Principal Trogisch Reinstatement HSA Position and Advocacy

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October 13, 2020

Dear SWWHS Community,

Since the announcement of Principal Trogisch's dismissal, we (the HSA) have found ourselves primarily reacting to the vacuum of information, and taking our cues from students and families calling for answers.

We have now had time to gather information and transition to a more proactive approach. On Sunday night, the HSA Executive Board met to agree to a position, and draft a proposed course of action for our community. 14 out of our 17 voting members and were present, along with LSAT parent representatives. Voting HSA Board members unanimously voted to continue to support advocacy for reinstating Principal Trogisch and immediately designating Associate Principal Isaac as Acting and Interim principal until Principal Trogisch is reinstated.

Last night, we met as a community representing parents, students and teachers to share what we have learned about the circumstances behind Principal Trogisch's dismissal agree to our proposed course of action, which is to pursue reinstating Principal Trogisch and immediately designating Association Principal Isaac as Acting and Interim Principal.

We have pulled together resources for immediate action, including our position, contact information, talking points, and how to sign up for (near) future action here: http://bit.ly/ReinstateRich

Below are our agreed position and rationale:

1) Principal Trogisch should be immediately reinstated for the remainder of the school year (his current contract) -- to preserve stability in our school leadership for students, faculty, and parents through ongoing pandemic response and upcoming budget reforms.   

 

(2) Until he is reinstated, an Assistant Principal should be immediately designated as the Acting Principal, ensuring family and staff confidence that knowledge of the school, students, and culture is the foremost consideration.   

  • To remove Principal Trogisch at this time, in this manner, and for this reason is not in the best interests of our students or school community.   

    • His leadership in achieving outcomes for SWWHS is well established. 

    • Both the DCPS head of secondary schools and the instructional superintendent publicly acknowledged that the removal is “not in the best interest” of students and “not in the best interest of anyone.” 

  • The mid-semester disruption is damaging to students and faculty on educational, operational, and emotional levels.  Steadiness, familiarity, expertise, and understanding of distinctive school policies and practices is required to: 

    • avoid distractions from student and teacher needs by installing outside decision-makers who lack relationships and context 

    • minimize disruptions to existing virtual learning and prioritize the socio-emotional health of students. 

    • manage faculty and curriculum through distance learning adaptations, and transition to Term 2

    • implementing planned racial equity programming,  

    • navigating the budget cycle under new criteria and resource constraints
       

  • The timing, basis, and disproportionate nature of this action by the Mayor’s Office appears timed as retribution for Principal Trogisch raising questions on behalf of families and faculty about the physical condition of his school facilities reopening safely.   

    • The alleged “enrollment anomaly” apparently involved one instance nearly two years ago, where a SWW Francis Stevens teacher accessed a pre-K slot in order to enable her to continue working at the school

      • Given a majority of DC charter schools provide preferences to retain quality faculty, such action could even be deemed good policy. 

    • The instance was known by DCPS leadership prior to renewal of his 2020-2021 contract. 

    • An action that did not prevent his contract renewal suddenly became a fireable offense two days after the Principal expressed concerns about DCPS plans. 

  • The firing of Principal Trogisch for the alleged infringement is not commensurate to the situation under normal circumstances, let alone amidst our current challenges.  

    • The allegation is not dangerous or self-interested, and certainly not egregious enough to warrant an immediate removal in the midst of ongoing disruptions.   

    • Precedent -- and common sense -- do not justify his dismissal now. 

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Please reach out to Sandra Moscoso (president@swwhsa.org) if you have questions.

With gratitude and kinship.

The SWWHS HSA Executive Board

HSAPresident SWWHSAprincipal crisis