Thoughts on Inspired Teaching School?

[Anonymous]

It is a first year charter and a very good one at that. Depending on where they land, there may not be very many openings in PK4, as I don't think any expansion is anticipated -- openings will depend on attrition. I think attrition will depend in large part (but not solely) on where they land.

Zoe mentioned later that they ended up not having enough money for the dance company aftercare program and partnership. In my child's class, they have done cooking (to the extent they can with limited facilities and resources). Folks from the Phillips Collection have trained the teachers on arts integration, have visited DC's class, and of course everybody went on a field trip there.

The facility actually feels really nice to me--recently renovated and all. I wish the playground were nicer for the little ones, but it's a really good spot for a first-year charter.

Is it perfect? No. But is it the best option we had? Yes, by far.

[Anonymous]

I'm a PS parent and I've been really impressed with how much my child has been learning so far. DC was in daycare before, and the difference in my child's development has been impressive.

I definitely can see how the parents of older kids in particular would be more concerned about specials, etc. I fully expect that the school will have them as they get larger and have more funding.

I haven't heard anything from the administration about specific neighborhoods they are looking to locate in next year, so I'm trying not to worry about it yet... But we'll be playing the lottery again just in case.

[Anonymous]

Again, not a parent there - but funding for charters does not fall from trees. And yes, the extras do come down to that. You should be doing all you can to get donations, secure partnerships, etc. so that your kids can have those specials by year 3. It takes time. Pitch in, greatly.

[Anonymous]

OP, for Pre-K, you probably can't go wrong with the school. In fact, if nothing else, it would be equivalent to good free daycare. If you were talking about a higher grade or even K, I would be a bit more reserved in my viewpoint. If you don't like it after Pre-K, your child should not have a hard time at the next school you go to as most children entering K do not know each other and it is quite normal to have everyone "starting" at that point.
Apply, see where they end up, and make a decision. It would be useful if you could get someone in the administration to let you know where they plan on spending the money they are currently raising and what their goals are for the school. Then, you can see if that is in alignment with what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard rumors that they are considering a move to Capitol Hill. If that is where they end up, many will not stay as it is very inconvenient to get to from other parts of DC. Most people I have spoken to believe that the school will stay in Brookland out of loyalty to the founding families.

Current parent who would love it if they moved to Cap Hill. Don't see why loyalty would mean staying in Brookland, there are plenty of people already trekking across the whole city to get there now. And being metro accessible would make the school more doable for lower income families, which I believe is one of their goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, for Pre-K, you probably can't go wrong with the school. In fact, if nothing else, it would be equivalent to good free daycare. If you were talking about a higher grade or even K, I would be a bit more reserved in my viewpoint. If you don't like it after Pre-K, your child should not have a hard time at the next school you go to as most children entering K do not know each other and it is quite normal to have everyone "starting" at that point.
Apply, see where they end up, and make a decision. It would be useful if you could get someone in the administration to let you know where they plan on spending the money they are currently raising and what their goals are for the school. Then, you can see if that is in alignment with what you want.

What an insulting, and erroneous view! Anyone who believes that the hardworking and highly qualified PS and PreK teachers at this school are just providing "good daycare," should take a moment to step into their classrooms, and actually see the high level of learning that goes on each and every day. I highly doubt that these teachers would have spent the time and effort to earn masters degrees (from very reputable universities,) to just then provide 'good free daycare,' to students.

PP, why don't you educated yourself on the importance of PreK by reading the following:

http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Pre-kindergarten/Pre-Kindergarten

OP, I would agree with other posters in that your best bet would be to attend an Open House. Our DC has loved going to school, and has learned a ton thus far! Even though there have been a few hiccups along the way, we've just put that down to 'first year blues.' Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford to live in a part of DC that allows your kid to go to a good DCPS, I think you are better off there. Lafayette, Janney, Murch just offer so much more and run with far greater efficiency.

Well, not exactly. They're also roped into DCPS and there's nothing good about that. There's nothing particularly golden about education in Ward 3, it's just been a safe island in the DCPS ocean of despair. Already, there are a few charter schools which poach families from JKLM territory and those schools are, what? 3 or 4 years old? IT is very likely going to be among that class.

It's a brand new school, and brand new schools have enormous hurdles. However, they've got a solid NP Education Foundation behind them, and a mission that is so overwhelmingly more attractive than a regular neighborhood DCPS.

I'm not an IT booster at all, btw. We're not at the school - but I know something about education, and their vision is very exciting.

There's nothing exciting at all about 50 Kindergarteners in a class in the open classroom environment at Lafayette - no matter how well it supports the re-sale value of your house.

[Anonymous]

Dang...it's only 3 months into school and there are parents complaining about lack of cooking?!? Comparing the school to established JKLM?!? How sad! There was an older class that was working with flour and measurements the first day. I swear some of these parents would find something to complain about at a $25k school. I have loved the school thus far. I went to almost every open house and my expectations have been met if not exceeded. Yes, there are always wants, needs etc. However, we won't be able to have a chef in a beautiful cafeteria, garden, PE, music classes etc in our first year at a one year location (those were Zoe's long term visions). For now I am excited about them utilizing the neighborhood to explore nature and spiders etc, then taking that back to the classroom and studying spiders. I do know that the teachers and parents are motivated and dedicated. The recent give to the max event had almost the same amount of money raised as lamb and two rivers (with more donors)...that says a lot to me for a first year charter. Attend an open house and see for yourself. Great school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford to live in a part of DC that allows your kid to go to a good DCPS, I think you are better off there. Lafayette, Janney, Murch just offer so much more and run with far greater efficiency.

