Reply to New Jackson-Reed HS (Wilson HS) School Principal

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Reply to "New Jackson-Reed HS (Wilson HS) School Principal - Sah Brown from Eastern High School"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As a probable future Wilson/JR parent, I'd like to flip the question.  It is clear that DCPS's priority is not making sure that high-SES kids achieve to their potential.  And this might be a cynical view, but I think we have seen some evidence, both at Wilson and DCPS-wide, that one way that can be used to close the achievement gap is to make advanced course work harder to access, either because the classes are not offered or because they are filled with students who aren't capable and distract from others' ability to learn.  Schools like Wilson have depended on their leadership, not DCPS central, to continue to offer courses that serve the diverse in-bound community (ie, students from the full range of interests and abilities), not just the students who are struggling.  I think that any time there is a change in personnel there is valid worry of what the future will bring for the kids who are on a path toward college.

So, I'm wondering if current or past Wilson parents can weigh in and advise on how parents can engage the new leadership to protect the advanced offerings that Wilson/JR currently offers and make sure that they are accessible to our kids?  It does seem like pressure will need to come from the community, not central office.  And for Wilson, it is less a question of attracting IB parents (like it might have been at Eastern, or Hardy in the past), but more a question of how to continue to serve them.  (or serve them better, if I can be an optimist!)[/quote]

I think this is a great question.  And I think you are 100 percent correct.  The change back from the (horrible) 4x4 schedule--which, by the way, served nobody well--was led by parents (though it was strongly supported by teachers and the administration too). DCPS was really the problem. I think principals are often in a touch spot where they need to walk a fine line and need to be careful about which fights to pick with downtown.  Parents will have to remain actively involved. I think the best way to do this is to not treat everything like a zero sum game.  Maintaining advanced courses is NOT hurtful to equity initiatives...for example, J-R is (I believe) going to offer African American History AP for the first time.  This will hopefully increase the number of African American students taking AP courses.  There are lots of ways for all courses to be elevated in ways that allows for differentiation (by emphasizing project-based learning, writing, and research for example).

I think the best way to approach the new leadership is with the good-faith assumption that he wants what is best for all of the students at J-R and will work with parents as partners. [/quote]

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