Loyal Heights Elementary will have a new principal next year. Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson and Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno have announced some principal appointments for the next school year. Cashel Toner, the current principal, is being moved to Leschi Elementary. While Toner has been principal at Loyal Heights, the school has been recognized as a “School of Distinction” by Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Toner is being replaced by Wayne Floyd. Floyd has worked for Seattle Public Schools for the past 31 years. He has served as co-principal at Wing Luke Elementary for one year and as interim principal at Cleveland High School. He has also worked as assistant principal, dean of students and head teacher at Cleveland and Garfield high schools.
Loyal Heights Elementary is getting a new principal
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Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm curious to hear some parent's opinions…
Well. Whittier is getting a new principal and THAT? Is a good thing.
3 principals in 3 years. Bringing in a principal who is at the end of his career. And a career that list one year of elementary experience. you do the math. It sounds like a good thing for Leschi. The good thing for Loyal Heights is that the strength is in their teachers not the administration. So that if Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson (Could she have a longer name?) Thinks that Loyal heights acclaim is due to the one year principal then she is more clueless then previously thought. The secret is in the teachers and in the awesome parents.
Can someone tell me what a “School of Distinction” is?
I am commenting only as a parent who toured the school and made it a first choice to put my child next year. That was partly based on the principle, I really liked her and her fresh thinking. Not knowing the new principle leaves me feeling uneasy. I have a lot to learn over the next 13 years my child will be in the school district, but I hope the powers that be know what they are doing.
remember 'here and now”,
the principal is your PAL.
not always.
Seattle seems to change principals in schools every year or two. Glad to hear others confirm that Loyal Heights' strength is in the teachers. Hopefully an experienced principal won't mess with that.
That doesn't sound particularly good- the new principal has no elementary experience, as previous comment said. I'm sure he's fine, but a bummer for Loyal Heights. I hope it was Toner's choice, not some weird shuffling.
Definitely weird shuffling. The incoming principal is coming out of administration. I am not questioning this gentleman, I am questioning the abrupt removal of a wonderful, involved, invested-in-the-community principal. Not her choice. This sounds like protecting the administrative fluff while RIFing (FIRing) the actual effective educators of our children.
Khan – could *not* agree with you more on that.
kim-
you do realize I was reciting that old phrase to distinguish between the spelling of principle and princiPAL, right? :)
this is sad news, but the results will be insidious.
yes, the strength of the school is it's teachers, but without a leader who is on the same page, things will slowly unravel. it sounds like the previous principal really inspired some of those teachers. This may or may not happen with Wayne 'Pink” Floyd.
BDOG…..
With the New Prinicpal coming on board that will make Three Prinicipals in three years. Clover was amazing when she took over the award winning school, Cashel took over and clearly continued the success of the school and whoever they have coming next or even after the new principal will do great. Do you know why? Because the parents are committed and involved. The teachers are amazing and do an incredible job. Loyal Heights will continue to be the crown jewel of Elementary Schools in the area because of those reasons not because of what ever Administrator the School System decides to rotate through.
To use a sports analogy…A team can have a great quarterback but if it doesnt have a great team around them that team will fail. Loyal Heights has an amazing team!
We do have a great team! But, even the best team has a hard time winning without a decent quarterback. Those teachers are amazing partially because of the support they get. It is very disruptive to kids, teachers, and parents to have to continually adjust to new agendas, strengths, personalities. Yes, we will continue to be great but not as great as we could be. This goes for all of the district. Of course, I suppose it is a life lesson for the kids. Excel at something and you will be “promoted” right on out of that which you accomplished…
This reminds me… I need to get down to Loyal Heights to volunteer for Young Author's Day!
Wayne's a great guy- but, he's a high school guy. He's also a pinch-hitter, meaning that he's a roving principal going where he's told when they don't have anyone else at the moment. LH will be FIIIINE, but it's a totally odd choice to put Wayne Floyd there. That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing him there soon.
