Carl Sandburg principal on leave
Terrence Yarborough has been principal at Carl Sandburg Middle School since 2010-2011. (YouTube image)
Carl Sandburg Middle School principal Terrence Yarborough is currently on leave, Fairfax County Public Schools spokesman John Torre confirmed today.
FCPS Assistant Superintendent Terry Dade sent a letter to parents April 10 informing them that Yarborough was on leave and that assistant principal Jessica Tippins would be serving as principal designee.
It is unclear why Yarborough is on leave, or how long it will last. Torre declined to comment on the nature of Yarborough’s leave, or say when it began.
Cathy Hosek, a Sandburg PTA member who has two children at the school, said parents have been supportive of Yarborough and hope he will be returning soon.
“The entire Sandburg community is hopeful that this will be resolved quickly,” said Hosek.
Yarborough is a former Marine who has been in FCPS for more than a decade. He was hired as principal at Sandburg in 2010, and in 2011 he was named Outstanding First Year Principal by FCPS.
Yarborough is the second FCPS principal in the Richmond Highway-area to be put on leave this school year. In February, West Potomac principal Alexander Case was put on leave. He resigned later that month.
Love how the article states the entire Sandburg community is supportive. Not this guy. This man has anger issues and treats the kids like animals in his school. He crossed the line this time. Bye Terrance!!!
What did he do ?
What happened ?
A few people have tried leaving comments with versions of the incident that got the principal put on leave. While I can appreciate that community members are attempting to clarify this situation, I cannot allow anonymous, unsubstantiated accusations to be posted in the comments section. If you are willing to speak on the record, please contact me at phil@coveringthecorridor.com. Thank you for understanding.
what happened
I need more information, I have a daughter in Sandburg, and for I know, this is a excellent principal. However He is not receiving accurate information from his assistance. If I could speak with someone to help in this matter , please contact me marin.tulio4@gmail.com.
what happened
Not all parents are supportive of Yarborough. Many of us have had concerns about him long before now.
I agree with you 100%. Last year he Told the kids over the loudspeaker they were acting stupidly and he would have them charges if they were caught running in the hallways. Real professional. Love how the article states he is a former marine. Leave that part out of his next article please.
Hi Ralph, I was teaching at Sandburg last year and remember that announcement. I also recall that students were running en mass through the halls. There were incidents of students “stampeding” and running over people, teachers included. We were not maintaining control of the halls and authority was going out the window. At that point people were being injured. I believe that Mr. Yarborough did the right thing. The acts of some of these students were criminal and harmful. They needed to be held accountable.
Yarborough called the kids scum and idiots during the same announcement. The school board did nothing about it. What man called middle schoolers scum
And idiots?
Would you happen to be an employee at the school? How you hear so much? Well you seem like you are full of hate for the man . Can’t be to bad if he has contributed to turning the school around. What’s wrong with him being noticed as a Marine? Let us know what you have done to make the school great,maybe you want to be the real MVP
My child said he slapped a girl that is notorious for misbehaving. Kids are showing each other (fake?) news reports asserting his abuse. Why has be been gone for weeks and parents still know very little? It would be nice at least to be able to discuss the situation with our children. Their rumors are persisting and all parents can say is …that is a rumor, we don’t really know if he is at the beach, in the hospital, or pending jail.
As a parent who is active and speaks to many neighbors, we ALL support him! As do the students! They love him! He is effective and runs a tight ship. Ralph sounds like a disgruntled worker at his workplace. With an axe to grind.
Mr. YARBOROUGH HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS IN ALL THE YEARS THAT BOTH OF OUR GIRLS WERE AT SANDBURG. HE KEEPS THE KIDS SAFE AND HAS A SOFT SPOT FOR THE UNDER DOG. MY CHILD’S CLOSE FRIEND SAID A FEMALE TEACHER HAS BEEN QUITE VICIOUS ABOUT HIM SINCE HE WAS PUT ON LEAVE. THIS BREAKS MY HEART FOR HIM AS I, AND ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS FEEL THE EXACT OPPOSITE. WE FEEL SO MUCH BETTER HAVING HIM AT THE HELM AND HAVING HIM STAFF THE SCHOOL WITH SUCH FABULOUS TEACHERS AND ADMINSTRATORS. I HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THIS SCHOOL’S PTA AND SHE SAYS HE IS MOST IMPRESSIVE ON ALL LEVELS. THIS PERSON HAS EXCELLENT JUDGMENT AND IS A BIT OF A HARSH CRITIC SO HER OPINION CARRIES GREAT WEIGHT FOR ME. WE ARE ALL HOPING HE RETURNS SOON.
We absolutely love Mr. Yarborough! He is a strong positive presence at the middle school. We need to continue to have Mr. Yarborough to support the students and keep the middle school running in a safe and positive way. Bring back Mr. Yarborough!
I agree with keeping Mr. Yarborough. I have only gotten to know him this year as my child is in 7th grade but our encounters with him have been very positive. My child speaks very highly of him (says he is stern though, which makes parents happy – there are A LOT of kids in that school – order is a must!) My child’s teachers are all fantastic- responsive and seem to love teaching. I feel that is a reflection on their leader – hiring and maintaining a great educational staff. Please don’t upset the apple cart, it will be a giant disservice to our community. Thank you!
When I told my daughter that Mr. Yarborough was on leave and it seemed like something was up, she responded, “It’s about time. He’s horrible.” Many students do not like him – I’m not sure why people say “we ALL support him”: we all do NOT. And he is not professional – he runs a mini-prison and treats students like scum. He has even called them as much over the loudspeaker. Some parents like him because he has restored order to a school that very much needed it which makes those parents feel better about sending their own kids there rather than to the school it was previously. But, he has done so at the price of stepping all over everyone, belittling and threatening students, and instilling fear. Many can’t wait to get out of there and to a place where order does not have to be kept from the top down by yelling and being degrading. It is not a happy place in those halls.
I have 2 children currently at CSMS and have had couple of opportunities to meet with Mr. Yarborough personally, one was in regards to some questions I had about a class and the other one in a fun school event. Mr. Yarborough was very professional listening to my concerns and what impressed me he supported all parties – his goal was to listen, learn and work together to make it better. In speaking to parents who had children at CS prior to Mr. Yarborough – the environment has greatly improved. I feel he has had a direct hand in putting the PRIDE back in Panther Pride. I don’t understand why someone would make a comment about removing his previous military experience. There seems to be versions of an incident floating around and its a shame that rumors gain weight while the positive achievements seem to not garner the same attention. I understand that some may have differences with his style all I ask is that you judge him fairly. We all have strengths and weakness, our mistakes tend to be our best teaching moments – is it simply unfair to cast such negative remarks to try to undue a person’s hard work and professional contributions.
As a parent of two boys who graduated from MVHS, I know how easy it is to judge a principal based on anecdotes. Your kid comes home and says the principal is “horrible” or yelled at someone. The kids see things a little differently sometimes. But unless you are in the school, observing the day to day events, it’s not fair to make rash judgments. Spend a day or so as a visitor in a school before you start opining. And, yes, be careful of faux news. There are always two sides of a story.
We need this Principal to stay at Sandburg! He has turned the school around in a few short years. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of all of the kids at that school and made it a place where students thrive.
Where’s all the big supporters of Terrance now that He resigned????
They are all here.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/mr-yarborough-resignation-carl-sandburg-middle