Bloody Friday at North Atlanta High: APS kicks out old leaders, announces new ones without explanation.
UPDATED Saturday with a comment from principal:
Atlanta Public Schools ousted North Atlanta High School interim principal Mark MyGrant — enticed out of retirement by APS to run the school for three months until a permanent leader could be hired — in dramatic fashion Friday afternoon.
Not only is MyGrant gone, but APS replaced the entire leadership team at the Buckhead high school, reassigning them throughout the system.
In a 30 minute telephone interview today, MyGrant detailed Friday’s events:
Deputy Superintendent Karen Waldon and the interim HR director, accompanied by APS security officers, showed up at the high school at dismissal Friday, intercepting MyGrant as he was about to make the end-of-the day bus announcements. He said he was told to pack and leave North Atlanta High School immediately.
Teachers were assembled and then told that the entire administrative team and the heads of the Small Learning Communities — specialized areas of student interest including arts, journalism, international business and international relations — were being reassigned.
“I was at work when Karen Walden and the interim HR director came in and informed me that my services were no longer needed. I asked if I should move the buses and they told me ‘no,’ that I should leave right now,” said MyGrant. “They started bringing in loads of security and the transition team and they called the teachers to the auditorium. I just gathered my things — l didn’t have much because I had already cleaned out my office when I retired in June.
“Within 15 or 20 minutes, I was done,” said MyGrant. “They didn’t walk me out. Security may have been waiting to walk me out, but I walked out the back door, got in my my car and and went. I would have been happy to leave any time. I was retired. They had announced a new principal. They did not need to do it this way.”
MyGrant is willing to talk about what happened because he wants to clear not only his name, but those of all the educators reassigned Friday. (No word yet from APS.)
“I would be happy to ride off into the sunset. But with all these administrators, hardworking administrators, being reassigned, people are going to say ‘God, there must have been something really corrupt there.’ I owe it to them and myself to let people know there wasn’t anything.”
Meeting with his attorney later today, MyGrant is prepared to present evidence that this episode grew out of what he considers politically motivated and baseless allegations that two of his recommended hires – a graduation coach and English teacher — were racists. “I feel when the community gets the information that I am prepared to present, they will demand the educators who were reassigned be brought back,” he said.
“Regardless of what anyone thinks of my leadership, many other hard working educators were treated unfairly yesterday. Including Melissa Gautreaux, Reginald Colbert, Laura Brazil and John Denine. I was very excited in June to retire and had some exciting plans, which I put on hold after being contacted by APS three times to return. This followed a very botched first attempt to hire a principal in June. In the meantime, students will return to school next week after a fall break to celebrate NAHS Homecoming. This group of kids is a terrific mix of students from all walks of life and are led by a hardworking group of teachers. I wish them all the best.”
He detailed the history of the allegations in an email:
In August I was contacted by Deputy Superintendent Karen Waldon on 3 separate occasions reporting anonymous allegations alleging that I was planning to fire a employee leaving for maternity leave, and was hiring two new teachers that were “racist.” I did all I could do to investigate these claims with the very limited information I received, but one of the teachers never got processed and the one that signed a contract and is currently working has never been approved by the board. Her name was taken off the gains report in August and didn’t return in September or October. I tried for weeks to get answers from the very top on down, but was completely stonewalled. In September, my attorney sent an email to Errol Davis detailing my concerns and asking about the investigation. Later in September, I received from Davis a letter informing me that I was not part of any investigation. An open records request was sent to APS last week from one of the teachers in question. I was asked to submit documents related to this case and prepared approximately 25 documents.
MyGrant retired in June from North Atlanta but was asked by APS to return to oversee the school until the end of October when a permanent principal would take over. Prior to his retirement, MyGrant led North Atlanta for five years and Sutton Middle school for 10. He was a well respected principal in the Buckhead community.
A letter on the North Atlanta High site from APS school chief Erroll B. Davis offers parents no explanation for the sudden removal of MyGrant and the mass reassignment of school leaders, saying only that the high school underwent a “total leadership transition.”
