As the co-president of the Murch HSA for the past two years, I had many opportunities to interact with Dawn Ellis, and I feel compelled to come to her defense on this forum. I had many interactions with Dawn that spoke to a high level of professionalism. I found her to be a strong administrator, knowledgeable about curriculum, and at least publically, very supportive of her teachers. She was well regarded by many parents and teachers, as well as by the children. She was always respectful to me, and generous with her time. I am aware by report that she was not always this way to others, and that she made diplomatic mistakes. I am disheartened that she was not given a better chance to rectify her mistakes, and I advocate compassion as she ends her tenure with the school. This is a real person, who worked hard for Murch and is finishing a difficult year. Perhaps she has made significant errors in her dealings with people, but that does not mean she is without good qualities.

Respectfully,
Alison Howard

as previously mentioned, the "corp" group of parents (or whatever you want to call it) were the top people in the HSA. they're very sweet and diplomatic but do not cross them. case in point: ellis departure.

Good luck

Anonymous wrote:Again, a "core" group of teachers are again about a "core" group of parents. The "core" group of teachers, wanted control. Dawn was about taking them to higher horizons, the "core" was not given any control in the process. When you speak of"core" is this term considering All the fantastic teachers, or those who you consider "fantastic?" Let's begin with the WHO's who list.

Ms. Ellis wasn't taking anyone to a 'higher horizon'. Rather, she was driving out some of the most well-respected and highly accomplished teachers in the school.

Her leaving is testament to her ability to recognize the failure of her methods. No one tried to 'drive her out' or thwart her. She had the good will of everyone when she first came and succeeded in trashing that all by herself. I do give her credit for recognizing that she was the one who had to go before she did even more damage.

Again, a "core" group of teachers are again about a "core" group of parents. The "core" group of teachers, wanted control. Dawn was about taking them to higher horizons, the "core" was not given any control in the process. When you speak of"core" is this term considering All the fantastic teachers, or those who you consider "fantastic?" Let's begin with the WHO's who list.

Unlike 19:21 I was a fan of the previous Thomson principal. Not a fan of crack in the school or the new principal.

The new guy has access to extra money, which has bought some things for the school that are good. However he's driven off both of the Chinese teachers, which was one of the best features in the school. The guitar and choir is gone too. Parents who have the ability to get their kids in another school are already gone.

Not sure what the larger answer is here, but I'm not willing to give the new principal any more time. Everything my child loved about the school is gone and so is my family.

Anonymous wrote:It is a very difficult question when to say this can never work.

I don't believe its difficult at all once one realizes that it is irrelevant whether you or any other parent(s) 'like' the Principal.

What is relevant is if the best 'core' teachers in the school like the Principal. Those are the folks who interact with your child every day. They are the ones who will be committed to giving your child the support they need and a good education. A bad Principal creates an environment in which the best teachers will leave (or withdraw). A good Principal creates an environment in which the best teachers are encouraged and supported, and capable new teachers are attracted because of the environment the Principal fosters.

The minimum I expect of a Principal is to support the good teachers, recruit others of the same quality, run interference with downtown, and promote parental involvement while guarding against the control-freaks.

If the Prinicipal is also an inspiring leader, all the better and those will be the exceptional schools.

Like Deal under Ms. Kim's leadership (who was opposed by a very vocal clique of parents in the first year or so after she got there), or Mr. Pope at Hardy who was so badly treated by Ms. Rhee. Both have/had or gained the overwhelming support of their capable and well-regarded teaching staff.

PP you hit on one of the hardest issues affecting school reform. How long do you give it? I know I hated the new principal at Thomson at about November of his this year. Still not enamored with him but I do see some positive changes within the classroom. The kids however are still having a lot more behavioral issues. I know things were not going great under the old principal, not a fan though I know there were many. Change is very hard and our kids only get that one year to do that grade. It is a very difficult question when to say this can never work.

I feel like we did not give her a chance. I saw great strides in two years. And remember children are first! Not the parents.

I heard that some key/top people from the HSA had a bad experience. She is close w/ Mary Cheh. And that was the beginning of the end.

To 7:12: I am the poster quoted above about the authoritarian style and have not "swallowed" any stories. I am speaking to my direct experience - things seen and done. The teachers have been amazingly discreet and tried to resolve the issues internally. Leadership requires listening and responding. Put yourself in their position and imagine your boss refusing to meet with you on several occasions. Imagine being this parent who has asked for meetings regarding my child and never received the courtesy of a reply and was fobbed off onto other staff. I was ignored at every event, even if I approached to only say a friendly hello and received no reply. Just snubbed? No, there's more, but I won't post it here. I have even defended her on this forum, dealing with my own problems as just that - mine and contained in case it only affected me.

To give her credit, yes, Ms. Ellis attended events, was affectionate to some children and communicated effectively about things like logistics and dates. But you cannot be considered an effective leader when you won't communicate to those who need to work with you. And there is no reason ever to speak to anyone in an open meeting with such condescension and /or anger as I experienced and witnessed. And no, I wasn't one of the parents who spoke up to downtown - they too were very discreet about their complaints. But what they reported was enough to bring about this end. My own experience tracks with others. While it didn't affect you and your family, it affected more than just a "few".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Seems like you swallowed the story whole or are pretending to be an outsider. Ignore them? I hear another story, Ellis was not given any due process. She is a very effective leader, my children love her, and as a parent who has been through 4 principals at Murch I felt she was communicative and noticed she attended all school events I've ever attended, that is more than I can say for the others. Every few years I have observed that a handful of parents (and now teachers it seems) decide who to socially lynch, someone they feel as has done a great wrong, facts don't matter, conversation does not matter, and they all descend upon the person with calls to elected officials. You may get your goal, but you are only hurting the school people.

The fact that your children love her doesn't negate others' experiences with her.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Seems like you swallowed the story whole or are pretending to be an outsider. Ignore them? I hear another story, Ellis was not given any due process. She is a very effective leader, my children love her, and as a parent who has been through 4 principals at Murch I felt she was communicative and noticed she attended all school events I've ever attended, that is more than I can say for the others. Every few years I have observed that a handful of parents (and now teachers it seems) decide who to socially lynch, someone they feel as has done a great wrong, facts don't matter, conversation does not matter, and they all descend upon the person with calls to elected officials. You may get your goal, but you are only hurting the school people.

Ms. Ellis had an autocratic style that was not suited to the Murch community. Many respected, capable, and long-term teachers at Murch were going to leave (one already had) were Ms. Ellis to have stayed. Credit Ms. Ellis for recognizing that she was the one who needed to go. Her style is probably more suited to a school with a struggling staff.

Unfortunately, the Principal selection process DCPS utilizes is beyond dysfunctional as another poster noted earlier. It's a wonder that it results in the selection of any decent candidates. Until DCPS fixes this process all DCPS schools are vulnerable to unsuitable candidates and turnover among its Principals. Let's hope the Murch community can come out of this round with one who is more suitable.

Unfortunately, some among the Murch parent community can be difficult to deal with. A small coterie ran off the previous Principal who had the overwhelming support of the teaching staff and the majority of parents. This forum was used extensively by some to viciously attack Ms. Lewis when she would not accede to their demands for preferential treatment and to otherwise dictate to her. So, perhaps Ms. Ellis' style of withdrawing from parent input came from this prior experience, though it does not excuse her treatment of the teaching staff.

As long as Murch can continue to retain and recruit excellent teachers it should do well.

Thanks to all the wonderful teachers at Murch who, over the years, have provided my children such a wonderful education and helped them to become kind, helpful and respectful children.

The problems at Murch is beyond the leadership. My daughters adored the principal.