Churchill Getting a New Principal

[Anonymous]

Maybe just give vouchers special needs to one of the Potomac private schools as an option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe just give vouchers special needs to one of the Potomac private schools as an option

I would accept it if they offered it. But that’s never going to happen.

Parents of Special Needs students are already doing a lot to privately support their children including paying for private assessments when the school declines to evaluate a child for disabilities, hire private tutors (especially over the pandemic) when the school doesn’t provide the support a child needs, pay for advocates to help out at 504 and IEP meetings, hire attorneys for really bad situations, and finally, yes many are driven to private schools for the peace of mind that your child is actually going to be taught in a caring environment where his/her needs will be met.

For one of my children, the $50,000 price tag for private was well worth leaving Churchill. He soared at his new school where his differences were accepted and he received extra attention in the smaller class sizes. He felt safe at his new school and was out of reach of students that used to torment him at Churchill. The last year at Churchill was so bad that people sent text messages and social media posts telling him to kill himself. The messages were shared with school administrators but nothing was done. It made a world of difference transferring my son out of Churchill for the bullying reasons alone.

[Anonymous]

Someone who can improve the school climate for all students and staff is greatly needed. I hope the interview team asks the candidates how they would address bullying, harassment, and intimidation problems.

[Anonymous]

To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone who can improve the school climate for all students and staff is greatly needed. I hope the interview team asks the candidates how they would address bullying, harassment, and intimidation problems.

Doesn't matter who is the principal, MCPS approach to anti-discipline is why there are so many issues like what you listed. It is almost impossible to suspend a student even harder to expel. With the restorative justice initiatives MCPS is implementing, there is no real discipline. Central office negatively evaluates principals if they have lots of suspensions. If you're disappointed with the discipline problems blame Jack Smith, part of his legacy of destruction in his 5 years running MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone who can improve the school climate for all students and staff is greatly needed. I hope the interview team asks the candidates how they would address bullying, harassment, and intimidation problems.

Doesn't matter who is the principal, MCPS approach to anti-discipline is why there are so many issues like what you listed. It is almost impossible to suspend a student even harder to expel. With the restorative justice initiatives MCPS is implementing, there is no real discipline. Central office negatively evaluates principals if they have lots of suspensions. If you're disappointed with the discipline problems blame Jack Smith, part of his legacy of destruction in his 5 years running MCPS.

Because suspending and expelling students has such positive outcomes for society...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone who can improve the school climate for all students and staff is greatly needed. I hope the interview team asks the candidates how they would address bullying, harassment, and intimidation problems.

Doesn't matter who is the principal, MCPS approach to anti-discipline is why there are so many issues like what you listed. It is almost impossible to suspend a student even harder to expel. With the restorative justice initiatives MCPS is implementing, there is no real discipline. Central office negatively evaluates principals if they have lots of suspensions. If you're disappointed with the discipline problems blame Jack Smith, part of his legacy of destruction in his 5 years running MCPS.

Because suspending and expelling students has such positive outcomes for society...

The PP was right! Public flogging and bringing back the stock and pillory is the way to solve these problems!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

You are exactly right about how things have gone down quite a bit over the past 3-5 years. Also, the meetings I've gone to led by Dr. Moran, I have been far from impressed that he has any clue what he's doing. Would like to have fresh leadership from an outsider than some retread from a 3rd tier MCPS school who will parrot the orders of McKnight/Moran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

You are exactly right about how things have gone down quite a bit over the past 3-5 years. Also, the meetings I've gone to led by Dr. Moran, I have been far from impressed that he has any clue what he's doing. Would like to have fresh leadership from an outsider than some retread from a 3rd tier MCPS school who will parrot the orders of McKnight/Moran.

