Thoughts on new damascus principal?

[Anonymous]

As we all now damascus was a mess but there's talk about a lot of change. So I wanted to get you all's opinion on Kevin Yates? Yes, I have two kids at damascus.

[Anonymous]

He was recently on NBC... https://www.nbcwashington.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Damascus-High-School-Welcomes-New-Principal-After-Football-Hazing-Scandal_Washington-DC-547932752.html

I think he'll do great things.

[Anonymous]

He’s never been a principal before. He took over as acting when the last resigned, but this is his first principal position. Starting at the top is a pretty sweet gig. They usually have to do a few rounds in MS first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s never been a principal before. He took over as acting when the last resigned, but this is his first principal position. Starting at the top is a pretty sweet gig. They usually have to do a few rounds in MS first.

He actually has he was just principal intern at julius west & he worked at paint branch high school & blake or sherwood i belive...

[Anonymous]

Original person here.. also don't ignore!! This is important.. so say anything if you know anything !

[Anonymous]

I worked with him at Julius West. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He has tons of energy. He is really, really hard not to like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked with him at Julius West. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He has tons of energy. He is really, really hard not to like.

I know him as well and he's super nice, wants to do the right thing and is very hard working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s never been a principal before. He took over as acting when the last resigned, but this is his first principal position. Starting at the top is a pretty sweet gig. They usually have to do a few rounds in MS first.

He actually has he was just principal intern at julius west & he worked at paint branch high school & blake or sherwood i belive...

...but has never been a principal before. Most HS principals are either MS principals first, or do significant time (like 5+ years) as AP/ASA at a high school. He’s done neither. He was intern at a MS for most of the year, then acting at HS level to end the year. He’s was on track to be a MS principal this year, but instead got to jump the track and hit the top of the admin pay scale. Not saying he’s not a good fit or that he’s lacking anything, just stating that he’s a first year principal. He sounds like everyone really likes him, so that’s great. If anything, being a first year might be good for the community, because he’ll have extra evaluations and a consulting principal mentor. Who would probably advise him to contact the police ASAP if a student gets assaulted in the locker room. I hope he does well. As a DHS alum, it’s really sad to see all this negative press to what really is a great community. Most of the time.

[Anonymous]

is it true that damascus didn't "accept" Christine Handy as principal? I've heard that, and wondered if it were true, and it is, what was that process like. Do schools get to accept/decline MCPS appointees?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it true that damascus didn't "accept" Christine Handy as principal? I've heard that, and wondered if it were true, and it is, what was that process like. Do schools get to accept/decline MCPS appointees?!

No idea about Handy, but I’ve been part of the principal process several times. The candidates interview for each principal position before a panel with members of the school’s leadership team, a PTA representative, and some central office people related to the school. There may be 3-5 candidates interviewed. At the end of all the interviews, the panel reviews their thoughts. This next part can vary, but the individuals on the panel make some kind of choice. They may rank all the candidates, they may divide them into acceptable/unacceptable, or there may be a group ranking/sort. I’ve been on a panel when none of the candidates were deemed acceptable, and more interviews were scheduled, I’ve also been on a panel when my personal last choice was given the job.

Even when there’s an acting principal in place and it’s been much assumed that person will get the job, they still must interview for it, and other candidates interview as well. I’ve been on this kind of a panel as well. In my case, I actually liked one of the new candidates better! We ended up selecting the acting principal, but I was not surprised to see that the candidate I really liked was named principal of another school a few weeks later. It’s very possible that Handy interviewed for the DHS position, but just because Yates got it doesn’t mean Handy was necessarily rejected by the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it true that damascus didn't "accept" Christine Handy as principal? I've heard that, and wondered if it were true, and it is, what was that process like. Do schools get to accept/decline MCPS appointees?!

I'm not sure the timing checks out on that. Einstein's principal position was posted a few weeks before the Damascus and Poolesville positions were, and the interviews happened very promptly. Handy's hiring was likely already in the works by the time of the Damascus interviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s never been a principal before. He took over as acting when the last resigned, but this is his first principal position. Starting at the top is a pretty sweet gig. They usually have to do a few rounds in MS first.

He actually has he was just principal intern at julius west & he worked at paint branch high school & blake or sherwood i belive...

...but has never been a principal before. Most HS principals are either MS principals first, or do significant time (like 5+ years) as AP/ASA at a high school. He’s done neither. He was intern at a MS for most of the year, then acting at HS level to end the year. He’s was on track to be a MS principal this year, but instead got to jump the track and hit the top of the admin pay scale. Not saying he’s not a good fit or that he’s lacking anything, just stating that he’s a first year principal. He sounds like everyone really likes him, so that’s great. If anything, being a first year might be good for the community, because he’ll have extra evaluations and a consulting principal mentor. Who would probably advise him to contact the police ASAP if a student gets assaulted in the locker room. I hope he does well. As a DHS alum, it’s really sad to see all this negative press to what really is a great community. Most of the time.

Ok but he has the experience he's been in the county for over 25 years.. working as an assistant principal in multiple schools. Also i dont know what year you graduated damascus hs... but that school was A MESS this past school year. A MESS.. and i'm not only saying refering to that because of the rapes.. but it was just not a good year... hoping this one is a good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s never been a principal before. He took over as acting when the last resigned, but this is his first principal position. Starting at the top is a pretty sweet gig. They usually have to do a few rounds in MS first.

He actually has he was just principal intern at julius west & he worked at paint branch high school & blake or sherwood i belive...

...but has never been a principal before. Most HS principals are either MS principals first, or do significant time (like 5+ years) as AP/ASA at a high school. He’s done neither. He was intern at a MS for most of the year, then acting at HS level to end the year. He’s was on track to be a MS principal this year, but instead got to jump the track and hit the top of the admin pay scale. Not saying he’s not a good fit or that he’s lacking anything, just stating that he’s a first year principal. He sounds like everyone really likes him, so that’s great. If anything, being a first year might be good for the community, because he’ll have extra evaluations and a consulting principal mentor. Who would probably advise him to contact the police ASAP if a student gets assaulted in the locker room. I hope he does well. As a DHS alum, it’s really sad to see all this negative press to what really is a great community. Most of the time.

Ok but he has the experience he's been in the county for over 25 years.. working as an assistant principal in multiple schools. Also i dont know what year you graduated damascus hs... but that school was A MESS this past school year. A MESS.. and i'm not only saying refering to that because of the rapes.. but it was just not a good year... hoping this one is a good one.

Not disagreeing with you. I'm in MCPS and have heard the buzz about what it's been like there. I'm aware of the mess that DHS has become, and it's sad, because Damascus is usually a great community (schools and beyond). Hopefully Yates can turn it back on the right course.

[Anonymous]

Say hello to a boat load of one year teachers who will leave the profession forever if life is made hell for them.

[Anonymous]

What are you talking about?