This second edition of A Charter School Principal’s Story shares the impact of a leadership experience in a DC school within a greater context of education as told through the critical and creative lens of ten years of reflection.

Foreword  Leonard A. (Tony) Upson Acknowledgements List of Figures and Tables Introduction 1 Beginning Sketches 2 Trust 3 Day 1 4 Ten Days of Preparations 5 The First Reach: WEDJ Parents 6 First Week of School 7 Parent Communications 8 Connecting with Staff 9 Initial Board of Trustees Communications 10 Arts to the Core 11 Learning that Sticks 12 Building Relationships 13 Safety, Supervision and Discipline 14 Bodies in Their Seats 15 Student and Staff Performance Reviews 16 Learning Communities for Staff and Parents 17 November 2012 Qualitative Site Review 18 Investing Time to Recognize Others 19 Welcomed Visitors 20 Tears in Heaven 21 Arts on Fire 22 Other People’s Money 23 Never-Ending Talent Search 24 The DC CAS Experience 25 Middle States Candidacy 26 First Spring Rising 27 Summer Highs and Lows 28 Year 2: Welcome Back Wolves 29 The Sting of the 2013 Qualitative Site Review 30 Response to the Charter Board Qualitative Site Review 31 Board Retreat 32 WEDJ through the Eyes of TenSquare 33 Dismantling Leadership 34 Catching Fire 35 The Chill in January 36 The Ambush…“And So It Begins” 37 Valentine Bundle: February 14 38 Leadership Performance Review 39 Cracks in the Foundation 40 Apology Accepted: Opportunity Denied 41 An Inquiry within an Inquiry 42 Buid to Thrive 43 So How Can Stakeholders Relate to Each Other Differently? 44 Asking Some Tough Questions References