oyster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:32: too back Rhee & Co. didn't consider that when they swept the last one out before finding someone imminently more qualified as an improvement than the current brain-drain. It was no secret a high-profile, award-winning and forward-thinking DCPS required someone who would hit the ground sprinting.

No kidding. I posted at the time that this would not end well (the cloak and dagger process, the replacement, the 'plan') and was excoriated by the Oyster boosters. What they did not understand was that I'm an Oyster booster too. I've been saddened by this 'Series of Unfortunate Events' at Oyster, and hope parents can rally to really save that school--ie find a capable leader for once and for all.

[Anonymous]

They won't rally, because "influential" parents cannot admit yet there is even a problem. Without serious intervention the disease will win and the school will die.

[Anonymous]

From my observation, many of these 'influential parents' are the same that pull their kids for Deal when the going gets tough (like Rhee herself, *sigh*). However, now that the leadership disarray is ALSO impacting elementary it does not leave much option for these parents besides put hands over eyes/ears, fight for the school, or abandon completely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll name a name. Nora Bustios was always considered one of the great bilingual teachers at Oyster-Adams, and I only put her name out there to her credit. Funny how Rhee's friend Monica Aguirre characterizes her departure (cut and pasted above) as an assist to a "fledgling" Tyler. Well, the many parents that are happily enrolling at Tyler don't consider the program fledgling, they consider it flourishing and the next Oyster (the old Oyster, anyway).

Just to clarify on Tyler. It has 3 programs; immersion/bilingual, arts-integration (self-described as flourishing on website) and autism-SPED. As a bilingual parent (not at Oyster), IMHO Tyler Spanish program falls into the "fledgling" category. It started in 2005 and is not used by all students. Roughly 5% of 300+ kids in the entire school are identified as Hispanic. Versus 30-50%+ in other DCPS and charter bilingual schools (and roughly 15% of city population).

There's nothing wrong with being fledgling IMHO. And of course ethnicity/race is not the same as language dominance. But Tyler is not a bilingual school although it has a bilingual program. People looking for Oyster alternative should be aware that the comparison with Oyster is not apples to manzanas.

It's great to hear about the enthusiasm for Tyler and interest in bilingual programs in general!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll name a name. Nora Bustios was always considered one of the great bilingual teachers at Oyster-Adams, and I only put her name out there to her credit. Funny how Rhee's friend Monica Aguirre characterizes her departure (cut and pasted above) as an assist to a "fledgling" Tyler. Well, the many parents that are happily enrolling at Tyler don't consider the program fledgling, they consider it flourishing and the next Oyster (the old Oyster, anyway).

Just to clarify on Tyler. It has 3 programs; immersion/bilingual, arts-integration (self-described as flourishing on website) and autism-SPED. As a bilingual parent (not at Oyster), IMHO Tyler Spanish program falls into the "fledgling" category. It started in 2005 and is not used by all students. Roughly 5% of 300+ kids in the entire school are identified as Hispanic. Versus 30-50%+ in other DCPS and charter bilingual schools (and roughly 15% of city population).

There's nothing wrong with being fledgling IMHO. And of course ethnicity/race is not the same as language dominance. But Tyler is not a bilingual school although it has a bilingual program. People looking for Oyster alternative should be aware that the comparison with Oyster is not apples to manzanas.

It's great to hear about the enthusiasm for Tyler and interest in bilingual programs in general!

Thanks, PP! Do you happen to have stats on other Spanish immersion programs? I know Elsie Whitlow Stokes has been around for a while, I think there's also a Spanish-immersion and/or bilingual Montessori charter school.

[Anonymous]

There is a hunger for bilingual education across the board, and Michelle Rhee failed to recognize the once-flagship Oyster model needed nurturing. What has Rhee done well in terms of foreign language acquisition (that wasn't already in place prior to her appointment)?

[Anonymous]

She has certainly done poorly for Shepherd Elementary, which had a fledgling bilingual program which became a twice a week foreign language special program. Rhee cut budget, contributed to principal and staff turnover, etc.

The school took a big step backwards in foreign language acquisition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP! Do you happen to have stats on other Spanish immersion programs? I know Elsie Whitlow Stokes has been around for a while, I think there's also a Spanish-immersion and/or bilingual Montessori charter school.

Not sure what stats you're looking for. Here is a personal list of DCPS schools with dual-immersion Spanish schoolwide and some things to consider. No particular order and based on first- and second-hand experience. Not definitive. HTH

Bancroft ES - full immersion now offered in PS3 (like Tyler), some say more like "old Oyster" community, most diverse, scores low (not sure why)
Cleveland ES - high scores (9 of 10 greatschools score), 30% hispanic, some think it's "hidden gem" in Shaw/Howard U
Marie Reed - known for good math scores (8 of 10 greatschools), 60% hispanic, might become feeder for Oyster middle grades given location (rumor, nobody knows for sure)

In addition to Stokes (trilingual) and LAMB (montessori), check out DC Bilingual PCS. Jury is out on academics, but the umbrella org Centronia has lots of resources.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know (Oyster parents) if Sr. Giron will continue to be the Middle School Director or will he be teaching 5th grade math?

[Anonymous]

I think he's planning to teach...

[Anonymous]

Oyster just hired a middle school vice principal at the end of last school year

[Anonymous]

Is the new vice principal good?

[Anonymous]

Isn't she the same that was out on maternity leave last year?

[Anonymous]

Has Oyster lost any teachers in the last round of firings? Anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Interesting question. Some great teachers have 'self-selected' out. Have any other teachers actually been pinpointed by IMPACT, that glorified DCPS assessment? Who knows. I would hope people do not name names though -- just numbers/grades. IMPACT is HIGHLY FLAWED so even if someone were let go, it may be that it hit the wrong target.