New DCPS Principals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

She was only bad in the eyes of the lunatic fringe of Lafayette parents, who suddenly did not have a principal they could boss around. Now, the lunatic fringe is quite large at Lafayette, and they make all sorts of absurd demands, but DCPS central office clearly pays them no mind.

Although I think your statement is partially true, the staff turnover at Lafayette is pretty astounding and suggests to me that it’s not just the challenging parents who are ready for an admin change.

If we're grading schools by staff turnover, I don't think Lafayette is an outlier among DCPS schools. All schools are having major problems with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Powell’s principal is black and doesn’t speak Spanish. She’s been there for 8 years or more.

Powell is NOT Oyster-Adams.

Race is irrelevant here. Hispanics who are native Spanish speakers can be any race. As an O-A parent, I just want a good principal who is a native Spanish speaker.

Doesn’t matter. I addressed the question at hand. An AA women has been Principal for 8 or so years at a dual-language school and doesn’t speak the target language.

Maybe O-A should follow as your leadership has been in shambles for some years.

Once again, OA is NOT Powell.

We’re doing very well over here. We also don’t need your concern trolling. OA has survived and thrived for almost half a century, despite occasionally having poor principals like Pineda. He had a short 2 year tenure BECAUSE of the strength of the OA community. We’ll be here for 50+ additional years. You will have to cope.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Powell’s principal is black and doesn’t speak Spanish. She’s been there for 8 years or more.

Powell is NOT Oyster-Adams.

Race is irrelevant here. Hispanics who are native Spanish speakers can be any race. As an O-A parent, I just want a good principal who is a native Spanish speaker.

What do you mean by that statement about Powell not being Oyster-Adams? I am trying to withhold judgement until I understand the intent of the comment.

Powell is not, and never has been on O-A’s level. This is a result of O-A’s:

1. Stated mission that at least 50% of the students come from native Spanish speaking homes;

2. Historical importance (O-A is nearly 50 years old and one of the oldest and best dual immersion public schools in the country). It is a national model for bilingual education;

3. Programming (introducing Mandarin as a 3rd language in 4th grade, Embassy partnerships, AP Spanish exam administered to 8th graders, student travel/exchange to Taiwan, Spain, and Costa Rica, etc); and

4. Test scores (self explanatory).

This list is not exhaustive. Just what came to mind quickly.

What you mean is that O-A's population, including its Spanish speaking population, is largely wealthy and has the associated clout/power to demand a Spanish speaking principal. Also, it's a DCPS neighborhood school, which is at odds with its "stated mission that half the kids come from Spanish speaking homes." It manages that by restricting the IB kids it admits for PK4 and preferencing non-IB Spanish speakers instead.

OA not IB parent here. Putting some holes in the pp statement.

OA is a good school but there has been a clear decline. It's so so disorganized, it's ridiculous. The middle school academics is not that strong. Those good test scores? Parents with money complementing with tutors. Chinese is just for a few, not all kids get "chosen" to be in the Chinese track, no explanation is given as to why a kid is chosen to be in a Chinese track, and there is no alternative track for those who are not chosen. Same for the international trips. Only the privileged ones get to go. There is a clear haves and have-nots feel to the school that is not entirely healthy.

Perspective is based on where you sit.

1. ALL students take Chinese in 4th and 5th grade, as a once per week elective. If your child wasn’t “chosen” to take Chinese as a 3rd language (daily class) for 6th through 8th grade, it’s because your child’s EOY test scores were too low in English, Spanish and/or math. Therefore, you’re child will take a support class in one of those subjects, instead of Chinese class. Information on EOY test score targets, in order to be selected for Chinese, are made clear to parents during the parent- teacher conferences first quarter. Btw, my children didn’t need any tutoring to excel at OA, or to qualify for Chinese.

2. International trips. There are three payment levels: full pay, reduced payment ($100+ off), or super discounted pricing for families receiving free or reduced meals. No one should expect to receive a completely free international trip. You do realize this is a capitalist country—home of the haves and have nots. Maybe you should enroll your child in a bilingual school where international trips aren’t offered, so you feel more comfortable.

I said exactly what I said. Zero apologies given.

