SELA teacher exodus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was me. On more than one occasion we went during the posted school hours with the place locked up tight and no one answering the door or phone. The last time I was there I was with a parent who had the enrollment paperwork and she turned around and said she was done with Sela and going elsewhere.

I agree. With the struggles that are not DCUM rumor and are well documented elsewhere they should be open all day everyday with open houses, tours, and summer activities. Not posting "see you in August" on Facebook. My question is: see WHO in August? The few families willing to put up with a school that keeps everyone in the dark?

Question: other than a schedule posted on the schools website, has any enrolled parent been notified that the entire instructional model for the school day has been totally changed? I still haven't been notified and I sure as heck don't appreciate finding out by clicking around on the website.

It's a shame. As of Friday I am now added to the "former Sela parent" category but they won't be informed until my child doesn't show up on the first day. They can find out in the same way I find out about upcoming changes at the school.

This is awful!

Unfortunately, in many of the DC public schools you will not see a principal in the building until August. Some (like Sela obviously) tend to think they can vacation like the teachers do. NO! You need to be preparing for the upcoming year. This is why so many of DC schools are such disorganized, dysfunctional affairs.

We're at a DCPS and our principal has been there except for a vacation and some workshops and meetings he had to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we toured they told us that they are changing models to 1/2 day Hebrew, 1/2 day English as this was a better model for language learning. We are a prek3 family and feel like the wool was pulled over our eyes. Id be willing to write the charter board but we had a different experience. The staff and HOS was VERY responsive and timely with getting back to us. We felt this was a good choice (at least for a year) since we had no other options. This is so stressful as a new family but think we will go elsewhere if we can. Not sure where this late in the game...

Ugh. Did they notify and get permission from the PCSB to do this? They would be out of compliance if they did not, as this is a substantive change to their charter. So sad they are choosing this path as the conventional wisdom is every other day is the preferred model when you don't have many heritage speakers (and I would submit that Sela has no heritage Hebrew speakers).
Jason Lody screwed this poor school from the beginning and I doubt it will ever gain traction.

[Anonymous]

Not from what I've seen. The only change was the addition of PreK3. They are digging a deeper hole that I'm not sure they can recover from.

[Anonymous]

So they are moving from a full to partial immersion curriculum? Any current parent that can comment on this?

[Anonymous]

+1

[Anonymous]

Yes it seems as if it is no longer 100% Hebrew instruction.

[Anonymous]

So my suggestion up thread actually came to light. I think this will be a good move for the school.

[Anonymous]

Than is it no longer an immersion curriculum. Simply a school with a foreign language offering?

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't that change their approved charter application? it seems as if it does and then if so what happens?

[Anonymous]

Nothing unless parents remind the school of their obligation to alert the Charter Board and get approval for this major change OR alert the Charter Board themselves and ask them to investigate!

[Anonymous]

anyone sticking around who would like to give input? my kid is enrolled for pre-k3 and we're staying no matter what because the location works for us and we didn't get in anywhere else. i'm not too bothered by the gossip because unlike most other posters, i'm not stressed about education for a 3 YEAR OLD! i'm grateful that we have a free option for preschool and believe that any education and socialization will benefit my child who is ONLY 3!!! if it's not a good experience, we'll find another school next year. just don't get all the drama on this site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:anyone sticking around who would like to give input? my kid is enrolled for pre-k3 and we're staying no matter what because the location works for us and we didn't get in anywhere else. i'm not too bothered by the gossip because unlike most other posters, i'm not stressed about education for a 3 YEAR OLD! i'm grateful that we have a free option for preschool and believe that any education and socialization will benefit my child who is ONLY 3!!! if it's not a good experience, we'll find another school next year. just don't get all the drama on this site.

What are you going to do if the school closes down mid-year?

[Anonymous]

And what if there is a tornado that blows the school away? And what if aliens invaded and took it over? And what if it falls into a sinkhole?

I mean, really, do we have to live with such fear?

[Anonymous]

PP - we are also an enrolled Sela PreK3 family and feel the same as you. If the school closes mid- year I don't know what we will do- but how likely will they close mid-year? Won't the charter board have to then step in and work with families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And what if there is a tornado that blows the school away? And what if aliens invaded and took it over? And what if it falls into a sinkhole?

I mean, really, do we have to live with such fear?

Yeah, clearly those are just as likely as a poorly managed school shutting down