FCPS begins principal selection process for Poe Middle School
 |
| Poe Middle School in Annandale. |
Five months after former Poe Middle School Principal Sonya Swansbrough was
arrested for embezzlement, Fairfax County Public Schools officials met with Poe
parents to explain the process for selecting a new principal.
arrested for embezzlement, Fairfax County Public Schools officials met with Poe
parents to explain the process for selecting a new principal.
In recent weeks, complaints have surfaced from Poe staff and
parents about a lack of communication from FCPS about the future of the school,
declining morale, student behavior problems, and reports that many
teachers are planning to leave.
parents about a lack of communication from FCPS about the future of the school,
declining morale, student behavior problems, and reports that many
teachers are planning to leave.
“It has been a difficult time,” Cluster 3 Assistant
Superintendent Douglas Tyson acknowledged at a May 5 meeting on FCPS procedures for selecting a new principal.
“I hope to get
someone really reflective,” he said when a parent asked what he is seeking in a
new principal. “We’ll need someone able to come in recognizing the
circumstances are unusual, but not someone who says let’s erase
all the vestiges” of the problems of the past few months. In general, when
selecting a principal, he said, “I always look for someone who loves children,
who really cares about the social, emotional, and academic well-being of youngsters.”
“This principalship is an important one—and just not because
of the way it became open,” said school board member Sandy Evans, who attended
the meeting as an observer. “The diversity at Poe is a strength, but the school
needs someone who understands diversity here and can put Poe on a path to
progress,” she said. “Poe needs a strong communicator who understands that
different parents need to be reached in different ways.”
of the way it became open,” said school board member Sandy Evans, who attended
the meeting as an observer. “The diversity at Poe is a strength, but the school
needs someone who understands diversity here and can put Poe on a path to
progress,” she said. “Poe needs a strong communicator who understands that
different parents need to be reached in different ways.”
At the meeting, two officials from the FCPS human resources
office—Michael Parker, an administrative employment specialist, and Michelle Webb,
a coordinator for administrative employment—explained the role of a panel of Poe parents and staff in the principal
selection process.
office—Michael Parker, an administrative employment specialist, and Michelle Webb,
a coordinator for administrative employment—explained the role of a panel of Poe parents and staff in the principal
selection process.
Only about a dozen people showed up at the meeting, which
could be due to the lack of a sign at the front door directing people to the
meeting location, which was in the lecture hall in the very back of the
building.
could be due to the lack of a sign at the front door directing people to the
meeting location, which was in the lecture hall in the very back of the
building.
Parker said the minimum requirements are three years of administrative
experience plus four years of teaching experience. Beyond that, FCPS “will look
at who is the best match for Poe.”
experience plus four years of teaching experience. Beyond that, FCPS “will look
at who is the best match for Poe.”
The one-week application period opens May 7 and closes on
midnight May 13.
midnight May 13.
Applicants will be evaluated according to a matrix
developed by HR with input from the Poe community. The top candidates—typically
ranging from three to nine—will be invited to take part in an interview session
before a panel consisting of three Poe parents, three Poe staff members, Tyson,
and Cluster 3 Director Deidre Lavery.
developed by HR with input from the Poe community. The top candidates—typically
ranging from three to nine—will be invited to take part in an interview session
before a panel consisting of three Poe parents, three Poe staff members, Tyson,
and Cluster 3 Director Deidre Lavery.
Any Poe parents can submit input by May 12 via email to
Parker, [email protected], on these issues: the leadership skills
a Poe principal needs, the administrative experience preferred, the leadership characteristics
desired, school issues that need to be addressed, and school challenges to be
met.
Parker, [email protected], on these issues: the leadership skills
a Poe principal needs, the administrative experience preferred, the leadership characteristics
desired, school issues that need to be addressed, and school challenges to be
met.
