to DCPS?

[Anonymous]

I'll start.

1. DCPS really needs to stop the game they're running on students and their families. Kids are being passed along because 1. The system has given up on them and really don't think they're worth trying to teach. & 2. The system wants to be able to boast of good numbers. Who cares if they learn as long as we have a high graduation rate?

2. Stop harassing teachers to pass students you know aren't performing. Sure your pass rate is high but the embarassing truth is revealed when your test scores are posted in the paper and on blogs.

3. Deal with behavior so that classrooms can actually be learning environments.

4. Change IMPACT like now. It's a mess. Teachers know it's a mess, and DCPS knows it's a mess in need of tweaking. So why hasn't it been tweaked yet?

[Anonymous]

Resign?

[Anonymous]

Work with the union and fix the calendar, rather than adding to the days or dates. There are too many <5 day weeks!

[Anonymous]

Yes! Stop this ridiculous "more days longer school year" idea. It won't fix a thing. It just makes you look like you are doing something instead of actually making some in-depth changes, which require actual development. This sounds so much like it was just pulled off the low-hanging fruit tree a week ago. Here's a way to fix schools a bit, give teachers more autonomy. That's how all the schools in the rest of the world created positive change. And no I'm not a teacher.

[Anonymous]

People talk all the time about the need for better teachers. As a teacher, let's talk about the need for better administrators. I would work in any school in the city with any population of kids, for the right principal. As it is, I'm seriously considering leaving the District (after several years of being rated Highly Effective) because I'm sick and tired of working for terrible administrators, and I'm afraid if I switch schools I'd be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. There are great principals out there, but far fewer of them than their should be.

[Anonymous]

*there* should be. I can't believe I just made that mistake.

[Anonymous]

Stop tying teacher bonuses to assessments they give to kids themselves. That's a no-brainer.

[Anonymous]

Fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson. There are brand new, half empty MS/HS buildings all over the city.

[Anonymous]

I think she should step down now while she still "looks good." Eventually the &%*@ is going to hit the fan and all eyes will be on her. There is too much funny business going on in DCPS and the numbers just don't add up. If there is a 5 year expiration date on principals and teachers then there should be one on her as well. She did what she was supposed to do. She kept Michelle Rhee's legacy going. The schools have been "cleaned up" and "cleaned out." All of the supposed "bad teachers" are gone. So let's move on. Get rid of IMPACT. All it does is create division and unrealistic expectations that have NOTHING to do with whether a person can actually teacher a child. How do you do well on IMPACT? You play the game. How do you move up the ranks in DCPS? You get on Ms. Henderson's good list and follow along with the ever chaining mandates. If you don't you aren't a "good fit" and need to move out because you are threat to the group think mentality that DCPS wants to create. Parents want creativity in classrooms? Not under Ms. Henderson's watch. Compliance is the key to being successful in DCPS. Comply and get by! That's their motto!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Resign?

Lol! Great advice! Get a real educator in that position. Someone with more than just 2 years of teaching Spanish under her belt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she should step down now while she still "looks good." Eventually the &%*@ is going to hit the fan and all eyes will be on her. There is too much funny business going on in DCPS and the numbers just don't add up. If there is a 5 year expiration date on principals and teachers then there should be one on her as well. She did what she was supposed to do. She kept Michelle Rhee's legacy going. The schools have been "cleaned up" and "cleaned out." All of the supposed "bad teachers" are gone. So let's move on. Get rid of IMPACT. All it does is create division and unrealistic expectations that have NOTHING to do with whether a person can actually teacher a child. How do you do well on IMPACT? You play the game. How do you move up the ranks in DCPS? You get on Ms. Henderson's good list and follow along with the ever chaining mandates. If you don't you aren't a "good fit" and need to move out because you are threat to the group think mentality that DCPS wants to create. Parents want creativity in classrooms? Not under Ms. Henderson's watch. Compliance is the key to being successful in DCPS. Comply and get by! That's their motto!

This stop while you're ahead is great advice...before she finds her ass on trial like districy leaders in other major cities.

[Anonymous]

Stop ignoring advanced learners in elem school. Its impossible to close the achievement gap when kids are years apart in ability in one class. Stop making everything about race, life gifted classes. You need to attract as many high SES families as possible so please stop pretending you meeting those needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People talk all the time about the need for better teachers. As a teacher, let's talk about the need for better administrators. I would work in any school in the city with any population of kids, for the right principal. As it is, I'm seriously considering leaving the District (after several years of being rated Highly Effective) because I'm sick and tired of working for terrible administrators, and I'm afraid if I switch schools I'd be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. There are great principals out there, but far fewer of them than their should be.

+1. Not a teacher and I totally agree. I've seen administrators up close for years through officer work on PTA and on LSAT. I've also been part of two principal panels and on hiring panels for vice principals. It is clear that Kaya doesn't give a rats ass about what the panel of parents and teachers wants. She plugs people where she wants them period. They'll send you candidates who clearly weren't selected with the school in mind. She has some AP or principal in the system that she needs to place or some fellow from the MJP program that she needs to place and she'll send them to your school without ensuring that it would be a good fit. And there is so much recycling of the same ineffective leaders that it is truly frightening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop ignoring advanced learners in elem school. Its impossible to close the achievement gap when kids are years apart in ability in one class. Stop making everything about race, life gifted classes. You need to attract as many high SES families as possible so please stop pretending you meeting those needs.

+1000