How to Staff a School
This is a chaotic time for D.C. Public Schools. This year, Chancellor Michelle Rhee ordered the closing of 23 public schools. Then, she fired 24 principals, and later 22 assistant principals. Others, from shuttering schools, were reassigned throughout the system. And one can only imagine how many teachers, aids, and staff-members were floating around in the wake of the closure announcements looking for new jobs.
In that jumble of emotion, and financial and professional anxiety, new school leaders had to begin preparing for the upcoming school year (mind you, while the current one was still happening).
Recently, I spoke to one principal—Brearn Wright, formerly of Clark Elementary School and currently of Truesdell Elementary School, which are both in Petworth—about how he did it. The process was far more involved than I’d ever expected, especially in this particular moment in time. And that’s definitely a good thing. Here’s Wright’s explanation:
Truesdell is a restructuring school. So all of the staff at Truesdell have to reapply for their jobs. My biggest focus was to staff a good school, and find good teachers. We had an interview process where staff were interviewed by students, teachers, and they engaged in role-playing scenarios. So, in one room, students came up with questions for the candidates. In one room, they had a team of teachers asking them questions. And in another room, they engaged in a role-playing exercises…
[In the room with the teachers], we started out with Clark teachers who were going with me to Truesdell. Once we decided what Truesdell staff were going to stay, they became involved in the process. Then, we used our connection with New Leaders for New Schools and Center for Inspired Teaching, and I asked them point-blank: Who are some of the best teachers in the city? And from there, we made phone calls. Also, we contacted Teach for America, ‘Give me the best teachers in your program.’
The key part was a collaboration piece. I wanted to ask the teachers, ‘Do you envision yourself working with this person?’ And the students, they were very tough. They pointed out things that I did not see. They said ‘This candidate did not look me in the eye. How can this person be a teacher when they don’t look me in the eye? Or, why is this person using these big, big words as if she’s talking to the adult. I’m here. I’m the kid. I’m the student.’
How did you come up with this whole application process?
That’s something I experienced with New Leaders for New Schools, being a new leader, that’s what we had to go through. And it was a grueling process. I wanted the teachers who were interviewed to know this was serious business. And this is just not a twenty minute conversation, and then we’re going to make a decision. I’m going to hear from everyone.”
This interview was edited for concision and clarity.
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4:49 pm
Ruth, I like your article but PLEASE do not commit the cardinal sin that so many reporters TV, Print, Radio, and otherwise do…KNOW the District and its neighborhoods. Clark may be in Petworth, as is Barnard, Raymond, and Powell Elementary Schools, but Truesdell is NOT. Truesdell is in the Brightwood Park neighborhood of DC, along with Brightwood and Rudolph (another shuttering school).
In terms of Wright’s innovative process, kudos to him. However, with all of the personnel shifts, the devil is in the details. If this truly was a “restructuring” school, why not make all “re-apply” instead of taking some incumbents from Truesdell and some from Clark. Seems strange to me.
2:30 pm
WOW….maybe the students should run the school if they have better knowledge than the principal. Perhaps Chancellor Rhee should look into who she places in school if this is about student success.
9:23 am
Brean Wright words are nothing short of “silly.” He hides behind a facade of ignorance. These eloquent words coming from a principal who held a raffle with amazing prizes for parents who attended Parent-Teacher conference and retrieved their child’s report card! Thats not leadership, thats pleasing the masses by continuing to feed the perception that these parents need a prize to come to school and inquire about their child’s learning. A leader would knock door to door and demand the parent’s to be there. In terms of instruction, he does not want good teachers, just those who will not challenged his flawed ideology, i.e. (Teach For America). Keep on shucking and jiving Brearn.
Ruth, great article. Next time it would be wonderful if you conducted some research on Mr. Wright. Having done so I’m sure the title and content of this article would be quite different.
paz
2:03 pm
As a person who has spent numerous hours in Clark Elementary School and other public schools in DC, I would like to ask the “Concerned Parents” for some of their suggestions for how to run a school in the District of Columbia. It seems they both are quick to judge the tactics used by Principal Wright, but really don’t offer up any other solutions. Tell me, what would you do if you were the principal of a school where students were failing and parental involvement was low? Principal Wright went above and beyond the call of duty as principal of Clark Elementary—and in two short years created a supportive network of teachers and parents. Not to mention an atmosphere where kids learned to be proud of themselves, their school, and where they came from. Never have I seen a school with a larger sense of pride and family than at Clark Elementary. Principal Wright should be commended for the changes he made in that school, not criticized for being a creative and innovative leader.
My congratulations to Principal Wright for making strides in the DC Public School System. It is about time that someone got creative and got some work done. I can’t wait to see what happens at Truesdell.
Lastly, Teach for America teachers are some of the hardest working teachers in the country…yes, they are are young and fresh to the school system, but they deserve just as much respect as any other teacher. Teach for America teachers are smart, caring, well-educated individuals looking to be part of a solution—thanks to all who have been in or currently serve in the program.
Take a look around Concerned Parents…change is finally happening. And next time you want to criticize, offer some solutions too. Being part of the DC Public School system isn’t easy…perhaps you should apply for a position as a principal since you seem to know what is best.