DHMS Theater Program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she still active at Gunston? That would tell you whether she is on leave or just not at DHMS.

No, a Gunston parent emailed the director of the arts program and this is the reply (I removed the teacher’s name):


Thank you for reaching out regarding your concerns about Drama classes being offered at Gunston and the Gunston drama club.

Last year the Drama teacher was assigned to Gunston and Dorthy Hamm Middle School based on student enrollment in Drama. This school year is still part time at Gunston and will be teaching 2 sections of Drama based on student enrollment, so we are offering Drama classes at Gunston.

Drama is an important part of the arts, and we all recognize the value it brings to our students and the Gunston school community.

Unfortunately, due to Ms. being on approved leave this may affect our ability to host a play this year, although we are looking at ways to rectify this.

Additionally, with our Drama teacher being on leave at this time we are unable to commit to having the drama club, although again, looking at other possible solutions. We are grateful for having secured a sub during Ms. absence.

Dr. Jackson and I are committed to rebuilding this program thoughtfully and effectively. Our goal is to enhance the overall quality of Gunston's elective programming, ensuring that all students benefit from a well-rounded set of opportunities.

Please reach out directly to either Dr. Jackson or I if you would like to talk further.
Again, thank you for taking the time to ask about the status of Drama classes at Gunston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What they are not being transparent about is reducing the drama positions down to half time and therefore eliminating after school theater as an option for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What are you talking about they get subs and keep offering classes when teachers are out on FMLA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What they are not being transparent about is reducing the drama positions down to half time and therefore eliminating after school theater as an option for kids.

It was reduced to half time due to enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What they are not being transparent about is reducing the drama positions down to half time and therefore eliminating after school theater as an option for kids.

The position wasn’t reduced this year. They shared last year as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What are you talking about they get subs and keep offering classes when teachers are out on FMLA.

It’s a tough call. I think not offering the course if you can’t get a long term sub is better in the long run than having something cobbled together, especially in something like drama where you need consistency.

[Anonymous]

That's a detailed response from the Gunston principal. DHMS also has a great principal, so I'm sure she can similarly address this issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What are you talking about they get subs and keep offering classes when teachers are out on FMLA.

A sub who can run an entire theatrical/musical production ? No.

[Anonymous]

Third vote for Encore Stage - very inclusive organization and the middle schoolers are kind of their sweet spot. I think your child will get better experience at Encore than in a school production. It can be hard to get a spot, but you need to keep auditioning. The organization offers lots of classes and other opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Posts like this make me so sad when APS leadership is focused on scoring political wins against the administration rather than actual school management. It’s a real shame that middle schoolers in Arlington don’t have access to theater programs and no foreign language until 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is drama being scaled back due to budgetary issues? Middle schools have added sports over the past five years, so I hope they are not cutting back in the arts.

All the APS middle schools have theaters, so it would be a shame for them to not be utilized as designed, for student productions.

No, the teacher is on leave. It’s not cut but they don’t have someone to run it right now

FMLA is only 12 weeks. The teacher shouldn't be for the whole school year. If the theatre teacher is out now hopefully they will be back and there can still be a spring production.

Last year the band teacher was out in the fall. That meant there was no fall or winter concert and no jazz band in the fall. Things were back to normal in the spring once the band teacher had returned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They share the teacher with Gunston. She is on personal leave. No word on when she’s back. I found her to be a lazy teacher

Lazy? She ran two completely different shows at two different schools with all the after school effort that involved. On top of teaching classes and getting kids into the theatre program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Posts like this make me so sad when APS leadership is focused on scoring political wins against the administration rather than actual school management. It’s a real shame that middle schoolers in Arlington don’t have access to theater programs and no foreign language until 7th grade.

What a red herring. The teacher is on leave and the schools hands are tied. This has nothing to do with our administration being focused on eliminating the existence of 1% of the population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They share the teacher with Gunston. She is on personal leave. No word on when she’s back. I found her to be a lazy teacher

Lazy? She ran two completely different shows at two different schools with all the after school effort that involved. On top of teaching classes and getting kids into the theatre program.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is messed up is APS not being transparent about this at all.

How’s that?

Teacher is out on leave. They can replace as the position is protected legally.

What more do you want to know?

What are you talking about they get subs and keep offering classes when teachers are out on FMLA.

A sub who can run an entire theatrical/musical production ? No.

My kids are at a different school but are really into theatre so I know how many long after school hours the theatre teacher puts in. I doubt she's compensated for all that time. There's no way a low paid sub would ever do that. Why would they?