SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well now I’m curious why they graduate in bare feet and how exactly the school “nuanced its understanding” of that tradition.

Being barefoot at graduation has been a SSFS tradition for at least 25 years. My understanding was that it was related to the Quaker value or simplicity. The kids dress simply (for a long time girls wore simple white dresses) and many went barefoot. It wasn’t required, but many including my child did it. It was seen as a very special tradition.

So an alum from the 70s said it wasn’t a tradition (while mentioning the white dresses). I’ve been to two graduations and RG said this was something HE did, and other posters said he did this at SAES and his speaking engagements. He also walked barefoot around his office for no reason. But you’re saying it’s a 25+ year ssfs graduation tradition. So SAES and ssfs had the same tradition and though I never saw it except with RG, it’s a Quaker tradition? I don’t see how everyone can be talking about the same thing.

All I know is that it's been going on for at least 25 years at SSFS. Kids (Not all) take their shoes off to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Perhaps the tradition hadn't started in the 1970's. In RG's 2021 graduation commencement speech he said that he heard that it was a tradition at SSFS to walk barefoot to get your diploma. And that resonated with him because he liked to give speeches barefoot. Direct quote you can find online -

"I heard that there is a graduation tradition of walking barefoot to receive your diploma. When I heard it, it
only reconfirmed for me that we were an intentional match sealed by the universe. For 20 years, I have
been giving talks and presentations, barefoot."

As usual, everything topic relates back to rg

It seems like you have a serious problem with RG that goes beyond any perceived wrongs he did at SSFS.

Well, no-that’s an extremely consistent complaint among parents, teachers, and kids above age 9 at the school. Rodney is all about Rodney.

[Anonymous]

wonder if he's reading this and changing anything before he relaunches...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wonder if he's reading this and changing anything before he relaunches...

Buyer beware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to find major issues with his departure letter and…. Can’t? This board is whacky

I think you must not know him, and saw you're not used to his "big fluff" talking style. Those of us subjected to his messages for these years just know his BS when we read it.

I actually do! Have taken my students to several workshops run by him. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea but that letter in particular is pretty normal for a departing head in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to find major issues with his departure letter and…. Can’t? This board is whacky

I think you must not know him, and saw you're not used to his "big fluff" talking style. Those of us subjected to his messages for these years just know his BS when we read it.

I actually do! Have taken my students to several workshops run by him. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea but that letter in particular is pretty normal for a departing head in this area.

I find it fascinating that comments keep going in circles. Problems with RG then suddenly, “I knew a great guy”. But it’s indisputable that he’s leaving ssfs worse than it was 5 years ago. So obviously he’s got problems. Even if some individuals had a good experience with him, there can be no argument that he was a horrible administrator at ssfs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to find major issues with his departure letter and…. Can’t? This board is whacky

I think you must not know him, and saw you're not used to his "big fluff" talking style. Those of us subjected to his messages for these years just know his BS when we read it.

I actually do! Have taken my students to several workshops run by him. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea but that letter in particular is pretty normal for a departing head in this area.

To clarify, your students were not at a school he ran? I think that makes a huge difference.

If you spent one week, one month or one year under the regime of RG you would quickly see, feel and hear all that is wrong with him. Now it has become public knowledge all of his incompetence has ruined a school. But his RG show will go one with people that take his workshops thinking he is the best. And the letter his sends to families upon his departure is seeped with his annoying language - but of course its not a text book on all the things he did wrong. Its just another long-winded email with him, touting his success. I really hope SSFS can come back from his awful and destructive leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well now I’m curious why they graduate in bare feet and how exactly the school “nuanced its understanding” of that tradition.

Being barefoot at graduation has been a SSFS tradition for at least 25 years. My understanding was that it was related to the Quaker value or simplicity. The kids dress simply (for a long time girls wore simple white dresses) and many went barefoot. It wasn’t required, but many including my child did it. It was seen as a very special tradition.

