Transfers

When I got to school today, all the teachers were standing in a huddle talking in somber voices. At first I thought someone had died. Yesterday afternoon our principal was notified that she is getting transferred to another middle school within the district. For that alone we are all sad. She has been here for 18 years between teaching math and being an administrator. From the minute I met her at my first interview, I knew that she was someone who knew how to run a school. Her vision of teacher collaboration and alignment is brilliant, and her care and concern for the kids is so apparent. She is one tough cookie, but on a few occasions I have seen her breakdown and cry. She loves this school, and it's a hard thing for all of us to see her go.

The second reason everyone is so sad is because of her replacement. I don't know anything about her, but apparently her reputation is awful. I know so many teachers who are looking to transfer to a new school to avoid working under her. Though on the other hand, it must be hard for anyone coming in to replace our current principal just because she has been so great. I guess for me it doesn't really matter since I won't be teaching here next year; however, it's just like my hope for the new French teacher: I just want the absolute best for my kids.