New Walls HS principal?

[Anonymous]

Any insights (new freshman parent here...)..

[Anonymous]

Sylvia Issac was made principal earlier this year. She was the former Assistant Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sylvia Issac was made principal earlier this year. She was the former Assistant Principal

And? How do parents feel about her/the administration?

[Anonymous]

She was terrible during this past year. Did not communicate clearly with parents and students, failed to even attempt to find a way to get students back for IPL in 2021. Just an all-around disaster. Students at Walls had NO in-person learning since March 2020. That's more than an entire school year. When pressed during town-hall meetings as to why the school under her leadership had failed to find ways to get at least some kids in classrooms, like other DCPS schools attempted to do, she claimed it would be "too disruptive" to the schedule. I'm not kidding. It was just too much trouble for her to do her job. And she did nothing to encourage teachers to get back to work in-person. Some teachers took the initiative to organize in-person activities outside school on Wednesdays, but if they had not, my kid would not have seen a single Walls teacher or administrator the entire year. The only thing she did is send out loaded "surveys," none of which ever offered a return to real IPL as an option. Then she would claim that no one wanted to return to IPL. Disgraceful.

Kids at Walls tend to be self-motivated so most will survive this but her lack of leadership and general lackadaisical attitude about her job is really disappointing. And if Walls offers anything less than full-time, in person learning w/ teachers in every classroom next year, parents will not stand for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She was terrible during this past year. Did not communicate clearly with parents and students, failed to even attempt to find a way to get students back for IPL in 2021. Just an all-around disaster. Students at Walls had NO in-person learning since March 2020. That's more than an entire school year. When pressed during town-hall meetings as to why the school under her leadership had failed to find ways to get at least some kids in classrooms, like other DCPS schools attempted to do, she claimed it would be "too disruptive" to the schedule. I'm not kidding. It was just too much trouble for her to do her job. And she did nothing to encourage teachers to get back to work in-person. Some teachers took the initiative to organize in-person activities outside school on Wednesdays, but if they had not, my kid would not have seen a single Walls teacher or administrator the entire year. The only thing she did is send out loaded "surveys," none of which ever offered a return to real IPL as an option. Then she would claim that no one wanted to return to IPL. Disgraceful.

Kids at Walls tend to be self-motivated so most will survive this but her lack of leadership and general lackadaisical attitude about her job is really disappointing. And if Walls offers anything less than full-time, in person learning w/ teachers in every classroom next year, parents will not stand for it.

Plus the student interviews for applicants sucked. No enthusiasm from the staff rep whatsoever. Principal could have at least given a pep talk or something.

[Anonymous]

Whatever happened to Trogisch? I assume he's going after DCPS for smearing his reputation, among other damages.

[Anonymous]

Nobody ever has anything nice to say about SWW! The reviews IRL are even worse. Why is this school popular?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She was terrible during this past year. Did not communicate clearly with parents and students, failed to even attempt to find a way to get students back for IPL in 2021. Just an all-around disaster. Students at Walls had NO in-person learning since March 2020. That's more than an entire school year. When pressed during town-hall meetings as to why the school under her leadership had failed to find ways to get at least some kids in classrooms, like other DCPS schools attempted to do, she claimed it would be "too disruptive" to the schedule. I'm not kidding. It was just too much trouble for her to do her job. And she did nothing to encourage teachers to get back to work in-person. Some teachers took the initiative to organize in-person activities outside school on Wednesdays, but if they had not, my kid would not have seen a single Walls teacher or administrator the entire year. The only thing she did is send out loaded "surveys," none of which ever offered a return to real IPL as an option. Then she would claim that no one wanted to return to IPL. Disgraceful.

Kids at Walls tend to be self-motivated so most will survive this but her lack of leadership and general lackadaisical attitude about her job is really disappointing. And if Walls offers anything less than full-time, in person learning w/ teachers in every classroom next year, parents will not stand for it.

Plus the student interviews for applicants sucked. No enthusiasm from the staff rep whatsoever. Principal could have at least given a pep talk or something.

