Leadership Positions Open at Seattle Schools
Edited at 4:15 pm on 2/7 to delete a mistaken reference I made to negative "buzz" about the Whitworth principal, which was actually about the previous principal, Scott Coleman, and not the current Whitworth principal, Barry Dorsey. My apologies. --- Beth
I received an interesting e-mail from the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs today about the new Seattle Schools District Arts Manager position:
That news led me to look at other open leadership positions in the district right now and, so I read with interest the posting on the 2007-2008 Principal and Assistant Principal Selection Process which says:
"At this time principal openings are; The New School, Bagley, Sacajawea, Stanford International, Stevens, African American Academy, Aki Kurose, Hamilton, Whitman and Roosevelt." The deadline for applying is February 23rd and hiring decisions will be made the first week in April.
"Recommended candidates [from school site-based interviews] meet with Superintendent and CAO and are assigned to schools at the Superintendent’s discretion."
In addition (emphasis is mine):
Also, there is no mention here of the principals who have lost their jobs due to the closure and consolidation decisions and whether or not they will have any preference for principal openings. The decision about who will be the principal at each of the merged schools has already been made (see the FAQs and the Key Dates and Implementation Timeline). The school principals are:
Dearborn Park --- Barry Dorsey
High Point --- Gayle Everly
Emerson --- Marion Vinson
Broadview-Thomson --- Jeanne Smart
I find the Dearborn Park announcement to be surprising. It is the only school at which the current principal is being replaced by the principal of the incoming school community. But of course, I have no idea what Evelyn Fairchild's plans are for next year. For all I know, she could be applying to be the new District Arts Manager.
But no matter what the specifics of that particular decision, I would like to know how the district is handling the displaced principals from the closure and consolidation process. What is happening to Evelyn Fairchild from Dearborn Park, Davy Muth from Fairmount Park, Cathy Thompson from Rainier View and Joanne Bowers from Viewland? Do they get priority in placement for the open positions announced above? or in transfer/reassignment decisions? If so, why isn't that clearly stated? And if not, why not?
I received an interesting e-mail from the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs today about the new Seattle Schools District Arts Manager position:
"At our last forum on October 25, Seattle's Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno announced the plan to hire a new district manager of visual and performing arts to provide innovative leadership and strengthen arts education district wide...The announcement launched a multi-year commitment between the district and the city to create a core leadership team comprised of the new arts manager and four arts "coaches." The district's arts leadership team will support principals, teachers and arts partners with the goal of transforming the way in which arts education services are delivered to school buildings and programs. High on the list of priorities for the new manager and team will be to maximize the potential for partnerships with Seattle's vibrant arts community.
Since the forum, the arts commission's education committee - consulting with teachers, administrators, parents and arts advocates - has represented the community, working with Ms. Santorno and district officials on the job description and hiring plan for the new district manager. We are pleased to report the district will post the position February 12."
That news led me to look at other open leadership positions in the district right now and, so I read with interest the posting on the 2007-2008 Principal and Assistant Principal Selection Process which says:
"At this time principal openings are; The New School, Bagley, Sacajawea, Stanford International, Stevens, African American Academy, Aki Kurose, Hamilton, Whitman and Roosevelt." The deadline for applying is February 23rd and hiring decisions will be made the first week in April.
"Recommended candidates [from school site-based interviews] meet with Superintendent and CAO and are assigned to schools at the Superintendent’s discretion."
In addition (emphasis is mine):
For transfer and reassignment of current principals:Don't they have that backwards? Who really wants to "dialogue" about a decision that has already been made? And why do schools were a principal is being transferred or reassigned have so little say in who the principal will be compared with schools where principal openings are officially announced?
Transfers and reassignments may occur at the request of a current principal and/or at the discretion of the Superintendent. The Superintendent will consider the leadership needs of schools in his decision. After the Superintendent announces principals recommended for transfer, the Principal and Instructional Director will meet and dialogue with the staff and community.
Also, there is no mention here of the principals who have lost their jobs due to the closure and consolidation decisions and whether or not they will have any preference for principal openings. The decision about who will be the principal at each of the merged schools has already been made (see the FAQs and the Key Dates and Implementation Timeline). The school principals are:
Dearborn Park --- Barry Dorsey
High Point --- Gayle Everly
Emerson --- Marion Vinson
Broadview-Thomson --- Jeanne Smart
I find the Dearborn Park announcement to be surprising. It is the only school at which the current principal is being replaced by the principal of the incoming school community. But of course, I have no idea what Evelyn Fairchild's plans are for next year. For all I know, she could be applying to be the new District Arts Manager.
But no matter what the specifics of that particular decision, I would like to know how the district is handling the displaced principals from the closure and consolidation process. What is happening to Evelyn Fairchild from Dearborn Park, Davy Muth from Fairmount Park, Cathy Thompson from Rainier View and Joanne Bowers from Viewland? Do they get priority in placement for the open positions announced above? or in transfer/reassignment decisions? If so, why isn't that clearly stated? And if not, why not?