The letter lacks the obligatory expression of gratitude to MyGrant for serving as interim, clearly indicating that this was not a pleasant parting. (You can read the letter and a news story on the high school’s newspaper, the Northerner online.)
Davis says the former principal of Sarah Smith Elementary, Sid Baker, will run the show until the new North Atlanta principal, Howard Taylor of Gwinnett, officially takes command on Oct. 29. Davis also lists eight other “transition” academy leaders and a transition assistant principal.
The dramatic removal of MyGrant has upset many parents, some of whom are contacting the AJC with their questions and concerns. Among the comments from parents:
Today at the closing bell our beloved principal and most of his leadership team were escorted out of the school by a group of APS staffers from downtown. Just three weeks before the end of his contract and two weeks before our IB accreditation, Mark MyGrant and his staff were publicly humiliated in front of teachers and students alike. The “party line” is the new principal wants a clean slate. There’s a lot more to the story than that. What is the real agenda? Obviously, no one is thinking about the disruption this will cause for our children and our IB program.
Parents are asking how Davis can gut the leadership ranks of their school, march in a brand new team of temps and expect the community to support the decision without more information.
Davis closes his letter to North Atlanta parents by saying, “We understand that this will be a time of excitement, as well as a major transition at NAHS…”It’s a new day at North Atlanta.”
The problem may be that parents won’t think it’s a better day.
The AJC will be following up on this situation. I have sent a note to APS for a comment. If I get it, I will post.
–from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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359 comments Add your comment
Delores Umbridge, APS
October 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Dear North Atlanta Parents,
Your child’s previous instruction at North Atlanta has been disturbingly uneven. But you will be pleased to know from now on, they will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of unchallenging subjects. They will be learning about the idea of critical thinking in a secure, risk-free way rather than actually practicing it. The administrators removed from their posts on Friday were irrationally obsessed by high expectations. It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge of critical thinking will be sufficient to get them through their examinations, which after all, is what school is all about.
Delores Umbridge
Ministry of Magic, APS
20/20
October 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
Ms Gregory you are telling the truth about APS and Erroll Davis and Karen Waldon are bigger white collar criminals than Beverly Hall and crew. Something is really wrong with this story at North Atlanta and why was Keith Bromery the commications officer fired by Enroll? Is he trying to fire everyone with guidance from evil Karen Waldon? That witch is evil.
Prof
October 7th, 2012
12:43 pm
@ Chris Murphy. My thoughts exactly. It was so refreshing after all of the nastiness from white AND black adults–many of them seeming to be parents– to read long, thoughtful entries from the students themselves. Especially moving were the testimonials from those who had been bused in from poor neighborhoods to the better Atlanta schools in Buckhead. The rationale of equity in education for such busing seems particularly evident in them.
@ Jeff A. Taylor. Indeed. It sounds as if principal MyGrant had been accumulating evidence for just such a lawsuit, although as I’ve already posted I think it may also involve reverse discrimination in APS hiring. I’d remind you of other recent local lawsuits involving reverse discrimination that were successful: white librarians in the Atlanta Public Library, and white deputies who had been fired when then-sheriff Victor Hill of Clayton County took office during his first term.
@ Robert. But white principal MyGrant was already retired when black APS Superintendent Davis asked him back to serve as interim principal. Also, MyGrant’s term as interim principal would have expired on Oct. 31 anyway–why remove him this way only 3 weeks ahead of schedule? Something else a lot more specific seems to be going on than old-fashioned racism.
Megan NAH c/o 2009
October 7th, 2012
12:44 pm
@Robert I don’t know what you know about NAH. But do net let the Buckhead address fool you. The whites are the minority in the population and Mr. Mygrant treated everyone the same.
bootney farnsworth
October 7th, 2012
1:10 pm
I’m convinced Mygrant discovered something he was not supposed to.
only reason I can think of for being tossed the way he was. plus it makes a statement to other people who might want to speak out.
