Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › Doogie Howser is leaving Schmitz Park Elementary
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April 9, 2008 at 10:13 pm #586721
BobLoblawParticipantCouldn’t ask for a better Wednesday day brightener. Bottom line: Seattle schools aren’t good enough for his little ones. B’Bye Richie!
Dear Schmitz Park Families,
I am writing to announce that this will be my last year as principal of Schmitz Park Elementary. The last seven years have been incredible. I love working with our kids, families and school staff. Schmitz Park is a truly unique community. It has been a privilege to work with such a fine staff, with our wonderful programs and in partnership with the most amazing group of parents. But it is time for my family and me to make a change.
Over the last several months my wife and I have been considering what is next for our family. We knew we wanted to make a move, and to do so before our children entered school. After exploring many options we recently started settling on a direction. So I have accepted a job with the Mercer Island School district as principal of West Mercer Elementary for next fall.
I will miss Schmitz Park and will take many lessons learned with me.
So what is next for Schmitz Park? Our Elementary Director, Patrick Johnson, will be leading the staff and the PTA leadership through a principal selection process, according to the school district policies. Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson will appoint a principal to Schmitz Park with community and staff input. I will then work closely to assist with a smooth transition.
What doesn’t change is that we have a superb staff and community that are deeply committed to our children. Working together with the new principal Schmitz Park can continue to build on a strong foundation of success and quality, where students thrive and grow as independent learners, responsible citizens and caring neighbors.
Sincerely,
Rich
Richard Mellish, Principal
April 9, 2008 at 10:43 pm #621783
flowerpetalMemberAm I missing something here? What does this have to do with Doogie Howser… who, if I remember correctly was a t.v. character portrayed as a super genius high school kid who had already been through med school (and people wonder why I don’t watch t.v.) But the connection of this to resignation letter to an inane t.v. show escapes me.
April 9, 2008 at 11:02 pm #621784
JackLoblawMemberI think that the Doogie Howser reference means that Rich has always looked too young to be a principal ( I wish I had that problem ! ). It is simply amazing to me that Seattle Public Schools are good enough for several of the teachers from Schmitz Park’s kids to go to( Madison Middle school too ) but not good enough for the kids of the man who’s been guiding Schmitz Park for these last 7 years. I wonder how they feel about this ?
April 9, 2008 at 11:23 pm #621785
BobLoblawParticipantWord from the school was that a few folks were trying to hide their smiles and act sad.
April 9, 2008 at 11:38 pm #621786
flowerpetalMemberI don’t get from the letter of resignation that SPS are not “good enough” for his own kids. I don’t know this principal at all, but there will always be someone who’s happy to see someone go.
April 9, 2008 at 11:52 pm #621787
4kidsParticipantHey, Bob- He has had alot of recognition from his peers, and We are excited to have him at West Mercer. I think you are sounding petty and judgemental regarding your derogatory description of him and his motives to move. Mercer Island is a wonderful community for raising kids, and you need to look beyond the vision of its perimeter to see that it thrives because of the same energy your school does; parents, staff, admin and students who rally together. MI is a small district with its own budget constraints, but we make it work, and we welcome Rich.
April 10, 2008 at 12:54 am #621788
BobLoblawParticipantCool. We welcome you to have him.
April 10, 2008 at 1:12 am #621789
shihtzuParticipantI know nothing of the man either, but the statement that it was better for his children to not be in Seattle schools is pretty bad for a principal to say. My child is too young for school now, but this kind of thing freaks me out. I grew up in the burbs and believe those schools have their problems too, just as bad in many cases, maybe I’m being naive. Are Seattle schools THAT bad?
April 10, 2008 at 1:15 am #621790
shihtzuParticipantUpon a second reading, perhaps I’m reading too much into his statements…
April 10, 2008 at 2:07 am #621791
JackLoblawMemberShihtzu — Seattle Public Schools are not bad. Do not freak out ! They have run down buildings and poor funding but the teachers and parents are great despite what the cheap a$$ed community does to support them. There are teachers at both Schmitz Park and Madison who go the extra mile and really truly care about the kids that they teach. The Schmitz Park parents go out of their way to support the school. I have nothing but praise for the school, teachers and the parents. We both work full time so we could not volunteer but we gave quite a bit of extra cash to help support all the different fund raising projects that the schools PTA did. It takes a village and in West Seattle the parents support the schools 110%.
April 10, 2008 at 2:45 am #621792
WSMomParticipantFrom the Seattle Times: Another reason to be grateful we’re in West Seattle…
(edited by TR – it’s a copyright violation to post an entire story from another source; the URL will suffice for those of you who wish to click to read it)
April 10, 2008 at 3:01 am #621793
4kidsParticipantOK- You can be “grateful you live in West Seattle,” but it is unfair to spread broad generalizations about the choice to raise kids in the suburbs. As for MI, Luthar spoke out and said that this article mischaracterized her research and findings. I doubt any of us are foolish enough to think that one community has an altogether higher risk factor for stress, drug/alcohol abuse, etc, than another. The situations may be different, but the challenges of the teenage years are the same everywhere- it comes down to parent, community, and peer support. The Luthar study was welcomed and viewed as an opportunity to assess our community and look for better answers. Don’t dog us for that! I am sure you would not say there are no issues with sex, violence, drugs, drop outs, etc at Sealth or WSH??
