UC Removal of Principal Hagstrom from Walt Disney School

Her evil nature showed just after my being hired at Disney. She worked to get teachers to gang up on each other and throw each other under the bus for each others own gain. She thrives on teachers ‘tattling’ on teachers. Her only goal is that she was perceived in a good light. Prior to the teacher strike of 2012 , at a town hall meeting, I asked a question of CPS President Brazard which was deemed ‘rebel rousing’ by her and I was henceforth overlooked, ridiculed and moved year after year so that I could not get too comfortable in one grade level or position. I was forced to sign and confirm Job contingent observations that were ‘completed’ while I was on maternity leave - and clearly unavailable to be observed. Subsequent observations were negatively skewed regardless of performance. Furthermore, upon returning to work after my maternity leave I was allotted nowhere to pump breastmilk and was resigned to a closet in the library to do so. No assistance or exceptions we’re giving to my new status as a nursing mother and I had to quit mid year, as motherhood seemed impossible while working under Hagstrom’s regime.

This is disturbing that CPS is allowing this type of behavior from principals to happen in the schools. This is also happening at Hearst School with principal Teresa Chrobak. Hopefully CPS will intervene and stop this across the board.

SHE HAS GOT TO GOOOOO!

I interviewed with her about four years ago. In front of two of the other teachers interviewing me, she berated me and told me that I probably am a better fit as an assistant. It was definitely awkward for the other teachers. I'm a full-time classroom teacher and still reflect on that terrible interview.

Please remove her

She has been so terrible and I don't known a parent, student, or worker at the school who has said anything nice about her. She is not a true leader because she leads with fear.

When I got pregnant she didn't want to renew my contract for the next year. I was lucky enough to be supported by somebody in CPS district office who stopped her from firing me. In another occasion, I had Ms. Meyers yelling at me in the hallway in front of all my students and Disney staff. It was humilliating. The atmosphere at that school was atrocious.

Please remove her

It’s absurd she has remained in this position all these years. Time for a change

My child experienced bullying at this school for an entire year. The teachers blew us off repeatedly, never addressed or dealt with the issue, and the vice principal excused their behavior. My child is white; I mention this only to point out that the behavior is not only to minorities (though I know they experience the brunt of it). It is toward minorities and anyone not in the gifted programs. If you aren't in the gifted group, then you're seen as garbage and you are treated accordingly. As the captain leads everyone follows. Hagstrom creates a toxic environment; the school needs new leadership.

While the number and gravity of negative comments about Dr. Hagstrom are concerning, what's more alarming are the number of poorly written comments. Disney for years has been recognized as one of the top selective CPS schools. In my opinion, the large number of poorly written comments written by those associated with or concerned about Disney is indicative of the need for CPS to ramp up basic teaching from top to bottom, as most of us are CPS graduates. An associated problem are the strike talks, where there is nothing concrete on the side of the board or the union to address teacher accountability or school outcomes. Let's link pay, job tenure and recognition to performance. Kids need to learn and replicate their learning on appropriate standardized tests. With respect to Dr. Hagstrom, there appears to be enough negative feedback about her performance to warrant a full investigation. A history of apparent bad leadership cannot be ignored or bureaucratically dismissed. The Board is best advised to hire outside legal counsel to undertake the investigation. Principals have been removed for much less than the misdeeds allegedly committed by Dr. Hagstrom. A principal from a high performing south side high school was recently removed for failing to undertake a background check - a task that should be the responsibility of the central office. If the allegations reported about Dr. Hagstrom are confirmed following a due process review, she should be immediately removed from her position.

I worked at Disney Magnet School, Principal Kathleen Hagstrom was intimidating and unprofessional to staff and students. Unfairly judge people based off of their appearance, she discriminates against people of color and will call police on hispanic and color children quickly.

I hope she gets out

Have 2 grandchildren that go there. Have encountered her picking them up from school telling me I can’t sit on the steps why because I said so.

She has not always been at WDMS

FIRE HER NOW!!!

My son use to go to Disney, I have first hand experience dealing with with this Principle which was horrible experience and we ended up moving my to another school.

Kathleen Hagstrom earned $163,640 in 2017 as a Principal for Chicago Public Schools Walt Disney Magnet School. Hagstrom had worked in this position since March 27, 1978. Hagstrom earned more than 100.00% of employees in Chicago Public Schools Walt Disney Magnet School.

My spouse was a teacher at Disney for a few years and I’d argue it’s worse than described. Hagstrom bullied and threatened everyone. And some of what she did is flat out disturbing if not illegal (e.g., a female teacher was aggressively harassed by another male teacher and Hagstrom essentially told her to toughen up).

Alumni here! I can recall many moments in time when Ms. Hagstrom has said rude and degrading things that have compromised the safe learning environment of the students, teachers, and other staff. One could even go as far as saying that she encourages this type of racist and bullying behavior in some of the other staff, because she is undoubtedly not the only one who these assertions apply to.