Anonymous wrote:For families leaving the school...where are they going? Can you transfer to another public school or are they going private?

The follow up article mentioned that Ft Hunt ranked second to last in the county. Was that for employee morale?

Yes, teacher morale.

The story was vague and poorly written.

For families leaving the school...where are they going? Can you transfer to another public school or are they going private?

The follow up article mentioned that Ft Hunt ranked second to last in the county. Was that for employee morale?

^ so the heavy turnover is due to the "feeling when you walked in was not right."? That's it? The teachers left because when they walked in the feeling wasn't right?

Okay. So what was wrong with the feeling?

Teachers leaving is not a symptom or a cause, but the result of an issue, apparently in this case it has to do with the school's top brass as the one teacher was quoted as having said that the feeling when you walked in was not right. Closing the gap should not be the objective of any school, it should be educate ALL kids and help them ALL rise above where they currently are. Unfortunately, black and brown children tend to live in poorer and less educated households and only with one parent. The gap is a not because of lack of teaching and instruction The gap is a parenting and cultural issue, not an educational one.

To the teacher - differentation only helps those on the lower end of the spectrum of learning, it does not help those who are advanced become more advanced. If the goal to close the gap is the focus, differentation is key, as it brings the higher achieving and average down and raises the lower end. Not right or fair to those kids. Thank god for AAP!

Anonymous wrote:You don't have 20% turn over one year and then 40% another year because of cancelling "crazy hair day". Like any organization that has high turnover, people leave because of management and morale. Wonder what the turnover rate is for families not returning....

Hopefully now that the administration is in damage control mode they will take the time to do something about it.

And just because someone is pointing out that a school is diverse does not mean they are blaming the minortity students. Poor kids are good kids too.

About what? That teachers are leaving, is that the "it." Still very murky as to what the problem is. Teachers leaving is the symptom - not the cause.

You don't have 20% turn over one year and then 40% another year because of cancelling "crazy hair day". Like any organization that has high turnover, people leave because of management and morale. Wonder what the turnover rate is for families not returning....

Hopefully now that the administration is in damage control mode they will take the time to do something about it.

And just because someone is pointing out that a school is diverse does not mean they are blaming the minortity students. Poor kids are good kids too.

Anonymous wrote:Just want to say...He doesn't have to say "I blame the poor brown children." We know better than to be so overtly classist and racist. But he does say the issues have to do with diversity and references race and class one other time.

Yes, it's harder to get poor parents involved. They often work a lot and can't get to PTA meetings etc.

so reading between the lines then, the problem is poorly behaved minority students?
And the teachers who left due to having a differing philosophy from the school's, they got frustrated with trying to close the "achievment gap" because it was just impossible? That is what I'm getting from reading between the lines.

Just want to say...He doesn't have to say "I blame the poor brown children." We know better than to be so overtly classist and racist. But he does say the issues have to do with diversity and references race and class one other time.

Yes, it's harder to get poor parents involved. They often work a lot and can't get to PTA meetings etc.

Anonymous wrote:

WOW! I hope the school gets better. In all honesty though, sometimes a diverse school does make it harder for everyone involved. Our school is extremely diverse and I see the challenges. Thankfully, all of my DCs got into AAP, and I am not being rude, rather just being honest, as the focus in Gen Ed was too much on the lower end of the bracket and not enough at the upper end. Differentation is a great word and has a wonderful meaning, it just doesn't work well in really mixed learning groups.

Of course it doesn't when you take out all of the achieving children. Teacher

It also doesn't work when you have less than 5 Center eligible students per grade, and these high-achieving children are spread out among three or four classes across the grade.

WOW! I hope the school gets better. In all honesty though, sometimes a diverse school does make it harder for everyone involved. Our school is extremely diverse and I see the challenges. Thankfully, all of my DCs got into AAP, and I am not being rude, rather just being honest, as the focus in Gen Ed was too much on the lower end of the bracket and not enough at the upper end. Differentation is a great word and has a wonderful meaning, it just doesn't work well in really mixed learning groups.

Of course it doesn't when you take out all of the achieving children. Teacher

Anonymous wrote:I was disappointed in the article. There were no specifics. I have no idea what the principal's done that's so horrible.

