Janney Elementary School

Local School RestructuringTeam (LSRT)

Congratulations to our new LSRT members

Kim Curtis

I am the parent of rising 4th and 2nd graders at Janney and am currently
completing my PhD. in Education Policy Studies at the University of
Maryland. I have always had a particular interest in the work of the SIT
(now LSRT) because of its critical role in directing school policy in
important areas such as curriculum, staffing and professional development.
This interest is a natural outgrowth of my wider interest in education
policy issues. In fact, the overwhelming majority of my professional career
has been spent studying and implementing education policy at the national,
state and local levels both in the U.S. and abroad. In terms of particularly
relevant experience, I was part of a U.S. Dept. of Education-funded research
team that spent two years studying local school improvement teams and their
plans. Based on this experience, I am not only familiar with the inner
workings of bodies such as the LSRT but am also convinced of the important
role that they can play in conceiving and directing school policy. As such,
I would consider it an honor to serve on our school¹s LSRT. At Janney, I
have served for several years as a room parent in my daughters¹ classes and
have volunteered in capacities both large and small. However, the majority
of my volunteer time has been dedicated to serving as a Girl Scout leader
for Janney troops in first, second, and third grades. Through these various
endeavors, I am in frequent contact with a large number of Janney families
from a wide variety of backgrounds. If elected, my goals are twofold: 1) to
bring my interest in and experience with educational issues to the LSRT to
help facilitate good decision making in a collaborative setting; and 2) to
effectively convey the decisions of the LSRT to the wider school community
so that as many people as possible can be familiar with the LSRT and its
important contribution to life at Janney.

Stefan Fatsis

I'm the parent of a rising third grader, Chloe Fatsis, and a freelance
journalist, NPR commentator and author. At Janney, I¹m best known as the
Scrabble guy, a.k.a., director of the Scrabble Club. I started the club in
2007 when Chloe entered kindergarten, and we¹ve grown in popularity every
year. The club now has nearly 30 kids playing Scrabble once a week after
school in the library. (Six of them traveled to Orlando this spring to
compete in the National School Scrabble Championship, where two Janney alums
took third place.) In March I organized and directed the first D.C. School
Scrabble Championship, which was held in the multipurpose room and attracted
more than 60 players from D.C., Virginia, Baltimore and Philadelphia. I¹ve
also expanded Scrabble to Deal and to another D.C. elementary school, J.O.
Wilson, and have discussed with DCPS expanding School Scrabble citywide. In
addition to Scrabble, I started and coach a Janney all-girls Stoddert soccer
team, the Power. Thanks to these activities, I¹ve been able to work with and
get to know Ms. Lycknell, teachers, administrators, specialists and members
of the PTA and other involved parents. On the LSRT, I¹d work to build on the
improvements we¹re enjoying at Janney and in our fabulous community,
especially during the crucial construction period.

Marjie Thompson-Longshore

Parent of Louisa (1-Mc) and Barrett (future Janney student) and married to
John Thompson (Noteboomer). My primary goal as a member of the LSRT is to
support all of the thoughtful and wise work being accomplished at Janney
through the teachers and staff. There are several projects on the horizon
that are exciting. In particular, I would love to help build up the
after-school programming and clubs. This Spring, I was a thinking partner
with assistant principal, Linda Sell, and the Janney recess committee
working together to create a responsive recess for Janney. As a member of
the Janney Healthy Food Committee, I have enjoyed helping in the special
lunch events we've hosted throughout the year. My background includes a
masters in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Post
graduate school, I worked with a consulting company in Cambridge, MA that
researched and consulted on systems management. In particular, we worked
with organizations striving to build effective teams. I have also worked as
a kindergarten and a preschool teacher.

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What is the LSRT?

In a nutshell, the LSRT advises the Principal on issues related to the Local School Plan: what is needed at the school, where we want to be as a school, whether we are there, and if not, how we should get there.

The Janney LSRT is composed of the Principal, six teachers, six parents, a student representative, and, at times, a community representative. The LSRT supports the Principal’s implementation of the DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework by advising the Principal on matters related to teaching and learning, leadership, job embedded professional development, resources, safe and effective learning environments, and family and community engagement.  

The LSRT is an elected body that serves in an advisory capacity to the Principal by:

1. Receiving and making appropriate recommendations regarding the development of the Local School Plan,

2. Monitoring and assessing the implementation of the Local School Plan,

3. Using assessment results to develop and modify specific strategies for school improvement, and

4. Ensuring compliance with established guidelines, contracts, and District rules.

LSRT meetings are held monthly and are open to the Janney community for observation. One meeting each semester is held where non-LSRT members can participate rather than observe. Teacher representatives to the LSRT are elected annually by the faculty each year.  Parent representatives are elected to serve staggered 2-year terms to ensure continuity.  Elections for the LSRT are held each Spring.

Members of the LSRT

Staff Representatives ......................................................................... 282-0110

Parent Representatives 2010-2011

Tracy Scarrow, Chair ......................................................................359-4658,
Andy Cohen .............................................................................320-9093,
Kim Curtis ..........................................................................
Stefan Fatsis ..................................................................
Willa Day Morris .............................................................................537-9556,
Marjie Thompson-Longshore............................................................

PTA/LSRT Representatives

Jonathan McHugh & Scott Cheney

Student Representative

LSRT Minutes 2008-2010

April 20, 2010
February 16, 2010
January 26, 2010
January 19, 2010
November 17, 2009
September 29, 2009
September 15, 2009
August 2009
April 2009
February 2009
Rhee meeting January 30, 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008