As a parent who will start a long relationship w/ LH Elementary next year when my son starts K, this is all very interesting to read…
LW is a great school because of the involved parents and excellent faculty. A good pricipal helps that, but I don't think the quartback analogy holds, they don't have as big as an impact on as a quarterback to a team.
My guess is that this has much more to do with the district (and the states) financial problems and shuffling people around so that they could keep as many people as possible and let them keep an equivalent salary. Cashel seemed good, she was very interested in the school (I think long term) and my guess is that she had absolutely no idea that this was going to happen even a month ago.
The last time we changed principals, even though she was only with us for a year, they still managed to form an evaluation commitee. The fact that there wasn't one this time can only be because of one of two reasons: 1) this was a sudden decision, 2) Goodloe-Johnson didn't want parents to be involved this time. I have yet to be impressed by Goodloe-Johnson (and given what happens with Ballard High I might be working very hard to get her fired next year), but I don't think she is anti-parent enough to try something like this unless it was forced upon her by budget issues at the last minute.
The school will continue to be more then fine, it will continue to be excellent. Lets all give Wayne a big welcome and help him continue to improve our school.
Sounds like Goodloe-Johnson is moving her friends around to keep them on the payroll. Cashel Toner was an excellent principal and this sudden change concerns me.
Another sign of Goodloe-Johnson's heavy-handed approach. I won't be sorry to see her move on to something else.
You're kidding, right?
Compared to the rest of Seattle Public Schools, Loyal Heights is pretty darn good. But in terms of providing the rigorous education necessary? Gimme a break!
Seattle schools totally SUCK! By virtually any measure Loyal Heights would be considered among the worst schools in any industrialized Western country. Except in Seattle. With our pathetically narrow frame of reference and unwillingness to call BS when it really matters. It seems that fussing about the relative merits of an administrative change is a waste of time.
bdog,
yes i did and unless your harboring some underlying underlying phrase, my thought still stands. they are NOT always your PAL.
right on mamac
what if your quarterback was traded and doesn't like the new team. the quarterback can make you look like a lousy receiver in many ways.
Coswell…. Bitter Much?
I suppose you have quite the educational pedigree. I suppose all your kids are in private school or even better..Home schooled. Correct?
Life must be so burdensome feeling that superior all the time.
Go outside…Take a deep breathe….Soak in the sunshine…RELAX!
The LH PTA,The LH teachers and staff do not operate from a position of Fear ,therfor they cannot fail.Mr Floyd will be welcomed @ LHE , asked to roll up his sleeves and help them continue to make a difference in this community.This is a strong highly educated group of parents who still believe in our Public Education system and who hold themselves and each other accountable for the sucesses or failures @ this level.
Coswell-
You sound like my realtor when we moved here last year! Love your comment pattr. Saying Seattle schools SUCK is like saying US schools SUCK “by virtually any measure”. It is simple minded, mean, and does not help our community or kids.
I was at the Young Authors Celebration today and I am very impressed with the abilities of these kids. There are great things happening in the schools.
Boardbrown – I am sure you will be very happy at LH. We just moved here last year and my kids are thriving – I have one just finishing K.
I met Mr Floyd today and he is very nice. He just doesn't seem to have the fire in his belly (no reason he should) that Ms Toner does when it comes to elementary education. Good thing there is a lot of fire in this community!
Ballard ….Another Curmudgeon
The Loyal Heights Elementary School community put much time and attention into getting a new principal last year.
The Superintendent seemed to disregard this process and reassigned Principal Toner after one short year. Seems the Superintendent has little to no regard for the work our community put into hiring Principal Toner.
Yes, I agree.. I will be watching the Ballard High School issue. Should Ballard students get bussed out of our neighborhood ( 2 hour bus ride- each day) for high schoool, I will join you in an attempt to fire Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson.
Let's face it 3 principals in 3 years does not allow for continuity. We won an award of distinction due to the fact that Principal Codd was given the opportunity to carry out her long term goals. Yes, the teachers, parents and PTA are wonderful, but we still need consistent leadership.