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[quote=Anonymous][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]

Sorry to disappoint, but I am a principal. And I am very concerned about the achievement gap. I want the very best teachers in my school and in every school. If I walk in and there's an incompetent teacher who isn't performing and has no business working with children, then I want to be able to get rid of that teacher. I will do the documentation.  If a teacher has great relationships with the students and colleagues and parents, plans and executes engaging lessons and demonstrates high levels of learning, then that's fabulous! I will do whatever it takes to keep that teacher.

And if there is a vacancy, no dear, I'm not interested in hiring my family members. What I do want is to be able to hire a really AMAZING teacher to fill that vacancy. What I don't want is someone from central office to say that a current DCPS teacher from another school has rights to transfer into that vacancy and that I have to take that transfer.

I'm quite familiar how things work in Virginia, thank you. I'm not sure where you picked up that I don't mind documenting to get rid of an incompetent teacher. I don't believe any principal should be able to fire a teacher at the drop of a hat. I shouldn't do all the documentation to get rid of an incompetent teacher THEN have someone from central office undermine that by not backing me up.  Maybe try reading a little closer next time.

Are you the poster who complains about the principal at West ES? [/quote]

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