Anonymous
10/19/2025 21:08
Subject: Ideal principal
Okay, so we have named one good HS principal in FCPS already, and another from Louisiana. Any other candidates from any level?
Teachers and staff members, who is the best principal you’ve work for in FCPS? What makes them so good from your perspective?
Teachers and staff members, who is the best principal you’ve work for in FCPS? What makes them so good from your perspective?
Anonymous
10/19/2025 20:36
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:The awards are so phony. The front desk staff throws the Principal’s name and AP name into the hat every 2 years. These people look like they win awards because the population of applicants is so slim. The poor teachers have to compete against a much bigger pool of applications.
+100
Anonymous
10/19/2025 19:20
Subject: Ideal principal
Another vote for Principal Lamb.
I want a principal who spends more time in the hallway than an office. I want a principal who sees his/her job as a support role, providing teachers with the resources necessary to be the best they can in the classroom. I want a principal who cuts through the piles of nonsense, making meetings into emails in an effort to save precious time for teachers.
That man is a model. Sure, it’s social media… but it’s what I want.
I want a principal who spends more time in the hallway than an office. I want a principal who sees his/her job as a support role, providing teachers with the resources necessary to be the best they can in the classroom. I want a principal who cuts through the piles of nonsense, making meetings into emails in an effort to save precious time for teachers.
That man is a model. Sure, it’s social media… but it’s what I want.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 19:20
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Ill bite. The Justice High School principal is fantastic.
He was a former AP at McLean under Ellen Reilly and learned from one of the best.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 19:17
Subject: Ideal principal
The awards are so phony. The front desk staff throws the Principal’s name and AP name into the hat every 2 years. These people look like they win awards because the population of applicants is so slim. The poor teachers have to compete against a much bigger pool of applications.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 19:08
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Communication. Our ES principal is a terrible communicator and very much an introvert. We never hear from him and although he comes to school events, he does not socialize during those events. It's hard to get a hold of him, the one time we requested to meet with him, he punted to the assistant principal. From talking to several families, he has not once shown up to anyone's 504 or IEP meeting, even if requested. He also doesn't care to spend much time with the kids - they don't know him well at all. I'm not sure how a principal can be effective at his job if he doesn't get to know the families at his school.
Oh please give us a hint. How can he still be there? What pyramid?
It is extremely common for the AP to be the representative at IEP meetings, happens at many if not all of the schools. AND it is also the APs job to field some of the parent meetings. Everything you complained about is common (except for not socializing at events). Not reasons for firing.
I didn't say anything about firing him! I just said that he's a terrible communicator and doesn't engage with families. None of the parents I've talked to about him seem to have anything good to say about him.
But another PP said “how is he still there?” It may not have been you specifically, but it’s hard to tell on an anonymous forum.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 17:24
Subject: Re:Ideal principal
We had a principal who would admit when she and her admin did not handle a situation in the best manner. She would tell the parents what she was going to do in the future if a similar situation occurred.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 16:49
Subject: Ideal principal
Ill bite. The Justice High School principal is fantastic.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 16:23
Subject: Ideal principal
This thread is so DCUM.
Poster asks for some positive examples of leadership and you all roll in with your non-examples. Are you really this insecure?
Poster asks for some positive examples of leadership and you all roll in with your non-examples. Are you really this insecure?
Anonymous
10/19/2025 16:07
Subject: Ideal principal
We have had principals that knew every kid by name and face, made it a priority for kids to go outside, even if it was slightly cold or the ground was damp, meted out punishments that fit the crime, including suspensions, enforced rules regarding no phones, were always available to get on the phone, etc.
This was not in FCPS. Every principal we have had here is at the bottom compared to the two other out of state districts we belonged to.
This was not in FCPS. Every principal we have had here is at the bottom compared to the two other out of state districts we belonged to.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 16:03
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Communication. Our ES principal is a terrible communicator and very much an introvert. We never hear from him and although he comes to school events, he does not socialize during those events. It's hard to get a hold of him, the one time we requested to meet with him, he punted to the assistant principal. From talking to several families, he has not once shown up to anyone's 504 or IEP meeting, even if requested. He also doesn't care to spend much time with the kids - they don't know him well at all. I'm not sure how a principal can be effective at his job if he doesn't get to know the families at his school.
