Shepherd principal leaving after this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that 4 years is a super fast turnover. I'd say that's pretty normal. People get sick of jobs and bosses and coworkers all the time.

In most jobs, yes. But as a principal of a school, I think that's pretty quick. Schools like this are almost always going to get first-time principals. It takes them two years, minimum, to learn the job: how to deal with individual teachers and staff, the union, parents with wildly differing expectations, curriculum changes, testing, hundreds of kids, the neighbors. Throw in multiple school renovations just for fun.

By the time they get their feet set, someone is calling for a change in leadership.

C'est la vie.

This is the problem. There's a lot of work to do at SES and it's not a job for a first timer. We need someone with the experience to hit the ground running.

4 years is a very long tenure for a DCPS principal.

Why is that? My elementary school principal--with similar demographics to Shepherd, mostly black middle-class kids--was there forever. For all I know, she's still there, lol.

Why is DC so different? Particularly in a school like Shepherd, which performs well and doesn't have a very high needs population?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that 4 years is a super fast turnover. I'd say that's pretty normal. People get sick of jobs and bosses and coworkers all the time.

In most jobs, yes. But as a principal of a school, I think that's pretty quick. Schools like this are almost always going to get first-time principals. It takes them two years, minimum, to learn the job: how to deal with individual teachers and staff, the union, parents with wildly differing expectations, curriculum changes, testing, hundreds of kids, the neighbors. Throw in multiple school renovations just for fun.

By the time they get their feet set, someone is calling for a change in leadership.

C'est la vie.

This is the problem. There's a lot of work to do at SES and it's not a job for a first timer. We need someone with the experience to hit the ground running.

4 years is a very long tenure for a DCPS principal.

Why is that? My elementary school principal--with similar demographics to Shepherd, mostly black middle-class kids--was there forever. For all I know, she's still there, lol.

Why is DC so different? Particularly in a school like Shepherd, which performs well and doesn't have a very high needs population?

Newer SES family here - still trying to get a sense of why people did not like her. People keep saying bad communication but what does that mean ?

I’m actually more concerned about the lack of transparency from the PTA....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

4 years is a very long tenure for a DCPS principal.

This is true and also a major problem.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that in DCPS, an effective principal needs to
1) manage the teachers and other staff effectively and ensure all kids are at or above grade level or improving

2) manage the needs of SN students in a fair, open and collaborative way

3) work well enough with the central office to get what the school needs.

4) setting tone and culture for students.

5) managing parents

6) maintain relationships with the broader community.

Those are my top 6, and in that order. Different parents will have different ideas of what a principal should do, and how much emphasis to put on which parts. I do think that parents of preschool and K parents have very different needs and expectations than parents of older kids.

It is rare to find a principal who can balance all of those things...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that in DCPS, an effective principal needs to
1) manage the teachers and other staff effectively and ensure all kids are at or above grade level or improving

2) manage the needs of SN students in a fair, open and collaborative way

3) work well enough with the central office to get what the school needs.

4) setting tone and culture for students.

5) managing parents

6) maintain relationships with the broader community.

Those are my top 6, and in that order. Different parents will have different ideas of what a principal should do, and how much emphasis to put on which parts. I do think that parents of preschool and K parents have very different needs and expectations than parents of older kids.

It is rare to find a principal who can balance all of those things...

These are some key things, but it should be collaborating with parents, not managing them. The only reason a principal is there is to serve families, not the other way around. That doesn't mean always caving to whoever is in your office that day, but definitely listening to all parents' needs and trying to fulfill them because that's the job. Brawley fell very short on the collaboration and even ignored parents who brought concerns to her. I would like to thank her for her service and acknowledge her accomplishments, but it's just not a good fit and too much has happened to repair the trust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that 4 years is a super fast turnover. I'd say that's pretty normal. People get sick of jobs and bosses and coworkers all the time.

In most jobs, yes. But as a principal of a school, I think that's pretty quick. Schools like this are almost always going to get first-time principals. It takes them two years, minimum, to learn the job: how to deal with individual teachers and staff, the union, parents with wildly differing expectations, curriculum changes, testing, hundreds of kids, the neighbors. Throw in multiple school renovations just for fun.

By the time they get their feet set, someone is calling for a change in leadership.

C'est la vie.

This is the problem. There's a lot of work to do at SES and it's not a job for a first timer. We need someone with the experience to hit the ground running.

4 years is a very long tenure for a DCPS principal.

Why is that? My elementary school principal--with similar demographics to Shepherd, mostly black middle-class kids--was there forever. For all I know, she's still there, lol.

Why is DC so different? Particularly in a school like Shepherd, which performs well and doesn't have a very high needs population?

Newer SES family here - still trying to get a sense of why people did not like her. People keep saying bad communication but what does that mean ?

I’m actually more concerned about the lack of transparency from the PTA....

Oh you should run!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that in DCPS, an effective principal needs to
1) manage the teachers and other staff effectively and ensure all kids are at or above grade level or improving

2) manage the needs of SN students in a fair, open and collaborative way

3) work well enough with the central office to get what the school needs.

4) setting tone and culture for students.

5) managing parents

6) maintain relationships with the broader community.

Those are my top 6, and in that order. Different parents will have different ideas of what a principal should do, and how much emphasis to put on which parts. I do think that parents of preschool and K parents have very different needs and expectations than parents of older kids.