All of you asking for someone from outside the cluster should know there’s a chance you’ll get a principal who has not earned the respect of their current community, and the county is moving them so they can give them a new, unearned fresh start. Also, the hardest schools typically get the most skilled principals. Anyone can lead a school full of high achieving students with educated and involved and high income parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

You are exactly right about how things have gone down quite a bit over the past 3-5 years. Also, the meetings I've gone to led by Dr. Moran, I have been far from impressed that he has any clue what he's doing. Would like to have fresh leadership from an outsider than some retread from a 3rd tier MCPS school who will parrot the orders of McKnight/Moran.

All of you asking for someone from outside the cluster should know there’s a chance you’ll get a principal who has not earned the respect of their current community, and the county is moving them so they can give them a new, unearned fresh start. Also, the hardest schools typically get the most skilled principals. Anyone can lead a school full of high achieving students with educated and involved and high income parents.

Only 42 people attended the call with Dr. Moran regarding the principal search. I’m not sure if that would indicate a high degree of parental involvement. However, there was a typo regarding the date of the meeting and there was slso short notice so perhaps those were factors in the low turn out.

As far as any warm body could steer the Churchill ship, I would just point out that Churchill’s state ranking is significantly lower than it was 3 years ago when Mrs. Heckert and Dr. Moran were appointed, bullying and racial incidents have increased, and we had 3 drug overdoses at school last year. I personally think an administrator that acknowledges what is broken while following through with a plan for school improvement is key. Just saying a school is a great place where all are proud to belong is drastically different than making Churchill a great place where all are proud to belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

You are exactly right about how things have gone down quite a bit over the past 3-5 years. Also, the meetings I've gone to led by Dr. Moran, I have been far from impressed that he has any clue what he's doing. Would like to have fresh leadership from an outsider than some retread from a 3rd tier MCPS school who will parrot the orders of McKnight/Moran.

All of you asking for someone from outside the cluster should know there’s a chance you’ll get a principal who has not earned the respect of their current community, and the county is moving them so they can give them a new, unearned fresh start. Also, the hardest schools typically get the most skilled principals. Anyone can lead a school full of high achieving students with educated and involved and high income parents.

Only 42 people attended the call with Dr. Moran regarding the principal search. I’m not sure if that would indicate a high degree of parental involvement. However, there was a typo regarding the date of the meeting and there was slso short notice so perhaps those were factors in the low turn out.

As far as any warm body could steer the Churchill ship, I would just point out that Churchill’s state ranking is significantly lower than it was 3 years ago when Mrs. Heckert and Dr. Moran were appointed, bullying and racial incidents have increased, and we had 3 drug overdoses at school last year. I personally think an administrator that acknowledges what is broken while following through with a plan for school improvement is key. Just saying a school is a great place where all are proud to belong is drastically different than making Churchill a great place where all are proud to belong.

I think that the PP is right -- the short notice and the wrong time initially being published played into the low turnout. But, also, I think Churchill parents may not realize the positive impact a truly impressive high school principal can have on the school. We are so used to hands off principals that we don't expect a new principal to have much of an impact on the day to day lives of the school community. If we had experience with a really spectacular principal, like the one who is leaving RM, people may have a different perspective and be more interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

You are exactly right about how things have gone down quite a bit over the past 3-5 years. Also, the meetings I've gone to led by Dr. Moran, I have been far from impressed that he has any clue what he's doing. Would like to have fresh leadership from an outsider than some retread from a 3rd tier MCPS school who will parrot the orders of McKnight/Moran.

All of you asking for someone from outside the cluster should know there’s a chance you’ll get a principal who has not earned the respect of their current community, and the county is moving them so they can give them a new, unearned fresh start. Also, the hardest schools typically get the most skilled principals. Anyone can lead a school full of high achieving students with educated and involved and high income parents.

Only 42 people attended the call with Dr. Moran regarding the principal search. I’m not sure if that would indicate a high degree of parental involvement. However, there was a typo regarding the date of the meeting and there was slso short notice so perhaps those were factors in the low turn out.