So an alum from the 70s said it wasn’t a tradition (while mentioning the white dresses). I’ve been to two graduations and RG said this was something HE did, and other posters said he did this at SAES and his speaking engagements. He also walked barefoot around his office for no reason. But you’re saying it’s a 25+ year ssfs graduation tradition. So SAES and ssfs had the same tradition and though I never saw it except with RG, it’s a Quaker tradition? I don’t see how everyone can be talking about the same thing.

All I know is that it's been going on for at least 25 years at SSFS. Kids (Not all) take their shoes off to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Perhaps the tradition hadn't started in the 1970's. In RG's 2021 graduation commencement speech he said that he heard that it was a tradition at SSFS to walk barefoot to get your diploma. And that resonated with him because he liked to give speeches barefoot. Direct quote you can find online -

"I heard that there is a graduation tradition of walking barefoot to receive your diploma. When I heard it, it
only reconfirmed for me that we were an intentional match sealed by the universe. For 20 years, I have
been giving talks and presentations, barefoot."

As usual, everything topic relates back to rg

It seems like you have a serious problem with RG that goes beyond any perceived wrongs he did at SSFS.

Well, no-that’s an extremely consistent complaint among parents, teachers, and kids above age 9 at the school. Rodney is all about Rodney.

Not to mention, the way he threw SSFS under the bus with his resignation, without giving the school any opportunity to work with him for a smooth transition to a new hos, shows how petty and unprofessional he is. No matter if he ran his own person business workshops well, or he was a decent head of MS somewhere else, that he was not HOS material at SSFS was painfully obvious over the last 4 years. The BOT gave him his notice for a long list of problems, occurring over a long period of time, this was not on the whim of a couple of parents. He may have had some individual positive interactions with people (both inside and outside of SSFS), but his overall performance as HOS, is what ultimately sunk SSFS over the last few years and will take even longer for the school to get out of. That is easy to prove and should not seem surprising, specially to families who have not attended SSFS or been involved with the school close enough to see his complete lack of constructive leadership.

[Anonymous]

I’m curious. Is it a small group of people who are writing on here? We’ve now beaten a dead horse here. I was a new parent this past year and didn’t notice all the things mentioned, but now it just seems like people are just upset and needlessly venting about stupid things like the shoes at graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to find major issues with his departure letter and…. Can’t? This board is whacky

I think you must not know him, and saw you're not used to his "big fluff" talking style. Those of us subjected to his messages for these years just know his BS when we read it.

I actually do! Have taken my students to several workshops run by him. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea but that letter in particular is pretty normal for a departing head in this area.

To clarify, your students were not at a school he ran? I think that makes a huge difference.

If you spent one week, one month or one year under the regime of RG you would quickly see, feel and hear all that is wrong with him. Now it has become public knowledge all of his incompetence has ruined a school. But his RG show will go one with people that take his workshops thinking he is the best. And the letter his sends to families upon his departure is seeped with his annoying language - but of course its not a text book on all the things he did wrong. Its just another long-winded email with him, touting his success. I really hope SSFS can come back from his awful and destructive leadership.

This is 100% the truth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious. Is it a small group of people who are writing on here? We’ve now beaten a dead horse here. I was a new parent this past year and didn’t notice all the things mentioned, but now it just seems like people are just upset and needlessly venting about stupid things like the shoes at graduation.

If you didnt see anything amiss you're lucky. BOT did not fire him for being barefoot obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well now I’m curious why they graduate in bare feet and how exactly the school “nuanced its understanding” of that tradition.

Being barefoot at graduation has been a SSFS tradition for at least 25 years. My understanding was that it was related to the Quaker value or simplicity. The kids dress simply (for a long time girls wore simple white dresses) and many went barefoot. It wasn’t required, but many including my child did it. It was seen as a very special tradition.

So an alum from the 70s said it wasn’t a tradition (while mentioning the white dresses). I’ve been to two graduations and RG said this was something HE did, and other posters said he did this at SAES and his speaking engagements. He also walked barefoot around his office for no reason. But you’re saying it’s a 25+ year ssfs graduation tradition. So SAES and ssfs had the same tradition and though I never saw it except with RG, it’s a Quaker tradition? I don’t see how everyone can be talking about the same thing.

