Ms. Rabiah is apparently leaving Murch to teach at another school. Perhaps there are currently no open positions for the grade she teaches at Murch. In any event, this is a loss for the school.

As for the teachers and their relationship with Ms. Ellis, like many others, I have heard that there was a split, with a faction of teacher who feel they could not work effectively with the principal. I have to say, however, that there are very few rumors swirling around the school, and I am very impressed that both sides have kept relatively quiet about the whole thing. It is a testament to the teachers and Ms. Ellis that they do not feel the need to air their dirty laundry in public. And I was no Ms. Ellis fan, but I do give her credit for accepting that she had lost the support of many of her teachers and resigning, if that is what in fact happened.

Is Ms Rabiah going to teach at Murch or at another school?

Anonymous wrote:I understand that there was a split in the staff, some supported Ms. Ellis staying, others wanted her replaced. Can anyone speak to that?

Maybe this is a troll stirring things up. Or perhaps it's sincere. Either way there is nothing constructive about it. It makes me sad to see people asking for such destructive and juicy gossip in a public forum. How is this helpful in any way?

I understand that there was a split in the staff, some supported Ms. Ellis staying, others wanted her replaced. Can anyone speak to that?

Anonymous wrote:I thought Murch was supposed to be one of the shining stars of DCPS. It seems like even the "good" public schools in DCPS are plagued with problems, although it's hard to tell from the posts if the problem is administrators or parents who are too high-maintenance.

Supportive, engaged parents can overcome bureaucratic dysfunction. Kids with parents who are invested in their education will generally succeed. So Murch's success (and Lafayette's, and Janney's, and Mann's...) is much more highly correlated with the percentage of kids from supportive homes than it is with the quality of the school itself.

As a Murch parent, I think we'll be fine, although it would be wonderful to find a great principal who garners the support of teachers and families.

I thought Murch was supposed to be one of the shining stars of DCPS. It seems like even the "good" public schools in DCPS are plagued with problems, although it's hard to tell from the posts if the problem is administrators or parents who are too high-maintenance.

I am sad to see her go too!!!! Good teachers support her as well, my DS teacher and former DD teacher do!!

Prioritized on the children? By bullying and threatening good teachers? I am not a high maintenance parent, but good teachers were getting ready to walk and turned to parents after trying repeatedly to meet to discuss problems with the principal directly who then ignored them. The teacher who was last year's union rep (and a very good teacher) left last year to go to another ward 3 school because of the conflict the principal instigated.

She has a very authoritarian style and would avoid answering e-mails and notes unless they were about logistical questions - direct experience. Condescending in meetings with all parties. Lafayette works since it has a principal who knows how to work with staff and parents. This one did not have that set of skills.

As for the AP, she had a baby last year and has decided that regular teaching hours would be better for managing her home life with a toddler - something most of us understand.

It's not the school: those of you who haven't been forced to this crazy principal selection system have no idea how hard it is to really screen someone when you only get a one hour scripted conversation with the avaialble pool. It's a broken process.

I am very sad to see the principal go. She prioritized on all children and not just children of the high-maintenance parents.

We were OOB for Murch. My youngest child was able to get in because my oldest daughter was in Murch's last sixth grade class and that daughter enrolled many moons as a pre k student. The teachers at Murch offered no challenge for my youngest. Lafayette is our home school. Initially, I did not like the open space concept but it grew on me. The teachers at Lafayette are awesome!

Murch's teachers are not all that great. Lafayette's teachers are hands down much better.
I pulled my child from Murch two years ago. Too bad for Murch. That school is always changing leadership, so unfortunate.

Really? Your children attended Murch and then you sold the house so the kids could attend Lafayette? Or are you saying you scored an OOB spot at Lafayette, somehow? Both sound pretty amazing.

The best teachers teach in grades pre k through one with some exceptions. As a Murch parent, I enjoy the experiences around Murch. My children are happy. I found Dawn Ellis to have been an effective principal. Maybe I am missing something. I hope the next one is as efficient as she was with the communications. Wish us the best.

agree with pp

Murch's teachers are not all that great. Lafayette's teachers are hands down much better.
I pulled my child from Murch two years ago. Too bad for Murch. That school is always changing leadership, so unfortunate.

I know when I called on the waitlist they told me a very low likelihood for K that they will accept anybody.