Comments
But just to demonstrate how crazy the shell game of moving principals around can be, last year Ed James was the interim principal at Graham Hill and Chris Morningstar was the principal at North Beach. This year, Chris Morningstar is the principal at Graham Hill, and Ed James is the interim principal at North Beach.
I've heard great things about both Ed James and Chris Morningstar, so this is not a slam against either of them in any way, but I do find Seattle principal placement to be arbitrary and reactive --- no clear strategy that I have ever heard of or been able to discern.
but I admit it is very confusing- consistency and clear expectations are so important for educating children- but how much of either do we have when the principals ( who have so much to do with how the entire school/community functions)
are rotated through the district like a hot potato?
How much does that have to do with community involvement and student performance or the lack of it?
Transfers and reassignments may occur at the request of a current principal and/or at the discretion of the Superintendent. The Superintendent will consider the leadership needs of schools in his decision. After the Superintendent announces principals recommended for transfer, the Principal and Instructional Director will meet and dialogue with the staff and community."
Beth -
Wanted to comment on how this process has worked thus far for the Sacajawea School community. We were made aware that our principal of 6 years would be transferring to another school (early January). Though not welcome news, we were aware of the district's practice of moving principals, so not unexpected.
Dr. Gloria Mitchell came to meet with the teachers and staff and received feedback on the leadership needs of the school, the culture, and expectations of the staff. The following evening, parents were invited in to meet with her and provide our perspective. Dr. Mitchell assured all parents that the needs of the students, staff, and parents would be factored into deciding on appropriate principal placements. She also promised to be at the table if future issues with the principal, staff, and parents develeoped to work for resolution.
Our understanding is that the meetings related to principal reassignment did not result in a match for Sacajawea's needs and the existing principal pool. Therefore, we will be part of the new hire and assignment process.
So, from my perspective, it feels like the "dialogue" regarding the principal occured before assignments were made. If our experience is reflective of how other schools were handled, then I would say the district performed well. They were pro-active in determining needs, were reassuring to communities and staff, and are commited to creating strong matches with principals with schools.
The process is not yet complete, but the groundwork and initial steps have been positive.
Tammie C.
That is good to hear at Sacajewea. But I can promise you that is not how it has worked in many other schools. For example, if you ask Graham Hill parents about how the principal assignment process worked there over the last 7-8 years, you'll hear quite a different story.
So we should praise Gloria Mitchell for doing what is right. Unfortunately, according to district standards, that is not what is required.
p.s. How is life at Sacajewea this year? Did the threat of closure affect your school in any ways (positive or negative)?
Pat explained (if I understand correctly): district looks at the school-closure-displaced principals vs current or imminent vacancies to see if there seems to be a match; then fields transfer requests from sitting principals (there is some deadline for that which I think was recent); then moves to "open hiring" if the vacancy has not been filled in either of those cycles.
Last poster is right about the bargaining agreements having a huge part in this - people often ascribe crimes, misdemeanors, and blunders to the district that are really a function of the bargaining unit agreements - principals, teachers, office workers, cafeteria workers, janitors - district has little or no control after they're ratified and they provide many protections, not the least of which are privacy and process - which for better or worse can make things inscrutable to parents and others outside the process.
Ed Directors also play a huge part in principal placement going well or not so well. Note that 2 of the 3 elementary directors in place before Carla Santorno's arrival are not in those positions any longer – with two new occupants in those seats. One would think those moves were made in the best interests of those employees and the students - though if Beth's conversation with Patrick Johnson (new Ed Director) on the TT Minor preschool post is an indication - eek! Hope there is more to that story...
Note - Mr James is a retire/rehire who has returned for interim assignments where need exists - the clamor for stability at Graham Hill led to his vacating that seat in favor of a more permanent solution (Ms Morningstar); likewise if a more permanent solution for Ms Bowers and North Beach have been found, he will likely move to another interim assignment.
I also heard that Ms Fairchild from Dearborn Park is retiring.
There is. I my experience, he is great. I think the issue is that there is no funding for continuing the TT Minor pre-K as it exists, there are academic and legal problems related to entering into a program with a local church, and there is a dramatic need for Special Education preschools, esp those where there are typically developing students in the class to be peer models. Did you see that recent studies say that 1 in 150 children has autism? All of the literature on early intervention says a preschool with peer models is the way to make the biggest impact educationally. Don't fault Patrick for supporting that.
I think the T.T. Minor issues is complicated as the discussion on that thread indicates.
I also think that district staff who use "you don't understand" as an approach with parents are going to annoy many people, not just me. I don't know enough about the T.T. Minor issue to argue one way or the other. But I do believe it's important to raise the issues, get the facts out in the open, and then discuss them.
Patrick made it clear that he doesn't believe the parents at T.T. Minor should have any say in the decision, and that the principal's chance to have input is over. That is what I fault Patrick for.