SWWHS Faculty Statement of Concern on the Sudden Removal of Principal Trogisch

October 16, 2020

 Good morning Chancellor Ferebee, Chief Narcisse, and Superintendent Jellig, 

We, the Faculty of School Without Walls High School, were shocked with the sudden removal of our principal. The timing and manner in which this was done and shared with us was abysmal. No organization should operate nor treat people this way, let alone one charged with serving the community and developing students. This action has caused trauma to our school community during a time in which people are facing an existential crisis. 

Presuming the limited information shared with us is correct, and we will have a series of further leadership changes over the next several months, we have several questions and concerns: 

• DCPS previously assured us no one would lose their job during the pandemic.

  • What changes have been made regarding this assurance? 

• DCPS representatives stated, “The leadership change was not in the best interest of students.”

  • How do we ensure all additional leadership changes focus on the best interest of our students and the SWW community as a whole? 

• We request a member of our current school leadership serve as principal for the remainder of the school year.

  • Providing continuity to our community is critical to the mission and vision of the school. 

• We require our collectively bargained right to be part of the search for a new principal be honored. To this end:

  • We request a timeline for applications, interviews, and selection be shared. 

  • We expect that our appropriate, elected committees will be involved in each of these steps. 

  • We request to be involved in writing the job description to ensure it is centered on the mission and vision of the school. 

The Faculty of School Without Walls