Creative Minds (CMI) teacher loss and new teaching style

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure what is going on at CMI. My child’s new teacher leads the class to shame students as my student told me yesterday. They all pointed at a student and told the student to pay attention along with the student’s name. One of my child’s friend has had to stand in the corner at different times, no idea why that would be allowed. I have asked to switch rooms but have not heard anything from the school. I am seriously thinking of pulling my kids out. It’s disheartening that a school that claims to be inclusive is NOT INCLUSIVE and thinks shaming students is acceptable. Not to mention the new testing regime, 20 word vocabulary test and no IPC on the schedule! Another reason why we chose the school! Shameful.

[Anonymous]

This is not aligned with Responsive Classroom.
Clearly the teacher is not trained in this method of classroom management. I would reach out to the Principal and ask about classroom management approach and how teachers are trained on this.
You might express your concern that what your child is sharing at home does not feel aligned with the schools values and ask if they can be more supportive of that classroom.

[Anonymous]

I heard 3 teachers quit this week—not including the one from the article last week. 2 middle school and 1 lower school. Sounds like the place is on fire.

[Anonymous]

DC charter board and OSSE need to get involved! The school’s senior leadership need to go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC charter board and OSSE need to get involved! The school’s senior leadership need to go!

Only the school's board (CMI Board) can change the head of school-- OSSE and charter board do not have the reach. Also, the school has been struggling for years but is seen as a "good" environment for upper NW families still-- I don't understand when there are schools doing much better that might not have been chattered about as much on this board. I did not consider this school for my child and have a friend who pulled her child out.

[Anonymous]

The leadership at CMI has no respect for their employees. It is the end of September and there are students who have NOT received their services because CMI fails to provide them. There are students who are in need of dedicated aides and are not given them. Teachers are stretched thin and admin does not check in with their staff. There is a new instructional coach on the first floor who seems like he stepped out of 1963 with the way he disciples his students. So much for conscious discipline huh? He has had children with diverse needs stand up at the front of the class because he could not keep his body still. That is extremely unacceptable! Instead of following curriculum, he is allowed to do his own thing which further adds confusion to the children. I would NOT recommend this school for any child or employment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The leadership at CMI has no respect for their employees. It is the end of September and there are students who have NOT received their services because CMI fails to provide them. There are students who are in need of dedicated aides and are not given them. Teachers are stretched thin and admin does not check in with their staff. There is a new instructional coach on the first floor who seems like he stepped out of 1963 with the way he disciples his students. So much for conscious discipline huh? He has had children with diverse needs stand up at the front of the class because he could not keep his body still. That is extremely unacceptable! Instead of following curriculum, he is allowed to do his own thing which further adds confusion to the children. I would NOT recommend this school for any child or employment.

Horrifying. I think there are a few other charters out there with a Global mission that have better environments.

[Anonymous]

Super sorry to hear this. We were at CMI last year but left due to a move. One of my kids had a teacher who would regularly take away recess for the entire class (6-7-8 year olds) if only a few kids misbehaved.
Old-fashioned, out-dated discipline at CMI is not new this year, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

It's scary to know this is happening and only a small piece of the story was covered in the news. I've heard too much about CMI over the years. Why do these people seem untouchable? Why has nothing been done? Have parents and staff talked to the school board or charter board? Has there been any action from the school board? There needs to be investigations into all of these claims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's scary to know this is happening and only a small piece of the story was covered in the news. I've heard too much about CMI over the years. Why do these people seem untouchable? Why has nothing been done? Have parents and staff talked to the school board or charter board? Has there been any action from the school board? There needs to be investigations into all of these claims.

The charter board doesn't care about any school being a mess unless they're literally insolvent, doing crimes, or failing worse academically. They believe in "flexibility" which means freedom to be quite bad, just not really awful.

[Anonymous]

The only justification for CMI remaining open is that there are even greater offenders. Top leaders have no business running a school, hire people to do their jobs, and have built a complex bureaucracy to obscure any accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's scary to know this is happening and only a small piece of the story was covered in the news. I've heard too much about CMI over the years. Why do these people seem untouchable? Why has nothing been done? Have parents and staff talked to the school board or charter board? Has there been any action from the school board? There needs to be investigations into all of these claims.

The charter board doesn't care about any school being a mess unless they're literally insolvent, doing crimes, or failing worse academically. They believe in "flexibility" which means freedom to be quite bad, just not really awful.

This is why I decided not to apply to charters. There simply isn't enough oversight.