As far as any warm body could steer the Churchill ship, I would just point out that Churchill’s state ranking is significantly lower than it was 3 years ago when Mrs. Heckert and Dr. Moran were appointed, bullying and racial incidents have increased, and we had 3 drug overdoses at school last year. I personally think an administrator that acknowledges what is broken while following through with a plan for school improvement is key. Just saying a school is a great place where all are proud to belong is drastically different than making Churchill a great place where all are proud to belong.

I think that the PP is right -- the short notice and the wrong time initially being published played into the low turnout. But, also, I think Churchill parents may not realize the positive impact a truly impressive high school principal can have on the school. We are so used to hands off principals that we don't expect a new principal to have much of an impact on the day to day lives of the school community. If we had experience with a really spectacular principal, like the one who is leaving RM, people may have a different perspective and be more interested.

You mean the same RM principal who gutted IB program and had all the calculus teachers leave en masse? And the one who got sued for dismissing the whistleblower who flagged the Bridge program scandal? Man, I hope Churchill can do better than that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To improve school climate, a Principal will need to be chosen outside the school. Anyone associated with the current or past principal is part of the problem, not the solution.

Which problems are unique to Churchill?

I’m not making a case that any problem is unique to Churchill. I personally do not keep track what is happening at other high schools. However, I have lived in the community for over twenty years. My children went to the cluster elementary and middle schools as well as high school. There is a large gap between by oldest and youngest so I have a perspective that problems have been deteriorating for a while instead of improving. I think a new perspective from someone outside the cluster will bring perhaps a new approach and leadership to the Churchill community instead of more of the same downward spiral.

I am also concerned that problems over the past 3 years have not improved at Churchill under Dr. Moran’s watch so I am not encouraged by his promise to be an almost daily fixture in the Churchill community as support for the new Principal. Actions speak louder than words.

You are exactly right about how things have gone down quite a bit over the past 3-5 years. Also, the meetings I've gone to led by Dr. Moran, I have been far from impressed that he has any clue what he's doing. Would like to have fresh leadership from an outsider than some retread from a 3rd tier MCPS school who will parrot the orders of McKnight/Moran.

All of you asking for someone from outside the cluster should know there’s a chance you’ll get a principal who has not earned the respect of their current community, and the county is moving them so they can give them a new, unearned fresh start. Also, the hardest schools typically get the most skilled principals. Anyone can lead a school full of high achieving students with educated and involved and high income parents.

Only 42 people attended the call with Dr. Moran regarding the principal search. I’m not sure if that would indicate a high degree of parental involvement. However, there was a typo regarding the date of the meeting and there was slso short notice so perhaps those were factors in the low turn out.

As far as any warm body could steer the Churchill ship, I would just point out that Churchill’s state ranking is significantly lower than it was 3 years ago when Mrs. Heckert and Dr. Moran were appointed, bullying and racial incidents have increased, and we had 3 drug overdoses at school last year. I personally think an administrator that acknowledges what is broken while following through with a plan for school improvement is key. Just saying a school is a great place where all are proud to belong is drastically different than making Churchill a great place where all are proud to belong.

I think that the PP is right -- the short notice and the wrong time initially being published played into the low turnout. But, also, I think Churchill parents may not realize the positive impact a truly impressive high school principal can have on the school. We are so used to hands off principals that we don't expect a new principal to have much of an impact on the day to day lives of the school community. If we had experience with a really spectacular principal, like the one who is leaving RM, people may have a different perspective and be more interested.

You mean the same RM principal who gutted IB program and had all the calculus teachers leave en masse? And the one who got sued for dismissing the whistleblower who flagged the Bridge program scandal? Man, I hope Churchill can do better than that!

Sorry, but if you read that case, the principal comes out looking a lot better than the person who sued him. A strong principal doesn’t necessarily make popular decisions, but they get stuff done that is good for students and their learning and their lives. It’s a tough time of year in a normal year to get a good turnout, but I think every Churchill parent wants a great principal, not a milquetoast one who is hired because they will be better at placating parents while students overdose. If you don’t speak up, you will get a mediocre principal from another school.