AMA former DCPS teacher

[Anonymous]

I am a former teacher at a “JKLM” school from
2016-2023.

LSAT, lottery, union drama, all of it. Ask me any question and I will answer it honestly to the best of my ability.

Political questions are welcome so long as they are approved by moderators.

[Anonymous]

Are you still teaching or did you just move out of DCPS? Why did you leave DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Are there any guidelines about screen time given to teachers by the school admin? Our kid seems to get infinite screen time, but I hear from friends at JKLMs that it's less prevalent there - is that a school rule, or just better teachers in general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you still teaching or did you just move out of DCPS? Why did you leave DCPS?

I left DCPS because some parents expected concierge service for their children, and admin was more than willing to help them achieve such service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you still teaching or did you just move out of DCPS? Why did you leave DCPS?

I left DCPS because some parents expected concierge service for their children, and admin was more than willing to help them achieve such service.

I can only speak since my experience after Covid. Kids have way too much screen time. If I had my way the kids be banned for kids up until high school. However, I know that is not possible.

[Anonymous]

Is redshirting allowed in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you still teaching or did you just move out of DCPS? Why did you leave DCPS?

I left DCPS because some parents expected concierge service for their children, and admin was more than willing to help them achieve such service.

Let’s try this one more time, since my typing skills were not that good. I think kids should have cell phones banned until they are at least able to drive.

I think devices such as iPads, Chromebook, any sort of other one-to-one technology should be banned for kids until after elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is redshirting allowed in DCPS?

I think you are referring to athletics? My experience was with elementary only K5. However, I am more than familiar enough with academic questions above this grade. Athletic question should be submitted to somebody else.

[Anonymous]

What are you doing now?

[Anonymous]

As someone with an inside view, what metrics should a parent use to evaluate a public elementary school in DC, particularly once your child moves out of ECE/K and into middle/late elementary school? Assume for a second that your child is NT, a native English speaker, with smart, white collar parents, who seems to be doing well “academically” through K/1st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you still teaching or did you just move out of DCPS? Why did you leave DCPS?

I left DCPS because some parents expected concierge service for their children, and admin was more than willing to help them achieve such service.

Let’s try this one more time, since my typing skills were not that good. I think kids should have cell phones banned until they are at least able to drive.

I think devices such as iPads, Chromebook, any sort of other one-to-one technology should be banned for kids until after elementary school.

Is this OP? I'm not asking how you feel about screen time personally, I'm asking if the school itself sets limits, and if so do they vary between schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone with an inside view, what metrics should a parent use to evaluate a public elementary school in DC, particularly once your child moves out of ECE/K and into middle/late elementary school? Assume for a second that your child is NT, a native English speaker, with smart, white collar parents, who seems to be doing well “academically” through K/1st.

PP to add - this could include quantitative metrics like test scores or qualitative metrics like the way the principal responds to a certain question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you doing now?

I am still teaching however, it is in a district without unions in South Carolina. I’m extraordinarily happy!! However, don’t let that be a misunderstanding for my politics. I believe in efficiency, accuracy, and success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is redshirting allowed in DCPS?

I think you are referring to athletics? My experience was with elementary only K5. However, I am more than familiar enough with academic questions above this grade. Athletic question should be submitted to somebody else.

I meant academic redshirting. Do you see a lot of summer boys being held back, and do they do better than the rest? Or maybe it’s not noticeable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you still teaching or did you just move out of DCPS? Why did you leave DCPS?

I left DCPS because some parents expected concierge service for their children, and admin was more than willing to help them achieve such service.

Why wouldn't you just go to teach at a school in a neighborhood where principals don't do that?