All I know is that it's been going on for at least 25 years at SSFS. Kids (Not all) take their shoes off to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Perhaps the tradition hadn't started in the 1970's. In RG's 2021 graduation commencement speech he said that he heard that it was a tradition at SSFS to walk barefoot to get your diploma. And that resonated with him because he liked to give speeches barefoot. Direct quote you can find online -

"I heard that there is a graduation tradition of walking barefoot to receive your diploma. When I heard it, it
only reconfirmed for me that we were an intentional match sealed by the universe. For 20 years, I have
been giving talks and presentations, barefoot."

I graduated about 20 years ago and it was not a tradition then. Sounds like something he made up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious. Is it a small group of people who are writing on here? We’ve now beaten a dead horse here. I was a new parent this past year and didn’t notice all the things mentioned, but now it just seems like people are just upset and needlessly venting about stupid things like the shoes at graduation.

True of all the things RG did, barefoot at graduation is not the pinnacle of his incompetence. It's just a worthy note of the kind of leader he was and where he decided to focus his energy. My guess is there are a few repeat commentators on this site, but a much larger group of staff, families and students that are just glad to be done with it and remain quiet. if you didn't notice anything be grateful that you didn't need help with a significant matter related to your student. Once you got past his public US veneer and had to work with him or seek his advice you quickly saw him for what he was. And the students see it, they were the first to alert our family to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well now I’m curious why they graduate in bare feet and how exactly the school “nuanced its understanding” of that tradition.

Being barefoot at graduation has been a SSFS tradition for at least 25 years. My understanding was that it was related to the Quaker value or simplicity. The kids dress simply (for a long time girls wore simple white dresses) and many went barefoot. It wasn’t required, but many including my child did it. It was seen as a very special tradition.

So an alum from the 70s said it wasn’t a tradition (while mentioning the white dresses). I’ve been to two graduations and RG said this was something HE did, and other posters said he did this at SAES and his speaking engagements. He also walked barefoot around his office for no reason. But you’re saying it’s a 25+ year ssfs graduation tradition. So SAES and ssfs had the same tradition and though I never saw it except with RG, it’s a Quaker tradition? I don’t see how everyone can be talking about the same thing.

All I know is that it's been going on for at least 25 years at SSFS. Kids (Not all) take their shoes off to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Perhaps the tradition hadn't started in the 1970's. In RG's 2021 graduation commencement speech he said that he heard that it was a tradition at SSFS to walk barefoot to get your diploma. And that resonated with him because he liked to give speeches barefoot. Direct quote you can find online -

"I heard that there is a graduation tradition of walking barefoot to receive your diploma. When I heard it, it
only reconfirmed for me that we were an intentional match sealed by the universe. For 20 years, I have
been giving talks and presentations, barefoot."

I graduated about 20 years ago and it was not a tradition then. Sounds like something he made up.

He did not make it up. I was there 20 years ago too. Some graduating classes held on to the tradition more than others. However it’s been going on for a long time and happened during all of my children’s graduations. Not everyone did it, but there were always some who did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well now I’m curious why they graduate in bare feet and how exactly the school “nuanced its understanding” of that tradition.

Being barefoot at graduation has been a SSFS tradition for at least 25 years. My understanding was that it was related to the Quaker value or simplicity. The kids dress simply (for a long time girls wore simple white dresses) and many went barefoot. It wasn’t required, but many including my child did it. It was seen as a very special tradition.

So an alum from the 70s said it wasn’t a tradition (while mentioning the white dresses). I’ve been to two graduations and RG said this was something HE did, and other posters said he did this at SAES and his speaking engagements. He also walked barefoot around his office for no reason. But you’re saying it’s a 25+ year ssfs graduation tradition. So SAES and ssfs had the same tradition and though I never saw it except with RG, it’s a Quaker tradition? I don’t see how everyone can be talking about the same thing.

