Results of D.C. principal's controversial methods need to outweigh criticism
By Jay Mathews
Monday, July 12, 2010Dwan Jordon, more quickly than any principal I have ever known, has made a name for himself in D.C. public schools.
On July 6, he was the hero of a front-page Washington Post story by my colleague Stephanie McCrummen. Jordon arrived at Sousa Middle School in 2008 and in his first year produced the biggest achievement gains of any D.C. middle school. He was a fiend for data, urging teachers to identify each student's weaknesses. The portion of Sousa students testing proficient in reading jumped from 23 percent to 39 percent and in math from 17 to 42 percent.
His name has also spread quickly through the ranks of educators because, after that great year and the hard work of his staff, almost all of his teachers left,
His name has also spread quickly through the ranks of educators because, after that great year and the hard work of his staff, almost all of his teachers left,