You are wrong about number 1. That's not how it works. Many kids who have good grades on all those other subjects do not make it to Chinese in MS because there aren't enough spots for everyone, so they are randomly put in any other subject. But if that's what you want to believe, go ahead.

I said what I said. The school has a huge gap of have and have-nots that is not healthy. It could potentially be with the right leadership, but it isn't. Also, this isn't about me and how comfortable I feel. We are OK. This is about the have-nots receiving way less support at OA.

You seem to struggle with reading comprehension. You also don’t understand how Chinese class placement works at OA. It’s not based on inflated 4th and 5th grades in various subjects, it’s based on 5th grade EOY test scores in English, Spanish, and math. I’ve been through the Chinese placement process twice with my two OA lifers. I know how it works.

Once again, if the have-nots are not having their needs met at OA (e.g., free international trips), then they should transfer to a school that doesn’t offer such things and makes them feel more comfortable.

You make OA seem insufferable if there are parents there who say the have-nots at a public school should transfer. It’s gross.

Suck it up, buttercup!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I hope Jackson didn't write his own bio... it's full of typos. With that said, I hope he is successful at Amidon-Bowen. It won't be easy to come in with a pending renovation, the newly built day care center (so foolish not to coordinate but that's dcps/dgs for you!) a very economically and racially diverse community, the departure of some very long-tenured staff, and a previous principal who was there for 8 years and thus is the only principal any parents or students are likely to have known.

The optics look really bad for them to move a white man into a predominately black school to lead. They should have chosen a black man or a black woman to lead Amidon-Bowen.

I don't know who else applied for the job. He might have been the best option. And the school is increasingly diverse. If he can get the test scores up and cope with everything else, that will be wonderful. I don't believe the principal necessarily has to be the same race as the majority of the students, especially if the staff as a whole are diverse.

It seems as if the leaders are no longer reflective of the schools unless they are in the NW. Do the parents of some of the lower performing schools get a say? Do they even matter to DCPS? Where are the Black women principals?

Dr Reid at Barnard, Carmen Shepard Thomson, etc

Happy to see a shout-out here for two of the longest serving and most effective DCPS principals of any race or gender! (Speaking as a Thomson parent who has buddies at Barnard).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have just put Bruce Jackson back at Miner and put Katie Mustian Prall at Amidon-Bowen. That would have made the most sense. They could have just put Carrie at Oyster-Adam’s.

Moving Carrie Broquard to Oyster-Adams would have been great. That new Brito woman would have excelled at Lafayette. It’s sad that they’re setting this Brito woman to fail at Oyster-Adams. Oyster is a very challenging school for anyone.

Don't worry, OA hired old principal Mayra Cruz as a consultant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

She was only bad in the eyes of the lunatic fringe of Lafayette parents, who suddenly did not have a principal they could boss around. Now, the lunatic fringe is quite large at Lafayette, and they make all sorts of absurd demands, but DCPS central office clearly pays them no mind.

Although I think your statement is partially true, the staff turnover at Lafayette is pretty astounding and suggests to me that it’s not just the challenging parents who are ready for an admin change.

If we're grading schools by staff turnover, I don't think Lafayette is an outlier among DCPS schools. All schools are having major problems with that.

People simultaneously complain that the teachers at DCPS can't be removed and also complain about alleged constant turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

She was only bad in the eyes of the lunatic fringe of Lafayette parents, who suddenly did not have a principal they could boss around. Now, the lunatic fringe is quite large at Lafayette, and they make all sorts of absurd demands, but DCPS central office clearly pays them no mind.

Although I think your statement is partially true, the staff turnover at Lafayette is pretty astounding and suggests to me that it’s not just the challenging parents who are ready for an admin change.

If we're grading schools by staff turnover, I don't think Lafayette is an outlier among DCPS schools. All schools are having major problems with that.

Look at where the Lafayette teachers have gone, Janney, murch, shepherd, staying in dcps going to schools with similar populations, that is a result of bad admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

CB is a master at sowing division and distrust among staff. There could never be a coordinated effort against her like there was at Eaton when one of her primary tactics is turning people against each other. It's a horrible trait as a leader, but quite effective in keeping your subjects in line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

She was only bad in the eyes of the lunatic fringe of Lafayette parents, who suddenly did not have a principal they could boss around. Now, the lunatic fringe is quite large at Lafayette, and they make all sorts of absurd demands, but DCPS central office clearly pays them no mind.