Yvonne McVann
October 7th, 2012
1:27 pm
I taught at North Atlanta for eleven years starting in January, 2001. For the last five years, in particular, I was privileged to work with incredibly caring and professional leaders who went out of their way to serve ALL students at North Atlanta. Their commitment to education and to the general well being of the students was unquestionable.
Are you among those who contend that Mr. MyGrant pandered to rich Buckhead Betty’s? If so, it should be noted that while he was marketing the school to parents to garner much-needed support, he was also known to have brought groceries to families in distress, regardless of their zip code or ethnicity. I have personally seen him give money to students who could not afford to buy lunch. I have heard him counsel students experiencing personal, academic, and family distress. He cares. The kids adore him.
He listened to parents and teachers alike. Just because you don’t get what you want doesn’t mean you weren’t heard.
In addition, to imply that Mr. Denine doesn’t care about the education of your child is also grossly inaccurate. He has dedicated his life to teaching and learning. Taking time out of his busy day, he mentors teachers and students on Extended Essays, Theory of Knowledge papers, and helps them muddle through complex literature. The only thing he is guilty of is being too fair: he treats all students the same while many families (for various reasons) seem to expect “preferential treatment”. He is a rock in the International Studies Program and removing him from the teachers and students who desperately depend on him for support is placing our IB program in very serious jeopardy.
To those of you who feel that the IB program is in any way detrimental, I can produce hundreds of letters and emails from former IB students (not all of whom received the diploma) expressing gratitude for the skills they acquired in IB. It teaches, among many other things, critical thinking and time management. It is, by far, the best academic and college preparatory program available, and no student at North Atlanta is ever turned away from it. There is even grant money allotted to families who need help paying for books and fees.
Finally, I have watched Ms. Gautreaux, who knows every student in that building by name, break up a fight between two students that triple her size. I have seen Mrs. Brazil develop a burgeoning program dedicated to communications and creating globally aware citizens. I have heard Mr. Colbert brag with unabated delight about the wonderful programs, musicians, artists and scholarships that have resulted from his hard work in the Center for Performing Arts. As Dr. Frutiger said, you can’t neglect the importance of these individuals and expect someone to just step in and take the helm. It’s not that simple.
These administrators are people, people who go over and beyond the call of duty, as do the teachers whom they inspire at North Atlanta. And when you humiliate and remove the leadership of a school, you shatter the foundation upon which the school rests. I hope that this community can pull together to piece back the remnants of the wonderful institution I, and so many alumni, parents, and teachers, love so dearly.
As I read this blog, I notice that the student posts praise this administration. The unfounded and insidious remarks come from adults, and many of their assertions are intentionally misleading. However, the negative remarks regarding character, racism, and corruption can poison the minds of the students. Please stop it. Isn’t this supposed to be about them?
TCCB
October 7th, 2012
1:40 pm
Buckhead please, go back to Private Schools and let the Davis camp try to make some since out of this mess that Dr Hall and the Buckhead Coilition fostered. To all of the Buckhead Bettie’s stay home and bake some brownies for the PTA bake sale to help raise money for the $125.00 Kindrergarten fees in your cluster. You have gotten toooooo involved and “That” has hurt the decision making process
You packed the School Board meetings with all of your so called independent studies and bogus data and the District fell for” All “of your tricks” This is a Public School System take all of this madness back to Private School the children in this district have suffered and will continue to suffer as long Buckhead
hold the attention of the School Board. APS, listen to the voice of the “Reasonable” if you can stay awake long enough to here it. Buckhead Coilition give others a chance to be heard. You bring in all of these people to sign up at board meetings some don’t even have children in our district. You just out right Take Over the board meetings shame on you all!!!!!!!
Shop Dog
October 7th, 2012
2:34 pm
Infield fly rule, bad call
APS Parent
October 7th, 2012
4:14 pm
Gregory Middleton, the interium assistant principal for North Atlanta was previously employed as the principal at Tubman Elementary School in Fulton County Schools. The interium Human Resources Director is Michael Gray, retired HR Director from Fulton County Schools. Steve Smith, Assistant Superintendent was previously a principal in Fulton County Schools. All of these individuals are stellar educators.
