Anonymous wrote:It seems like the buzz has now really died down now that the board has backed the ED. I don't expect any change at SSMA.

The PP at 18:21 yesterday gets it. As long as your DC is doing well, getting a solid Montessori education, you can stomach an admin that is totally dysfunctional.

What concerns me though is that the dysfunctional admin will affect education and safety. My top concerns are the possibility of teachers leaving and the lack of facilities maintenance in the building and on the playground.

We're going to make up our minds based on what happens on those two fronts.

Anonymous wrote:To 18:42 -- I don't think there is a way to really know the answer to these questions without interviewing a bunch of teachers, parents, the board and the ED.

That's just not something any parent in a position to do.

At the end of the day, you need to decide if whatever is happening with the school administration affects your child - or not.

And even if your child is thriving, you need to decide whether you want to be part of an organization that may or may not be a little (or a lot) dysfunctional.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is something I've tried to raise in another thread. There is a serious problem when this is how a good number of our schools are run. We are at LAMB and have seen what it can take to get a shift! It shouldn't be like this. We need to band together and advocate for more serious oversight by the PCSB and avenues for parents to have a say. Perhaps some changes in mandatory board makeups. Or in some other way - this can't keep happening at good schools. Check threads on here and you'll see it's happening at almost all the HRCS (and probably others too).

From what I can tell, SSMA's board follows all the proper rules for DC Public Charter Schools. Yet there is still no accountability at the school. It's really frustrating. I wonder if what's happening at SSMA could happen at a normal DC public school. My guess is no.

It seems like there's no option for parents who are dissatisfied except voting with their feet. I doubt that will hurt Shining Stars though since it offers a free Montessori education for 3, 4 and 5-year olds. Can't beat that at a daycare center.

Well it could -- a vocal group of dissatisfied Lafayette parents have registered complaints with all levels of DCPS about their principal, and she is still there. They aren't hte only ones.

The difference is that there are more levels to lodge appeals (instructional superintendent, chancellor, DME). But the outcome may not be so different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is something I've tried to raise in another thread. There is a serious problem when this is how a good number of our schools are run. We are at LAMB and have seen what it can take to get a shift! It shouldn't be like this. We need to band together and advocate for more serious oversight by the PCSB and avenues for parents to have a say. Perhaps some changes in mandatory board makeups. Or in some other way - this can't keep happening at good schools. Check threads on here and you'll see it's happening at almost all the HRCS (and probably others too).

From what I can tell, SSMA's board follows all the proper rules for DC Public Charter Schools. Yet there is still no accountability at the school. It's really frustrating. I wonder if what's happening at SSMA could happen at a normal DC public school. My guess is no.

It seems like there's no option for parents who are dissatisfied except voting with their feet. I doubt that will hurt Shining Stars though since it offers a free Montessori education for 3, 4 and 5-year olds. Can't beat that at a daycare center.

Anonymous wrote:

This is something I've tried to raise in another thread. There is a serious problem when this is how a good number of our schools are run. We are at LAMB and have seen what it can take to get a shift! It shouldn't be like this. We need to band together and advocate for more serious oversight by the PCSB and avenues for parents to have a say. Perhaps some changes in mandatory board makeups. Or in some other way - this can't keep happening at good schools. Check threads on here and you'll see it's happening at almost all the HRCS (and probably others too).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Board meeting is now over. From what I've been told, the board proved itself a rubber stamping machine and has basically backed the ED. Expect no change.

Here's what will happen next:

the hostile work environment at SSMA will continue
People who spoke out will be fired or will leave
Parents who are upset with all of the problems with facilities and operations that leaked out will leave
But they will be replaced by people on the waitlist, dying to get into SSMA
Meanwhile, word will leak out into the Montessori community that SSMA is a toxic workplace and no self-respecting Montessorian will interview there unless desperate
The quality of instruction will sink and SSMA will limp forward as damaged goods
But it will continue

FYI: This is how politics work in any organization. The people in power like the ED marshal a group of decision-making allies who will support them come hell or high water. And unless they do something criminal, they know they are safe. It takes serious under-preformance to dislodge them. And SSMA is not there quite yet.

Good luck. I'm out

This is something I've tried to raise in another thread. There is a serious problem when this is how a good number of our schools are run. We are at LAMB and have seen what it can take to get a shift! It shouldn't be like this. We need to band together and advocate for more serious oversight by the PCSB and avenues for parents to have a say. Perhaps some changes in mandatory board makeups. Or in some other way - this can't keep happening at good schools. Check threads on here and you'll see it's happening at almost all the HRCS (and probably others too).

Anonymous wrote:The Board meeting is now over. From what I've been told, the board proved itself a rubber stamping machine and has basically backed the ED. Expect no change.

Here's what will happen next:

the hostile work environment at SSMA will continue
People who spoke out will be fired or will leave
Parents who are upset with all of the problems with facilities and operations that leaked out will leave
But they will be replaced by people on the waitlist, dying to get into SSMA
Meanwhile, word will leak out into the Montessori community that SSMA is a toxic workplace and no self-respecting Montessorian will interview there unless desperate
The quality of instruction will sink and SSMA will limp forward as damaged goods
But it will continue

FYI: This is how politics work in any organization. The people in power like the ED marshal a group of decision-making allies who will support them come hell or high water. And unless they do something criminal, they know they are safe. It takes serious under-preformance to dislodge them. And SSMA is not there quite yet.

Good luck. I'm out

Anonymous wrote:The Board meeting is now over. From what I've been told, the board proved itself a rubber stamping machine and has basically backed the ED. Expect no change.

Here's what will happen next:

the hostile work environment at SSMA will continue
People who spoke out will be fired or will leave
Parents who are upset with all of the problems with facilities and operations that leaked out will leave
But they will be replaced by people on the waitlist, dying to get into SSMA
Meanwhile, word will leak out into the Montessori community that SSMA is a toxic workplace and no self-respecting Montessorian will interview there unless desperate
The quality of instruction will sink and SSMA will limp forward as damaged goods
But it will continue

FYI: This is how politics work in any organization. The people in power like the ED marshal a group of decision-making allies who will support them come hell or high water. And unless they do something criminal, they know they are safe. It takes serious under-preformance to dislodge them. And SSMA is not there quite yet.

Good luck. I'm out

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Basically, after hiring two white principals, she has decided she wants someone of color to be the principal. That's what this is all about.

Nope, it's about subpar perfermance in all areas of management!