Oh please give us a hint. How can he still be there? What pyramid?
It is extremely common for the AP to be the representative at IEP meetings, happens at many if not all of the schools. AND it is also the APs job to field some of the parent meetings. Everything you complained about is common (except for not socializing at events). Not reasons for firing.
Principal here: yes it’s not unusual for the AP to sit in as the administrator at 504 and IEP meetings.
However if a parent specifically requests to meet with me, I honor that. I would never pass that off to the AP without communicating why like I was about to be out of the building on some type of leave and the issue was timely. Or if the AP has more knowledge about a specific situation, I would let the parent know and offer the option. I know many of my colleagues do the same.
Maybe this principal is new to the position and needs some feedback and support. I hope he gets it.
I actually think it's the opposite. He's been there for too long.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 16:02
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Communication. Our ES principal is a terrible communicator and very much an introvert. We never hear from him and although he comes to school events, he does not socialize during those events. It's hard to get a hold of him, the one time we requested to meet with him, he punted to the assistant principal. From talking to several families, he has not once shown up to anyone's 504 or IEP meeting, even if requested. He also doesn't care to spend much time with the kids - they don't know him well at all. I'm not sure how a principal can be effective at his job if he doesn't get to know the families at his school.
Oh please give us a hint. How can he still be there? What pyramid?
It is extremely common for the AP to be the representative at IEP meetings, happens at many if not all of the schools. AND it is also the APs job to field some of the parent meetings. Everything you complained about is common (except for not socializing at events). Not reasons for firing.
I didn't say anything about firing him! I just said that he's a terrible communicator and doesn't engage with families. None of the parents I've talked to about him seem to have anything good to say about him.
That’s not good. Communication is so much of the job.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 15:59
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Communication. Our ES principal is a terrible communicator and very much an introvert. We never hear from him and although he comes to school events, he does not socialize during those events. It's hard to get a hold of him, the one time we requested to meet with him, he punted to the assistant principal. From talking to several families, he has not once shown up to anyone's 504 or IEP meeting, even if requested. He also doesn't care to spend much time with the kids - they don't know him well at all. I'm not sure how a principal can be effective at his job if he doesn't get to know the families at his school.
Oh please give us a hint. How can he still be there? What pyramid?
It is extremely common for the AP to be the representative at IEP meetings, happens at many if not all of the schools. AND it is also the APs job to field some of the parent meetings. Everything you complained about is common (except for not socializing at events). Not reasons for firing.
I didn't say anything about firing him! I just said that he's a terrible communicator and doesn't engage with families. None of the parents I've talked to about him seem to have anything good to say about him.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 14:11
Subject: Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Communication. Our ES principal is a terrible communicator and very much an introvert. We never hear from him and although he comes to school events, he does not socialize during those events. It's hard to get a hold of him, the one time we requested to meet with him, he punted to the assistant principal. From talking to several families, he has not once shown up to anyone's 504 or IEP meeting, even if requested. He also doesn't care to spend much time with the kids - they don't know him well at all. I'm not sure how a principal can be effective at his job if he doesn't get to know the families at his school.
Oh please give us a hint. How can he still be there? What pyramid?
It is extremely common for the AP to be the representative at IEP meetings, happens at many if not all of the schools. AND it is also the APs job to field some of the parent meetings. Everything you complained about is common (except for not socializing at events). Not reasons for firing.
At our school, the sped chair serves as principle designee 95% of the time. We only have principal and AP there for anything possibly contentious.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 14:11
Subject: Re:Ideal principal
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher. I’d love to be ori for Jared Lamb.
What does this mean and who is Jared Lamb?
ES Teacher
He’s a principal on social media at a charter school in Louisiana. He posts these videos of himself moving around school on a rolling cart, pretending he’s removing kids from class and supporting teachers. He obviously cannot film these things when school is really happening.
I’m a bit jaded and find all of this performative. No principal can be perfect for everyone, including teachers.
It’s so far in so many ways from FCPS and he would never survive here. As a teacher it would be great but it’s not reality in FCPS.