April 10, 2008 at 3:55 am #621794
gframptonMemberWe’re disappointed that Rich Mellish is leaving Schmitz Park. Sincerely. Mercer Island is lucky to have him. Schmitz Park is a wonderful school that’s accomplished many things over the past seven years and Rich is a big part of that. We hope the next principal maintains the positive momentum. We’re also grateful to live in West Seattle, but not for the reasons listed in the article. We all have the same issues and are dealing with them the best way we know how. Kudos to the MI community for taking an honest look at themselves. Hopefully some great lessons come from the research. We hope to work with other parents, in West Seattle, Mercer Island, and elsewhere to improve the Washington Schools. It’s in our childrens’ best interest to work together.
April 10, 2008 at 2:06 pm #621795
JeraldParticipantPerhaps the Mellish family just wants to make their move before the kids are in school so it’s less disruptive. Lots of people feel that suburbs or small towns are better for families.
April 10, 2008 at 2:16 pm #621796
JackLoblawMemberI guess that this is the point of the discussion here. What does it say when a principal decides that the school district that he has earned his living from and done a good job of guiding these 7 years decides to move to an affluent district so that his kids do not go to school in the same district that he has been employed in ? Does this say that the Seattle Schools are good enough to make money from but not good enough for HIS children’s education ? I hope I am wrong here but this appears to be the case from reading his letter.
April 10, 2008 at 2:34 pm #621797
JanSParticipantJack…maybe, just maybe, it has nothing to do with the schools…maybe it has to do with the fact that maybe he was offered more money? We don’t know…he didn’t say that he was leaving because the schools aren’t good enough…you’re reading between the lines, and it’s purely conjecture…and a shame, because it seems that this man was well-liked, and did well at Schmitz Park school…..maybe, just maybe, kudos are in order, instead….
April 10, 2008 at 2:38 pm #621798
JanSParticipantand I interpreted his statement about moving before his children were in school to mean…it’s easier now because they haven’t established friendships, etc. yet….which makes it hard on kids when they have to leave. Sounds like good parenting to me :) just an opinion…
April 10, 2008 at 2:42 pm #621799
JeraldParticipantLots of people feel that suburbs or small towns are better for families…for many reasons, not just schools.
Maybe they want a house surrounded by fir trees or a lakefront park nearby. Maybe the grandparents live there and they want to be closer (or the reverse).
You can’t assume you know what they’re thinking, at least not just from that letter.
April 10, 2008 at 6:55 pm #621800
dennyMemberI understand Jack’s reading of the information, but it is hard for me to knock the decisions of a parent for what is best for his or her family. We clearly don’t know his family, their needs, wants for their children, or perhaps even their children’s needs.
Perhaps their decision reflects less what it says about the quality of schools but his reflection on the whole of life growing up here and there.
Whatever you may think, it’s hard to ignore that MI is one of the state’s best funded, best performing and most respected districts, working with a pretty homogenous population.
Like his choice or not, like his leadership or not, we are lucky when we have choices available to us.
April 11, 2008 at 1:48 am #621801
ChillinVillinMemberBobLoblaw, What, are you…of high school age? What difference does it make why someone choses to leave their employment? – Worry about your own deficiencies and focus on improving yourself as opposed to publicly criticizing someone else.
I don’t know Rich, but I have to come to his defense…Who are you to pass judgment on this man for a decision he has made? – Further, to imply that you have the inside track into his and his wife’s thinking about why he chose to accept the job. WHO CARES? – Narrow minded people like you are a dime a dozen. Say something worthy next time that is complimentary to someone, and if you are going to criticize someone – have the guts to sign your real name. It demonstrates a lack of character to criticize someone openly on the internet and not acknowledge your own name.
Rich, whoever you are, if you are reading this, don’t let the narrow minded thinking of anyone like the man who started this post get you down.
You know what nearly everyone’s mom said back in the day… If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
April 11, 2008 at 9:23 pm #621802
gframptonMemberI spoke with some parents and teachers today. I mentioned this blog and how the original posting implied people are glad Rich is leaving. They confirmed what I suspected: the opposite is true. People are disappointed to see Rich go. One teacher referred to Rich as “the best boss I’ve ever had.” This is a good man who deserve credit for doing great work!
April 11, 2008 at 9:31 pm #621803
AnonymousInactiveChillinVillin – You can click on BobLobLaw and find out pretty much all about him.
Calling someone “narrow-minded” seems like criticism to me and I noticed that you didn’t sign your own name.
April 23, 2008 at 12:39 am #621804
BobLoblawParticipantHey Chillin: Notice how this was posted in Rants and Raves, not Raves and Raves? If I want an unbiased opinion of somebody, or just the facts, I’ll let WSB do the reporter thing.
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