Principal Harold Barber
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Anonymous
| My kids’ elementary school just hired Dr. Harold Barber who was principal of an ES in MCPS for the past 5 years. Can anyone say anything about your experience with him? |
Anonymous
| Dr. Barber was principal at Joann Leleck ES at Broad Acres, and I’m pretty sure 0 posters on DCUM have children there. Literally 0. However, Watkins Mill ES has a large percentage of students who match the demographic of Leleck, and he has done well at that school. I don’t think there’s any reason to doubt that he will also do well at WMES. No idea about the parental side of things, though. |
Anonymous
| Thank you! |
Anonymous
| Barber was at Watkins Mill BEFORE Leleck. OP, what school do your kids go to? I teach at Leleck and we’ve heard nothing about him leaving. |
Anonymous
No OP. Maybe he is not leaving after all! Apparently he changed his mind, after it was made public wow, so disappointing! |
Anonymous
Happy for Leleck (not directly affiliated). Dear Leleck teacher, I don’t know you, but I bet you are an awesome teacher and your school deserves an awesome principal. |
Anonymous
The buzz is that he’s being primed for central office. He just extended his paternity leave and the rumor is he’s not coming back at all. |
Anonymous
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He accepted a position at a DC elementary and has now reneged on that offer.
Glad to see MCPS are trying to retain their good employees. |
Anonymous
I work at JLES and I am just hearing of this.... I am not sure that I would agree with your statement in this situation. |
Anonymous
The part about "good employee", I mean. |
Anonymous
Specific complaints? |
Anonymous
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I just read his profile and he sounds amazing: Spanish speaker, master’s in Special Ed, went through Edison because he valued having a trade although he knew he was college-bound.
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Anonymous
There is some discontent at JLES who believe he creates initiatives to pad his own resume. I personally suspect there was also some subconscious racism towards him as well. The proof is in the pudding, though, and students at JL overcome their circumstances and do well. However, the school also has a culture of highly dedicated staff, and some that even seek out the poorest school in the county because they specifically want to work with that population. There can be a bit of a savior vibe there, which is one of the reasons I left. Dr. Barber is a good guy, but I dont know how he would do in a school where parents push back on his policies or challenge him more. There's just a lot to unpack with JLES and it's hard to judge the principal's leadership with so many other parts involved. But, like I said, I think he's a good guy with honest intentions, and that's more than you get with some other principals. |
Anonymous
| Whats is it like to work for him as a teacher in his school? MCPS staff climate surveys on both Leleck and historical survey of Watkins Mill have really low ratings during his tenure. Feedback? |
Anonymous
| In MCPS, white teachers generally give black principals low ratings when it comes to staff climate surveys. It's been an issue in our county for quite some time and we are trying to address this matter. Thank you for asking. |