Jefferson-Houston Principal

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[Post New]05/30/2018 10:32
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I see so much negativity on this board for J-H and I'm trying to reconcile it with my experience. I have a child in the special ed pre-K program. Our experience with that program (parents/teachers/administrators) has been terrific. At first, I assumed it was because we were in special ed pre-k and "separate" from the rest of the school, but in everyday run-ins with other staff and teachers for the general school population of k-8 (school nurse, principal, other special ed staff, coaching staff, teachers), I also get a very warm, friendly, and competent vibe (much more friendly than staff at my other children's highly regarded school). Maybe this is just because we are only scratching the surface at J-H so I'm not seeing some of the more systemic problems that are identified on this board. Who knows....


Thank you for posting this. My DD will be going to J-H in a few years, and I have had a lot of anxiety about it. However, I've met several members of the PTA and they are very happy with their experience so far and are enthusiastic about the future. I've met other parents in my neighborhood who aren't planning to get a transfers, and they have toured the school and conducted their due diligence and seem very happy with what they have seen.


It's a tough situation. On the one hand, I want to support those who are trying to improve the school, and don't think taking a defeatist attitude is going to help anything. On the other hand, my child went there for two years, and the environment was not meeting her needs, so we ultimately moved to another school district. I hope that things can and will change for the better at JH. The facility is lovely, and there were certainly some nice kids in DD's grade.


Do you mind sharing why the school didn't meet your child's needs? It would be helpful for me to understand if there is a specific educational issue like what some posters are saying or whether something else drove you away.


Not the poster you're addressing but the people I knew that went and left (yes, UMC white kids from parents with solid educations) said that their kids sat their bored out of their skulls while the teachers taught bare minimum basics of reading for second graders.

My DD was reading by the end of kindergarten. What is she challenged by in that environment? Is she supposed to doodle all day for two years?

That's not going to cut it.

Personally, I've been on the playground/field more than once while I saw a handful of 'local' mothers screamed about 'smacking yo ass' at their 6 or 7 year olds. Once, during a soccer game, the game was halted because some woman was repeatedly spanking her unruly kid while cursing him. There had to be 30 witnesses to this. People were slack jawed.

That just doesn't happen at Mason.
[Post New]05/30/2018 13:13
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Anonymous
Do you mind sharing why the school didn't meet your child's needs? It would be helpful for me to understand if there is a specific educational issue like what some posters are saying or whether something else drove you away.


Sure. She had one subject she is strong in where she was not being challenged. She has another subject where she struggles, but apparently not enough to qualify for tutoring or additional assistance at JH. I also felt like her teacher was unconcerned about her struggles in the second subject because DD's behavior wasn't an issue and because other students in the class were farther below where they should be than DD. DD's current school was able to give her a tutoring spot for this subject, even though her abilities are marginal, rather than definitively failing.
[Post New]05/30/2018 13:19
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Anonymous
They are accredited because the state lowered the bar to be accredited. Now, it's sufficient to just show progress towards accreditation.

I think they really have made some progress but have a really long way to go. Last year they had an audit of their reading instruction program and it wasn't good. It even mentioned that the Reading resource teacher was unclear what her role was. I mean if that teacher doesn't know what's she is supposed to be doing, how well are the other teachers going to know?

[Post New]05/30/2018 13:23
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:They are accredited because the state lowered the bar to be accredited. Now, it's sufficient to just show progress towards accreditation.




This.
[Post New]05/30/2018 14:45
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:He moves around a lot, no?
Over the past five years, Berkowitz has served as the assistant principal at Hybla Valley Elementary School in Fairfax County Public Schools, vice principal of instruction at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy on Capitol Hill, assistant principal of Hardy Middle School at DCPS and summer school principal at Walker-Jones Education Campus for DCPS before joining the fellowship program in 2017.