I have read two articles now and there is nothing in there explaining - specifically - what the problem is. They cancelled "crazy hair day" and kids can't talk in the lunchroom so 40% of the teachers quit? That's it?

Anonymous wrote:Uh, he used to be chairman, and may have been when the article was researched. Mr. Moon in now chairman, but I think he only became such recently.

Moon has been Chairman since at least mid-2012. The reporter was sloppy and didn't get the facts right. Typical for WaPo in 2013.

Anonymous wrote:Uh, he used to be chairman, and may have been when the article was researched. Mr. Moon in now chairman, but I think he only became such recently.

Mr. Moon was re-elected as chairman this summer. He has served as Board chairman since 2012. He has also previously served as Board chairman in 2006.

http://fairfaxnews.com/2013/07/fairfax-county-school-board-elects-ilryong-moon-chairman/

http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/members/at-large1.shtml

WOW! I hope the school gets better. In all honesty though, sometimes a diverse school does make it harder for everyone involved. Our school is extremely diverse and I see the challenges. Thankfully, all of my DCs got into AAP, and I am not being rude, rather just being honest, as the focus in Gen Ed was too much on the lower end of the bracket and not enough at the upper end. Differentation is a great word and has a wonderful meaning, it just doesn't work well in really mixed learning groups.

I am a new kindergarden parent at the school and was not too happy to read that article on monday. Honestly I've had nothing but positive interaction with the principal and the school (starting from the orientation last year, principal being accessible and responsive and our interactions within the neighborhood community.) It just sucked that teachers and the principal had to start the first day of school with that article hanging over their heads. There are a lot of great kids at that school and the article didn't do the place justice. It would have been better served if the people that took the opportunity to pitch the story would have written about some of the positives going on there or identified ways to fix the problems but I guess that doesn't fly for a newspaper.

Here is the response from the Assistant Superintendent and below it the principal;

A message from FORT HUNT ES
September 3, 2013

Dear Fort Hunt Parents and Staff,

In response to the article posted about our school in yesterday’s edition of the Washington Post I want to ensure my commitment in working with you to make this school a great place ofteaching and learning for all students. I have received many letters that support the need to work together to foster anenvironment that embraces diversity and provides opportunities for each child to reach their potential. Great schools are built and sustained by the collective efforts of all parents and staff that work together in a positive manner to address challenges that can create opportunities. This is our opportunity to continue addressing these challenges with solutions that will be dependent upon continued dialogue that acknowledges the voices of all stakeholders.

Although this article has painted one perception of the school, we are all aware that there remains a strong body of committed staff and parents. All are in agreement that our charge for this school year shall be joining together in a supportive manner to move beyond these recent events. I have heard from many of these individuals and will continue to direct my support in making this an advantageous learning environment for all. Each child at Fort Hunt Elementary School deserves our unwavering collective effort as the adults who will serve as examples to set a limitless course for their future.

I urge you to continue communicating with me as we work together to support this school.

Sincerely yours,

Deborah L. Tyler
Assistant Superintendent
Cluster 4

A message from FORT HUNT ES
September 2, 2013

Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff:

As the title of the Washington Post article stated Fort Hunt Elementary does have challenges on the opening day of school. Those challenges are to improve the academic achievement of all students, to close the achievement gap for Black, Hispanic, economically disadvantaged and English as a Second Language learners, to offer differentiated instruction that meets the needs of all students and to prepare our students to be productive citizens. It takes every staff member working collaboratively to accomplish these goals.

As the article stated, teachers left Ft Hunt this past year for a variety of reasons including the job transfer of their spouse, promotion to another job, family leave, a shorter commute, retirement, or the acceptance of a full time position at another FCPS school. And, yes, some teachers left because they feel their teaching approach or philosophy does not match those established for Fort Hunt Elementary.

We have a great school. The school is fully accredited and met the Virginia requirements for yearly academic progress. The returning and new staff believe that all children deserve the best education. Yes, we do have challenges, but together we will address them.

I am always available to staff, parents, and community members to listen to your concerns and to hear your suggestions for improvements. I am looking forward to the upcoming school year as we prepare each child in our school to reach their full potential.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

Barbara Leibbrandt