NP and there is lots of criticism to go around for interviews I’m sure but claiming all ‘staff reps’ lacked enthusiasm is ridiculous since you interacted with one adult in the interview. Find another thing to complain about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She was terrible during this past year. Did not communicate clearly with parents and students, failed to even attempt to find a way to get students back for IPL in 2021. Just an all-around disaster. Students at Walls had NO in-person learning since March 2020. That's more than an entire school year. When pressed during town-hall meetings as to why the school under her leadership had failed to find ways to get at least some kids in classrooms, like other DCPS schools attempted to do, she claimed it would be "too disruptive" to the schedule. I'm not kidding. It was just too much trouble for her to do her job. And she did nothing to encourage teachers to get back to work in-person. Some teachers took the initiative to organize in-person activities outside school on Wednesdays, but if they had not, my kid would not have seen a single Walls teacher or administrator the entire year. The only thing she did is send out loaded "surveys," none of which ever offered a return to real IPL as an option. Then she would claim that no one wanted to return to IPL. Disgraceful.

Kids at Walls tend to be self-motivated so most will survive this but her lack of leadership and general lackadaisical attitude about her job is really disappointing. And if Walls offers anything less than full-time, in person learning w/ teachers in every classroom next year, parents will not stand for it.

Is this actually possible? It seems that DCPS/the Chancellor is not giving principals much discretion...my perception has been all schools will be full time, in person (with exceptions only made for students with health issues)....

[Anonymous]

I have heard horrible things about the incoming principal. Parents are not happy. I think the Walls glory days are sadly over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard horrible things about the incoming principal. Parents are not happy. I think the Walls glory days are sadly over.

I put full responsibility on the Chancellor.
Who fires the Principal in the middle of a pandemic due to administrative items that happened more than a year before (investigation was complete - and new contracts signed)
The message was very clear to all other Principals - either get in line or you too will be gone.
It is unfortunate that the children (once again) are the victims of this approach for managing the schools

[Anonymous]

Ms. Isaac is respected by students and parents you wouldn’t find on DCUM. Keep that in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She was terrible during this past year. Did not communicate clearly with parents and students, failed to even attempt to find a way to get students back for IPL in 2021. Just an all-around disaster. Students at Walls had NO in-person learning since March 2020. That's more than an entire school year. When pressed during town-hall meetings as to why the school under her leadership had failed to find ways to get at least some kids in classrooms, like other DCPS schools attempted to do, she claimed it would be "too disruptive" to the schedule. I'm not kidding. It was just too much trouble for her to do her job. And she did nothing to encourage teachers to get back to work in-person. Some teachers took the initiative to organize in-person activities outside school on Wednesdays, but if they had not, my kid would not have seen a single Walls teacher or administrator the entire year. The only thing she did is send out loaded "surveys," none of which ever offered a return to real IPL as an option. Then she would claim that no one wanted to return to IPL. Disgraceful.

Kids at Walls tend to be self-motivated so most will survive this but her lack of leadership and general lackadaisical attitude about her job is really disappointing. And if Walls offers anything less than full-time, in person learning w/ teachers in every classroom next year, parents will not stand for it.

Plus the student interviews for applicants sucked. No enthusiasm from the staff rep whatsoever. Principal could have at least given a pep talk or something.

NP and there is lots of criticism to go around for interviews I’m sure but claiming all ‘staff reps’ lacked enthusiasm is ridiculous since you interacted with one adult in the interview. Find another thing to complain about.

NP. I heartily agree that the student interviews for applicants sucked. No enthusiasm from the staff rep whatsoever.. The staff rep was a dead fish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ms. Isaac is respected by students and parents you wouldn’t find on DCUM. Keep that in mind.

Are you coyly alluding to race / SES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ms. Isaac is respected by students and parents you wouldn’t find on DCUM. Keep that in mind.

Um, no. She's not. Ask an actual parent of a Walls student (which I am). Most gave her the benefit of the doubt when she took over but she has not proven up to the task of running a school.

Consider that even as an asst. principal she was earning far higher a salary than most teachers/admins (and is likely earning more now), her inability to get a single student back in a classroom for more than a year, while claiming she could do nothing (while private schools and other DCPS schools managed to figure it out), is outrageous.

From GovSalaries:

Sylvia Isaac in 2018 was employed in Dc Public Schools and had annual salary of $134,864 according to public records. This salary is 80 percent higher than average and 71 percent higher than median salary in Dc Public Schools.