Creative Minds International PCS -- all the teachers leaving???

[Anonymous]

If so, then only solution is private school. I don't know if you can waive out of PARCC in DC. Maybe you can find out.

[Anonymous]

PARCC testing starts in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: There was no general notice and I found about my kid's teacher leaving a week after she already left, which was surprising.

I wrote earlier in the thread that I'm not surprised that teachers are leaving as the school transitions to a new location/matures/grows. Teachers' lives and circumstances change, and some amount of transition is totally expected.

However, it DOES surprise me that 1) this long-time teacher left before the end of the year and 2) the school didn't let parents know right away about a personnel change in the classroom.

I'm a charter parent and I do not expect up to the moment notification about teacher/personnel changes at my school writ large. I do, however, expect to know what is going on in my kid's own class and I would appreciate (though not expect) some sort of an end of year message with good wishes to teachers who are moving on and/or information welcoming new staff before the beginning of the next year.

[Anonymous]

The administration stated that in mid June newsletter they will detail the changes. The music teacher herself did not think she was a good fit based on what I heard. That said, CMI is great but is limited because it is at the end of the day a PCS. If you don't want to deal with this and the PARCC and Common Core the only way to avoid his is by going private.

[Anonymous]

I've been at CMI 3 years and these changes do not concern me. The school is bigger then a few teachers. The loss of some of them are sad, but just like everything, new teachers will come.

OP, charter schools are like this. Its flexible, fast and full of changes. It's not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

OP, we were in a private Montessori prior to sending our DC to CMI. We had paid our tuition before we were told that our DC's beloved teacher would not be returning. Three months later the replacement teacher was fired and a brand new lead replaced her with no prior experience as a lead. This happens everywhere. You will be fine at CMI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers do not leave over a commute. They leave because of differences with the administration, or for better pay.

Unless you're the teacher in question you should stop talking out your ass about why teachers quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is CMI an "expanding charter"? My kid actually goes to the school and I feel like it is well-established, but I don't pay much attention to the ins and outs.

I do know that my kid's particular teachers are leaving, but they are staying in DC and are currently job hunting. I did not ask why, because it's not my place. I do think someone happened, because these teachers had been there since it was started 3 years ago. They knew the pay and the admin for 3 years, and knew the school was moving. They had told me at the beginning of the year that they planned on staying at the school the next year, so something changed.

I did not know about the music teacher or other grades. There was no general notice and I found about my kid's teacher leaving a week after she already left, which was surprising. The music teacher was brand-new (the last music teacher left last year) and was a positive addition to the school. Every parent, student, and staff member liked her. She was a wonderful fit. I am just learning about this, but if anyone knows if she gives private lessons, please let me know.

As a current parent, I would be worried if I saw this again next year, but as long as it's a one year thing, I'm okay in not knowing what happened. I do think the waitlist doesn't match the quality of the school. It is a wonderful school, but so is Sela PCS (the Hebrew school), AppleTree (the preschool only option), and Shining Stars (the Montessori School), and they have no waitlists -- they are also some of the best of the new charter schools and all just as establised.

As a result, the expectations for CMI are a bit unfair. People compare it to a private school, but it is DC public charter school.

OP -- Try it for one year and then you can always switch next year.

Really, are you sure Appletree (all campuses, including Columbia Heights?) and Shining Stars went into the 2nd lottery with no waiting list and open spots? I do not remember seeing that and I think you're wrong about it. Sela definitely has open spots, because a lot of families moved if they got other options. But I thought at least Shining Stars still had a waitlist now?

[Anonymous]

I believe that last year Sela, Appletree, and Shining Stars had openings in August for at least some grade levels. I do not know about this year.

I believe that both K teachers at CMI are leaving, as well. I did not know about the other teachers or staff. I do know the director and she is a wonderful human being and an inspiration. I doubt that she would be a reason for anyone to leave (more like a reason to stay). DC is a very transient city.

[Anonymous]

CMIPCS is the greatest school in the Wash DC metro area. When PP said CMI is bigger than the teachers, they should have said it is bigger than the admin and bigger than the buildings too. The parents really give everything to this school - they drank the koolaid, the believe in the idea behind it - and they will give time, energy, money, and blood to this school for their children. These parents don't leave and as a result, it is stable year after year after year even as CMI moves campuses, teachers leave, music teachers leave. You won't find a more dedicated parent group.

OP -- if you heard this from current parents, they may be griping but then ask the real question: Are they moving their child? 10 out of 10 times the answer will be NO! They know CMI is the best school in DC. They are just annoyed by these changeovers and being kept in the dark, leading to the grapevine being their only source of info. The school should do a better job of keeping the parent in the know and you wouldn't get these silly chains. Besides being kept in the dark, parents have zero issues with this school.

[Anonymous]

Can people stop saying "drink the kool aid" in casual conversation? It refers to a mass murder/ suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can people stop saying "drink the kool aid" in casual conversation? It refers to a mass murder/ suicide.

Drink the kool aid is following leadership blindly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CMIPCS is the greatest school in the Wash DC metro area. When PP said CMI is bigger than the teachers, they should have said it is bigger than the admin and bigger than the buildings too. The parents really give everything to this school - they drank the koolaid, the believe in the idea behind it - and they will give time, energy, money, and blood to this school for their children. These parents don't leave and as a result, it is stable year after year after year even as CMI moves campuses, teachers leave, music teachers leave. You won't find a more dedicated parent group.

OP -- if you heard this from current parents, they may be griping but then ask the real question: Are they moving their child? 10 out of 10 times the answer will be NO! They know CMI is the best school in DC. They are just annoyed by these changeovers and being kept in the dark, leading to the grapevine being their only source of info. The school should do a better job of keeping the parent in the know and you wouldn't get these silly chains. Besides being kept in the dark, parents have zero issues with this school.

CMI is not the best school in D.C.

[Anonymous]

PP, I think you are responding to a troll who just trying to stir the pot and get a conversation/argument going.

[Anonymous]

I am at CMI and am happy there but certainly would never make a blanket statement that CMI is the best school in DC. Then again, I really don't think any school is THE best because not every "great" school works for every family. CMI may be a great school for some, but not for others.