Although I think your statement is partially true, the staff turnover at Lafayette is pretty astounding and suggests to me that it’s not just the challenging parents who are ready for an admin change.

If we're grading schools by staff turnover, I don't think Lafayette is an outlier among DCPS schools. All schools are having major problems with that.

Look at where the Lafayette teachers have gone, Janney, murch, shepherd, staying in dcps going to schools with similar populations, that is a result of bad admin.

Teachers leave one DCPS school for another DCPS school all the time. Again, Lafayette is not an outlier, you just didn't like the principal because she wouldn't bend to your screeching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

She was only bad in the eyes of the lunatic fringe of Lafayette parents, who suddenly did not have a principal they could boss around. Now, the lunatic fringe is quite large at Lafayette, and they make all sorts of absurd demands, but DCPS central office clearly pays them no mind.

Although I think your statement is partially true, the staff turnover at Lafayette is pretty astounding and suggests to me that it’s not just the challenging parents who are ready for an admin change.

If we're grading schools by staff turnover, I don't think Lafayette is an outlier among DCPS schools. All schools are having major problems with that.

Look at where the Lafayette teachers have gone, Janney, murch, shepherd, staying in dcps going to schools with similar populations, that is a result of bad admin.

Teachers leave one DCPS school for another DCPS school all the time. Again, Lafayette is not an outlier, you just didn't like the principal because she wouldn't bend to your screeching.

np: I've rarely heard of a teacher leaving out NW ES or MS to teach at another DCPS.

[Anonymous]

The Lafayette turnover is absolutely not normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Lafayette turnover is absolutely not normal.

What are the numbers? Almost nothing was posted in the internal transfer pool. So they must be hiring by referrals if there are that many openings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Observation here. If Carrie Broquard was as bad as they say she is, then why has she been appointed to a new school versus being voted out like they did the former principal at Hardy or Eaton?

She was only bad in the eyes of the lunatic fringe of Lafayette parents, who suddenly did not have a principal they could boss around. Now, the lunatic fringe is quite large at Lafayette, and they make all sorts of absurd demands, but DCPS central office clearly pays them no mind.

Although I think your statement is partially true, the staff turnover at Lafayette is pretty astounding and suggests to me that it’s not just the challenging parents who are ready for an admin change.

If we're grading schools by staff turnover, I don't think Lafayette is an outlier among DCPS schools. All schools are having major problems with that.

Look at where the Lafayette teachers have gone, Janney, murch, shepherd, staying in dcps going to schools with similar populations, that is a result of bad admin.

Teachers leave one DCPS school for another DCPS school all the time. Again, Lafayette is not an outlier, you just didn't like the principal because she wouldn't bend to your screeching.

This is just not true. This has only happened at our Capitol Hill DCPS four times in recent memory that I can think of and every time it was a position possibly on the chopping block with budget cuts (2nd PE x 2, library pre-council edict, classroom teacher being forced to move roles). Teachers who had job security and would have retained the same position? I can seriously think of zero that have moved to another DCPS. One just almost did, it was a bit of a scandal and the admin convinced him to stay.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I have a few friends who have taught at Lafayette (all of them now teach at other NW ESs) and the number 1 thing they complained about is the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have just put Bruce Jackson back at Miner and put Katie Mustian Prall at Amidon-Bowen. That would have made the most sense. They could have just put Carrie at Oyster-Adam’s.

Moving Carrie Broquard to Oyster-Adams would have been great. That new Brito woman would have excelled at Lafayette. It’s sad that they’re setting this Brito woman to fail at Oyster-Adams. Oyster is a very challenging school for anyone.

I have a kid in middle at OA and I don’t see how it’s challenging. Yes parents demand accountability from leadership.
Brito was recruited from Boston I believe but I think she has her work cut out for her in the sense that her bio is all about her commitment to equity when parents want top tier academics and more advanced options.