DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor Washington, D.C. 20002-4232
202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us
June 21, 2001
Memorandum to Staff:
Re: The Children First Initiative
On Thursday, June 21, 2001, I formally introduced The
Children First Initiative that will begin the transformation of our school
district over the next 3-5 years. My visits to schools and meetings
throughout the community have affirmed the talent of our students and a
high level of commitment in our school system. But, I am most concerned by
a persistent pattern of low performance at several schools.
Nine schools have been identified for complete
transformation under The Children First Initiative. They are Davis, H.D.
Cooke, LaSalle, Noyes, Simon and Turner Elementary Schools, Kramer Middle
School, R.H. Terrell Junior High School and Phelps Career Senior High
School. These schools were selected largely because they are targeted
assistance schools that have received additional support for nearly four
years without demonstrating significant improvement. School climate was
also a selection criterion. After a careful assessment, we are making
changes that we believe will create a supportive environment for improved
academic achievement.
Transformation will entail a complete redeployment of
administrative and instructional staff as well as a complete revamping of
the school program. This means that all staff at transformation schools
must apply for a position if they wish to remain at their school as a
member of the new staffing. Staff members not applying or selected for the
transformation schools, who would otherwise return in September, will be
reassigned to a comparable position in the school district. These actions
are taken entirely without prejudice, and result from our responsibility
to deploy staff and resources strategically in order to provide all
children equal opportunities for success.
Administrative staff from Human Resources and central
offices will be at your school on Friday, June 22, 2001, to answer your
questions and to support you through this process. You will be given
additional details about how this Initiative will affect you and the
school district as a whole. Resource contacts and telephone numbers will
be provided and information will also be posted on the DCPS website
(www.kl2.dc.us).
We appreciate the many years of dedicated service that
you have given in our schools and expect that you will continue to do so
on behalf of our students. Some of you will teach summer school on Monday;
this assignment will not change. Our children will always be at the heart
of everything that we do. Our school staff will always be our front line.
Respectfully,
Paul L. Vance
Superintendent
PLV:bd
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor Washington, D.C. 20002-4232
202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us
June 22, 2001
Dear DCPS Employees,
As you know, we have announced the names of the
transformation schools under The Children First Initiative. In an effort
to identify DCPS staff members who are interested in serving in a
transformation school, we are soliciting letters of interest from all
current employees.
The opportunities to be part of perhaps the most
significant reform this district has ever undertaken are as great as the
challenges. The urgency of our mission and resources allotted to this
effort will provide a climate for incredible innovation and creativity I
our transformation schools. We intend to recognize and reward faculty
members whose innovation and creativity help them exceed their goals in
these situations.
Working in one of the transformation schools will
present both challenges and opportunities. Challenges include working in a
completely transformed school with new leadership, staffing, curriculum
and academic programs. The scrutiny under which transformation schools
will operate will be significant, as we work to ensure that we provide the
students and families in these schools with the highest level of service.
At DC Public Schools, we understand that no single
factor has a greater influence on student achievement than the quality of
a school's staff. Thus, we will be very intentional about the assignment
of administrative, instructional and support staff at transformation
schools. To help us in this effort, we are asking all employees to
indicate their interest in working at a transformation school. Please
complete the Transformation Schools Interest Form on the reverse side of
this letter indicating whether or not you are interested in working in a
transformation school. If you are interested, please attach a copy of your
most recent performance evaluation or a character letter from someone who
has supervised your work within the last three (3) years. If you are not
interested in working in a transformation school, please be sure to
complete the school/geographic preference portion of the form.
All Transformation Schools Interest Forms must be
dropped off at the Logan Professional Development Center, 215 G Street,
NE, Washington, DC on Thursday, July 12, 2001 between 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM
Parking is available at Logan or you may use the Union Station Metro Stop.
We will continue to make information available as soon
as possible and remind you to consult the DCPS website (www.kl2.dc.us)
or
the Answers, Please? hotline on INFO-211 (202-463-6211).
Respectfully,
Patricia Watkins Lattimore
Director, Human Resources
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Transformation Schools Interest Form
___ I AM interested in working in a school designated for transformation. I
understand that this letter simply indicates my interest and offers no guarantee of
assignment to a specific school.
___ I am NOT interested in working at a transformation school. I have
indicated my alternative placement preference below.
Name:
Current School:
Current Position:
Years with DCPS:
Teaching License Area (Teachers only):
School/geographic Preference: (1) ____ (2) _____ (3) _____
1 believe that I will contribute the following to the success of a
transformation school: (Feel free to attach an additional sheet of paper.)
Attached is a copy of my:
___ DCPS Performance Evaluation
___ Letter of Reference
If you need to contact me over the summer (between July 12th and
August 15th), I can be reached at:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone:
Signature:
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor Washington, D.C. 20002-4232
202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us
June 22, 2001
Dear ________
School Family:
The Children First Initiative is designed to help
transform our school system into a model school system. As we undertake
this challenge, we want our entire school family to understand the
components and the process we will use to accomplish this mission.
The entire DCPS family will be queried as to their
interest in working in a transformation school. However, as members of the
staff of a school identified for transformation, we want you to know how
the process will affect you and get some direct feedback from you on your
interest and prefaces.
- A major part of the transformation plan will result in
some selected schools reassigning all staff - including administrative,
instructional and support staff. The new principal will be responsible for
selecting the transformation school team.
-
If the new principal does not select you as part of the
new team, you will be placed in a comparable position in another DCPS
school. Where applicable, building seniority will transfer with the
employee. Your preference as to geographic location and/or school will be
considered in the placement process, but cannot be guaranteed.
-
Other DCPS employees may be assigned to work in
transformation schools based on the school's needs. If this is necessary,
building seniority will transfer with the employee, if applicable.
Please complete the Transformation Schools Interest
Form on the reverse side of this letter indicating whether or not you are
interested in working in a transformation school. If you are interested,
please attach a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or a
character letter from someone who has supervised your work within the last
three (3) years. If you are not interested in working in a transformation
school, please be sure to complete the school/geographic preference
portion of the form.
All Transformation Schools Interest Forms must be
dropped off at the Logan Professional Development Center, 215 G Street,
NE, Washington, DC on Thursday, July 12, 2001 between 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM.
Parking is available at Logan or you may use the Union Station Metro Stop.
We will continue to make information available as soon
as possible and remind you to consult the DCPS website (www.kl2.dc.us),
or the Answers, Please! hotline on INFO-211 (202-463-6211).
Respectfully,
Patricia Watkins Lattimore
Director, Human Resources |
