New TJ principal announced

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the principal really not have any say for admissions? That is too bad as he sounds well-rounded then and now- and more representative of actual student body. The FCPS admissions speakers that went to MS this fall were directly asked questions by kids like “does TJ have wrestling? and “does TJ have art and theatre?” And FCPS reps replied, “if you are interested in sports or fine arts then you should not go to TJ.” This was in another DCUM thread this fall where happened more than 1 school. Was such weird messaging then and would say even more so now when FCPS include sports/fine arts in the new principal write-up.

The FCPS admissions reps don’t but should be telling prospective kids that they need the math/science, but then yes, once at TJ it is a HS. To say you are a great violin player so don’t go to TJ is just wrong. My negative take was the admissions team doesn’t really understand smart and frankly reason they should use as many tests as possible to rank for admission so more objective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

You are spreading RWNJ misinformation.

There are no quotas.

And TJ went from #5 to #14 out of 25,000 schools on the USNWR rankings. It was only #1 twice in the preceding decade.

lol. admissions aim for a predetermined diversity chart, aka race based quotas.

No, there are allotments by middle school, providing geographic diversity. So more kids in FCPS have a shot. Not just the ones from a handful of wealthy feeders.

Without those handful of academically wealthy feeders there is no way a TJ class can be formulated, according to FCPS. Top one third of every class comes from the top four academically ranked feeders.

There are still plenty of those kids.

Now that they’ve added seats to take kids from other middle schools, kids from across the county get a shot.

The kids from those schools aren't fungible
You're not getting the right kids from those schools when you select them without a merit filter.

There is a merit filter, you just don’t think it is the right one. Students have to:

1) Have a 3.5 GPA. The data shows that most of the kids accepted at TJ have a 4.0 or higher (Algebra and Geometry bump)
2) Have A’s in Honors/AAP Math and Science
3) take at least 1 other Honors class, so English or Social Studies
4) Have completed Algebra 1 by 8th grade

You can argue that the GPA should be higher, but the reality is that the kids accepted are already above that, or that kids should have to have completed Geometry H but merit is measured to attend TJ but there is a merit requirement. And while the people on this board seem to think that it is easy to hit the requirements, they are ignoring the fact that there are lots of kids who don’t meet those requirements. They are also ignoring the fact that some of their own kids who do meet the requirements do so because of enrichment and supports not available to every kid.

I happen to think that Geometry should be the base math requirement because it allows kids more access to the programs at TJ. I wouldn’t mind increasing the GPA requirement to a 3.75.

I do not see requirement 2 above in the eligibility requirements for TJ.

What percentage of the ~15,000 8th graders do you think meet this "merit filter?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the principal really not have any say for admissions? That is too bad as he sounds well-rounded then and now- and more representative of actual student body. The FCPS admissions speakers that went to MS this fall were directly asked questions by kids like “does TJ have wrestling? and “does TJ have art and theatre?” And FCPS reps replied, “if you are interested in sports or fine arts then you should not go to TJ.” This was in another DCUM thread this fall where happened more than 1 school. Was such weird messaging then and would say even more so now when FCPS include sports/fine arts in the new principal write-up.

We're here for the sports!

They should make the admissions MORE holistic by giving kids an athletic preference!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the principal really not have any say for admissions? That is too bad as he sounds well-rounded then and now- and more representative of actual student body. The FCPS admissions speakers that went to MS this fall were directly asked questions by kids like “does TJ have wrestling? and “does TJ have art and theatre?” And FCPS reps replied, “if you are interested in sports or fine arts then you should not go to TJ.” This was in another DCUM thread this fall where happened more than 1 school. Was such weird messaging then and would say even more so now when FCPS include sports/fine arts in the new principal write-up.

We're here for the sports!

They should make the admissions MORE holistic by giving kids an athletic preference!

obviously I'm kidding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the principal really not have any say for admissions? That is too bad as he sounds well-rounded then and now- and more representative of actual student body. The FCPS admissions speakers that went to MS this fall were directly asked questions by kids like “does TJ have wrestling? and “does TJ have art and theatre?” And FCPS reps replied, “if you are interested in sports or fine arts then you should not go to TJ.” This was in another DCUM thread this fall where happened more than 1 school. Was such weird messaging then and would say even more so now when FCPS include sports/fine arts in the new principal write-up.

We're here for the sports!

They should make the admissions MORE holistic by giving kids an athletic preference!

obviously I'm kidding.

kinda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

You are spreading RWNJ misinformation.

There are no quotas.

And TJ went from #5 to #14 out of 25,000 schools on the USNWR rankings. It was only #1 twice in the preceding decade.

NP TJ was always in the top ten of the nation's high schools in the preceding decade -- this latest year is the first time it was out of the top ten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the principal really not have any say for admissions? That is too bad as he sounds well-rounded then and now- and more representative of actual student body. The FCPS admissions speakers that went to MS this fall were directly asked questions by kids like “does TJ have wrestling? and “does TJ have art and theatre?” And FCPS reps replied, “if you are interested in sports or fine arts then you should not go to TJ.” This was in another DCUM thread this fall where happened more than 1 school. Was such weird messaging then and would say even more so now when FCPS include sports/fine arts in the new principal write-up.

So you don't know how the admissions process works and your only experience with TJ is what you read on DCUM?

Why are you commenting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former classmate of accomplished VA politician Hung Cao.

Cautiously optimistic about this new TJ principal.

“Accomplished VA politician”

As long as you don’t count actually winning elections. Attending TJ was Cao’s greatest accomplishment.

Really?
Retired US Navy Captain.
Naval Academy grad and served with Special Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
He also received his Master’s degree in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School, and fellowships at MIT and Harvard.