However, I am still concerned about a new principal taking the reins with such upheaval.
JD
October 7th, 2012
4:20 pm
NAHS Senior (above at 11:52 a.m.) raised a concern about returning to school on Wednesday. I’m a parent with the same concern. And I’m sick about it. I’ll be at the meeting Tuesday partly to hear Davis’ explanation and partly to find out how angry the crowd is. If the atmosphere around the school feels too volatile Tuesday evening, I won’t be sending my student to school Wednesday morning.
Sarah '94
October 7th, 2012
6:27 pm
@NAHS Alumni (c/o ‘94), I am assuming we know each other and just wanted to let you know that I fully appreciate your comments. People still talk about “bussing” like it is a dirty word but my education was better for it. In my estimation, the outrageous, narrow-minded comments being posted here do not reflect the opinions of current parents or anyone associated with the school. They appear to be outsiders using this unfortunate situation as platform to spew their unrelated views. Your peers’ parents did not hold these bigoted opinions. Your comments on what M to M meant to you and your family brought tears to my eyes and show that if these outrageous posters had the benefit of the experiences we had, they would know different.
I am sad that today’s students are having to deal with these disruptions and distractions and do not see how any of this puts the kids first. That said, we had an incredibly high level of transition during our four years and managed to get a great education anyway. I have only been involved at North Atlanta in a peripheral way in recent years but whether it is volunteering for a program in the IB Economics class or attending Red Hot Jazz, I am always impressed by how dynamic, talented, and interesting North Atlanta students are. I always leave those experiences heartened by the positive momentum at the school and with a renewed commitment to keep my kids in APS through high school. That is a testament to the teachers and administration. I am hopeful that the board will not continue to act with what appears to be a paternalistic approach that they know what is “right” and the community does not. Communication and transparency have no where to go but up.
HaHah!
October 7th, 2012
6:59 pm
Now you’re starting to see what type of man Mr. Davis is. It does not feel great when the Eye of Mordor is focus on you. You really thought he was going to just play with the Southside of the school district? You were second on his meal list! I just love these comments about what you’re going to do…HAHAHA…He does not give two flying biscuits what you can do. Oh, where were all of these comments for the poor teachers who had their faces in all of the major newspapers? WHAT ABOUT THEIR HUMILIATION?!? Many had their own personal “perp” walks.
The Real Truth
October 7th, 2012
7:04 pm
The facts are… if Denine, Gautreaux, Brazil and Fairley-Nelson (whom none of you have anything good to say about and I attribute that to the fact that she is the B and E Academy Leader) are so good…well they have just been assigned to school where their talents, expertise and knowledge will serve well the children of Atlanta Public Schools. So, why all the fuss? An adminstrator works to serve children, not a community or a specific building!!!
Southside Parent
October 7th, 2012
7:17 pm
@ Yvonne McVann: As a parent whose children will attend Jackson, I have been learning more & more about I.B. I truly appreciate your post about the thoughtful contributions by the adults in the building to support the I.B. diploma. I look forward to supporting the offering to our students of all backgrounds this option that NAHS has offered for so long in ways that helped many students succeed in life.
Doug Frutiger
October 7th, 2012
7:35 pm
Ms. Fairley-Nelson has only been at the school a short time and is, consequently, not nearly as well know as the others. From what I have heard, the B and E Program has made great strides under her leadership. I would hope that parents who know her well would be relied upon to speak in her behalf if she, or any of the others, actually need defending. It should also be pointed out that nothing negative has been said about Ms. Fairley-Nelson in any of the comments so I am unclear why there is the innuendo about the “B and E Program” in the comments by The Real Truth.
NAHS IB student
October 7th, 2012
8:41 pm
Parents calling racism: you are all misinformed and being foolish. North Atlanta is by no means perfect, but suggesting that it is a cesspool of racism in ridiculous. The pot brownie incident was handled like it should have been. The students made a huge mistakes, but they are good people. Only a semester of expulsion is required for the infraction. The minority students receive the same treatment! Stop pulling the racism and when you’re using that idiot generalization of “buckhead white girls”. Nobody likes vein placed into groups. Some of you so called “adults” are as sophomoric as us teenagers.
