New Principal Review
There are a lot of new principals out there. How are they working out? If your school got a new principal this year or last year let us know how well that new leader has assimilated into the existing school culture, how the new principal has changed the culture of the school, and how the leadership change has impacted teacher, staff, student, and family morale?
Here's a list from an earlier post. It may need some updating or editing to be made right, so let me know and I'll fix it.
Roy Merca from Summit to AS1
Ernie Severs from AS1 to Sanislo
Debbie Nelson from Sanislo to Jane Addams
Chris Carter from Jane Addams to Hamilton
Katie Cryan Leary from Hamilton to Leave
Dewanda Cook-Weaver from Lowell (SpEd) to McGilvra
Jo Shapiro from McGilvra to Assistant Principal at Hamilton
Wayne Floyd from JSCEE (he was working on the Southeast Initiative) to Loyal Heights
Cashel Toner from Loyal Heights to Leschi
Joanne Hill from Alki to Leave
Clover Codd from Leave to Alki
Jo Lute-Ervin from Leschi to TOPS
Clara Scott from TOPS to retirement
Mia Williams from Aki Kurose (interim) to Aki Kurose (permanent)
Kim Fox from Bryant (interim) to Bryant (permanent)
Linda Robinson from Bryant to Whittier
Cothron McMillian from Whittier to Brighton
Beverly Raines from Brighton to Lawton
Ed Noh from Lawton to... ???
Greg King from T T Minor to Lowell
Julie Briedenbach from Lowell to Thurgood Marshall
Winifred Todd from Thurgood Marshall to Dunlap
Greg Imel from Dunlap to Bailey Gatzert
Norma Zavala from Bailey Gatzert to Concord
Sandra Scott from Concord to Hawthorne
Sumiko Huff from Hawthorne to... ???
Stacey McCrath-Smith from Meany to... ???
Here's a list from an earlier post. It may need some updating or editing to be made right, so let me know and I'll fix it.
Roy Merca from Summit to AS1
Ernie Severs from AS1 to Sanislo
Debbie Nelson from Sanislo to Jane Addams
Chris Carter from Jane Addams to Hamilton
Katie Cryan Leary from Hamilton to Leave
Dewanda Cook-Weaver from Lowell (SpEd) to McGilvra
Jo Shapiro from McGilvra to Assistant Principal at Hamilton
Wayne Floyd from JSCEE (he was working on the Southeast Initiative) to Loyal Heights
Cashel Toner from Loyal Heights to Leschi
Joanne Hill from Alki to Leave
Clover Codd from Leave to Alki
Jo Lute-Ervin from Leschi to TOPS
Clara Scott from TOPS to retirement
Mia Williams from Aki Kurose (interim) to Aki Kurose (permanent)
Kim Fox from Bryant (interim) to Bryant (permanent)
Linda Robinson from Bryant to Whittier
Cothron McMillian from Whittier to Brighton
Beverly Raines from Brighton to Lawton
Ed Noh from Lawton to... ???
Greg King from T T Minor to Lowell
Julie Briedenbach from Lowell to Thurgood Marshall
Winifred Todd from Thurgood Marshall to Dunlap
Greg Imel from Dunlap to Bailey Gatzert
Norma Zavala from Bailey Gatzert to Concord
Sandra Scott from Concord to Hawthorne
Sumiko Huff from Hawthorne to... ???
Stacey McCrath-Smith from Meany to... ???
Comments
She seems to be doing great at Hale and has settled in well. She's tough, but only because she really cares deeply about the kids that she is serving, and I think the kids feel that.
She considers herself the head teacher and spends most of her day sitting in on classes, which as a parent, I really value. And she is not afraid to make changes, or stand up to a staff that has been used to doing things "their way" for a long time. Nor is she afraid to stand up to the students, as witnessed when she cancelled all school dances (including the prom) due to inapprpriate behavior. Update: ASB worked with the students to come up appropriate behavior guidelines and a commitment to follow them from students and Dr. Hudson approved it. Dances ate reinstated at Hale. The first one was two weeks ago and it was a huge success!
Also, Dr Hudson does not seem opposed to growing the school as principals in the past have been, nor is she opposed to growing the AP course selection. She does however fully support the incluseive honors classes (a huge point of contension for some families)
The only issue I had hoped she would tackle (but hasn't as of yet) is security. It's still sorely lacking at Hale, and lunch time is the worst with only one lunch shift (1200 teenagers to 2 security guards). Perhaps she'll get to this??
Overall I like her and so does my child. I think she was a good fit Hale, and I think Hale is very lucky to have her.
Great Job in updating the current document.