It is rare to find a principal who can balance all of those things...

These are some key things, but it should be collaborating with parents, not managing them. The only reason a principal is there is to serve families, not the other way around. That doesn't mean always caving to whoever is in your office that day, but definitely listening to all parents' needs and trying to fulfill them because that's the job. Brawley fell very short on the collaboration and even ignored parents who brought concerns to her. I would like to thank her for her service and acknowledge her accomplishments, but it's just not a good fit and too much has happened to repair the trust.

No the principal is there to manage the school. Sounds like you might be happier with private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m actually more concerned about the lack of transparency from the PTA....

Oh you should run!!

Hear, hear!

Seriously, the PTA at Shepherd is one of the most open, least cliquey you're gonna find. I'm not sure what you think they're not being transparent about, but at PP said, there's an easy fix for that: put in the time and do it yourself.

I think you can show up at any PTA meeting and ask anything you want and get a straight answer pretty easily. Or just email them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m actually more concerned about the lack of transparency from the PTA....

Oh you should run!!

Hear, hear!

Seriously, the PTA at Shepherd is one of the most open, least cliquey you're gonna find. I'm not sure what you think they're not being transparent about, but at PP said, there's an easy fix for that: put in the time and do it yourself.

I think you can show up at any PTA meeting and ask anything you want and get a straight answer pretty easily. Or just email them.

Best PTA

[Anonymous]

Any update on this? My DC is attending SES next year.

[Anonymous]

Elections for the PTA, LSAT and Principal Selection Panel are this Wednesday evening.

[Anonymous]

“Dr. Harold Barber is the strongest candidate to lead the Shepherd Elementary School community. We are happy to report that Dr. Barber has accepted this offer, and his official appointment begins on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Dr. Harold Barber began his career in education in Maryland as a special education teacher. After that, he moved to DCPS to teach students on the autism spectrum prior to serving as principal of MacFarland Middle School in 2008. From there, Dr. Barber joined Baltimore City Public Schools’ central office as an administrator before becoming an elementary school principal. In 2014, he joined Montgomery County Public Schools, where he served as an elementary school principal for five years. Dr. Barber believes that all children can and will learn with support, training, and guidance. He holds a Bachelor of Sociology from Frostburg State University along with two master’s degrees and a Doctor of Urban Education Leadership from Bowie State University.”

Apparently, he was both the Parent’s and Teacher’s panels number lne choice to take the position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that in DCPS, an effective principal needs to
1) manage the teachers and other staff effectively and ensure all kids are at or above grade level or improving

2) manage the needs of SN students in a fair, open and collaborative way

3) work well enough with the central office to get what the school needs.

4) setting tone and culture for students.

5) managing parents

6) maintain relationships with the broader community.

Those are my top 6, and in that order. Different parents will have different ideas of what a principal should do, and how much emphasis to put on which parts. I do think that parents of preschool and K parents have very different needs and expectations than parents of older kids.

It is rare to find a principal who can balance all of those things...

These are some key things, but it should be collaborating with parents, not managing them. The only reason a principal is there is to serve families, not the other way around. That doesn't mean always caving to whoever is in your office that day, but definitely listening to all parents' needs and trying to fulfill them because that's the job. Brawley fell very short on the collaboration and even ignored parents who brought concerns to her. I would like to thank her for her service and acknowledge her accomplishments, but it's just not a good fit and too much has happened to repair the trust.

Nothing could be -- or should be -- farther from the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Dr. Harold Barber is the strongest candidate to lead the Shepherd Elementary School community. We are happy to report that Dr. Barber has accepted this offer, and his official appointment begins on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Dr. Harold Barber began his career in education in Maryland as a special education teacher. After that, he moved to DCPS to teach students on the autism spectrum prior to serving as principal of MacFarland Middle School in 2008. From there, Dr. Barber joined Baltimore City Public Schools’ central office as an administrator before becoming an elementary school principal. In 2014, he joined Montgomery County Public Schools, where he served as an elementary school principal for five years. Dr. Barber believes that all children can and will learn with support, training, and guidance. He holds a Bachelor of Sociology from Frostburg State University along with two master’s degrees and a Doctor of Urban Education Leadership from Bowie State University.”

Apparently, he was both the Parent’s and Teacher’s panels number lne choice to take the position.

Very impressive. I have heard great things. Excited about the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Dr. Harold Barber is the strongest candidate to lead the Shepherd Elementary School community. We are happy to report that Dr. Barber has accepted this offer, and his official appointment begins on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Dr. Harold Barber began his career in education in Maryland as a special education teacher. After that, he moved to DCPS to teach students on the autism spectrum prior to serving as principal of MacFarland Middle School in 2008. From there, Dr. Barber joined Baltimore City Public Schools’ central office as an administrator before becoming an elementary school principal. In 2014, he joined Montgomery County Public Schools, where he served as an elementary school principal for five years. Dr. Barber believes that all children can and will learn with support, training, and guidance. He holds a Bachelor of Sociology from Frostburg State University along with two master’s degrees and a Doctor of Urban Education Leadership from Bowie State University.”

Apparently, he was both the Parent’s and Teacher’s panels number lne choice to take the position.

Awesome choice, cant wait!