Mom for Education
October 7th, 2012
8:45 pm
I think it’s a disgrace how several commenters are displaying racism. Do you not know that historically, Buckhead was a predominantly Black neighborhood? You sound like Arkansas’ ignorant governor. You don’t live in a colony or on a plantation! The fact that you would speak so disrespectfully of your own mother says a lot about your character.
I have a child who graduated from North Atlanta and one attending Riverwood now! I luved in Buckhead most of my life until I moved to Sandy Springs. From my experience Riverwood is one pf the most racist schools I’ve ever set foot in! The administrators at the school and the district are notorious for covering up dirt. Most of the teachers we’ve encounteted have proven to be incompetent as well. Didn’t Riverwood lose a lot of teachers and counselors and other leaders? Why? Because they spoke out against some of the things going on or they just weren’t party of the “it click”. Let’s not talk about the drug issues there (need I mention the demographics of drug users? )
Yes, there are tons of issues at North Atlanta. They need to gut out some of the teachers,
Yes, the PTA does run the school, just as they have at Sutton, and the elementary schools for years.I personally witnessed more than one occasion of specific women yelling at Mr. MyGrant until they got their way, Nancy Meister included when she was PTA president.
How do we change things? Become and stay involved. Help a child or a parent not because of their color, but because you care.
Bottomline, we should be concerned about the quality of education for ALL students, no matter their race, religion, color, or creed. We do live in a diverse country and world. If you want to segregate your child from children of other races based on your preconceived stereotyped notions, you need to purchase a remote island on which you and yours can live.
Livid NAHS student
October 7th, 2012
8:48 pm
Also. Private school moms, thanks for keeping your stickup preppy brats out of our highschool. There’s nothing that screams racism more than sending your kids to institutions created solely to avoid integration.
jw
October 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
@North Atlanta Mom, regarding Davis and IB…here’s what I can find online…
http://buckhead.patch.com/articles/davis-expresses-irritation-at-community-responses#video-9107669
But I sat in redistricting meetings and watched him grow visibly irritated regarding IB status questions. And I wasn’t the only one that noticed.
Former Student
October 7th, 2012
8:56 pm
As a former student of North Atanta High School, I believe that the board is doing a great disservice to the school and its students by replacing the major people of the school. These people are not only doing their jobs wonderfully, but are exceeding their expectations to benefit the students in the best ways possible. I believe this to be a GREAT mistake.
TCCB
October 7th, 2012
9:00 pm
Also My Son is a NAHS Grad C/O 1998
NAHS IB senior
October 7th, 2012
9:09 pm
I love North Atlanta High school. The administrators were top notch, the IB program has taught me discipline, and I am thankful to be included in such a diverse and accepting community. Stop inserting racism into the equation so you can have something to be angry about. APS is at fault here. Their actions were abrupt and humiliating, and it only displays the corruption coming from their offices. North Atlanta remains the top performing school in the APS system, and I’m proud to be a Warrior. I’m disgusted with the parents who criticize my school. As Ms. Mcvann to eloquently put it, “just because ou didn’t get your way doesn’t mean you weren’t heard.” See everyone on Tuesday evening. Lets show APS what we are made of.
Former Student
October 7th, 2012
9:19 pm
Not only are these people that are being extracted from the school very dedicated to what they do at the school, but they are actually dedicated to the students themselves. These administrators actually know the students by their names and not only their SLCs. Any student that has attended the school or still does, can easily identify with more than one of these administrators from not only recognition due to their position but what they have personally done for or with them to help them better their education and time at NAHS. These administrators are very involved with the students whether it is for academics or personal well being. They do tasks all the way from finding a lost student’s bus number, to coordinating events, to resolving fights, to meeting students and teachers and simply so much more! I know, personally, being a graduate of the International Baccalaureate Program, that I can identify with these administrators not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom as well. They have come into classes and taken their time to positively input whatever they can into as many students as possible. As for the accusations on racism and misdoings, I can personally say that even though I am a minority in terms of ethnicity, I have been treated equally and have never witnessed anyone else being treated differently due to their race or social status by any administrator. They are all very welcoming and helpful!
