Decatur High School Has New Vice Principal
Decatur Metro | February 9, 2011
A reader points out that included in the personnel report from last night’s Decatur School Board meeting is word that Decatur High School has hired a new vice principal, Rochelle Lofstrand.
They also note that she was a Georgia Finalist for The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching in 2009, while at North Springs Charter High School.
According to Fulton County Schools website…
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Awards are given to mathematics and science teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. …The teachers are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science.
Photo courtesy of Fulton County Schools website. Lofstrand (center).
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Is this in addition to or in replacement of someone?
Correction–that personnel report is from last night’s board meeting. And it looks like Joe Austin (former vice principal) is now the curriculum director, according to the superintendent’s report from the January meeting. Is that for the high school or district-wide?
Re curriculum director, for high school only or district-wide: Currently, Dr. Van Soelen has the district-wide responsibility for curriculum, right?
But I don’t see Joe Austin on the list of administration at the DHS website. I looked through the last few superintendent’s reports and personnel reports and this is all I found (from December meeting):
“Joe Austin has assumed the important task of testing and assessment as part of his Curriculum Director responsibilities and will keep the Board apprised as this major change develops over the next semester.”
However, I do remember hearing something about his responsibilities changing. I just don’t remember what it was.
I have never known CSD’s website to update very quickly with personnel things, but maybe that’s just my experience.
Well, except that they have the new assistant principal (above) already on there, and Mr. Austin, who was the old assistant principal, is not anywhere.
He was at the board meeting last night, so he’s still around. Just not sure what he’s doing now.
I believe Joe is in charge of curriculum for Middle and high school and there is someone else in charge of the elementary grades.
This woman sounds like a really gifted teacher. I hope her new responsibilities (whatever they are) don’t keep her out of the classroom.
Yes, her new duties most likely will keep her out of the classroom. Teaching is extremely gratifying, but if one does it really well it wears you down. Many bright and gifted teachers move into admin. Being in management can also be difficult, but it does not hold a candle to the time and preparation that goes into excellent teaching. This young woman worked tirelessly if she received this award. It means she is exceptional as a teacher. What one has to remember is that teachers cannot close the doors to the “office and plan for instruction. The planning happens before and after school and on weekends. I wish her great success. I hope she can pass on her wisdom to those who have chosen to be in the classroom.
Better question? Why does a system this small have so many well paid position that are in the central office? (not speaking of her position)
Don’t know why they have so many. I’d rather see a bunch of parapros. One of those admins would pay for four parapros.
I’m with you on the parapros. CSD has been blessed to have some of the best parapros on earth, some really fine folks who are talented and dedicated way beyond the basic job description but are either retired from another career and/or psyched to be in Decatur. There’s also been some ringers but that’s to be expected with that level of pay–I believe the starting salary for a new parapro is somewhere around $18,000/year and few are getting above $22,000. Unfortunately, we’ve also lost a few of the great ones either because of tight budgets that led to reassignments or other frustrations.
Wait…I noticed something in the picture. She’s WHITE! Where’s Cleveland Brown? He was so adamantly opposed to a white person being selected for prinicipal of the 4/5 academy, yet he’s not screaming RACISM on this appointment.
I wondered the same thing, token. (Egad! I thinking like a republican.)
Cleveland Brown’s mistake was in point blank stating what he (or she) thinks is behind CDS hiring practices. The race of recent CDS hires may be a non-issue for some DM readers, but why not acknowledge that it’s raised a concern for other folks? It’s a shame that commenters reacted by piling on Cleveland Brown. Major blown opportunity for an honest dialogue on a sticky, but important, community topic.
(Cleveland Brown — I’m sorry I wasn’t in there trying to help. A personal sorrow intervened. )
I tend to agree. On more than one occasion, DTR has shown displeasure for being mocked, instead of being engaged, for his minority position. I’m not sure how the statement above is not the same kind of comment that he has shunned when directed at him in the past.
