District 15 superintendent and new principal address parent concerns

Monday, May 5 was the first day for new Interim Acting (IA) Principal Jaela Kim at P.S. 169 in Sunset Park, and although some parents rallied out front in protest, by and large her arrival went smoothly.

Just days before, however, frustration abounded at a meeting between parents and District 15 Superintendent Anita Skop, who was on the defensive about her decision to replace existing unofficial IA principal, Joseph Iorio, a 30-year veteran at the school, without engaging with the school community during the nearly seven-month process.

“We looked for the best candidates [and] we have found somebody who I think is excellent for the school [and] who will help our children learn,” said Skop. “I know how you feel about Mr. Iorio and I’m sure if he’s interested, he’ll be part of the process.

“This is an interim acting principal. You don’t get to say you don’t like her and want another,” Skop added. “We’re not up to C-30 yet.”

The C-30 is the Department of Education’s principal selection process, which sees a district superintendent sort through candidates, who are interviewed by a committee of parents and teachers before the superintendent makes a final decision.

But according to Debbie Rius, president of the P.S. 169 Parent Teacher Association, “This has nothing to do with the actual person, and has everything to do with [Kim] coming in with around 30 days left of classroom instruction.”

Former Principal Josephine Santiago left effective October 1, 2013, Rius noted. “So no disrespect to you, but we feel disrespected,” she said to the cheers of assembled parents. “I know somebody in another school [in Park Slope] that says this never would have happened there.”

According to Rius, parents and staff first heard on March 25 that Kim had been selected.

Skop stated, “I purposely didn’t go in order to give [staff and parents] time to coalesce and find their way.”

Mom Rosie Rivera said that the drama has been “stomach-turning.”

“Skop said, when Santiago left, she had chosen Iorio to replace her, but now when I brought it up, she says it [wasn’t],” Rivera said. “I want what’s best for the school and there’s nothing wrong with [it] since he’s been there.”

However messy the road was, IA Principal Kim is there now and, for her part, said she is excited to be a part of the P.S. 169 community, and believes collaboration will be the key to success.

“I look forward to making time to meet with every one of you and making sure you and your children have what you need,” said Kim, a former elementary school teacher who focused on ESL instruction before serving as deputy network leader in charge of curriculum and instruction at 30 schools, and working at the chancellor’s office to help teachers understand Common Core.

“I’m not here to bring you a message of change. . . I want to work with Joe, learn the lay of the land from him,” Kim added. “There will be challenges and I need you to help me help you.”

To that end, Kim said she will be launching Friday morning parent coffee meetings starting May 9.

She also wants to build ‘teacher teams’ where staff can share ideas about what works and what doesn’t, and collaborate on how to improve, and to emphasize ‘distributive leadership’ by ensuring that “people you trust are on board and understands the cohesive vision, especially for a school this size.”