WES Head of School resigns

[Anonymous]

I can't see why either school would want to join with WES. Of course, if either Holton or Landon wanted to start preK classes, that's a different story.
I do think merging WES is a good concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, the school auction is on Saturday night and the Head of the School announces on Monday morning that he has accepted a job in another state.

So you want him to hold back and have to be facetious at the event? This is the right order, so everyone can get pumped about the candidate search.

[Anonymous]

He was probably ready to move on and wanted to he professional. Why not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the school auction is on Saturday night and the Head of the School announces on Monday morning that he has accepted a job in another state.

So you want him to hold back and have to be facetious at the event? This is the right order, so everyone can get pumped about the candidate search.

Not quite sure what you are trying to say but facetious is the wrong word.

[[e-mail]]

I am a current WES parent and purposefully logged in to DCUM because I am not a shy one nor want to hide behind "anonymous". (God forbid someone call me a "sockpuppet"! I might cry for a week!)

My son is attending his third year at WES and continues to have a wonderful experience. It has been a great match for him and our family. His personality has flourished, he has learned so much and "found his groove".

WES is a superb Episcopal school that excels in its ability to not only welcome, but also embrace, its mission of diversity. This idea of "merging" or such with another school would likely water down or demolish that lovely spirit which has been critical to our family. WES is WES - it isn't another place or a Lego piece to be mashed into some other construction.

Our DS is in an environment in which he sees himself as different but also part of a wider society. In a world in which adults or children can, unfortunately, be sometimes unkind to non-Christians - he has NEVER had this experience at school. I can't imagine that happening at WES! If anything, it has been an ideal environment for him to be different. At any time when we asked for some religious accomodation - we got it without questioning our choices or any negativity. Frankly put, the mission of diversity and inclusion is well implemented from my point of view.

When a child is young - learning is important. (Oh how many high frequency words can we learn!) But having a safe haven from the world to grow and be happy is what will someday be an important building block in him becoming an caring, compassionate, sensible, (and a million other characteristics) adult!

[Anonymous]

Another happy WES family of seven years weighing in. To those debating a possible merge, go merge your own school. Ours is not for sale. The academic program is second to none in the entire region. We have superb outplacement and our grads perform at the top of their high school classes. As for community, my kids will never have closer friends.

To the poster who thought that the lack of fundraising from alum parents indicated some problem, what a peculiar observation. WES is actually unusual in that our founding families are still around and active. What percentage of your school's annual fund comes from parents of alums? Unless your kids are attending a high school, I'm betting it's a tiny percentage - which would be typical for K-8s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the suggestion was that Holton or Landon could move the lower school down to WES. And expand. Also, take over pre-K thru 3rd. The younger kids don't need the elaborate athletic facilities that the upper kids need.

The Lower school boys love the athletic facilities at Landon. Don't think either school is interested in coed for 3-5 or dealing with pre k.

[Anonymous]

[e-mail] wrote:I am a current WES parent and purposefully logged in to DCUM because I am not a shy one nor want to hide behind "anonymous". (God forbid someone call me a "sockpuppet"! I might cry for a week!)

My son is attending his third year at WES and continues to have a wonderful experience. It has been a great match for him and our family. His personality has flourished, he has learned so much and "found his groove".

WES is a superb Episcopal school that excels in its ability to not only welcome, but also embrace, its mission of diversity. This idea of "merging" or such with another school would likely water down or demolish that lovely spirit which has been critical to our family. WES is WES - it isn't another place or a Lego piece to be mashed into some other construction.

Our DS is in an environment in which he sees himself as different but also part of a wider society. In a world in which adults or children can, unfortunately, be sometimes unkind to non-Christians - he has NEVER had this experience at school. I can't imagine that happening at WES! If anything, it has been an ideal environment for him to be different. At any time when we asked for some religious accomodation - we got it without questioning our choices or any negativity. Frankly put, the mission of diversity and inclusion is well implemented from my point of view.

When a child is young - learning is important. (Oh how many high frequency words can we learn!) But having a safe haven from the world to grow and be happy is what will someday be an important building block in him becoming an caring, compassionate, sensible, (and a million other characteristics) adult!

Thank you for this post. Another happy WES parent here. Our DS has been at WES in the past two years and he had wonderful time during this period. We feel blessed to be a member of the WES family. I feel sorry for those who had negative experience at WES previously. That is not the WES that we love and cherish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another happy WES family of seven years weighing in. To those debating a possible merge, go merge your own school. Ours is not for sale. The academic program is second to none in the entire region. We have superb outplacement and our grads perform at the top of their high school classes. As for community, my kids will never have closer friends.

To the poster who thought that the lack of fundraising from alum parents indicated some problem, what a peculiar observation. WES is actually unusual in that our founding families are still around and active. What percentage of your school's annual fund comes from parents of alums? Unless your kids are attending a high school, I'm betting it's a tiny percentage - which would be typical for K-8s.

