Inspired Teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

I have heard Latin is great with this but who knows? We have had no problems at all with this at ITDS but I have talked to other families who have. It just seems like the admin is new and still learning the "rules" about how to appropriately handle things. That and they are listening, making you feel heard, and then not following through with anything. Again, I do see the later in small things but haven't had any big issues thankfully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were a lot of unresolved behavior issues with the old administration. This year has been a lot better. The teachers and principal contact families If there are issues. There have been no behavior issues that I have heard of in middle school since the beginning of school.

This 5th grade parent begs to differ.

I'm sorry you've had a different experience. We had similar struggles at a school we attended before Inspired so I have a lot of empathy and I hope you all find healing soon. I hope it's helpful to a prospective family to know these experiences seem to be isolated, even if the affected families have had a difficult time.

I think it's really just the luck of the draw whether your kid's class happens to have a child who struggles with behavior. If you do, the school doesn't deal with it very well. But some people don't think it's a problem because they haven't personally experienced it. A lot of the parents at ITS want to believe it's a really great school because they don't have a better option other than moving.

I'm a PP who shared my kids haven't experienced these issues (we've now been there for all grades, and multiple times). I believe that you've had the experiences you describe, and I also know from talking with many families over many years, that they don't seem to be the norm. Through no special interventions from us, our kids have both been academically accelerated, and meaningfully challenged and engaged throughout their time. They've had positive social experiences including into and through MS with a lot of new students matriculating. I'm not sure why it's been better for some than for others, but I do know that both can be true. While that's lousy if your kid is not having a good experience, it doesn't mean that the good isn't happening too, and not just because we didn't have other options. If you stay on, I hope your child's experience improves.

The cohort that just finished 5th grade is the one that has a lot of trouble with behavior. Also the cohort that just finished 3rd. It's not really a mystery why some people have these experiences and others don't. Probably it has been better for your kids because you just haven't happened to get a classmate with those issues, or your child isn't the one who has been personally targeted. Or your child just doesn't report as much of what happened at home. Though it doesn't happen often, when it does happen, the school handles it poorly. The incidents may be isolated (they aren't really, they're all the same few kids and the same types of incidents) but the pattern of the administration handling it poorly is a running theme. With so many kids leaving and entering for middle school, it's hard to predict how next year will go. But this may be your year to have a difficult classmate and see a very different side of ITS. I hope it is not, I wish you all the best, but the administration handling these incidents and problems poorly absolutely *is* the norm.

Can you give an example of what has occurred and how the administration has handled it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

I have heard Latin is great with this but who knows? We have had no problems at all with this at ITDS but I have talked to other families who have. It just seems like the admin is new and still learning the "rules" about how to appropriately handle things. That and they are listening, making you feel heard, and then not following through with anything. Again, I do see the later in small things but haven't had any big issues thankfully.

The weird thing is the Head of School and also the principal were recently hired from two very different schools, both of which have a lot of kids with special needs and behavior issues. So it's not like they lack experience with it. I really, really, really don't want ITS middle to end up like Two Rivers, though of course I'd never say that to the principal's face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were a lot of unresolved behavior issues with the old administration. This year has been a lot better. The teachers and principal contact families If there are issues. There have been no behavior issues that I have heard of in middle school since the beginning of school.

This 5th grade parent begs to differ.

I'm sorry you've had a different experience. We had similar struggles at a school we attended before Inspired so I have a lot of empathy and I hope you all find healing soon. I hope it's helpful to a prospective family to know these experiences seem to be isolated, even if the affected families have had a difficult time.

I think it's really just the luck of the draw whether your kid's class happens to have a child who struggles with behavior. If you do, the school doesn't deal with it very well. But some people don't think it's a problem because they haven't personally experienced it. A lot of the parents at ITS want to believe it's a really great school because they don't have a better option other than moving.

I'm a PP who shared my kids haven't experienced these issues (we've now been there for all grades, and multiple times). I believe that you've had the experiences you describe, and I also know from talking with many families over many years, that they don't seem to be the norm. Through no special interventions from us, our kids have both been academically accelerated, and meaningfully challenged and engaged throughout their time. They've had positive social experiences including into and through MS with a lot of new students matriculating. I'm not sure why it's been better for some than for others, but I do know that both can be true. While that's lousy if your kid is not having a good experience, it doesn't mean that the good isn't happening too, and not just because we didn't have other options. If you stay on, I hope your child's experience improves.

