“Takoma parents =/= CH parents

I mean that as a compliment to Takoma parents.”


Yeah, eff those CH parents with their progressive politics, and their hard-earned college and professional degrees, and success in their careers. How dare they expect something like work ethic from the principal of their kids’ schools. The nerve! 🤨

“She will do fine.She tried really hard and was up against "connected" people who didn't agree with her. “

No. Just...no. She didn’t try really hard because that would have required her to work hard. Multiple teachers said they could never figure out what she actually did because the work was always left to everyone else. Also, there were many occasions when she left the school *during school hours* to go to the gym or shop or whatever, but she would lie about it by saying she was at the other school’s campus. Guess what? She wasn’t. It took five years of documenting all of the issues with her lack of work ethic, disrespect for parents, lying on multiple occasions about multiple situations, really bad budget decisions that negatively impacted the students and teachers, complete lack of knowledge about DCPS policies and an unwillingness to learn, and an education philosophy that basically undermines the mission of public schools (she believes white parents - no matter their income levels - should send their kids to private schools, and has outright stated that in public forums). Take a look at the test scores for the highest achievers at Watkins (not all white, by the way). They went DOWN during her tenure. THAT is how she “closed the achievement gap.” Someone else said she’s just like Trump. That’s pretty close, though she’s attractive, so she has that going for her at least. She gets her way by dividing and conquering - not a trait of the average school principal. She has no idea how to bring people together around common goals, which should not have been difficult at a public school where 99% of the parents are progressives. Honestly, if she couldn’t make it work at a school like the Cluster, she has no business in any school.

Takoma parents =/= CH parents

I mean that as a compliment to Takoma parents

She will do fine.She tried really hard and was up against "connected" people who didn't agree with her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the post earlier in the year about her leaving her current post. Now we know she landed at TEC does anyone want to share a bit more about your specific likes or concerns for those of us up here in Takoma.

Ooo boy you should search any recent Watkins/Peabody thread - it’s a lot to unpack

My two cents - she is unqualified, all talk, has no business being a principal and I can’t believe that DCPS stuck her somewhere else after asking her to leave Watkins. She destroyed our school and it will take us years to recover.

I really hope she doesn’t do the same to you for the sake of the students there or that you are able to get her out faster than we did.

Good Luck!

She took the school's Google parent list serve, forwarded several chains to Perry Stein/Washington Post, and then cooperated with an article that divided the
community, of which she was still the principal.
Need I say more? Who does that?

Yeah, I have no tie to this school nor know much about it but that’s totally nuts. Thinking about our school’s various contentious listserv discussions over the years, this seems like pretty much the worst thing a principal could do. Clearly she does not in any way respect a good portion of her school’s parents. I just don’t think it’s ok to run a school while harboring such bitterness. We even had a principal who might have felt this way but I can’t imagine her airing that to the media of all places? It’s just bizarre. Good luck TEC.

Anonymous wrote:well grover norquist won’t be up there to lead a campaign against her in her first year, so hopefully she will get off to a better start!

As I recall it, the Norquists were strong boosters of Peabody/Watkins for years, and started out as supporters of Bell. This allegation is just not fair.

She’s the Donald Trump of principals - a snake oil salesman that will sow intense division while actively working to destroy whatever working systems were in place.

God speed Takoma, you’ve had a good run.

She pits parents against parents, can’t run a budget, doesn’t perform the basic communication that being a principal requires and most of her schools’ teachers hated her.

She absolutely destroyed Watkins. Think of what it could’ve been if she never set foot in the place.

And for the record (ahem Google results) her name is Elena Bell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the post earlier in the year about her leaving her current post. Now we know she landed at TEC does anyone want to share a bit more about your specific likes or concerns for those of us up here in Takoma.

Ooo boy you should search any recent Watkins/Peabody thread - it’s a lot to unpack

My two cents - she is unqualified, all talk, has no business being a principal and I can’t believe that DCPS stuck her somewhere else after asking her to leave Watkins. She destroyed our school and it will take us years to recover.

I really hope she doesn’t do the same to you for the sake of the students there or that you are able to get her out faster than we did.

Good Luck!

She took the school's Google parent list serve, forwarded several chains to Perry Stein/Washington Post, and then cooperated with an article that divided the
community, of which she was still the principal.
Need I say more? Who does that?

I really feel for Takoma.
You will spend months under her spell, only to realize it's all smoke and mirrors.
And by then, it will be too late.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the post earlier in the year about her leaving her current post. Now we know she landed at TEC does anyone want to share a bit more about your specific likes or concerns for those of us up here in Takoma.

Ooo boy you should search any recent Watkins/Peabody thread - it’s a lot to unpack

My two cents - she is unqualified, all talk, has no business being a principal and I can’t believe that DCPS stuck her somewhere else after asking her to leave Watkins. She destroyed our school and it will take us years to recover.

I really hope she doesn’t do the same to you for the sake of the students there or that you are able to get her out faster than we did.

Good Luck!

Holy drama-queen, batman.

I wish PP was wrong- you clearly don’t have a kid at Watkins!

well grover norquist won’t be up there to lead a campaign against her in her first year, so hopefully she will get off to a better start!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the post earlier in the year about her leaving her current post. Now we know she landed at TEC does anyone want to share a bit more about your specific likes or concerns for those of us up here in Takoma.

Ooo boy you should search any recent Watkins/Peabody thread - it’s a lot to unpack

My two cents - she is unqualified, all talk, has no business being a principal and I can’t believe that DCPS stuck her somewhere else after asking her to leave Watkins. She destroyed our school and it will take us years to recover.

I really hope she doesn’t do the same to you for the sake of the students there or that you are able to get her out faster than we did.

Good Luck!

Holy drama-queen, batman.

Anonymous wrote:I saw the post earlier in the year about her leaving her current post. Now we know she landed at TEC does anyone want to share a bit more about your specific likes or concerns for those of us up here in Takoma.

Ooo boy you should search any recent Watkins/Peabody thread - it’s a lot to unpack

My two cents - she is unqualified, all talk, has no business being a principal and I can’t believe that DCPS stuck her somewhere else after asking her to leave Watkins. She destroyed our school and it will take us years to recover.

I really hope she doesn’t do the same to you for the sake of the students there or that you are able to get her out faster than we did.

Good Luck!

I saw the post earlier in the year about her leaving her current post. Now we know she landed at TEC does anyone want to share a bit more about your specific likes or concerns for those of us up here in Takoma.