A Good Principal Is Fired
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It is unfortunate that Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee recused herself from the decision to fire Marta Guzman, principal of the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School [Metro, May 9], as Ms. Guzman's removal did not reflect Ms. Rhee's oft-stated premise that school system decisions must be based on what is best for students.
As a parent of two children who have attended Oyster over the past five years and a volunteer in several school organizations, I can attest that for all of her weaknesses -- "lack of organization, reluctance to delegate and sometimes-brusque style" -- Ms. Guzman always put the students first. To compensate for her organizational failings and perfectionist tendencies, she put in extremely long days. It was not unusual for Ms. Guzman to be in the building for 12 hours, and she could often be seen around the school moving boxes and cleaning classrooms to free up space for programs.
Ms. Guzman managed to overcome the reluctance to change on the part of many in the schools' bureaucracy, and she secured approval for the expansion of the Oyster bilingual model through eighth grade. She did not make a lot of friends downtown while doing it. A handful of dissatisfied parents and downtown bureaucrats put their interests before those of our children.
Ms. Guzman's departure is a loss for Oyster and for the D.C. schools.
JOEL KORN
Washington
