West Seattle schools: All 3 top administrators leaving WSHS

Exactly one month after we first reported the resignation of West Seattle High School principal Bruce Bivins, who’s taking a job in California, we have just confirmed multiple reports that both WSHS assistant principals are leaving as well. Jenni Maughan-MacDonald wrote about her plans on her What’s Happening at Westside website – she says she’s taking a “small school principal position” in Seattle’s neighbor district to the south, Highline Public Schools. And district spokesperson Teresa Wippel confirms that the other assistant principal, Anitra Pinchback-Jones, has resigned. So what now, we asked? She replied, “We have a pool of applicants for all positions and will be updating the community next week on our process.”

madashell June 11, 2010 (1:31 pm)

Back to chaos as usual under this SPS Superintendent’s direction. If you are sick of getting whiplash everytime the district unilaterally decides (then collaboratively shares their decision with us), then got to this link and signify your vote of NO-Confidence in Supt. Marie Goodloe Johnson.

http://www.petitiononline.com/S3B62010/petition.html

Then, be thinking of replacing our representative on the School Board. Steve Sundquist wants to “reform” public education by destroying the teachers and principals unions, calling for merit pay based on high-stakes testing (so they will “teach the test”), and eliminating transportation. His arrogance is astounding.

Denny June 11, 2010 (2:26 pm)

Don’t lay chaos as usual at the feet of the superintendent & board alone. Teachers unions are not doing my student any favors in their lockstep reaction to proposed changes. Seattle Schools were struggling well before GJ & current board. Only constant during decades of struggle? Unions that constantly put teachers seniority before kids learning.

Marty McLaren June 11, 2010 (2:35 pm)

I haven’t spent time at WSHS recently, but “back to chaos as usual” certainly resonates. The misguided direction of the leadership of SPS is staggering and chronic. Mr. Sundquist made a deeply negative impression on me by rubber-stamping the disastrous high school math text adoption, as well as the wasteful and sure-to-be-futile NTN/STEM initiative at Cleveland HS. These are only two examples of high impact decisions made without consideration of compelling contradictory evidence.

madashell June 11, 2010 (2:50 pm)

The union’s been more flexible than “Off with their heads” MGJ. My daughter’s teachers are wonderful and professional. The central office bunglers do not help my daughter. The “reformers” try to demonize teachers so then they can slip their cockamamie charter school crap in sideways.

carbon June 11, 2010 (3:02 pm)

madashell uses unrelated events to blame Goodloe-Johnson and Sundquist for his woes. If you’re threatened and blame others, the possibility of reform is having a positive effect.

WS alum June 11, 2010 (5:09 pm)

I am saddened by the loss of all three administrators at WSHS. Good people, vision, leadership. But it seems like the good ones leave because they always feel like they’re swimming against the current. If all parties involved in educating our next generation could just get their heads out of their a—- and work together, SSD would be a better place. They need to take some lessons from the Marysville school district.

madashell June 11, 2010 (5:13 pm)

My woes? BWAAHAAHAA, nice try. I have a student in SPS. I see services cut in disingenuous attempts for “inclusion” (BS, changes are LESS inclusive), audits showing mishandling of assets and funds, successful programs dismantled with nothing left in their place, RIFs of staff that directly help our kids, grant applications submitted a day late and a dollar short, schools closed and then reopened at 10X the expense etc. etc. Unrelated to what? The phases of the moon? If this is reform, keep it away from my kid.

How do families that attend WS High feel about these developments?

WS alum June 11, 2010 (5:19 pm)

Re: previous post – Everett school district; not Marysville. Read the story on Seattle Times website. Start with day one of freshman year with a plan and a no nonsense policy to help students reach graduation in four years. It makes so much sense! Make kids accountable; encourage all parents to get involved and raise the bar.

madashell June 11, 2010 (5:46 pm)

I agree WS alum. Too bad the intervention specialists in SPS were RIFfed. Very shortsighted.

GenHill June 11, 2010 (6:05 pm)

Too bad they can’t clean out some of the faculty–that’s where the problem has been for the past several years. They keep chewing up and spitting out the principals.

a WSHS parent June 11, 2010 (6:37 pm)

It bothers me to see the top leadership at WSHS leave, especially all at once. Pinchback-Jones was excellent at her job. I know from personal experience. Also, Bivens worked hard at keeping the school a relatively safe place and interacted well with the students. It is scary to think that come next Fall, the top administration may have little principal experience at a school like WSHS and, also, may be learning on the job. WSHS needs talented, dedicated, and strong leaders in these top administration roles.

Let us hope the interview committee does an excellent job and the school system brings in appropriate replacements.

Thankfully, there are many excellent teachers at WSHS, but good administrators are needed for the learning environment to remain safe.

madashell June 11, 2010 (11:23 pm)

WS Alums, express your displeasure with SPS leadership. Post a comment on the no-confidence petition. Six schools staff have already passed no-confidence vote on their Supt. Parents can too.

http://www.petitiononline.com/S3B62010/petition.html

Dan Dempsey June 12, 2010 (1:00 pm)

Principals chewed up by Staff…..
Susan Durse ????? Please give up on that line!!!

Hey where is Anitra going next year?

I heard maybe West Seattle Elementary….

or home as mom.

Sure wish her the best … whatever may come.

WSB June 12, 2010 (1:02 pm)

Dan – I sent a message to her asking for comment and didn’t get a reply; the district also wasn’t saying; other sources I checked with hadn’t heard beyond the announcement she was leaving …