Thanks
Yours is the only comment about Dr Hudson I can go by, and I don't know her (so maybe there are other opinions or facts that contradict yours)but your description of what you perceive to be her characteristics is one of the most detailed, helpfully detailed, overviews of principal qualities I've ever read.
You looked at about seven or so of the areas we want a principal to be acting in, and within each described your interpretation of the facts on the ground and the prncipal's part in it. We are free to imagine other perspectives, or other possible actions of a principal in those various sphere's on influence, but you've made us think about each of these important areas.
Thanks! I hope that I can only approach that level of qualitative analysis in my comments...
...because WV thinks I'm a brato.
The current Dean of students was not moved into one of the new Assistant Principal positions, nor is he in the candidate pool as he does not posess the minimum qualifications for the position.
The Nathan Hale PTSA wrote a 4 paragragh letter to Dr. Enfeild and MGJ on behalf of the entire Nathan Hale parent community. The first sentence read "As parents at Nathan Hale High School, we ask that our current Dean of Students, ******, be placed in one of the two open Assistant Principals positions". The following paragraphs supported and detailed this request. It was signed by the President of the Nathan Hale PTSA.
The problem is that the PTSA wrote this letter on behalf of the entire NH parent community without one ounce of community engagment. They never even brought the issue to the parents attention. Nothing about it was posted in the school newspaper or on the school website. The PTSA did not send home letters, or surveys, nor did they take any polls. Nor was there a parent meetings. How can a 7 person PTSA write a letter on behalf of 1250 families that they never even communicated with?
If they had engaged the community they would find that the Dean was not a very popular administrator and that many families did did not feel that he was very effective.
How can a PTSA write a letter on behalf of an entire school community without one ounce of community engagement?
Is it just me or does that seems like an abuse of power?
In some ways, it depends on how the letter was written. As you quoted it below, it is accurate, in that the people signing the letter are parents at NH. While it may imply wider support for the position taken in the letter, it doesn't say that specifically.
That said, yes there should have been more outreach, especially if the letter identified the signers as the PTA Board. If nothing else, the PTA should probably have told parents what was happening to the Dean/Asst Principal positions and seen what informal feedback they got.
On the other hand, if they didn't identify themselves as the PTA Board, then they are just parents writing a letter to the District about what they want. I can't see any harm in that.
The cynic in me says that the District usually seems to ignore any parent feedback anyway, so there's no power to abuse.
It was signed as follows:
Sincerely,
Persons Name
President, Nathan Hale PTSA
Principal shuffles on Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson’s watch:
May 2009: Roy Merca from Summit (closed) to AS1, Ernie Severs from AS1 to Sanislo, Debbie Nelson from Sanislo to Jane Addams, Chris Carter from African American Academy (closed) to Jane Addams to Hamilton Middle School, Dewanda Cook-Weaver from Lowell to McGilvra Elem. to ??, Jo Shapiro from McGilvra Elem. to assistant principal at Hamilton Middle School, Wayne Floyd from John Stanford Center central office to Loyal Heights, Cashel Toner from Loyal Heights to Leschi Elem., Jo Lute-Ervin from Leschi to TOPS, Linda Robinson from Bryant to Whittier, Cothron McMillian from Whittier to Brighton, Ed Noh from Lawton to Hawaii?; Beverly Raines from Brighton Elem. to Lawton Elem. to early retirement?, Gregory King from TT Minor (closed) to Lowell, Julie Briedenbach from Lowell Elem. to Thurgood Marshall Elem., Winifred Todd from Thurgood Marshall to Dunlap, Greg Imel from Dunlap to Bailey Gatzert, Norma Zavala from Bailey Gatzert to Concord, Sandra Scott from Concord to Hawthorne, Stacey McCrath-Smith was moved from Meany.
July 2009: Jill Hudson to Nathan Hale High School, Henterson Carlisle assigned interim principal of Madison Middle School.
Jan 2010: Kaaren Andrews from Madrona K-8 to the Interagency School, Cheryl Grinager from Green Lake Elementary to McDonald Elem. (to be reopened), David Elliott from Coe Elem to Old Hay (to be reopened as Queen Anne Elem.)
Dan Warren from John Hay to Sand Point (to be reopened).
Feb/March 2010: DeWanda Cook-Weaver from McGilvra to ??, Beverly Raines from Lawton to early retirement.
Clover Codd made interim principal at Alki for the 09-10 school year. (according to reader Yumpears)
(Of these, I believe only one replaced a retiring principal, Clara Scott from TOPS, and one who went on leave on her own accord, Katie Cryan Learie from Hamilton, and then two who may have been forced out: D. Cook-Weaver and B. Raines)
Sources: Seattle Times, Seattle Public Schools, and Seattle Public Schools Community Blog.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2008726291&zsection_id=2003749464&slug=webprincipals09m&date=20090209
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/0910/20100111_principal_appointments.pdf
I often wonder about who speaks for whom within a school community also...