TCCB
October 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
That nasty Buckhead PTA trying to strong arm the school board is the Main problem in this district!! You need to step back regroup and rid yourselves of that take over mentality. Go find a fundraiser and leave the business of running the schools to the district after it was Dr. Hall,Your PTA and Your Tea Party Coilition that has put the entire district in the mess that it in today. The teachers really don’t like the fact that you come to school and stay all day every day stay at home sometimes.
TCCB
October 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
@ Mom of Education Amen!!!!!!
Ameera
October 7th, 2012
9:27 pm
I am a jr. @ the school and i can’t believe this has happened to some of the best leadership officials in our building!!!!! What will we do without these people!! This is crazy for real!!!
NAHS Alum c/o '94
October 7th, 2012
9:47 pm
@ Sara ‘94… yes I’m sure we know each other… we all knew each other… I won’t say my name because I am currently an administrator in the very APS we speak of. I’m sure many of my colleagues are reading all of this just as I am. You have no idea what your post means to me. Thanks! Seems like some people need to take notes.
the ministry has infiltrated hogwarts
October 7th, 2012
10:26 pm
This is a bit late, but to you idiots out there… RACISM IS A TWO WAY STREET. How can you call out racism and then make gross accusations about white people?! You should be ashamed of yourselves.
JAR
October 7th, 2012
10:44 pm
@ Prof, Erroll Davos is about as black as Clarence Thomas.
JAR
October 7th, 2012
10:45 pm
Davis that is
TCCB
October 7th, 2012
11:01 pm
Att: All Buckhead Residents Your $8000.00 Prorerty Taxes are NOT EQIVALENT to PRRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION!!!!!! This is
The ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM and Mr.Erroll Davis is going to RUN THIS SHOW now take that to your coffee talk for discussion!!!
Nahs parent
October 7th, 2012
11:10 pm
@TCCB – you give APS employees a bad name. You don’t know what you are talking about in terms of the culture of NAHS. Maybe your conclusions are drawn from your expereince 14 years ago when your son was there. Stop talking about things you know nothing about.
And I’m very curious about your hatred of mothers in the PTA. Have you met these mothers you are speaking about? Not moms from 14 years ago – the moms there today. If not, stop trying to stir up trouble. I frequently see requests from teachers and administrators for more parent help. They are not getting enough. You are creating animosity where there is none.
For those who are wondering what the school is like, pay attention to student comments.
TCCB
October 7th, 2012
11:59 pm
@Nahs parent I know first hand about that Nasty Group PTA up there I have a son in Middle School
that attended an Elementary School in your cluster. Where I work is not the issue,my voice today is that Parent that has attended many school board meetings, that parent that can attend coffee talk, that parent that does attend PTA meetings; and you want to attack me. It is you and I do mean all of you who have given a different meaning to the words Parent Involvement and PTA it is called the takeover.
Experience speaks
October 8th, 2012
12:15 am
@ NAHS parent – You are right about the voices of the students. Obviously the students do not have a problem learning together! Maybe we should let them run the school! However, I would be remiss not to mention the adult racism within APS. As a white teacher working in a mostly black school, I can tell you I ave no problems with black students or their parents – not even my principal. However, there is most definitely animosity from black teachers towards white teachers. Many of the black teachers – not all, are resentful of and rude to the white teachers. Reverse racism? Most definitely!
It is also true that APS caters to hiring black, whether they are qualified or not. Some of the black teachers are an embarrassment to the profession. It is a wonder that some of them graduated from college and if you heard how they speak to children of their own race, you would be in shock! (I am also aware of some very excellent black teachers.) What I don’t understand is why race should have anything to do with it? What the children of APS need are intelligent, well-spoken, teachers who are caring and sensitive to the needs of the students. Why does APS continue to hire ineffective black teachers. Also, why is 99.9% of the leadership black? If indeed, the Black Friday events were to cover some form of racism, then this district needs an overhaul from top to bottom!
