That sounds like politics as usual in SP.

Everyone liked old principal, except for a small, very vocal and influential group of parents, who decided for reasons that were never entirely clear to anyone else, that she was unsatisfactory.

I am, if I can admit it anonymously, still pretty pissed off and confused about the entire thing.

Anonymous wrote:New neighbor here. Really thinking of enrolling my 1st grader in Shepherd. He loves his current charter so I'm struggling with the thought of leaving. Are there more IB kids in older grades?

PS- what kind of shoes were they?

That's a hard decision if your kid already loves his current charter. Especially if it offers something that Shepherd doesn't (immersion, Montessori, etc.). That said, we've been really happy so far as our child starts her second year at Shepherd. Tough call.

As for IB, I think last year the school was at 34%. The younger grades are trending more IB. PK3 is 100% IB, and I believe PK4 is around 50% IB, based on last year's lottery results. I'm not sure about 1st grade in particular, as my child is in a younger grade. I guess you could check the lottery results, although I'm not sure if they're still available?

Re: the shoes, I have no idea what designer, etc. I just know that they were probably 4-inch heels with some sort of ankle cuff--couldn't see clearly from my vantage point--and that I couldn't pull it off (I wear loafers or ballet flats to work). I don't recall her shoes from when I first met her at one of the summer meet-and-greets, but I think they were sandals or flats or something. So she definitely stepped her shoe game up for BTSN.

New neighbor here. Really thinking of enrolling my 1st grader in Shepherd. He loves his current charter so I'm struggling with the thought of leaving. Are there more IB kids in older grades?

PS- what kind of shoes were they?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

DH did right. Otherwise I would be....worried?

PP here.

On another note, I forgot to mention--I saw her at the ANC4a meeting held at Shepherd a couple weeks back. I remember being slightly impressed that a) she recognized me, a random Shepherd parent who has only briefly met her before, and b) that she was attending this 7pm meeting after being at the school for almost 12 hours. To me, that suggested that she's interested in how the school fits into the larger neighborhood and ward. So, pints for that.

I'll drink to that!

Ack, "points," not "pints." Although it is finally the weekend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

DH did right. Otherwise I would be....worried?

PP here.

On another note, I forgot to mention--I saw her at the ANC4a meeting held at Shepherd a couple weeks back. I remember being slightly impressed that a) she recognized me, a random Shepherd parent who has only briefly met her before, and b) that she was attending this 7pm meeting after being at the school for almost 12 hours. To me, that suggested that she's interested in how the school fits into the larger neighborhood and ward. So, pints for that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

Her shoes AND her dress at BTSN were amazing. I'm still getting to know her as a principal, but she has a pretty fabulous mod wardrobe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

DH did right. Otherwise I would be....worried?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

I'm guessing DCPS is employing fashionable Principals instead of ones that are responsive to parents, which is the case at our school. Glad it's working out for you guys.

People are so binary on this forum. You can be fashionable AND responsive.

As for the principal, yes, way too early to tell. Ask us this time next after a few things have gone "wrong" and we see how she reacts to them.

I met her at the playground meet and greet. She seemed nice, professional, not a pushover. I may have expected someone a little warmer - but then again, maybe a principal is supposed to be a little bit tough

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

I'm guessing DCPS is employing fashionable Principals instead of ones that are responsive to parents, which is the case at our school. Glad it's working out for you guys.

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

I was too. I know this doesn't answer OP's question, but does anyone know what happened to the old principal? Is she back in Central Office? I hope all worked out for her.

As for Jade Brawley, I agree it is too early to tell. She does seem like a tough cookie, which I see as a good thing. Glad that she will continue to be mentored as a new principal through the Patterson Fellowship for the duration of her first year.

And I usually never make comments like this, but did anyone see her shoes? Pretty fabulous. Tried to tell DH this at BTSN, but he was unimpressed.

It's kind of too soon to say. I like the new drop-off protocol, but that was more because of the new construction zone than the new principal. I like that we're getting the school newsletter weekly instead of twice a month. And Back to School Night was more informative, more streamlined this year. And I know she went to bat for those of us with kids in K, to ensure DCPS came through on its promise for 3 classes of K, to keep class sizes down. Overall, it's a little too early to say, I think. But, I was among those who was fine with our last principal.

Any major changes going on at Shepherd with new principal? How are grades 1-3? Thx