I'd been looking for schools where governance was a partnership between parents-community, students, teachers, principal-admin... Seattle alternative schools are supposed to have that under Policy C54...
AS#1 had that going - too messy and ineffective some would say - until SPS imposed BLTs (which took away most of the power of site councils) and 'restructured' the school, to the extent that teachers and the new principal (assigned without community input) met over the 2009 summer vacation and rewrote the school's mission and values statements...
I took my child to a Shoreline alternative school (not very alternative at all actually)... Its run by a community representative body and has a PTA... the community representative body is not very representative either and routinely speaks/acts for the entire community without a lot of engagement...
I've questioned that and gotten nowhere fast... lots of agreement/support from other parents "off camera", so-to-speak, but little back-up in public...
One parent said: I'm only here for my child and dont want to get involved, but I cant stand that pack of b*****s that run this school.... (speaking of the almost all female core of people running the show)...
So - no real democratic parental input/influence at the district level, no real democratic parental input in the various lobby groups who are all tied to the big money 'reformers' and no real democratic parental input at individual school levels....
Of the people, By the people, For the people? I dont see it in politics and national/state governance - why we would then expect it elsewhere, I dont know... personally, I think its time for a revolution!!!!!
VERY FUNNY WV = priam... See Wiki for relevence - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priam - consider it an analogy describing our own relationship with SPS Super, Staff and Board as we fight for our childrens' education:
When Hector is killed by Achilles, Achilles treats the body with disrespect and refuses to give it back. Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam, Hector’s father and the ruler of Troy, into the Greek camp. Priam tearfully pleads with Achilles to take pity on a father bereft of his son and return Hector’s body. He invokes the memory of Achilles’ own father, Peleus. Priam begs Achilles to pity him, saying "I have endured what no one on earth has ever done before — I put my lips to the hands of the man who killed my son".[2]
As far as PTSA overall, look folks, I have been in PTSA for a long, long time. I have never been at a school yet where we weren't begging parents to join, to volunteer, to give input. Anyone could reach any of the Boards I served on with opinions or ideas. I was actually worried that at Eckstein I might get pushed out by parents who knew each other since their children were in elementary school but it did not happen.
You end up seeing a lot of the same faces because those are the people who step up year after year. That said, all PTSAs should be open to new people on their Boards and new ideas. I have had some ideas dismissed because they were new but I was still able to express them and give others food for thought.
It is sad when a few people take over and act like rulers. I've heard of it happening. But by and large I think most PTSA Boards are just trying as hard as they can and would welcome new faces and new ideas.
OK, I agree that if the letter was on PTSA letterhead, there should have been public engagement. I was just thinking of all of the times I've written the School Board and signed my name as the PTA Legislative Chair. If you're in an advocacy mode, sometimes it's hard to remember that you have to check in with the people you're representing.
To be fair, I think one concern of the PTSA is that both assistant principal positions are to be filled with new people as the current AP is retiring, and that Jill Hudson has only been at Hale for a year. In fact, there have been 5 principals in 8 years at Hale, which is a LOT of turnover, particularly with their very challenging remodel going on.
I think Mr. Linett has been very effective in his work with students and, having been at the school a long time, brings some much needed institutional memory to the administration. Is it the best possible move? I don't know. But I do think the district needs to consider whether the school needs this administrative institutional memory at this time. We've had 3 principals in the 4 years my child has been at Hale, and I have found the turnover wearying.
I learned from the experience that a principal can make or break a school and that a parent should never pick a school based solely on the principal.
I noted that a couple of the principals we had in our revolving door years keep moving around the District. Two are on Melissa's list (though from the length of the list, it's hard to see who's NOT on it). Also...did you include the move of Lisa Escobar from Center School to RBHS?
However, that was not my point.
My point was that the PTSA chose to write a letter on behalf of an entire community advocating for the Dean to move into the Assistant principal position, without finding out if this is indeed was supported by the community.
The PTSA at Hale does not post an agenda prior to their meetings so parents had no way of knowing this would be discussed (that is if it was discussed at a meeting), nor do they post minutes after their meetings. This information was not shared in a letter, and was not posted on the PTSA website. There was no robocall, or any other way form of communication. Yet, the PTSA felt that they had the right to speak on everyones behalf.
In this case you happen to agree with the content of the letter. What if you didn't? Would you appreciate this action then?