All I know is that it's been going on for at least 25 years at SSFS. Kids (Not all) take their shoes off to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Perhaps the tradition hadn't started in the 1970's. In RG's 2021 graduation commencement speech he said that he heard that it was a tradition at SSFS to walk barefoot to get your diploma. And that resonated with him because he liked to give speeches barefoot. Direct quote you can find online -

"I heard that there is a graduation tradition of walking barefoot to receive your diploma. When I heard it, it
only reconfirmed for me that we were an intentional match sealed by the universe. For 20 years, I have
been giving talks and presentations, barefoot."

I graduated about 20 years ago and it was not a tradition then. Sounds like something he made up.

He did not make it up. I was there 20 years ago too. Some graduating classes held on to the tradition more than others. However it’s been going on for a long time and happened during all of my children’s graduations. Not everyone did it, but there were always some who did.

I think it's obvious that whatever this was, it wasn't a very strong cherished tradition, as half the people said they knew about it and the other half never heard of it. So it couldnt have been that big a deal either way. I am of the half who never heard of it. I attended 2 graduations and at both the only person who went barefoot was RG. I also heard him say out of his own mouth, that this was something he did when he entered an education institution because he felt it was a sacred place. Since he did this at SAES, it's clear he did do this before SSFS and did not learn it hear. It didnt bother me that he did it, but I dont think this was something that has been a long standing cherished tradition that everyone is aware of, and RG himself did not pick it up here either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well now I’m curious why they graduate in bare feet and how exactly the school “nuanced its understanding” of that tradition.

Being barefoot at graduation has been a SSFS tradition for at least 25 years. My understanding was that it was related to the Quaker value or simplicity. The kids dress simply (for a long time girls wore simple white dresses) and many went barefoot. It wasn’t required, but many including my child did it. It was seen as a very special tradition.

So an alum from the 70s said it wasn’t a tradition (while mentioning the white dresses). I’ve been to two graduations and RG said this was something HE did, and other posters said he did this at SAES and his speaking engagements. He also walked barefoot around his office for no reason. But you’re saying it’s a 25+ year ssfs graduation tradition. So SAES and ssfs had the same tradition and though I never saw it except with RG, it’s a Quaker tradition? I don’t see how everyone can be talking about the same thing.

All I know is that it's been going on for at least 25 years at SSFS. Kids (Not all) take their shoes off to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Perhaps the tradition hadn't started in the 1970's. In RG's 2021 graduation commencement speech he said that he heard that it was a tradition at SSFS to walk barefoot to get your diploma. And that resonated with him because he liked to give speeches barefoot. Direct quote you can find online -

"I heard that there is a graduation tradition of walking barefoot to receive your diploma. When I heard it, it
only reconfirmed for me that we were an intentional match sealed by the universe. For 20 years, I have
been giving talks and presentations, barefoot."

As usual, everything topic relates back to rg

It seems like you have a serious problem with RG that goes beyond any perceived wrongs he did at SSFS.

Well, no-that’s an extremely consistent complaint among parents, teachers, and kids above age 9 at the school. Rodney is all about Rodney.

Not to mention, the way he threw SSFS under the bus with his resignation, without giving the school any opportunity to work with him for a smooth transition to a new hos, shows how petty and unprofessional he is. No matter if he ran his own person business workshops well, or he was a decent head of MS somewhere else, that he was not HOS material at SSFS was painfully obvious over the last 4 years. The BOT gave him his notice for a long list of problems, occurring over a long period of time, this was not on the whim of a couple of parents. He may have had some individual positive interactions with people (both inside and outside of SSFS), but his overall performance as HOS, is what ultimately sunk SSFS over the last few years and will take even longer for the school to get out of. That is easy to prove and should not seem surprising, specially to families who have not attended SSFS or been involved with the school close enough to see his complete lack of constructive leadership.

I think RG made significant damage to SSFS. But it was infinitely better for him to mutually separate from the school immediately than hang on to help with the transition. That would have been an utter disaster.