This is the corner into which ACPS has painted itself. They get either the castoffs that can't hold down long-term positions in other districts and then end up shuffling them around ACPS for years. This guy may not last at J-H very long, but unless he commits a crime, he'll probably just get transferred to another school or, even better, promoted to central office.
[Post New]05/30/2018 16:55
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He moves around a lot, no?
Over the past five years, Berkowitz has served as the assistant principal at Hybla Valley Elementary School in Fairfax County Public Schools, vice principal of instruction at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy on Capitol Hill, assistant principal of Hardy Middle School at DCPS and summer school principal at Walker-Jones Education Campus for DCPS before joining the fellowship program in 2017.


This is the corner into which ACPS has painted itself. They get either the castoffs that can't hold down long-term positions in other districts and then end up shuffling them around ACPS for years. This guy may not last at J-H very long, but unless he commits a crime, he'll probably just get transferred to another school or, even better, promoted to central office.


Well stated, pp. Come back to VA Schools DCUM more frequently to share your insight. Decades have passed with ACPS being at the bottom of the VDOE state ratings. Decades (think about the lost opportunities for we residents and the City). By now, given our affluence, we should be near our local peers in state VDOE ranking. What were and are the school board and council/staff thinking: businesses would be drawn here in spite of mediocre ACPS?

If ACPS was rocking academically right now, it would have no problem in hiring great admins/teachers. Our salaries for our Super and fellow administrators are very competitive. We are indeed boxed into a corner by earned poor reputation. Personally, I'd rather put money into ACPS teachers than admin at this point.

I've watched this play out for over 30 years and even now if you read the school board candidate's goals, the focus remains on buildings rather than academics. Alexandria does need new buildings, but not constant overrun multi million buildings like TCWHS, JH, and ever contentious Patrick Henry Elementary. Jefferson Houston is an example of a beautiful building but unaccredited K-8 school. And yes, as to VDOE fudging (lowering) accreditation standards: view the ACPS school boards recent online (video) discussion on how the rules of the game are finally turning in ACPS favor. Hint: it lowers the standard.

Past time to wake up Alexandria residents! It's your hard earned, high tax money and our ACPS.
[Post New]05/30/2018 18:19
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He moves around a lot, no?
Over the past five years, Berkowitz has served as the assistant principal at Hybla Valley Elementary School in Fairfax County Public Schools, vice principal of instruction at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy on Capitol Hill, assistant principal of Hardy Middle School at DCPS and summer school principal at Walker-Jones Education Campus for DCPS before joining the fellowship program in 2017.


This is the corner into which ACPS has painted itself. They get either the castoffs that can't hold down long-term positions in other districts and then end up shuffling them around ACPS for years. This guy may not last at J-H very long, but unless he commits a crime, he'll probably just get transferred to another school or, even better, promoted to central office.

He might be a turnaround principal, who is assigned for a short period (1-2 years) to improve things.
[Post New]05/30/2018 18:37
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He moves around a lot, no?
Over the past five years, Berkowitz has served as the assistant principal at Hybla Valley Elementary School in Fairfax County Public Schools, vice principal of instruction at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy on Capitol Hill, assistant principal of Hardy Middle School at DCPS and summer school principal at Walker-Jones Education Campus for DCPS before joining the fellowship program in 2017.


This is the corner into which ACPS has painted itself. They get either the castoffs that can't hold down long-term positions in other districts and then end up shuffling them around ACPS for years. This guy may not last at J-H very long, but unless he commits a crime, he'll probably just get transferred to another school or, even better, promoted to central office.

He might be a turnaround principal, who is assigned for a short period (1-2 years) to improve things.


That’s allegedly every one they’ve had there.
[Post New]05/30/2018 21:27
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He moves around a lot, no?
Over the past five years, Berkowitz has served as the assistant principal at Hybla Valley Elementary School in Fairfax County Public Schools, vice principal of instruction at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy on Capitol Hill, assistant principal of Hardy Middle School at DCPS and summer school principal at Walker-Jones Education Campus for DCPS before joining the fellowship program in 2017.


This is the corner into which ACPS has painted itself. They get either the castoffs that can't hold down long-term positions in other districts and then end up shuffling them around ACPS for years. This guy may not last at J-H very long, but unless he commits a crime, he'll probably just get transferred to another school or, even better, promoted to central office.

He might be a turnaround principal, who is assigned for a short period (1-2 years) to improve things.