Also -- Chris Carter has been a great addition to Hamilton this year. He has dealt skillfully with our new APP program and music program. And best of all -- he has been thinking and planning for what an International middle school might be. Thank you Mr. Carter! Mr. Carter's work has been especially welcome since the district has done almost nothing to plan for middle or high school international education.
I felt this was a problem during the APP split discussions last year. When we first heard about it, the Lowell PTA went into it with a "let's make the best out of a bad situation" attitude instead of, what I believe might have been more effective, all guns blazing! Had they been able to rally everyone, perhaps things might have been different. (Remember, along the way, Montlake was going to move into Lowell; THAT community raised such a stink that those plans were gone in a matter of weeks. Of course, neither Hawthorne, Thurgood Marshall, nor TT Minor, had big PTAs to fight . . . look at them now.)
stu
Mr. King has been responsive to parent needs, including asking for a math waiver to use Singapore. He attends PTA meetings and evening events, and has regular coffee hours with parents.
Oh, and my daughter hugs him.
- the current Dean may not sit well with a few parents (With respect to Hale Parent - I certainly do not want to dispute or discount any interactions you may have had) but he is widely respected by parents, students and staff.
- Current Dean is qualified for AP position and has his admin credentials (and has had for several years). He is not currently in the pool, which seems to be a problem for SPS even though 20-25% of the AP promotions in SPS in the past few years have been to those who were not in the pool but were right for the job.
- the BLT did submit the same waiver they have for the past 12 years to convert the AP to Dean and for the first time it was rejected.
- the BLT did submit a formal request to Dr. Enfield to either have the current Dean promoted to AP or at least put in the pool to be interviewed. This was signed by most of the staff in support of the measure. No official word from the school has been given but the request seems to have been rejected as interviews have been underway.
- PTSA discussed their letter at their PTSA meeting before sending it. With all due respect, one can't expect a voice if one does not attend and elected leaders are elected to give voice to the body of the organization.
- the constant turnover of administration does put undue pressure on Hale, especially with major construction going on. To have a total turnover of new admin within a years time is not a healthy thing for the students, staff or families and it will effect the community negatively (IMO).
- I do like the metrics with which you have been talking about principals. Evaluating for being in the classroom and holding staff accountable and working with them to improve their practice as well as trying to replicate successful practices, promoting rigorous programs, community involvement, setting positive goals and relations with the staff and putting families, students and staff all on the same team with the same high goals are all things that make up a good principal.
It's hard to say how things are going at AS1; we've acquired some teachers from Summit, all of whom are terrific. The "oldbies" at AS1 are working to come to grips with the changes at the school, and Roy is coming to grips with the oldbies as well. I don't think he really groks "alternative", but he's trying.
I am puzzled that SPS tells us our enrollment will be down by 30 kids next year, despite the fact that open enrollment closes today. How the heck do they make THAT assumption? But I don't think that Roy had anything to do with that: it's just Word from On High.
However, said principal has continued to bounce around from school to school, so it's obvious the District doesn't do much about it other than playing musical chairs.
1) If the Dean at Hale has the credentials to be an AP, why isn't he in the AP candidate pool?
2) What is the principals position on the Dean moving into the AP position? Does she support it?
If the Dean of students at Hale wasn't moved into the AP position, where would he go? Would he be placed in another school? Or be rif'd?
And with only 60 or so TTM kids that transferred to Lowell this year, not much was needed to integrate the two populations at school. With 300 APP kids at Lowell, the TTM kids pretty much had to go with the flow. Remember how the TTM teachers tried to kill the Lowell Way at the beginning of the school year and it came back anyway? That’s the advantage of having one group much larger than the other. The TTM population would have been assimilated into Lowell with or without those great programs which were already in place.
Don't know for sure, but I suspect that the reason Hale's Dean of Students wasn't in the AP pool is because he didn't know he was looking for a new job . . .
I have no idea about the circumstance behind Ms. Cook-Weaver's or any other principal on this list's leave, so please don't automatically assume the aforementioned is the case. I'm just making an observation based on past experience with the District. You'd have to research each principal's history to get even close to the whole story—something to consider if any of the on-leave principals appear on your school's selection list.
What is the point of the District permitting these negative redundant behaviors that do not construct but diminish the daily lives of those unjustly targeted? And the school? Is it any better? Just look at the state report card. Despite union sympathy with the victims, it is powerless here. Ongoing cronyism marches on!!!
Other teachers are displacing themselves yet her iron-fisted rule still carries to their new school. They will be on a plan of improvement based on her observations! That just doesn't seem right.
Another teacher is already on a plan of improvement for next year!
Workplace bullying lives on at this school, mostly by Cothron McMillian.