Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 12:35     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.


But Sela can't avoid the obvious big question marks raised by the exit of the fouling Principal in the FIRST WEEK of school. And if there were so many questions about her from the beginning (as several PPs have said), equally big red flags are raised: why did they hire her in the first place if she wasn't a good fit? They only figured that out now, and not during the immense planning that went on to get the school open?

That's a big mess.


I don't think their are obvious question marks raised at all. She may not have been a perfect fit, she may have just been good enough. But, as a parent of a kid who also survived cancer, her job is to put her kid first. Period. As an AA Sela mom, I can say I never warmed to her, but I think she was qualified for the position. It's just that in a school as warm as Sela, with extremely outgoing Director, and very warm teachers who email constantly and know you and your kid by name - she was not like that. Middle school in Baltimore is not and warm and fuzzy as a parent/child-centered DC charter elementary school.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 12:18     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
The school is much bigger than any one person. Lousy timing, but I'm sure everyone will carry on. Good luck, Sela!
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 12:15     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.


But Sela can't avoid the obvious big question marks raised by the exit of the fouling Principal in the FIRST WEEK of school. And if there were so many questions about her from the beginning (as several PPs have said), equally big red flags are raised: why did they hire her in the first place if she wasn't a good fit? They only figured that out now, and not during the immense planning that went on to get the school open?

That's a big mess.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 10:46     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
I don't say this as any kind of supporter, but seriously -

Any new venture will have some big kinks at first. A lot of turnover is definitely possible as things start to rev up. It's true of companies, book clubs, schools, churches, real estate ventures, you name it.

The school has some people on hand to get past this. They'll pick up the pieces and it'll keep rolling.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 10:36     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:I think she was really more like an assistant principal anyway - I never really understood why they had an executive director and a principal and a curriculum director and a special ed director - seemed top-heavy.


I think this is how new charters often appear at first. The ED is in charge of getting it running and the principal is in charge of keeping it running. Our recently opened charter looked very much like this the first year, but then the principal grabbed the reins a little, and it all makes perfect sense now.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 07:34     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Lody seems superficial to me. I wonder how he did in his previous school leader jobs.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 06:37     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Neighbor who put her daughter there just told me that the principal resigned today. Yikes! Anybody know what's going on? We were considering enrolling our younger child next year and for some reason, this gives us pause. Isn't it odd timing?


Anyone knows why?


She has a sick kid and the commute from Baltimore was too much for her.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2013 06:32     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:Neighbor who put her daughter there just told me that the principal resigned today. Yikes! Anybody know what's going on? We were considering enrolling our younger child next year and for some reason, this gives us pause. Isn't it odd timing?


Anyone knows why?
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 23:57     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Can someone confirm this? What a blow to those families who are taking the chance.


+1. Sounds like a bad joke. The AA that Sela folks were constantly talking about, leaves in the first week? Did she say why?
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 22:41     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think she was really more like an assistant principal anyway - I never really understood why they had an executive director and a principal and a curriculum director and a special ed director - seemed top-heavy. This is why I don't think it will make any difference - they already have an experienced principal as a school leader. I am very very impressed, however, with their teaching staff. Diverse group of male and female teachers, two per class - just seem to be a solid group of people. I don't recall one who looks like a supermodel, tho.


Well Dr. Lost said himself in the info sessions that he would not in any way being dealing with the academics of the school, that was the principal's job. His job was to run the financial/business aspect of the school.


It's Lody, and what struck me in the information sessions was that they were billed as Meet the Principal events, but he did most of the talking of their model, about the teachers that they were hiring, etc. When we came to the building, he gave us the tour, he is there at drop -off in the morning with the teachers. He has a Ph.D in education and was a long-time principal - I just didn't know why they also needed a principal for a small school. He just seemed very present, and she was kinda reserved. In any case, if it's not a good fit, it's better for the school that she left earlier rather than dragging it out. My DC is so excited to go to school. That's all that matters to me.


Yes. Lody, autocorrect. Although we ultimately did not end up going to Sela, we definitely liked Dr Lody. She seemed very nervous and out of place. I think she wasn't quite used to dealing with parents of all types of socioeconomic backgrounds as her previous experience was is inner city Baltimore schools. I wish Sela the best, I hope you have a great year there!
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 22:26     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think she was really more like an assistant principal anyway - I never really understood why they had an executive director and a principal and a curriculum director and a special ed director - seemed top-heavy. This is why I don't think it will make any difference - they already have an experienced principal as a school leader. I am very very impressed, however, with their teaching staff. Diverse group of male and female teachers, two per class - just seem to be a solid group of people. I don't recall one who looks like a supermodel, tho.


Well Dr. Lost said himself in the info sessions that he would not in any way being dealing with the academics of the school, that was the principal's job. His job was to run the financial/business aspect of the school.


It's Lody, and what struck me in the information sessions was that they were billed as Meet the Principal events, but he did most of the talking of their model, about the teachers that they were hiring, etc. When we came to the building, he gave us the tour, he is there at drop -off in the morning with the teachers. He has a Ph.D in education and was a long-time principal - I just didn't know why they also needed a principal for a small school. He just seemed very present, and she was kinda reserved. In any case, if it's not a good fit, it's better for the school that she left earlier rather than dragging it out. My DC is so excited to go to school. That's all that matters to me.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 22:12     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:I think she was really more like an assistant principal anyway - I never really understood why they had an executive director and a principal and a curriculum director and a special ed director - seemed top-heavy. This is why I don't think it will make any difference - they already have an experienced principal as a school leader. I am very very impressed, however, with their teaching staff. Diverse group of male and female teachers, two per class - just seem to be a solid group of people. I don't recall one who looks like a supermodel, tho.


Well Dr. Lost said himself in the info sessions that he would not in any way being dealing with the academics of the school, that was the principal's job. His job was to run the financial/business aspect of the school.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 21:48     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
I think she was really more like an assistant principal anyway - I never really understood why they had an executive director and a principal and a curriculum director and a special ed director - seemed top-heavy. This is why I don't think it will make any difference - they already have an experienced principal as a school leader. I am very very impressed, however, with their teaching staff. Diverse group of male and female teachers, two per class - just seem to be a solid group of people. I don't recall one who looks like a supermodel, tho.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 21:42     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can any SELA families comment?


I don't think she was the right "fit" for the school. I'm AA myself and found her to be confused on a lot of things.


Exactly. She was a bad hire to begin with. Sela was very worried about being perceived as "white and Jewish" an AA principal would look good, except she was just not the right person for the job. Sela should hire the next principal with that in mind.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2013 21:20     Subject: OK, I will start this thread - Sela
Anonymous wrote:Can any SELA families comment?


I don't think she was the right "fit" for the school. I'm AA myself and found her to be confused on a lot of things.