Tell me about Twinbrook Elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If teachers ate crying and having breakdowns, then my guess is that they ate overwhelmed by the students. That can happen in Title I schools. Heck, it can happen anywhere, but given the challenges that many students in title I schools bring into the classroom, the burnout rate is understandable.

You think having a lot of poor students at a school leads to teachers crying and having breakdowns at school? Huh. I would assume that teachers crying and having breakdowns at school means that there is something seriously wrong with the school administration.

Agreed. Having a supportive administration makes a world of difference.

[Anonymous]

Poster with the school with the crazy admin here. No - it is not the students that are causing the teachers to cry -- the kids are all great, smart, for the most part well behaved. Many immigrant parents are really focused on making sure their children get a good education. Yes, being in a Title I school is more work for the teachers, but the teachers who stick around get it and are true professionals at their work. No burnout like that here. The problem is the principal is incredibly abusive to her staff (berating, screaming, imposing crazy rules about when they can do things like go to the bathroom, make copies), parent volunteers, and at times it spills over to the students. We just cannot go into another situation as bad as this one.

If anyone can provide me with feedback on the principals in the Rockville area - at Twinbrook and other schools - and how they interact with their staff, parents, and students, I would be most appreciative.

[Anonymous]

We've lived in Twinbrook about 8 years and my daughter will be in her last year at Twinbrook ES this year. We love the neighborhood and are glad we made the decision to send DD to public school, after much hand-wringing.

I don't love the principal at Twinbrook. She came to the school inexperienced and as a poor communicator. The Twinbrook parents have put a LOT of pressure at the MCPS level and the principal has received training and a communication plan was implemented. Things have improved drastically since a new vice principal came to the school last year.

The school isn't perfect, and the staff still really doesn't like the principal. However DD has had fabulous teachers and the extra resources have really made a difference. In 5 years, DD's largest class size was 22. Twinbrook has the cluster's behavioral program (hence the more challenging kids another poster referred to), but I've found this program an asset as the teachers understand that what works for one child may not work for the next, and are quicker to adapt things for your child then teachers at some other schools. DD has been adequately challenged, receiving advanced instruction in reading and math.

As far as the rec center afterschool program, yes high school students help with the program, but they are supervised by an adult director. Kelly Day-Terry, the Rec Center Director, is amazing, responsive, and flexible and is what makes the place great. We decided against the program at the rec center but I know many of the parents love it.

[Anonymous]

PP, did you use the after school program at the school? Or a different option?

[Anonymous]

The Rec Center is amazing, and the director is fabulous! She's also a Twinbrook resident.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be good feedback about the afterschool program at Twinbrook Rec Center, although I am curious why the PP above decided against it? Has anyone tried the afterschool program that is held at the school?
thanks.

[Anonymous]

1754 here - We used the program at the school. I didn't feel comfortable with a previous director of the rec center program after observing her with the children. Nothing terrible - I just didn't feel she was engaged as she should be, so we decided on the program at the school. I don't think that director is there anymore.

[Anonymous]

Poster with the crazy school admin back -- 1754, thank you for your insight -- it is exactly what I was looking for! I am so glad to hear that the pressure you all put on MCPS to do something about the principal resulted in action, even if it didn't result in the principal's removal. (Parents in the school that I'm at have done the same to no avail.) Twinbrook sounds like a wonderful neighborhood. I spoke with the Rec Center director and certainly got a very good feeling out of that conversation as well.