LAA - Little Ambassadors Academy recent experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a NP, not the previous poster who has had issues with Lauren and I agree that she is …difficult. The thing that’s strange to me is that if you ask this question on MONA, you will have people tripping all over themselves to tell you how wonderful the school is. And if anyone says anything negative about Lauren they are flamed. So she has many, many happy families. Have you toured both LAA and LB? I think you can tell the differences just in the 45 minute tour.

Because it actually is a great school. I'm not understanding how it is strange to you that many happy LAA parents want to share their positive experiences.

Lots of people send multiple kids there. There aren’t many preschools that are as working-parent friendly as LAA. I really think someone with a mask grudge is spouting off on here.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by working parent friendly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a NP, not the previous poster who has had issues with Lauren and I agree that she is …difficult. The thing that’s strange to me is that if you ask this question on MONA, you will have people tripping all over themselves to tell you how wonderful the school is. And if anyone says anything negative about Lauren they are flamed. So she has many, many happy families. Have you toured both LAA and LB? I think you can tell the differences just in the 45 minute tour.

Also a parent of multiples at LAA campuses. Agree Lauren is..."difficult" and agree the school has been great. Not sure what the dispute here is about? Seems like people are reinforcing that they like the school overall, the teachers, etc., but that dealing with the administrator is..."difficult." The two can co-exist! We just try to avoid her at all costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by working parent friendly?

I assume they mean the hours? But most preschools in the area are now 7ish to 6ish. COVID was what caused that to change temporarily. Thankfully it's back, at LAA and elsewhere!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by working parent friendly?

I assume they mean the hours? But most preschools in the area are now 7ish to 6ish. COVID was what caused that to change temporarily. Thankfully it's back, at LAA and elsewhere!

The hours and the general year round schedule. Other preschools we looked at had separate charges for aftercare, random early dismissals, weeks off for everything, plus the usual federal holidays.

I’m glad the world has caught up but as of a few years ago, there weren’t many preschools with daycare levels of availability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a NP, not the previous poster who has had issues with Lauren and I agree that she is …difficult. The thing that’s strange to me is that if you ask this question on MONA, you will have people tripping all over themselves to tell you how wonderful the school is. And if anyone says anything negative about Lauren they are flamed. So she has many, many happy families. Have you toured both LAA and LB? I think you can tell the differences just in the 45 minute tour.

Also a parent of multiples at LAA campuses. Agree Lauren is..."difficult" and agree the school has been great. Not sure what the dispute here is about? Seems like people are reinforcing that they like the school overall, the teachers, etc., but that dealing with the administrator is..."difficult." The two can co-exist! We just try to avoid her at all costs.

Of course they can co-exist. I think the issue is that the first response to the OP was such an extreme, negative, shouty, ranting post about how PP was actively looking to pull his/her DCs solely due to the executive director. And then the posts after that, while definitely not as extreme and much more balanced, seemed to support initial PP...in a way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a NP, not the previous poster who has had issues with Lauren and I agree that she is …difficult. The thing that’s strange to me is that if you ask this question on MONA, you will have people tripping all over themselves to tell you how wonderful the school is. And if anyone says anything negative about Lauren they are flamed. So she has many, many happy families. Have you toured both LAA and LB? I think you can tell the differences just in the 45 minute tour.

Also a parent of multiples at LAA campuses. Agree Lauren is..."difficult" and agree the school has been great. Not sure what the dispute here is about? Seems like people are reinforcing that they like the school overall, the teachers, etc., but that dealing with the administrator is..."difficult." The two can co-exist! We just try to avoid her at all costs.

Of course they can co-exist. I think the issue is that the first response to the OP was such an extreme, negative, shouty, ranting post about how PP was actively looking to pull his/her DCs solely due to the executive director. And then the posts after that, while definitely not as extreme and much more balanced, seemed to support initial PP...in a way.

Maybe that's because she's rubbed a lot of people the wrong way? The first may have been the loudest but it sounds like others aren't surprised.

[Anonymous]

If you go to the Yorktown or Cherrydale campus, will you have much interaction with Lauren? Or can you pretty much avoid her? Also - for parents whose kids go to the Cherrydale location, does the lack of windows in the classrooms bother you or the kids do you think? And how does the walk to the playground work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you go to the Yorktown or Cherrydale campus, will you have much interaction with Lauren? Or can you pretty much avoid her? Also - for parents whose kids go to the Cherrydale location, does the lack of windows in the classrooms bother you or the kids do you think? And how does the walk to the playground work?

Probably not, no. The campus administrator we deal with is wonderful. But she is very deferential to Lauren on policies, which makes sense. So reaching out to Lauren to discuss any/all policy - to ask a question, offer an idea, etc. - is usually (or always) met with snide remarks and an unwillingness to listen or be helpful. Day to day the experience is great, for the most part. It's just those random engagements/emails that are miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a NP, not the previous poster who has had issues with Lauren and I agree that she is …difficult. The thing that’s strange to me is that if you ask this question on MONA, you will have people tripping all over themselves to tell you how wonderful the school is. And if anyone says anything negative about Lauren they are flamed. So she has many, many happy families. Have you toured both LAA and LB? I think you can tell the differences just in the 45 minute tour.

What are the big differences between LAA and LB?

[Anonymous]

Thanks! How is the walk from Cherrydale to the playground? I read in the forums they use buggies but I also heard they use safety ropes. Do the kids have to walk along Lee highway at all? Am a little nervous about the busy road the school is on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! How is the walk from Cherrydale to the playground? I read in the forums they use buggies but I also heard they use safety ropes. Do the kids have to walk along Lee highway at all? Am a little nervous about the busy road the school is on.

If they go on Lee Hwy, it is as long as it takes to get out the front door and on to the side street. The walk was great for my little guy, tired him out in a good way. They used the ropes for his class.

[Anonymous]

I am so confused. Why would anyone tolerate being treated this way by the administrator. Are there really no other options. It sounds like these LAA families have Stockholm syndrome or something. What is sooooo great about it there that would justify allowing an administrator to treat you with disrespect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused. Why would anyone tolerate being treated this way by the administrator. Are there really no other options. It sounds like these LAA families have Stockholm syndrome or something. What is sooooo great about it there that would justify allowing an administrator to treat you with disrespect?

Oh please.

LAA is a great school with a wonderful administration, fantastic teachers, and amazing program. My DC has THRIVED there for three years.

[Anonymous]

How disruptive is it to the two year olds to transition from cherrydale to different campus/teachers when they turn 3? it seems like that might not be so ideal.