Current Ludlow-Taylor admin & other L-T thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Hi all. We just got into L-T for K. We're out of bounds but close enough to have it be an appealing option given the close commute and all that we've heard about the positive school community and strong teachers. What is the current feeling, though, about the admin/principal? Are strong teachers sticking around despite the challenges we've heard about? For context, we'd be switching from another school that we love, but that requires a longer commute. Trying to decide if the change to a close-by school would be worth it and would appreciate any feedback, pros/cons on the school, especially if you have an older child there now...

[Anonymous]

I think Principal Miller is not great, but not awful. The special education coordinator was awful, is now on leave and is thankfully not returning. The resource teachers who do the actual work to implement IEPs are thankfully excellent, as are the instructional coaches. (I would not put my kid in a self contained class other than the ECE one, but it doesn’t sound like you’re in that position.) There is no sign of high teacher turnover in gen ed classrooms; there’s actually been remarkably little over the past few years, all things considered. I think only 1 gen ed classroom teacher left last year & 1 shifted into teaching a special. Anyway, the teachers don’t like the principal much, but she doesn’t seem to be driving them out. There is strong teacher leadership and they have done a good job making things work. I do think the principal has been trying to repair her relationship with teachers recently, she’s just not great at it.

Overall, my kids are very happy (and my oldest is in a testing grade, so we’ve been at the school awhile). The teachers are mostly very good to truly excellent - particularly in the upper grades. It’s a very involved and nice community of families and the PTO is really fabulous. The afterschool clubs program also can’t be beat and it really helps with the kids’ sense of community when like 80% of kids do some after school activities and they mix with lots of kids outside their class and even grade.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much!! This is super helpful. I appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Echo PP at 22:59 - the principal isn't adding value but she isn't actively bad. She isn't out there trying to remake the school or fix what's not broken. I have heard of folks complaining about the IEP/special ed area but thankfully my kids don't have one so we've never experienced any issues.

There's a core group of good teachers who run the aftercare program (which has dozens of different clubs, including sound design, dance, martial arts, cooking, sewing, etc etc), emcee key events, participate in the community activities and they don't seem to be going anywhere. The PTO is well funded and well organized (the annual school auction is this weekend and is a huge event). The community of parents is really terrific. It's place where we drop our kids off at at 815 AM and then when we pick up at 545 we have to drag them away.

[Anonymous]

Just chiming in to say LT has been amazing for our kid. He recently cried because it was a Saturday and he didn’t get to go. Principal seems well meaning, but bad at communication. The teachers are wonderful and don’t seem to be going anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! This is wonderful feedback.

[Anonymous]

Agree with all the above. This was our kid's first year and it has been wonderful. Lots of fun, learning, solid educators etc.

Agree also with the non-responsiveness of the special ed coordination. Luckily we communicated directly with the teachers who provided accommodations directly in the general class room and have been amazing.

[Anonymous]

The principal has a tendency to ignore things she doesn't want to deal with, and it drives the (excellent) long-term teachers crazy. The teachers are stable and very, very good, though.

If I could press a button and fire the principal, I would do it. But I still reenrolled my kid.

[Anonymous]

We entered the lottery mostly for fun and ended up being unexpectedly really impressed with Ludlow-Taylor. (We live on the Hill and had listed in 2nd behind Maury mostly for reasons of proximity.) I actually thought the head of their parents’ organization was the Principal when I was asking questions after my tour (I arrived a bit late and the parent was on the stage forming the tour groups when I arrived) and had a great impression! But then I met the actual principal and realized it was the wrong person. She seemed fine too, but obviously it was just a short discussion. Anyway, we enrolled and are hoping for the best!