Well, not exactly. They're also roped into DCPS and there's nothing good about that. There's nothing particularly golden about education in Ward 3, it's just been a safe island in the DCPS ocean of despair. Already, there are a few charter schools which poach families from JKLM territory and those schools are, what? 3 or 4 years old? IT is very likely going to be among that class.

It's a brand new school, and brand new schools have enormous hurdles. However, they've got a solid NP Education Foundation behind them, and a mission that is so overwhelmingly more attractive than a regular neighborhood DCPS.

I'm not an IT booster at all, btw. We're not at the school - but I know something about education, and their vision is very exciting.

There's nothing exciting at all about 50 Kindergarteners in a class in the open classroom environment at Lafayette - no matter how well it supports the re-sale value of your house.

This. and that. IT offers an educational possibility that is responsive and caring and truly smart. It's open to anyone who applies and is accepted by a lottery, not just to those living in a certain neighborhood zip code. I'm not concerned about not having specials; the classroom teachers are providing a wide array of experiences and learning environments that are not found in the JKLMs.

[Anonymous]

Already, there are a few charter schools which poach families from JKLM territory and those schools are, what? 3 or 4 years old? I

Very few. Seriously, it's a bakers dozen going to Latin instead of Deal and probably a handful at YY. And you know THAT's going to end when the parents wake up and realize they've been commuting 40 minutes each way and the kid still doesn't actually know Mandarin after 3 years.

It's not that there's anything inferior about IT, YY, CapCity when compared to Janney. It's that there's nothing so fucking powerfully amazing about these schools relative to Janney that warrants that loooong trek across the park into the depths of Northeast, while you're trying to get to work at 8:45.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Already, there are a few charter schools which poach families from JKLM territory and those schools are, what? 3 or 4 years old? I

Very few. Seriously, it's a bakers dozen going to Latin instead of Deal and probably a handful at YY. And you know THAT's going to end when the parents wake up and realize they've been commuting 40 minutes each way and the kid still doesn't actually know Mandarin after 3 years.

It's not that there's anything inferior about IT, YY, CapCity when compared to Janney. It's that there's nothing so fucking powerfully amazing about these schools relative to Janney that warrants that loooong trek across the park into the depths of Northeast, while you're trying to get to work at 8:45.

Are you jealous or just misinformed?

YY Kindergarteners respond well and easily to instructions from Chinese speakers. Despite all the books we'd read and online exercises we'd done, nothing proved DS understood the tones (Mandarin) so well as when a Chinese mother spoke up on the playground in Chinese and he understood and answered and responded appropriately.

By the way, your own language is vulgar. So much so, that I wouldn't want to associate with you in any language: Latin, Chinese, or even English.

[Anonymous]

I am going to try to apply for Pre 3 at IT once I know the location. I imagine most parents that are engaged at the school will recognize the faults, talk about them, and then figure out a plan to improve them. To the poster that talked about Ward 3 schools and commute factor--I agree with you. It makes me scratch my head that a parent would spend 1 1/2 hours a day commuting when there are perfectly fine schools in the neighborhood. I don't buy the argument that the DCPS environment in one of the JKLM schools is mediocre--or that IT or any school can be THAT much better. It comes down to 3 basics for me: convenience and commute; good peer environment; and solid academics. Sounds like IT is on the right track, but so are the JKLM schools in NW.

[Anonymous]

IT parent here. Is the school perfect? No. But then no school is.

My bottom line is how my kids feel about the school. Three months in and THEY STILL LOVE GOING TO INSPIRED TEACHING. If I even mentioned the possibility of moving them to a different school they would be up in arms. Honestly, I don't know what it is that they are doing, but they are definitely engaging the children in a very unique way. Seriously, my kids get excited about going to school...even on a Monday. By the way, I have seen measured growth in what my children have learned, particularly my younger kids.

The teachers are simply fantastic! But, it is called Inspired Teaching... Their commitment, enthusiasm and creativity make up for the periodic bumps in the road. The administration is finding their way and not doing too bad considering it is a start up.

I have been extremely impressed with the parent involvement. It's a very nice community of families. We have zero regrets about taking a chance on this school. Do I wish they had specials, and a gymnasium, and a permanent space with a beautifully landscaped playground, etc., etc.? Of course! But this is a first year charter!!! I did not enroll my kids with that expectation. I was looking for a phenomenal learning experience for my kids without the 40k price tag, and it looks like we may have found it. If the families continue to step up in the way that they have been, I believe we will have all those extras in short order.

[Anonymous]

One of my questions for parents at IT, are you at all concerned about teacher burnout? It seems they have so much responsibility (no breaks during the day) and such high expectations, that I wonder how long they can keep it up... I'm speaking as an avid admirer from afar, keeping my eye on what I see as a very exciting school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, for Pre-K, you probably can't go wrong with the school. In fact, if nothing else, it would be equivalent to good free daycare. If you were talking about a higher grade or even K, I would be a bit more reserved in my viewpoint. If you don't like it after Pre-K, your child should not have a hard time at the next school you go to as most children entering K do not know each other and it is quite normal to have everyone "starting" at that point.
Apply, see where they end up, and make a decision. It would be useful if you could get someone in the administration to let you know where they plan on spending the money they are currently raising and what their goals are for the school. Then, you can see if that is in alignment with what you want.

What a nim-whit!