Is Brent really bringing back a class per grade for live instruction today?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the scoop?
It seems like they are currently the model for the rest of DCPS.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but I think it has less to do with them being "a model" and more to do with being a school with a large population of UMC, highly educated parents, and an extremely well-funded PTO. What Brent is doing is simply not possible at other schools, and it actually just highlights the inequities in the system. Brent is also not a destination school for children from less well-funded or well-functioning IBs, since it is virtually impossible to get a spot at Brent unless you are IB. So another example of how the lottery does not actually distribute resources equally among the city's kids, but allows wealthy families to buy into "good" schools that exclude poor children.

Side note: a Brent parent once told me that "any school" could be like Brent if the parents just put in the effort. So if you are wondering if UMC white people still think their sh*t don't stink, the answer is very much: YES.

[Anonymous]

If Brent can do it, why can't all the NW schools do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Brent can do it, why can't all the NW schools do it?

Brent has Norah Lycknell. She used to be at Janney and was light years better than the current principal.
Quite simply, Norah gets stuff done. Her staff trusts her. She moves mountains within DCPS.
The current principal is borderline worthless. There is no reason Janney couldn't also be going back in some form.
Instead they're not even "able to" staff Cares classrooms.
The number one thing is a leader must inspire confidence/trust in her employees.
Norah has always been able to do this.

[Anonymous]

previous poster again--back to the original question--
Is Brent brining back a class per grade today?
It's helpful to know this as we try to advocate for similar at other schools.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about Brent but Van Ness is bringing back a few classrooms for various hybrid models -- all volunteer on part of teachers.

[Anonymous]

I think in general this "every school for itself" plan is going to mean inperson schooling will hinge on the reputation and relationship between the principal and the teachers. This will be where the rubber meets the road.

Good luck to the schools with principals none of the teachers can stand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but I think it has less to do with them being "a model" and more to do with being a school with a large population of UMC, highly educated parents, and an extremely well-funded PTO. What Brent is doing is simply not possible at other schools, and it actually just highlights the inequities in the system. Brent is also not a destination school for children from less well-funded or well-functioning IBs, since it is virtually impossible to get a spot at Brent unless you are IB. So another example of how the lottery does not actually distribute resources equally among the city's kids, but allows wealthy families to buy into "good" schools that exclude poor children.

Side note: a Brent parent once told me that "any school" could be like Brent if the parents just put in the effort. So if you are wondering if UMC white people still think their sh*t don't stink, the answer is very much: YES.

Well extremely similar schools are not doing this mere blocks away (Maury) so I think there's something different going on at Brent.

Also I'm not sure why you think Brent is doing something no other school could replicate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think in general this "every school for itself" plan is going to mean inperson schooling will hinge on the reputation and relationship between the principal and the teachers. This will be where the rubber meets the road.

Good luck to the schools with principals none of the teachers can stand.

Exactly. The schools with bad morale and a principal that everyone hates are going to have a hard time here. This is going to expose cracks that are normally hidden from families.

[Anonymous]

I think it also depends on what parents within the school want. I know that most of the UMC parents at our elementary do NOT want in person schooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it also depends on what parents within the school want. I know that most of the UMC parents at our elementary do NOT want in person schooling.

And I only singled UMC out because they seem to be the group that typically most want in person. I spoke with a person on our schools' LSAT who told me that they had done surveys and no parents wanted in-person at our school. The only reason we have one CARES class because Bowser required it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it also depends on what parents within the school want. I know that most of the UMC parents at our elementary do NOT want in person schooling.

When were you surveyed? Our school (Janney) has never surveyed the parents.
Wouldn't this (an in-house survey) be a good first step?
Not the poorly worded crap that DCPS keeps sending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it also depends on what parents within the school want. I know that most of the UMC parents at our elementary do NOT want in person schooling.

And I only singled UMC out because they seem to be the group that typically most want in person. I spoke with a person on our schools' LSAT who told me that they had done surveys and no parents wanted in-person at our school. The only reason we have one CARES class because Bowser required it.

+1. We were offered a seat in a CARES class and we turned it down. Hopefully the seat went to someone who truly needs it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but I think it has less to do with them being "a model" and more to do with being a school with a large population of UMC, highly educated parents, and an extremely well-funded PTO. What Brent is doing is simply not possible at other schools, and it actually just highlights the inequities in the system. Brent is also not a destination school for children from less well-funded or well-functioning IBs, since it is virtually impossible to get a spot at Brent unless you are IB. So another example of how the lottery does not actually distribute resources equally among the city's kids, but allows wealthy families to buy into "good" schools that exclude poor children.

Side note: a Brent parent once told me that "any school" could be like Brent if the parents just put in the effort. So if you are wondering if UMC white people still think their sh*t don't stink, the answer is very much: YES.

Well extremely similar schools are not doing this mere blocks away (Maury) so I think there's something different going on at Brent.

Also I'm not sure why you think Brent is doing something no other school could replicate?

Potentially, but Maury is not as similar to Brent as you think. In the younger grades, yes, but the school is more socio-economically diverse overall and much more so in the older grades. I would also venture that the teaching staff is more diverse as well. Brent is a true bubble.

[Anonymous]

I applaud any school principal that is following the science and acknowledging, unlike the WTU and the city, that kids and teachers can safely return in some capacity. That's leadership.