Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought she was great but I’ve heard that the school has had recent challenges. I think 400 kindergarteners with a large proportion for whom English isn’t their first language?

There is no way there are 400 kindergarteners. The school has 600 students altogether. ELD rate is 23.5%.

It might be 350 then. It’s enormous and much larger than the average grade in the past. Certainly much more than 200.

The school has about 200 students per grade, and it's k-2nd, while Piney Branch Elementary around the corner has 3rd-5th grade. In recent years, the number of FARMS kids has gone down a bit as the area's housing has gotten more expensive. My kids were there 2015-2023 and unsurprisingly the big challenges seem to have been pandemic related. The aftermath of zoom kindergarten, etc., as addressed by the article. Which Dr. G managed exceptionally well with clear child wellbeing and progress priorities.

Anonymous wrote:I thought she was great but I’ve heard that the school has had recent challenges. I think 400 kindergarteners with a large proportion for whom English isn’t their first language?

There is no way there are 400 kindergarteners. The school has 600 students altogether. ELD rate is 23.5%.

I thought she was great but I’ve heard that the school has had recent challenges. I think 400 kindergarteners with a large proportion for whom English isn’t their first language?

This is so well deserved. My kids went to TPES in recent years. My most clear view of Dr. Gadsden came when I was a parent volunteer for outdoor lunch during the pandemic; we would flounder to manage, and she would come out and show us how an expert does it - little fanfare, no yelling, she modeled respect and had all the kids rapt. And then when I was trying to roll my eyes at having a 2nd grade "promotion" ceremony, her speech made me tear up instead. I was struck by one of the comments in the article: that she now has to "pour" herself into parents as well, not just kids - something for us parents to keep in mind, taking care not to pull focus when we can avoid it.

I didn't love her when we were there, but congrats, I guess.

Wow, congrats, Dr. Gadsden!

That's great news. Congrats to her!

My college DD and Senior DD thrived at TPES. Congrats to a well-deserved recognition to the Principal!

She is great - it's nice to see her being recognized!

She is wonderful and this is very well deserved. My kids are in 7th grade and 9th grade and still remember her fondly.

PS - the article is pretty transparent about post COVID behavior issues experienced in the classroom.

I have no clue, but she is professional and competent. Definitely not the worst principal and probably does the best she can with the job she has.

Congrats to her! A wonderful recognition for a lovely and engaged administrator.

Uh oh. What big mess did she have to overcome over at TPES to deserve this wonderful recognition?

Zadia Gadsden, principal of Takoma Park Elementary in Elementary in Takoma Park, Md., is The Washington Post’s 2024 Principal of the Year.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/04/23/washington-post-principal-of-the-year-2024-zadia-gadsden/