That’s allegedly every one they’ve had there.


He doesn't sound like a turnaround guy from the positions he has held (e.g., summer school principal).
[Post New]05/31/2018 18:47
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Anonymous
It is concerning that we are not able to attract quality external candidates for principal positions. Even people who appear to be good internal candidates are applying outside the system. I wonder if that is true of other school systems or if it is unique to us because of our reputation?
[Post New]06/04/2018 15:08
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ACPScommunications
Member Offline
Hello parents,

Just want to respond to this thread on behalf of ACPS.

ACPS is looking forward to welcoming MScott Berkowitz as the new principal of Jefferson-Houston School on July 1. MScott is excited to start at Jefferson-Houston and is looking forward to continuing the school’s positive trajectory.

Berkowitz has a solid foundation in classroom instruction and a range of educational leadership experience in diverse educational environments. His accomplishments include double-digit percentage improvements in science, math and writing SOLs for the fifth-grade team at Hybla Valley and significant improvements in targeted areas of academic achievement. His focus on team and leadership development, through the coaching and empowerment of teaching staff, has resulted in academic gains in each of his roles.

Over the last four years, Jefferson-Houston has made marked progress toward achieving full accreditation, particularly under new accreditation standards that measure growth as well as overall achievement. Reading levels at the school have increased by one and a half years or more each year, and student success on state reading tests has increased by 19 points. Math scores on state assessments have increased by 20 points, science scores by 31 points and history scores by 22 points. The student population has increased by 64 percent and the school has been transformed into a community school with passionate advocates and partners.

Jefferson-Houston School is Alexandria’s first Pre-K to 8th-grade school. Jefferson-Houston is an International Baccalaureate® (IB) school. It is authorized for both the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). The IB focuses on developing the whole child so that s/he gains the intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills needed to live, learn, and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

Helen Lloyd
Director of Communications
Alexandria City Public Schools
[Post New]06/04/2018 16:29
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Anonymous
While we have your attention Ms Lloyd, will you confirm that some admin transfers are still be granted out of JH?
[Post New]06/04/2018 22:33
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:While we have your attention Ms Lloyd, will you confirm that some admin transfers are still be granted out of JH?


You can check out any time you like . . .but you can never leave
[Post New]06/05/2018 14:21
quote
ACPScommunications
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:While we have your attention Ms Lloyd, will you confirm that some admin transfers are still be granted out of JH?


While some administrative transfers are permitted under ACPS policies, these are for exceptional student situations based on health, safety, or a temporary or mid-year housing change. These requests may be granted if there is capacity at the requested grade level, and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Transportation is not provided for parent/guardian-requested administrative transfers.

Students may opt into JH on the grounds that as a K-8 school it is a programmatic school if there is capacity at the requested grade level. Students may not opt out of a K-8 school during grades K-5, but may opt out beginning in grade 6. Transportation is provided for programmatic transfers.
[Post New]06/05/2018 15:01
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Anonymous
ACPScommunications wrote:
Anonymous wrote:While we have your attention Ms Lloyd, will you confirm that some admin transfers are still be granted out of JH?


While some administrative transfers are permitted under ACPS policies, these are for exceptional student situations based on health, safety, or a temporary or mid-year housing change. These requests may be granted if there is capacity at the requested grade level, and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Transportation is not provided for parent/guardian-requested administrative transfers.

Students may opt into JH on the grounds that as a K-8 school it is a programmatic school if there is capacity at the requested grade level. Students may not opt out of a K-8 school during grades K-5, but may opt out beginning in grade 6. Transportation is provided for programmatic transfers.



Thank you Ms. Floyd for the above detailed response. I wish to ask about the wisdom of continuing to make elementary Jefferson Houston an International Baccalaureate-appropriate ACPS K-8 school in our system. Such a curriculum (IB) is widely recognized as one of the toughest public curriculums all around. Why can't we stick with the traditional and time honed basic elementary education at J-H rather than bite off more that is needed in the IB curriculum?

J-H isn't even accredited yet. Let's take tried and true steps rather than giant hopeful leaps via IB at Jefferson Houston K-8.
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