GDS Head of School Search

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet she has already held at least one headship. Chicago lab is not some silly little school. So apparently it’s not that important.

What does that mean? Apparently getting hired as head automatically means having nearly no teaching experience is ok? Yet, she didn’t finish out her full contract. Lab isn’t some silly little school, yet their interim head lasted a few months. I’d be skeptical of using Lab as a barometer for selecting a good head.

Either way, GDS is in a poor position with this lengthy search announcement, especially after all the other administrative search things happening or that need to happen. Hired new LS head, hired associate head who left, hired US head who left, and hiring a CFO all within a few years. From insider perspective it’s not a good look. I can’t imagine what those on the outside think, especially those who were in the pool to be the next HOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yet she has already held at least one headship. Chicago lab is not some silly little school. So apparently it’s not that important.

What does that mean? Apparently getting hired as head automatically means having nearly no teaching experience is ok? Yet, she didn’t finish out her full contract. Lab isn’t some silly little school, yet their interim head lasted a few months. I’d be skeptical of using Lab as a barometer for selecting a good head.

Either way, GDS is in a poor position with this lengthy search announcement, especially after all the other administrative search things happening or that need to happen. Hired new LS head, hired associate head who left, hired US head who left, and hiring a CFO all within a few years. From insider perspective it’s not a good look. I can’t imagine what those on the outside think, especially those who were in the pool to be the next HOS.

Yes, that’s exactly what it means. If she became a head of school at Chicago Lab her accomplishments as an administrator were obviously significant, and some litmus test of X number of years in the classroom before moving into the administrator track clearly means little. Your criticism of Lab school is also not relevant here. You’re welcome to criticize the candidate, but I don’t think you have facts so you’re just working on rumors. here. I have no issue with your criticisms of GDS here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be crazy if they actually hired people who are teachers or experts in education for these type of jobs.

But these jobs are so far removed from classroom jobs—legal issues, hiring, fundraising, facilities, dealing with parents, long term planning. Etc etc etc. There is a reason these jobs pay so much…they are incredibly complex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be crazy if they actually hired people who are teachers or experts in education for these type of jobs.

But these jobs are so far removed from classroom jobs—legal issues, hiring, fundraising, facilities, dealing with parents, long term planning. Etc etc etc. There is a reason these jobs pay so much…they are incredibly complex.

Problems arise when the focus is not on teaching. teachers, and students. The HOS should not be far removed from the classroom and needs to be more than a bureaucrat.

[Anonymous]

Its incredibly complex to play politics, kiss a**, and fire teachers who report crime and safety issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be crazy if they actually hired people who are teachers or experts in education for these type of jobs.

But these jobs are so far removed from classroom jobs—legal issues, hiring, fundraising, facilities, dealing with parents, long term planning. Etc etc etc. There is a reason these jobs pay so much…they are incredibly complex.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be crazy if they actually hired people who are teachers or experts in education for these type of jobs.

But these jobs are so far removed from classroom jobs—legal issues, hiring, fundraising, facilities, dealing with parents, long term planning. Etc etc etc. There is a reason these jobs pay so much…they are incredibly complex.

Problems arise when the focus is not on teaching. teachers, and students. The HOS should not be far removed from the classroom and needs to be more than a bureaucrat.

An HOS has to focus on all of it. Teachers, students, parents, curriculum, facilities, fundraising, finances, admissions, legal matters, and more. I don’t know what the perfect amount of classroom experience would be to satisfy all the opinions, but a future HOS has likely made the move to administration by the time they are in their early to mid 30s. So there will always be some lifelong teachers that scoff at and resent the limited classroom experience of some administrators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Lab School woman has teaching experience. The only one who didn’t was the west coast woman.

If you’re counting her summer teaching jobs at her alma mater (Exeter), then sure, she was a teacher in a 9-12 program. That’s not what GDS faculty would call actual teaching experience.

There are great heads with less classroom experience. Some people are cut out to be lifelong teachers. Some people are cut out to be administrators. But if that becomes an issue and makes it hard for the teachers to respect the new head, that’s when the quitting and the house cleaning starts.

We are not talking about "less" classroom experience. It's practically zero.

Yet she has already held at least one headship. Chicago lab is not some silly little school. So apparently it’s not that important.

I know Chicago Lab is a great school, but it’s really odd she left before getting a new job. That’s a huge red flag to me.

+1

[Anonymous]

They pick and choose who climbs the ladder and a lot of times it's the ladder climbers that are too busy playing politic mean girls or sabotaging their coworkers instead of teaching. naturally if they are focused on ladder climbing instead of teaching they will eventually be able to punish their peers with their almighty power. That's how they get off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They pick and choose who climbs the ladder and a lot of times it's the ladder climbers that are too busy playing politic mean girls or sabotaging their coworkers instead of teaching. naturally if they are focused on ladder climbing instead of teaching they will eventually be able to punish their peers with their almighty power. That's how they get off.

That seems like an oddly cynical and fictional assumption the people who become administrators.

[Anonymous]

The current HOS doesn't interface with parents unless they are major donors. He is not talking to financial aid families. Only the families that he and the school can benefit from, does he spend time with. His role is to raise money and be a politician. He is not there to interface with parents. I sure do hope that the person they hire is more accessible, in tune, and shows care for all families not just the wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current HOS doesn't interface with parents unless they are major donors. He is not talking to financial aid families. Only the families that he and the school can benefit from, does he spend time with. His role is to raise money and be a politician. He is not there to interface with parents. I sure do hope that the person they hire is more accessible, in tune, and shows care for all families not just the wealthy.

It’s a $55k+ school full of wealthy people. What did you expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current HOS doesn't interface with parents unless they are major donors. He is not talking to financial aid families. Only the families that he and the school can benefit from, does he spend time with. His role is to raise money and be a politician. He is not there to interface with parents. I sure do hope that the person they hire is more accessible, in tune, and shows care for all families not just the wealthy.

We are not major donors and I've talked to R plenty. In the few times over the 5 years that I've had reason to email him, he's emailed me back quickly and responsively.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'm glad the board is taking more time. This is not something to be rushed, particularly if their first choice is no longer available (and that's purely speculative).

They need to get the right person for the times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be crazy if they actually hired people who are teachers or experts in education for these type of jobs.

But these jobs are so far removed from classroom jobs—legal issues, hiring, fundraising, facilities, dealing with parents, long term planning. Etc etc etc. There is a reason these jobs pay so much…they are incredibly complex.

Problems arise when the focus is not on teaching. teachers, and students. The HOS should not be far removed from the classroom and needs to be more than a bureaucrat.

An HOS has to focus on all of it. Teachers, students, parents, curriculum, facilities, fundraising, finances, admissions, legal matters, and more. I don’t know what the perfect amount of classroom experience would be to satisfy all the opinions, but a future HOS has likely made the move to administration by the time they are in their early to mid 30s. So there will always be some lifelong teachers that scoff at and resent the limited classroom experience of some administrators.

It’s not really as complex as people make it out to be.