Oh, Puhleeze. I was in charge of annual fund for our class at WES. I wrote, called, begged, did everything to try and get CURRENT parents to even donate a few bucks so I could get us above 70%. If I could have, I would have put in $5.00 for every family unwilling to give to the annual fund to bring me up to 100%. As it was, I think I scored highest at 84%. What a grind. And don't get me started on the push to give to the cap. campaign. There is NO ONE from our original class giving money to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another happy WES family of seven years weighing in. To those debating a possible merge, go merge your own school. Ours is not for sale. The academic program is second to none in the entire region. We have superb outplacement and our grads perform at the top of their high school classes. As for community, my kids will never have closer friends.

To the poster who thought that the lack of fundraising from alum parents indicated some problem, what a peculiar observation. WES is actually unusual in that our founding families are still around and active. What percentage of your school's annual fund comes from parents of alums? Unless your kids are attending a high school, I'm betting it's a tiny percentage - which would be typical for K-8s.

Oh, Puhleeze. I was in charge of annual fund for our class at WES. I wrote, called, begged, did everything to try and get CURRENT parents to even donate a few bucks so I could get us above 70%. If I could have, I would have put in $5.00 for every family unwilling to give to the annual fund to bring me up to 100%. As it was, I think I scored highest at 84%. What a grind. And don't get me started on the push to give to the cap. campaign. There is NO ONE from our original class giving money to the school.

What century?

[Anonymous]

Recent enough that I advised the school not to hire him three years ago. By the way, you need to read the archives before you extoll the virtues of the school and attack those who raise serious questions about its administrative structure. Many of us were unhappy there; students as well as parents. Google Dcurbanmom "Washington Episcopal School" and read. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/165/146920.page.

[Anonymous]

Well, that didn't work. Google dcurbanmom "Washington Episcopal School" and start with "Inquiries about Washington Episcopal School" and go from there. Not good. That's why the outside marketing team was hired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recent enough that I advised the school not to hire him three years ago. By the way, you need to read the archives before you extoll the virtues of the school and attack those who raise serious questions about its administrative structure. Many of us were unhappy there; students as well as parents. Google Dcurbanmom "Washington Episcopal School" and read. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/165/146920.page.

So they did not listen to you and that is why you are upset. There are many happy WES current parents. And some unhappy former parents and an unhappy sockpuppet. Parents should tour the school speak with "real" parents rather than virtual ones and then decide...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another happy WES family of seven years weighing in. To those debating a possible merge, go merge your own school. Ours is not for sale. The academic program is second to none in the entire region. We have superb outplacement and our grads perform at the top of their high school classes. As for community, my kids will never have closer friends.

To the poster who thought that the lack of fundraising from alum parents indicated some problem, what a peculiar observation. WES is actually unusual in that our founding families are still around and active. What percentage of your school's annual fund comes from parents of alums? Unless your kids are attending a high school, I'm betting it's a tiny percentage - which would be typical for K-8s.

Oh, Puhleeze. I was in charge of annual fund for our class at WES. I wrote, called, begged, did everything to try and get CURRENT parents to even donate a few bucks so I could get us above 70%. If I could have, I would have put in $5.00 for every family unwilling to give to the annual fund to bring me up to 100%. As it was, I think I scored highest at 84%. What a grind. And don't get me started on the push to give to the cap. campaign. There is NO ONE from our original class giving money to the school.

WES has been at or very close to 100% annual giving participation for the last 6-7 years so this must have been a while ago. I am sorry you had a negative experience at WES but I do think things have been changing for the good over the past few years. There is a good buzz among the families and the community is stronger than ever. Even with the head transition, people are excited at what is to come. My children are very happy and so are we. No need to be malicious on this blog. The WES motto is "Be Kind" and I think many on this blog can learn from that. Deep breaths, everyone...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many teachers and parents have been extremely unhappy with Mr. Duncan and claimed "his heart was not in the job." Kinda rings true -- he found a new job after being at WES for only 3 years.

I find it troubling that he resigns at the end of a three-year contract (after 7 years) at Holy Innocents' in Atlanta and comes to WES in July 2011 (he actually didn't come directly - he went to a foundation after leaving Holy Innocents' which sounds more like an agreed-upon departure from Holy Innocents'). He then "resigns" at the end of a three-year contract at WES to move again, starting July 1 at Carolina Day School in Asheville, N. Carolina. And wife is coming down from New York to join him there. Why couldn't she have been the chaplain at WES? The chaplain position is a revolving door at WES. Or any of the other area Epis. schools? http://carolinaday.org/learn-more-about-the-search-process-for-carolina-day-schools-next-head-of-school/. Sounds like another "agreed upon" departure and not a true resignation which makes sense. Things weren't working well.