Tell me about Lafayette and Murch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

Unfortunately, she has forced out some of the best teachers many of whom has been there for years and contributed to earning Lafayette the reputation it had for so long. There are also some truly bad teachers, some of whom were brought in to replace the excellent teachers who left. Last year one the shining star teachers wrote an article in an academic journal about how he was forced to teach in ways he felt were harmful to his students’ age and developmental level. He wrote about how he shut his door and hoped the administration did not see when he was teaching according to what was best for the kids rather than what the administration demanded. I know other teachers have shut their doors for the same reason. No matter what your views are on the administration the fact that teachers are so unhappy and more good ones leave every year should be concerning to every Lafayette parent. It’s just not possible to have a good school with unhappy teachers and as much turnover as Lafayette has see the past few years. And as the PP said the experienced teachers who do remain are not permitted to teach in way that made them really desired in the past.

Not sure if you heard but he left and is not returning. It’s a loss.

I'm not surprised. I wonder whether he was forced out or decided to take his talents somewhere he will be appreciated.

He’s teaching at a private school that believes in what he does.

Here is the article for anyone interested. I think most schools within DCPS and elsewhere believe in what he does, which is essentially allow five year old to learn through play, which is how they learn best. Wherever he went is very lucky to have him! His departure is a huge loss for DCPS.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-02-04-play-is-disappearing-from-kindergarten-it-s-hurting-kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The long-time principal who was there beforehand was very happy to be controlled by parents who wanted to be in charge. This is no longer the case, and people resent it. It's a very UMC problem to have - and that group of parents is small and LOUD. Easy to ignore. I think the administration is pretty admirable. Not perfect, but doing a pretty good job for most of the kids. Which is what you get with 1,000 kids!

+1000. Ignore the posters who say the place is terrible, it really is a small, vocal minority. I wish the group would just form a pod and leave, they want to run their own school anyway. Under the old principal, you could have widely divergent experiences throughout a grade depending on who you have, at least it’s consistent. Most of these crazies (just read the Lafayette Unofficial FB page - it’s all the regular commenters) have no clue what it was like years ago.

[Anonymous]

Re: old Lafayette admin vs new. I was a parent there for both Principals. Honestly it’s not a good/bad thing. Yes, Ms Main let teachers do their thing too much. Wildly different assignments and experiences in some grades depending on teacher. But yes, Dr Broquard rules with an iron fist, and she’s really good at saying what people want to hear and then doing something else. Was and still is a nice community, but in both cases I think that is despite the principal not because of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The long-time principal who was there beforehand was very happy to be controlled by parents who wanted to be in charge. This is no longer the case, and people resent it. It's a very UMC problem to have - and that group of parents is small and LOUD. Easy to ignore. I think the administration is pretty admirable. Not perfect, but doing a pretty good job for most of the kids. Which is what you get with 1,000 kids!

+1000. Ignore the posters who say the place is terrible, it really is a small, vocal minority. I wish the group would just form a pod and leave, they want to run their own school anyway. Under the old principal, you could have widely divergent experiences throughout a grade depending on who you have, at least it’s consistent. Most of these crazies (just read the Lafayette Unofficial FB page - it’s all the regular commenters) have no clue what it was like years ago.

I'm confused - - how can it be both that the people who criticize Dr. B are the old parents who preferred the previous principal and, simultaneously, parents who don't know how much worse it was under the old principal?

I'm on the Lafayette Unofficial fb page, and I don't see any criticism at all, let alone "crazies."

[Anonymous]

In what grade levels are the bad Lafayette teachers? 4th or 5th? We've encountered one struggling teacher in the lower grades, but this teacher was reassigned to a non-classroom role the following year, which seems to be how the administration addresses poor teachers. Otherwise all the parents we've talked to either loved their teachers or thought they were fine. is the problem with the upper grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In what grade levels are the bad Lafayette teachers? 4th or 5th? We've encountered one struggling teacher in the lower grades, but this teacher was reassigned to a non-classroom role the following year, which seems to be how the administration addresses poor teachers. Otherwise all the parents we've talked to either loved their teachers or thought they were fine. is the problem with the upper grades?

The worst teacher we've had was a 2nd grade teacher one year but is usually a special ed teacher (teachers in non classroom roles still have big impacts on students). At least one 4th grade teacher last year was so bad one of the instructional coaches had to take over. 5th grade is mixed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what grade levels are the bad Lafayette teachers? 4th or 5th? We've encountered one struggling teacher in the lower grades, but this teacher was reassigned to a non-classroom role the following year, which seems to be how the administration addresses poor teachers. Otherwise all the parents we've talked to either loved their teachers or thought they were fine. is the problem with the upper grades?

The worst teacher we've had was a 2nd grade teacher one year but is usually a special ed teacher (teachers in non classroom roles still have big impacts on students). At least one 4th grade teacher last year was so bad one of the instructional coaches had to take over. 5th grade is mixed.