I have? I remember asking for the Nazi rhetoric to be toned down, but I thought I was a pretty good sport about getting teased. I have a fairly thick skin, so I’m surprised to hear you say differently.
Of course, I guess you could go back through all my comments and find examples, so I guess I’ve opened myself up for a reminder of my checkered past on DM.
Recently you commented that you’d been called a racist on here for disagreeing with President Obama. I was like, “HUH???”
(I enjoy reading your comments. Just not a fan of the Cleveland Brown ones. )
Thanks, Deanne. I’m glad you read my comments. I did say that I have been called a racist for disagreeing with BHO, but that has never happened on Decatur Metro. The people on this site are way too mature for that, and DM himself would have edited it.
BTW, you and DM have a point…I was making trouble with an incendiary statement. While the tone was inappropriate, I still have to ask about Cleveland. He really was up in arms about the appointment of Mr. Roaden, but hasn’t commented about Ms. Lofstrand.
I think your point is valid. I just get uncomfortable when we start mocking each other’s opinions. As Deanne said, perhaps there is a population that believes there’s a race element to these decisions. Whether it’s true or not, it seems more proactive to me to consider and challenge the opinion than mock the individual.
We can’t know whether Cleveland was directly affected by the 4/5 decision – which I think is sort of what you’re implying with your original question here – but I hope people believe me when I say that there was another, very different reaction of disappointment by people inside the school system that was not reflected in comments here, except by Cleveland.
Agree with last sentence–I have heard that too. What I’ve heard had more to do with the process than the ultimate choice, but I can’t say I heard a whole lot. Certainly I had no trouble with the choice of an experienced principal with a great track record in Decatur but the process bothered me and the chronology of events puzzled me.
Re race/ethnicity, religion, cultural identity, nationality, Moose Lodge membership, sex, age group, political party, Girl Scout Troop and other ways that people group themselves: We humans seem to be tribal by nature, perhaps by biology, so we’ll always have to deal with positive and negative effects of grouping ourselves. Community, social values, team work are positive outcomes. Prejudice, intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, hiring bias are negative outcomes. Every single one of us, regardless of whether we are in majority or minority groups, socially dominant or less dominant groups, have to constantly guard against our instinctive, reflexive biases against those not in our group of the day. We’re all guilty and most of us work hard to do better. True confession: There’s nothing I enjoy more than to complain with other Moms about the ways our husbands are clueless about (Fill in the blank……school, carpooling, organizing the household, shopping, cleaning up, getting the kids to bed on time, etc., etc., etc.) It’s wrong. I’m going to work on it. But not until Monday because I’m going to get my nails done with a friend over the weekend and I don’t think I can resist….
I really appreciate your statement ” Every single one of us, regardless of whether we are in majority or minority groups, socially dominant or less dominant groups, have to constantly guard against our instinctive, reflexive biases…”.
As a long time student of race relations in the ATL area, I believe that very much, and try to conduct myself that way.
Thank you!
Karass (& Another Rick)- YES! So well put & I appreciate it too! What a wonderful world it’d be if everyone consciously sought to find common ground with the folks who cross their paths …
DM- You’re a straight up guy. Surely no one’s doubting that you heard from folks upset about the hiring process. Nothing like working hard with a goal of moving up, and then seeing the rare opportunities go to appointments! (Folks may have thought you weren’t comfortable saying more on it, so left it alone.) Wasn’t there also buzz on here when Bruce Roaden was named into the newly created communications position? (NOT taking a swing at Bruce Roaden- seems like he may be the MVP of CDS!) Was the Vice Principal position posted for interview? And how was the shuffling of positions handled? It’s pretty baffling that CDS opens themselves up for such criticism. If you’re game, a CDS hiring/assignments practices related post would be probably be a great service to the community. (Unless it leads to rioting in the streets!)
DTR- So glad I misread the comment! What are folks so hellbent on pushing their politics thinking? Healthy debate’s one thing– you might can sway others to your side. Insulting them? Not so much! Fingers crossed that Cleveland Brown returns! I’m curious for the take on this latest hire too! :0)