I don't think he ever had much of a chance at beating Kaine but I thought he did well in the debate and I thought he did better than he should have in the Virginia election against a relatively popular incumbent.

And a total freakin nut job. Not uncommon with veterans...maybe related to his service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

You are spreading RWNJ misinformation.

There are no quotas.

And TJ went from #5 to #14 out of 25,000 schools on the USNWR rankings. It was only #1 twice in the preceding decade.

NP TJ was always in the top ten of the nation's high schools in the preceding decade -- this latest year is the first time it was out of the top ten.

Top ten vs. #14? Out of 25,000 high schools?

GMAFB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, what can he to actually improve TJ that is 100% within his control?

He can shift the focus back to STEM academics and recognizing students' merit-based efforts, rather than DEI and woke stuff.

Be really specific in describing exactly how Bonitatibus focused on “DEI and woke stuff” in matters of educational policy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0wJYHnOyJM&t=3s

At about 13:30 Bonitatibus speaks on this subject during the debate about the admissions change.
She cosigns the whole diversity and representation rationale the board presents for its racial discrimination.

Oh, Asra. I can’t be the only one who is surprised that you have nothing better to do with your time. You were a person of such significance, and now… still tilting at this situation with absolutely no results after four years. Except maybe, just maybe, you got your nemesis a big raise.

The school is entirely populated with students chosen by the new admissions process, and eight of them - the first class of the new process - just made the top 300 in the Regeneron competition. Compared with seven in the class of 2024, and five in the class of 2023.

A staggering objective measure of the top researchers in America’s high schools and the new process has the arrow trending upward.

Go back to picking on the black kids at Hayfield. More people like you when you do that.

Quite opposite to your liberal narrative, all of the Regeneron semifinalists this years are ASIAN, who you have tried so hard to oppress with the racist TJ reform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

You are spreading RWNJ misinformation.

There are no quotas.

And TJ went from #5 to #14 out of 25,000 schools on the USNWR rankings. It was only #1 twice in the preceding decade.

NP TJ was always in the top ten of the nation's high schools in the preceding decade -- this latest year is the first time it was out of the top ten.

Top ten vs. #14? Out of 25,000 high schools?

GMAFB.

DP
Ranking on USNWR is pretty meaningless but the drop in SAT score is pretty significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the principal really not have any say for admissions? That is too bad as he sounds well-rounded then and now- and more representative of actual student body. The FCPS admissions speakers that went to MS this fall were directly asked questions by kids like “does TJ have wrestling? and “does TJ have art and theatre?” And FCPS reps replied, “if you are interested in sports or fine arts then you should not go to TJ.” This was in another DCUM thread this fall where happened more than 1 school. Was such weird messaging then and would say even more so now when FCPS include sports/fine arts in the new principal write-up.

what???? That makes me so mad. It's of course not true. "#We came for the sports." is a well-known tag line by TJ families as a side benefit of the school is that WAY more kids have the chance to do sports at TJ than those specific kids would have had the opportunity to do in their more athletically competitive home schools. And they have a very sizable performing arts program for both theatre and music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it seems like a good pick. people seem really happy with WSHS so he must be doing a good job there and it seems positive he was a student at TJ back in the day.

I really really hope he continues Dr B’s effort to make the school less stressful for kids than it needs to be. I think that shift has been positive (from what I have heard of before vs what DD there has experienced) and that the kids put enough pressure on themselves already for all As and the hardest classes - the leadership doesn’t need to feed into that frenzy further.

nice try. if fcps was indifferent to the academic decline, they wouldnt be getting rid of Bonita. Th new principal is being brought to change the current course and restore academic excellence. The nonsensical days of convincing students to stay back at TJ and accept Cs and Ds in least rigor courses are coming to end.

?
I'm not arguing about WHY Dr. B left or what FCPS wants from it. I also happen to agree it didn't do kids any favors to convince them to stay if they were getting Cs and Ds in multiple things Freshmen year. But i have a kid there now in junior year who's gotten all As so far (and started out in Math 3 so having done geometry already and therefore "middle of the pack" not behind in math). I have heard that in the past it was a much more stressful school environment than the atmosphere Dr B intentionally tried to cultivate. I think you can tweak some of the things that aren't working well without throwing out the effort to pay more attention to students' mental health at a highly competitive school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it seems like a good pick. people seem really happy with WSHS so he must be doing a good job there and it seems positive he was a student at TJ back in the day.

I really really hope he continues Dr B’s effort to make the school less stressful for kids than it needs to be. I think that shift has been positive (from what I have heard of before vs what DD there has experienced) and that the kids put enough pressure on themselves already for all As and the hardest classes - the leadership doesn’t need to feed into that frenzy further.

nice try. if fcps was indifferent to the academic decline, they wouldnt be getting rid of Bonita. Th new principal is being brought to change the current course and restore academic excellence. The nonsensical days of convincing students to stay back at TJ and accept Cs and Ds in least rigor courses are coming to end.

?
I'm not arguing about WHY Dr. B left or what FCPS wants from it. I also happen to agree it didn't do kids any favors to convince them to stay if they were getting Cs and Ds in multiple things Freshmen year. But i have a kid there now in junior year who's gotten all As so far (and started out in Math 3 so having done geometry already and therefore "middle of the pack" not behind in math). I have heard that in the past it was a much more stressful school environment than the atmosphere Dr B intentionally tried to cultivate. I think you can tweak some of the things that aren't working well without throwing out the effort to pay more attention to students' mental health at a highly competitive school.

DP, but tweak? is this how paint this whole train wreck? Seriously?

[Anonymous]

So they put in an Asian grad from TJ to right the ship after the last limo liberal white equity pushing principal disaster