The panel will meet May 29 at the FCPS central office in the
Gatehouse Administration Center in Merrifield. The candidates will bring a
resume, cover letter, and writing sample to the session with the panel. Each candidate will have a 30-minute interview with the panel, with each
candidate given the same questions.
Gatehouse Administration Center in Merrifield. The candidates will bring a
resume, cover letter, and writing sample to the session with the panel. Each candidate will have a 30-minute interview with the panel, with each
candidate given the same questions.
The names of the panel members must be submitted to the Cluster 3 office by May 12. Poe PTA President Christiane White will submit six names of parents, and seventh-grade teacher Tiffany Graczyk, the school’s faculty representative, will submit six employees. Cluster 3 will select three people plus an alternate from each category, with the goal of ensuring diversity on the panel.
Panel members must keep the names of candidates confidential
and cannot discuss what happens during the interviews or their impressions of the
candidates. They can suggest follow-up questions to Tyson for the next round,
along with their recommendations on which candidates should go forward.
and cannot discuss what happens during the interviews or their impressions of the
candidates. They can suggest follow-up questions to Tyson for the next round,
along with their recommendations on which candidates should go forward.
Tyson will then conduct less-structured, more open-ended
interviews with the top three candidates. The ones who survive that round will be
interviewed by Superintendent Karen Garza, and the final decision will be made
by the school board. Along the way, the HR department will check references and
conduct background checks.
interviews with the top three candidates. The ones who survive that round will be
interviewed by Superintendent Karen Garza, and the final decision will be made
by the school board. Along the way, the HR department will check references and
conduct background checks.
If no one is a good match, the position could be re-advertised.
“We’d rather be patient and get it right,” Webb said.
“We’d rather be patient and get it right,” Webb said.
If a veteran principal from another FCPS middle school
applies, a different procedure is used, Parker said. Tyson would check that
person’s references and evaluations and interview that candidate first. Garza and the school board would then interview the candidate,
and if they believe that person is the best match for the school, the panel
would be convened to conduct an interview and consider whether that person
would be a good fit for Poe.
applies, a different procedure is used, Parker said. Tyson would check that
person’s references and evaluations and interview that candidate first. Garza and the school board would then interview the candidate,
and if they believe that person is the best match for the school, the panel
would be convened to conduct an interview and consider whether that person
would be a good fit for Poe.
Tyson would also have the option of including a veteran
middle school principal with the mix of other candidates. In that case, the
panel would interview that person along with everyone else.
middle school principal with the mix of other candidates. In that case, the
panel would interview that person along with everyone else.
Tyson said it’s helpful to have reports on the candidates
who aren’t recommended for the position because that provides feedback to them
on how to improve their leadership skills.
who aren’t recommended for the position because that provides feedback to them
on how to improve their leadership skills.
I was planning on attending the blogapalooza. I have enjoyed the blog these past year. But after your character assassination of Colleen Noone last week, I simply cannot support your site.
That sort of thing is normal for the Fairfax Underground, but I expect more from this blog.
You cannot write an article that is completely based on the rantings of a parent and an angry teacher.
Do you plan on writing a story about the positives of Poe? Do you plan on profiling Colleen and her long outstanding career? Because it is very impressive.
I have to agree with A-Towner's post, I was completely taken aback about your comments in your blog last week about Poe. Your article was so one-sided, and frankly incorrect in your facts. I realize that your blog isn't unbiased reporting but please consider collecting information from more than one or two negative sources. As a current Poe parent, your article was filled with errors regarding Poe's teachers, staff and Dr. Noone. In light of the tragedy of their former principal, teachers and staff are doing their jobs, and doing it well .
But it takes 5 months to post a position? Based on that, FCPS takes a year to make a hire at top admin positions?
According to Cluster 3 principals, at the EOY principal luncheon, Tyson admitted to not doing his job of formally evaluating principals in their summarize evaluation year. Then he gets promoted to regional assistant superintendent? Sounds like Garza made a big mistake…no wonder why principals get away with everything under the sun…unless the feds step in…complete lack of oversight.