TCCB
October 8th, 2012
12:20 am
I know enough to keep my child far away from “Your Neighborhood School” Mrs Nahs Parent!!!!!!!!!!
Kim Zemmali
October 8th, 2012
12:45 am
To the NAHS 94 grad – don’t let the haters on this blog change what you experienced- your kids are welcome! To Megan- glad to see you all grown up and weighing in on such an important issue! The students and teachers voices express what they live daily, and it is obvious that this administration was beloved and inclusive. This fiasco was completely avoidable and unnecessary- and the wrong needs to be made right so we can get to the business of educating children.
Matt Meister '09
October 8th, 2012
1:29 am
As an alumni of North Atlanta it pains me to see Mr. Mygrant and his administrative team treated with such disrespect. All of them went above and beyond to make NAHS a great place to go to school and I respected them as administrators and now as friends. They cared about all of their students and were part of our everyday lives. They shaped the students that graduated from North Atlanta and are proud of each and every one of them.
It is amazing to me that an entire administrative team can be removed by one man who has no idea what its like being a student at North Atlanta. NAHS was a great place to go to high school and I know everyone I graduated with would say the same. I feel for all of the outraged students, parents and teachers and hope that Mr. Davis is well prepared to answer them on Tuesday.
Nahs parent
October 8th, 2012
7:47 am
@TCCB – so you are unhappy with the PTA group at one elementary school and currently at Sutton. Don’t take that experience and stretch it to cover other things – that’s called stereotyping and over generalizing. I have never seen parents at PTA meetings or board meetings do anything but care about helping ALL kids. I’m not saying there aren’t racist people out there – they’ve showed up on this board and are as big a problem as you but they also do not seem to have any current connection to this school.
As to where you work – my point is that it is sad to see this attitude from an APS employee. It lends credence to the rumors I am hearing about reverse racism within the institution. Apparently all white moms who live in certain zip codes are the same. You’re barking up the wrong tree with me but I’m am willing to stand up and say I have actually met some of these people you are talking about and you are off base.
Entitlement Society
October 8th, 2012
8:55 am
I just read in the Northside Neighbor how average SAT scores of NAHS are below the average for the state of Georgia. Considering how our state ranks nationally, wow, that’s pretty hard to do. How low can you go? Now I’ve read on this blog that NAHS has also failed to meet AYP standards for many years. It shouldn’t come as a shock that a change in leadership is needed. This principal may have been a nice guy, but the scores and the grades obviously aren’t there! He wasn’t getting the job done. Out with the old, in with the new… Maybe not handled in the most sensitive manner, but get over it people. Perhaps the new principal can produce some better academics and scores. A Buckhead school below the Georgia average is pathetic.
Gov. Nathan Deal and Error Be. Davis are the PROBLEM
October 8th, 2012
9:04 am
This situation is not about RACISM.
THIS IS ABOUT A REPUBLICAN GOVENOR WHO APPOINTED A HATCHET MAN
TO GUT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE MOVE.
They dont care what color you are.
Mom who cares but is scared
October 8th, 2012
10:31 am
I hear a lot of anger in your comments, NCCB. You clearly resent what you consider over involvement by certain parents in your children’s PTAs. But what scares me is that I can’t tell what level of involvement would suit your preference. It feels threatening. How much is too much? Can I let you intimidate me from making any effort to pitch in? If I do, does that not make you a bully?
Mom who cares but is scared
October 8th, 2012
10:36 am
Whoops, I meant to address the comments from TCCB.
FJ
October 8th, 2012
10:41 am
@ Mom who cares – you just can’t win with those kinds of parents. They want the benefits that come with a school zone filled with involved parents (that means time AND money pumping into the schools) but then they resent the very people that make the schools successful. And any success at APS is in spite of the system, certainly not because of it. Let’s not kid ourselves.