Mixed how? 50/50? Honest question. Mixed can mean many things. Is there anyone good in 5th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what grade levels are the bad Lafayette teachers? 4th or 5th? We've encountered one struggling teacher in the lower grades, but this teacher was reassigned to a non-classroom role the following year, which seems to be how the administration addresses poor teachers. Otherwise all the parents we've talked to either loved their teachers or thought they were fine. is the problem with the upper grades?

The worst teacher we've had was a 2nd grade teacher one year but is usually a special ed teacher (teachers in non classroom roles still have big impacts on students). At least one 4th grade teacher last year was so bad one of the instructional coaches had to take over. 5th grade is mixed.

Mixed how? 50/50? Honest question. Mixed can mean many things. Is there anyone good in 5th?

One of the very good 5th grade teachers has left the classroom this year to serve in a support position. Another good 5th grade teacher who taught 5th grade left Lafayette this year. There is so much turnover and moving around of positions it’s a tough question to answer from year to year. One of the reading specialists will be teaching 5th without a team teacher in math. I’m sure she is strong in ELA but math/science is an open question. One 5th grade teacher was involved in the racial incident that made international news. All of that is so say, it may be too soon to tell. I don’t have experience with other schools but from speaking with friends I think that there is usually more stability year to year making a question like this one easier to answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Lafayette’s administration considered to be so bad?

She's very controlling. This can be a good thing, like when she forced out a number of do-nothing teachers when she first arrived who should have retired years ago. But some of the best, most creative teachers are not allowed to be autonomous professionals, and so they leave too. Essentially, her controlling-Ness moves everything to the middle, and in a school as big as Lafayette, there are a lot of kids for whom the bland middle doesn't work. (I don't mean middle in terms of academic achievement, but in terms of instruction and discipline techniques.)

I think this is a generous description. She also fails to act with removing very problematic teachers, ignores teachers unfair treatments of kids, and rules with an iron fist without acknowledging facts, even when confronted with them. It seems if you are on her good side or never have to deal with her directly, then your child will do fine. Many kids fit this description. If you don't though, its a terrible experience.

Unfortunately, she has forced out some of the best teachers many of whom has been there for years and contributed to earning Lafayette the reputation it had for so long. There are also some truly bad teachers, some of whom were brought in to replace the excellent teachers who left. Last year one the shining star teachers wrote an article in an academic journal about how he was forced to teach in ways he felt were harmful to his students’ age and developmental level. He wrote about how he shut his door and hoped the administration did not see when he was teaching according to what was best for the kids rather than what the administration demanded. I know other teachers have shut their doors for the same reason. No matter what your views are on the administration the fact that teachers are so unhappy and more good ones leave every year should be concerning to every Lafayette parent. It’s just not possible to have a good school with unhappy teachers and as much turnover as Lafayette has see the past few years. And as the PP said the experienced teachers who do remain are not permitted to teach in way that made them really desired in the past.

Not sure if you heard but he left and is not returning. It’s a loss.

I'm not surprised. I wonder whether he was forced out or decided to take his talents somewhere he will be appreciated.

He’s teaching at a private school that believes in what he does.

Here is the article for anyone interested. I think most schools within DCPS and elsewhere believe in what he does, which is essentially allow five year old to learn through play, which is how they learn best. Wherever he went is very lucky to have him! His departure is a huge loss for DCPS.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-02-04-play-is-disappearing-from-kindergarten-it-s-hurting-kids

I didn't realize he left! Any idea what school he went to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what grade levels are the bad Lafayette teachers? 4th or 5th? We've encountered one struggling teacher in the lower grades, but this teacher was reassigned to a non-classroom role the following year, which seems to be how the administration addresses poor teachers. Otherwise all the parents we've talked to either loved their teachers or thought they were fine. is the problem with the upper grades?

The worst teacher we've had was a 2nd grade teacher one year but is usually a special ed teacher (teachers in non classroom roles still have big impacts on students). At least one 4th grade teacher last year was so bad one of the instructional coaches had to take over. 5th grade is mixed.

Mixed how? 50/50? Honest question. Mixed can mean many things. Is there anyone good in 5th?

One of the very good 5th grade teachers has left the classroom this year to serve in a support position. Another good 5th grade teacher who taught 5th grade left Lafayette this year. There is so much turnover and moving around of positions it’s a tough question to answer from year to year. One of the reading specialists will be teaching 5th without a team teacher in math. I’m sure she is strong in ELA but math/science is an open question. One 5th grade teacher was involved in the racial incident that made international news. All of that is so say, it may be too soon to tell. I don’t have experience with other schools but from speaking with friends I think that there is usually more stability year to year making a question like this one easier to answer.

My older kid is in 8th grade. Of the teachers who taught 5th grade when he was there, only one is still on the 5th grade team (who my kid didn't like because she yells). There is a lot of teacher movement at Lafayette.