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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What is the biggest issue standing in the way of finding and retaining quality principals?[/quote]

I'm a District resident who is a principal in Virginia. I'd love to work in DC, but that union contract scares the daylights out of me. Our teacher contract is one-page, front and back. In DC, it's pages and pages and pages long. The notion that I would have to move a mountain to get rid of an incompetent teacher is not a battle I want to fight. And then if there is a vacancy, there is a senority system in place where others could get the job over a candidate that I would want. I'm not saying that I can or should be able fire teachers at the drop of a hat (for things other than really obvious offenses like showing up drunk.) But I have to know that with appropriate documentation, I have the backing from central office to get rid of incompetence. Right now I don't have faith that such a scenario would take place.

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Really? Your desire to be able to fire a teacher at the drop of a hat is the only thing keeping you from DCPS? Then stay very far away.

1. One thing DC has no shortage of is AMAZING teachers. That is the one thing they've gotten right over the years. I suspect part of the problem is that the teachers are of such a high caliber that it raises the bar for leadership. It's the TEACHERS who've been leaving in droves. They're a talented pool who can get jobs elsewhere. (The teachers leave; principals are fired.)
2. You seem to have the systems backwards. Seniority counts in Va. It is in Va that principals must document, document, document to have a teacher fired. And what's wrong with that? You should have to show cause before firing someone. Otherwise, I'm out of a job because you want to hire your girlfriend or brother-in-law. Damned the fact that I'm more competent.
3. I have a hard time believing you're a principal. With all the issues around the achievement gap, your greatest concern is being able to fire teachers? I really don't think you're someone DCPS needs. You sound like exactly the type of principal they're getting rid of-power-tripping anti-teachers who worry about the wrong thing.[/quote]

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