Reply to Meet Kimberly Martin new Wilson Principal

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]"I’m not sure how the District thing works."

Really?  This is from the new principal of the largest and most successful High School in the city?  Oh my.[/quote]

Really?  She explained that she didn't know if her kid could go to the school where she works or if he'd be required to go to the school near their home.  You people who take issue with that are a bunch of assholes.[/quote]

I took personal issue with that. As a parent, that would be one of the first things I'd know--particularly as the parent of an AA make teen moving into a dangerous inner city (from Aspen no less!). In fact I'd try to negotiate his attendance at Wilson as part of my contract. What if he's inbound for Anacostia or Ballou??!! Rhee certainly knew where she was sending her kids before she got here.[/quote]

This is the most ridiculous comment yet. Personal issue? She interviewed for a job, accepted an offer and, like most people who transfer to another city for a job, is still working out details of her family life. But you take personal issue with that?

And what part of this sophomoric interview led you to believe she's moving into the "dangerous inner city"???  Was it the confession that she likes to eat BBQ? I ask you this as the parent of a black male, and at the risk of your "personal issue" with the inquiry.

Seriously. Assholes. [/quote]

I'm going to assume you are serious and respond in kind.

As the mother of an AA male, I (and several educated mothers I know) moved AWAY from the inner city to raise our children in safe environments. Moving INTO an innercity with a teen male would give me great pause-professional opportunities be damned. BUT if I were to accept an offer in a dangerous innercity, you'd best believe I wouldn't be playing guessing games with my child's education, living arrangements or knowing what the hell we were getting into. This is a 15 year old-not a 5 year old who'd be sheltered 24/7. Will this kid have to take the metro to school? City bus? When I DID relocate to the suburbs, the FIRST thing I knew was where my child would go to school and the school's reputation. And I did that BEFORE seeking employment in that town. Are you kidding me??? That info is toooo easy to find online.

What part of that sophomoric interview led me to believe she was moving into a dangerous innercity? The part where she said they're definitely going to live in DC. I'm beginning to wonder if you're Kimberly Martin. Who else would be so clueless about the danger that exists in the nation's Capitol???

Furthermore, people who want to be taken seriously professionally should never come across as sophomoric in interviews. Even when interviewed by elementary school children, I've seen our Greats appear to be polished adults who give intelligent yet age appropriate responses to little ones.

PS: The greatest issue is that she lacks basic knowledge about the system and community she's being asked to lead.

And believe it or not, I'm still being reserved in my comments. I haven't unleashed "how I really feel" out of respect for the fact that the woman hasn't had a chance to show up and 'prove herself'. I'm really trying to be fair.
[/quote]

I don't think you're trying to be fair. I think you saw a black woman, knew she'd be hyper-critiqued, thought she had little chance of survival and threw your "expertise" as an AA mother into the pit to hasten the kill.

If you've moved away from the dangerous innercity, why would you care enough to read and comment about DCPS? And how, pray tell, do you know where this woman is going to be living?

To answer your speculation about my seriousness, I'm quite. I frequently feel insulted by comments on DCUM, but yours were particularly egregious, with the BS about "dangerous inner city."  As if, because she's black and chooses to live in DC, she can only be living in a dangerous part of the city. And as if all the "smart" black people have moved to the suburbs, so she must be an idiot for not sussing this out.

So lame and myopic of you to think only Kimberly Martin would find your comments infuriatingly ignorant.  For the record, I've lived in this city more than 25 years. One thing I've learned is that it's impossible to know all the nuances of this city without living here through several different eras. In all that time, I've known no one who describes it as "dangerous inner city". [/quote]

Stop it!

There are tons of black women leading DC schools who are lauded. I think Kaya Henderson is great! Don't agree with all she says and does, but I appreciate her intellect and hard work. The bottom line is that Martin's credentials and experience are not impressive and she did not come across well in that interview. Period. Point bank. That is the reason you made the point you thought she'd be hyper-critiqued (unlike other AA principals who are celebrated.) If I wanted to pile on, I would've done so in the original thread in which the interview was posted. I did not respond. Instead I 'bit my tongue' but couldn't hold back in this thread.

Why would I read and care about what's happening in the nation's Capitol? Because I'm an educated, intelligent woman who cares about what's happening in many areas throughout the U.S. and world.

How do I know where she will be living? I don't, as she likely doesn't either. But I do know DC is a dangerous city. Period. I don't care what area you live in, it's a dangerous city to traverse on a daily basis.

I don't care what neighborhood you choose to move into, it makes no sense to not KNOW where your child will attend school and the rules governing your options. Period. Add a dangerous city and being the single mother of a teen boy and it really makes no sense. Worse, you're a school leader but don't know these basic rules to apply them to your own situation. So, how will you advise families????? Please stop while you're behind. You just keep allowing me to pour on more and more! And please understand the difference between a nice neighborhood and CITY. You can move into a nice house in a great neighborhood but still live in a dangerous CITY. Where do you think I lived before I left?

Nope! Don't think Martin's the only one who would disagree with my position. But I do think she displays the same lack of basic sense I read into your post.

Seriously stop while you're ahead. Do not make me unleash what I really think. Now that would be a nasty pile on.

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