The cohort that just finished 5th grade is the one that has a lot of trouble with behavior. Also the cohort that just finished 3rd. It's not really a mystery why some people have these experiences and others don't. Probably it has been better for your kids because you just haven't happened to get a classmate with those issues, or your child isn't the one who has been personally targeted. Or your child just doesn't report as much of what happened at home. Though it doesn't happen often, when it does happen, the school handles it poorly. The incidents may be isolated (they aren't really, they're all the same few kids and the same types of incidents) but the pattern of the administration handling it poorly is a running theme. With so many kids leaving and entering for middle school, it's hard to predict how next year will go. But this may be your year to have a difficult classmate and see a very different side of ITS. I hope it is not, I wish you all the best, but the administration handling these incidents and problems poorly absolutely *is* the norm.

Can you give an example of what has occurred and how the administration has handled it?

The one with the throwing of chairs early this past year in 5th, which they totally hushed up and refuse to answer questions about.

The one with the kid getting throttled and they deny it ever happened. Also 5th this year.

How they talk about "restorative justice" and give you an equity scolding if you question its effectiveness at reducing violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

It depends what you mean by "well". If you mean a school that pushes kids out or expels them, you could probably find that.

I don’t mean that. It seems to be a consistent concern in this forum that behavioral issues aren’t handled well or appropriately at many schools. I’m wondering if there are any schools that do handle things well.

Maybe suspension or expulsion is what those posters would consider the appropriate response.

[Anonymous]

Part of the issue with ITS middle is the small size and personalized approach tends to attract families who think their kid needs that, and sometimes those kids just aren't as mature, or have special needs that affect behavior. And those kids are less likely to leave for Latin and BASIS as well. It's kind of a built in feature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

It depends what you mean by "well". If you mean a school that pushes kids out or expels them, you could probably find that.

I don’t mean that. It seems to be a consistent concern in this forum that behavioral issues aren’t handled well or appropriately at many schools. I’m wondering if there are any schools that do handle things well.

Maybe suspension or expulsion is what those posters would consider the appropriate response.

Honestly, I'm not aware of one. Some schools hush it up better than others though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

I have heard Latin is great with this but who knows? We have had no problems at all with this at ITDS but I have talked to other families who have. It just seems like the admin is new and still learning the "rules" about how to appropriately handle things. That and they are listening, making you feel heard, and then not following through with anything. Again, I do see the later in small things but haven't had any big issues thankfully.

The weird thing is the Head of School and also the principal were recently hired from two very different schools, both of which have a lot of kids with special needs and behavior issues. So it's not like they lack experience with it. I really, really, really don't want ITS middle to end up like Two Rivers, though of course I'd never say that to the principal's face.

But right. Two Rivers is a mess...I have heard terrible things about not only academics but absolute lack of behavior control. I think the HOS is from Breakthrough Montessori? I know fewer details about that school but I don't think it is/was highly thought of either. The school just doesn't feel as "Inspired" as it used to. I am hoping my younger child has the positive experience my older has but I am not so sure that will happen. I am still hopeful though!

[Anonymous]

ITDS’s way of handling kids with ADHD is to force them to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

I have heard Latin is great with this but who knows? We have had no problems at all with this at ITDS but I have talked to other families who have. It just seems like the admin is new and still learning the "rules" about how to appropriately handle things. That and they are listening, making you feel heard, and then not following through with anything. Again, I do see the later in small things but haven't had any big issues thankfully.

The weird thing is the Head of School and also the principal were recently hired from two very different schools, both of which have a lot of kids with special needs and behavior issues. So it's not like they lack experience with it. I really, really, really don't want ITS middle to end up like Two Rivers, though of course I'd never say that to the principal's face.

But right. Two Rivers is a mess...I have heard terrible things about not only academics but absolute lack of behavior control. I think the HOS is from Breakthrough Montessori? I know fewer details about that school but I don't think it is/was highly thought of either. The school just doesn't feel as "Inspired" as it used to. I am hoping my younger child has the positive experience my older has but I am not so sure that will happen. I am still hopeful though!

No, the HOS comes from a Ward 7 DCPS elementary and middle.

It's easy to fall for the lovely ECE program, and I think a lot of older kid parents being less satisfied is just part of the kids growing up. Little kids, little problems, you know?

I am the PP who is pretty critical of ITS for various things including behavior, but I do think it's a good school in many ways, and I wouldn't switch to any other school in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ITDS’s way of handling kids with ADHD is to force them to leave.