George
October 8th, 2012
10:42 am
It is unfortunate that no one cares about the children. We have been bombarded with allegations about how bad APS is; how miseducated our children are; how teachers don’t teach but cheat. We need leadership that is aware of the culture of our great city. We need a school board that is strong enough to lead, not follow. We need to get busy and start over for the sake of our children. We need to clean house from the top down. Teachers work hard and produce highly productive citizens. Look at the data. You don’t miss your water til the well runs dry. How much dryer can we get? Is the goal to make Atlanta a charter school system? Think about it!
Entitlement Society
October 8th, 2012
10:50 am
@ Mom who cares – don’t feel intimidated. TCCB is the type of parent who wants a great school for his/her child, but doesn’t realize what it takes to get a great school – loads and loads of parent involvement like you and I are willing to provide. Parents like TCCB construe it as meddling or overreaching. Parents on this blog have even mentioned that teachers at NAHS are asking for parental help, so they’re in obvious need. If Buckhead Betty and friends weren’t volunteering to help at NAHS, I’d hate to see those test scores go even lower than they already are! You can’t kick a gift horse in the mouth!
Buckhead Mom
October 8th, 2012
11:01 am
@TCCB.. your foolishness is astounding.. go back to your neighborhood school and leave us alone.
You don’t deserve our district to SERVE you… you are selfish in wanting more from the school and not want parental participation.. You are a rascist as well.. now is that getting you mad!!!
Buckhead Mom
October 8th, 2012
11:04 am
@entitlement society.. hooray… TCCB is ridiculous.. on so many levels… not even worth the discussion.
Realist
October 8th, 2012
11:14 am
@Entitlement Society is on point! NO ONE, parents or teachers, want to face the hard facts. NAHS is a failing school under the removed leadership team. What about that?? The Northside Neighbor has exposed the school. A good administrator can turn around most schools. Mygrant had 5 years. Some of the administrators were there for 10 years or more! SMH!! Look at Mygrants record for Sutton, still no better.
Bar None
October 8th, 2012
11:15 am
Just when you thought APS had no where to go but up, this happens. How much more can we as a community tolerate? We get the cheating scandal, the SACS probation, the system wide redistricting full of political maneuvering at the expense of children and taxpayers (and still going on), and now a hostile takeover of NAHS with no explanation. The feeble trust I had left in APS is completely gone. To APS: you better come up with a pretty convincing story about why you had to carry out this surprise attack Friday afternoon. Let’s set aside whether or not the principal was good or bad; whether there was racial bias or not. This principal was leaving this very month–what could have been going on that was so bad that required immediate action? What could be so bad to require instant removal, yet simultaneously not so bad that academy leaders were fired–instead they are simply being reassigned. That doesn’t add up. Something is rotten in Denmark, and based on past history, I suspect the smell is coming from downtown.
Nahs parent
October 8th, 2012
11:28 am
To everyone who has an interest in this issue but is not actually present at NAHS at this time – I have heard of this Buckhead Betty. I have yet to meet her at any NA meeting or event. Please point her out to me when you see her there. What I see at NA are kids and parents who view diversity as a strength and who support the entire community through their presence and work at the school. As inconsequential as it may seem, baking brownies for a bake sale does actually benefit all the kids. As does volunteer tutoring, leading extracurricular groups who need an adult sponsor, working to improve the quality of school lunches – food eaten in large part by kids on free and reduced lunch who may not get another meal that day, raising money to support curriculum and provide basic supplies for teachers – no teachers were provided sufficient copy paper this year and almost all have requested donations from parents, doing menial office tasks for the slc offices (yes this help was requested) or simply providing food for teacher events so that they feel appreciated, among many many other things.
I have seen a PTA president lecturing the “coffee talk moms” on how the school needs money and those who can afford it need to step up for those who cannot.
NAHS is not perfect but I have been more than pleased with my experience there. And I would be more than happy to stand up for a parent or student who has suffered injustice there, as I am happy to stand up for our administrators, and arguably all the students, who appear to have suffered an injustice at the hands of APS on Friday.