As a teacher, I worked under four different principals. Two were extremely nice, caring people who were not great with the administration part, but great with the kids.

One was highly organized and ran a great school, but you better not cross her.

The one I think was best--but had tons of flaws, as well-walked the halls and delivered messages. (This enabled him to casually see what was going on in the classroom without a scheduled observation. Checked out the restrooms every day. Did okay with other admin tasks. We had one member on my team who was great at talking to him and making him think our ideas were his. So, then we were allowed to have great influence over some decisions.

What did he do that made the teachers happiest? In the days of lunchroom duty for teachers, he took the cafeteria duty without the teachers. Result? He knew all the kids.

Anonymous wrote:We loved the teachers at Waples mill when we were at that school before the pandemic.

The teachers are largely wonderful. The problem is they are all quitting because of administration issues. Every year multiple teachers retire early or move to another FCPS school. There are at least 5 I know of so far this year and they are all amazing professionals. A huge loss for the school. The school is going to go downhill fast if they can't fix the administration issue.

Enrollment keeps dropping too as parents who can afford alternatives leave. I think the graduating class had 110ish and the lower grades are classes of 80-90.

We loved the teachers at Waples mill when we were at that school before the pandemic.

Anonymous wrote:Longtime sub here - now relocated. I put WMES in my “do not return” list precisely because of the awful, brusque, rude and dismissive front office staff - the lot of them.

How the principal would allow such behavior is beyond me. I’m not alone in my opinion; if I received this type of treatment, I can only imagine how the parents are treated.

I don't know anything about Waples Mill. However, I was a teacher. I never understood what happened to the people in the front office to make them so unpleasant.
I can remember a new person coming in and being friendly and warm and months later was Cruella de Ville.
The administrators were nice. I just don't get it.

Years later, I saw the same thing in my kids' school. Really strange phenomenon.

They use the auditorium for the ceremony not the gym.