student recommendation - current teacher LS application

[Anonymous]

We are looking to leave public for an Independent school. Current teacher (who is a long term sub and does not have the qualifications to obtain a contract and hence her position is coming to an end) wrote a lousy recommendation. Basically doesn't know my kid. gave no comments and answered questions with one word answers..... Last year's teacher, as well as an administrator and coach wrote a recommendation (can you tell I didn't have much confidence that this would go over well) that do not line up with the current teacher recommendation.....Do we reach out to the Private schools and let them know about the situation, do we let it go and hope the other recommendations speak for themselves? do I talk to this teacher prior to her last day in the classroom?....I am so disappointed in this review (it was sent home in my child's backpack.......)

Our wisc -iv is strong, other recommendations I believe are strong and provide better color (yes active and kind were the 2 words that came to mind when describing my child.)

UGH UGH UGH! is it March yet?!

[Anonymous]

I think I would explain the situation to the AD.

[Anonymous]

Very short note to AD. Just state your kid has a long term sub, who doesn't know your kid, so they know why that rec is out in left field. Don't try to over-explain. It will be clear with a small explanation.

[Anonymous]

My son's teacher (her first year teaching) did not provide a letter of recommendation she wrote on the form that he was "bright, hard working and talented." He was accepted at a Big 3. Simplicity worked for him.

BTW, years later, my daughter received a glowing recommendation and was not accepted at a Big 3.

A very short note to the AD is sufficient. Please try not to panic.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

^

[Anonymous]

I would be careful. You do not want to draw a lot of attention to it because most ADs are not expecting parents to have seen the recs. They prefer recs to be confidential for this exact reason. You may come across as a challenging parent without meaning to. If the other recs are strong, this one will look out of place and be minimized. I would leave it and in your interview mention that your child's current teacher is a temporary and somewhat inexperienced sub and let the AD connect the dots.

[Anonymous]

OP here....thanks all! We are hopeful that it will be an outlier and now that a new teacher has been hired, we may send a quick note with her contact info incase they have any follow up as the sub is no longer available and leave it at that.