But there are so many still there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were a lot of unresolved behavior issues with the old administration. This year has been a lot better. The teachers and principal contact families If there are issues. There have been no behavior issues that I have heard of in middle school since the beginning of school.

This 5th grade parent begs to differ.

I'm sorry you've had a different experience. We had similar struggles at a school we attended before Inspired so I have a lot of empathy and I hope you all find healing soon. I hope it's helpful to a prospective family to know these experiences seem to be isolated, even if the affected families have had a difficult time.

I think it's really just the luck of the draw whether your kid's class happens to have a child who struggles with behavior. If you do, the school doesn't deal with it very well. But some people don't think it's a problem because they haven't personally experienced it. A lot of the parents at ITS want to believe it's a really great school because they don't have a better option other than moving.

I'm a PP who shared my kids haven't experienced these issues (we've now been there for all grades, and multiple times). I believe that you've had the experiences you describe, and I also know from talking with many families over many years, that they don't seem to be the norm. Through no special interventions from us, our kids have both been academically accelerated, and meaningfully challenged and engaged throughout their time. They've had positive social experiences including into and through MS with a lot of new students matriculating. I'm not sure why it's been better for some than for others, but I do know that both can be true. While that's lousy if your kid is not having a good experience, it doesn't mean that the good isn't happening too, and not just because we didn't have other options. If you stay on, I hope your child's experience improves.

The cohort that just finished 5th grade is the one that has a lot of trouble with behavior. Also the cohort that just finished 3rd. It's not really a mystery why some people have these experiences and others don't. Probably it has been better for your kids because you just haven't happened to get a classmate with those issues, or your child isn't the one who has been personally targeted. Or your child just doesn't report as much of what happened at home. Though it doesn't happen often, when it does happen, the school handles it poorly. The incidents may be isolated (they aren't really, they're all the same few kids and the same types of incidents) but the pattern of the administration handling it poorly is a running theme. With so many kids leaving and entering for middle school, it's hard to predict how next year will go. But this may be your year to have a difficult classmate and see a very different side of ITS. I hope it is not, I wish you all the best, but the administration handling these incidents and problems poorly absolutely *is* the norm.

Can you give an example of what has occurred and how the administration has handled it?

The one with the throwing of chairs early this past year in 5th, which they totally hushed up and refuse to answer questions about.

The one with the kid getting throttled and they deny it ever happened. Also 5th this year.

How they talk about "restorative justice" and give you an equity scolding if you question its effectiveness at reducing violence.

Concur. I know of at least four children who were assaulted by the chair tosser. As mentioned earlier, third grade was also a mess. My child was punched by another kid after beating him at a game and administration told him that my son should try to be his friend. We left DCPS. ITDS is still a great school for early ed, but I’d bail at 1st or 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were a lot of unresolved behavior issues with the old administration. This year has been a lot better. The teachers and principal contact families If there are issues. There have been no behavior issues that I have heard of in middle school since the beginning of school.

This 5th grade parent begs to differ.

I'm sorry you've had a different experience. We had similar struggles at a school we attended before Inspired so I have a lot of empathy and I hope you all find healing soon. I hope it's helpful to a prospective family to know these experiences seem to be isolated, even if the affected families have had a difficult time.

I think it's really just the luck of the draw whether your kid's class happens to have a child who struggles with behavior. If you do, the school doesn't deal with it very well. But some people don't think it's a problem because they haven't personally experienced it. A lot of the parents at ITS want to believe it's a really great school because they don't have a better option other than moving.

I'm a PP who shared my kids haven't experienced these issues (we've now been there for all grades, and multiple times). I believe that you've had the experiences you describe, and I also know from talking with many families over many years, that they don't seem to be the norm. Through no special interventions from us, our kids have both been academically accelerated, and meaningfully challenged and engaged throughout their time. They've had positive social experiences including into and through MS with a lot of new students matriculating. I'm not sure why it's been better for some than for others, but I do know that both can be true. While that's lousy if your kid is not having a good experience, it doesn't mean that the good isn't happening too, and not just because we didn't have other options. If you stay on, I hope your child's experience improves.

The cohort that just finished 5th grade is the one that has a lot of trouble with behavior. Also the cohort that just finished 3rd. It's not really a mystery why some people have these experiences and others don't. Probably it has been better for your kids because you just haven't happened to get a classmate with those issues, or your child isn't the one who has been personally targeted. Or your child just doesn't report as much of what happened at home. Though it doesn't happen often, when it does happen, the school handles it poorly. The incidents may be isolated (they aren't really, they're all the same few kids and the same types of incidents) but the pattern of the administration handling it poorly is a running theme. With so many kids leaving and entering for middle school, it's hard to predict how next year will go. But this may be your year to have a difficult classmate and see a very different side of ITS. I hope it is not, I wish you all the best, but the administration handling these incidents and problems poorly absolutely *is* the norm.

Can you give an example of what has occurred and how the administration has handled it?

The one with the throwing of chairs early this past year in 5th, which they totally hushed up and refuse to answer questions about.

The one with the kid getting throttled and they deny it ever happened. Also 5th this year.

How they talk about "restorative justice" and give you an equity scolding if you question its effectiveness at reducing violence.

Concur. I know of at least four children who were assaulted by the chair tosser. As mentioned earlier, third grade was also a mess. My child was punched by another kid after beating him at a game and administration told him that my son should try to be his friend. We left DCPS. ITDS is still a great school for early ed, but I’d bail at 1st or 2nd.

Is that the so-called "restorative justice" in action?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

I have heard Latin is great with this but who knows? We have had no problems at all with this at ITDS but I have talked to other families who have. It just seems like the admin is new and still learning the "rules" about how to appropriately handle things. That and they are listening, making you feel heard, and then not following through with anything. Again, I do see the later in small things but haven't had any big issues thankfully.

The weird thing is the Head of School and also the principal were recently hired from two very different schools, both of which have a lot of kids with special needs and behavior issues. So it's not like they lack experience with it. I really, really, really don't want ITS middle to end up like Two Rivers, though of course I'd never say that to the principal's face.

But right. Two Rivers is a mess...I have heard terrible things about not only academics but absolute lack of behavior control. I think the HOS is from Breakthrough Montessori? I know fewer details about that school but I don't think it is/was highly thought of either. The school just doesn't feel as "Inspired" as it used to. I am hoping my younger child has the positive experience my older has but I am not so sure that will happen. I am still hopeful though!

Oh yes...I just read her bio. It's very impressive actually. I do not like many of the changes that have happened since she started and I don't know how directly she has been involved. The principal structure prior to covid really worked well. ESP in the middle school where there was a dedicated principal for the 7th-8th grades. I do hear rumors of the staff being unhappy now while before I heard staff say that they stayed because the school made it such a nice environment for them. I am happy enough with the VP for the middle school now (spans 5-8th though) but the VP for the elementary age kids is just vacant. No emails from her the entire school year, and aside from her photo in the staff directory I do not think I have seen her once. The middle school VP is at least very present and knows the kids and their families. We are staying but it does seem less ideal than it used to. It's starting to feel more like a DCPS than an inspired charter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school in DC - either DCPS or DCPCS that handles bullying and behavioral issues well?

I have heard Latin is great with this but who knows? We have had no problems at all with this at ITDS but I have talked to other families who have. It just seems like the admin is new and still learning the "rules" about how to appropriately handle things. That and they are listening, making you feel heard, and then not following through with anything. Again, I do see the later in small things but haven't had any big issues thankfully.

The weird thing is the Head of School and also the principal were recently hired from two very different schools, both of which have a lot of kids with special needs and behavior issues. So it's not like they lack experience with it. I really, really, really don't want ITS middle to end up like Two Rivers, though of course I'd never say that to the principal's face.

But right. Two Rivers is a mess...I have heard terrible things about not only academics but absolute lack of behavior control. I think the HOS is from Breakthrough Montessori? I know fewer details about that school but I don't think it is/was highly thought of either. The school just doesn't feel as "Inspired" as it used to. I am hoping my younger child has the positive experience my older has but I am not so sure that will happen. I am still hopeful though!

Oh yes...I just read her bio. It's very impressive actually. I do not like many of the changes that have happened since she started and I don't know how directly she has been involved. The principal structure prior to covid really worked well. ESP in the middle school where there was a dedicated principal for the 7th-8th grades. I do hear rumors of the staff being unhappy now while before I heard staff say that they stayed because the school made it such a nice environment for them. I am happy enough with the VP for the middle school now (spans 5-8th though) but the VP for the elementary age kids is just vacant. No emails from her the entire school year, and aside from her photo in the staff directory I do not think I have seen her once. The middle school VP is at least very present and knows the kids and their families. We are staying but it does seem less ideal than it used to. It's starting to feel more like a DCPS than an inspired charter.

Funny, I super disliked the prior HOS, and I know the elementary level AP well and think she knows my kids as well as can be expected. I agree she seldom emails, though.