Experience with Shining Stars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Bumping this as we are a military family who received their orders after the lottery deadline, and are approaching the top of the list for our lower elementary kid. I noticed that in the job postings on the Shining Stars websites, lead teachers aren't required to have a Montessori degree or experience? How integrated are Montessori materials in the classroom? Is it all in or 50/50? We are coming from an NC Montessori charter that isn't yet AMI certified, but wants to get there, so all guides have to have a masters in Montessori teaching

All lead guides are required to be certified. The job postings indicate so. The school requires it to maintain all its accreditation. They are also piloting a Spanish program, started a little slow but is taking great shape. New guides have been hired in the upper levels to address previous issues and most of the facility problems have been address. It’s a great school, with a nice and diverse community.

This is categorically false. Shining stars absolutely hires guides who are not certified and simply requires them to work towards certification. Last year the sole upper elementary guide was not montessori trained and was so awful, close to half the upper elementary families left in the first few months of school. I believe she was ultimately fired. Similarly, the Spanish speaking guide was not certified and the current principal has zero montessori training or experience, beyond whatever course she took over the past summer.

The new hires are all montessori certified. The assistants are not but have training. The spanish teachers are getting their certification by the end of the year. Both new teachers in the first grade Spanish class are real montessori, trained and certified. The problems of the previous years are being addressed with the great plus of a diverse faculty. Not many schools can say that

This is such a load of cap. There is a primary class with no teacher at all right now. Even worse, families were NEVER notified that the teacher in that classroom wasn't returning this year and that no replacement teacher had been hired. Parents prepared their children to go back into a classroom with the same teacher, only to learn from their kids that actually their teacher wasn't there anymore. The administration has not shared this critical information on advance, although this teacher left in July. This is just cruel and I really feel for those kids. Stay away!!!

Which teacher’s class is this? Was it just Ms. L’s? We caught wind from another parent that our child's primary teacher had left, contacted the principal and got a snotty reply, and jumped ship.

It was that class. I think there were only 2 other guides that left (one primary who moved across the country and one lower el who who's contract was not renewed), and those were known by end of school year. My understanding was that Ms. L was planning to return, then left only a couple weeks before school started, which left the school in a rough spot (however, I am definitely not defending them with how they handled it - i.e. not letting returning students in the class know).

[Anonymous]

It looks like SSMA has pretty much cleared all their waitlists except PK3. (This update is from September 12th). Are the class environments somewhat balanced or heavy on the PK3 child?

https://www.myschooldc.org/available-spaces-ward

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like SSMA has pretty much cleared all their waitlists except PK3. (This update is from September 12th). Are the class environments somewhat balanced or heavy on the PK3 child?

https://www.myschooldc.org/available-spaces-ward

Historically they try to keep these somewhat balanced but it does fluctuate based on a variety of factors. I suspect that this year they will be pk3 heavy because of the short wait lists in other grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like SSMA has pretty much cleared all their waitlists except PK3. (This update is from September 12th). Are the class environments somewhat balanced or heavy on the PK3 child?

https://www.myschooldc.org/available-spaces-ward

They have cleared the pre-k 3 waitlist. We added it post-lottery and were initially in the high 80's and got a call last week. Don't know how many were on the original wait list and how many added themselves later like us. We didn't take the spot, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like SSMA has pretty much cleared all their waitlists except PK3. (This update is from September 12th). Are the class environments somewhat balanced or heavy on the PK3 child?

https://www.myschooldc.org/available-spaces-ward

They have cleared the pre-k 3 waitlist. We added it post-lottery and were initially in the high 80's and got a call last week. Don't know how many were on the original wait list and how many added themselves later like us. We didn't take the spot, FWIW.

Wow. What did you choose instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like SSMA has pretty much cleared all their waitlists except PK3. (This update is from September 12th). Are the class environments somewhat balanced or heavy on the PK3 child?

https://www.myschooldc.org/available-spaces-ward

They have cleared the pre-k 3 waitlist. We added it post-lottery and were initially in the high 80's and got a call last week. Don't know how many were on the original wait list and how many added themselves later like us. We didn't take the spot, FWIW.

Wow. What did you choose instead?

We chose to stay at our in-bounds. We're not in Brookland and the uncertainty with the school wasn't worth the inconvenience of the commute. Plus my 3 year old was already settling into one new school and we didn't want to put him through a second school transition. We're pretty gung ho Montessori, so probably would have given it a shot if we were in the neighborhood. But if the school is truly turning itself around and improving, we can always try again next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We chose to stay at our in-bounds. We're not in Brookland and the uncertainty with the school wasn't worth the inconvenience of the commute. Plus my 3 year old was already settling into one new school and we didn't want to put him through a second school transition. We're pretty gung ho Montessori, so probably would have given it a shot if we were in the neighborhood. But if the school is truly turning itself around and improving, we can always try again next year.

My thoughts exactly. We got pretty low on the WL and withdrew our application. I'm disappointed to even have to make that decision because I'm excited about Montessori and the school has so much potential, but I'll wait until next year to see if SSMA is truly improving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We chose to stay at our in-bounds. We're not in Brookland and the uncertainty with the school wasn't worth the inconvenience of the commute. Plus my 3 year old was already settling into one new school and we didn't want to put him through a second school transition. We're pretty gung ho Montessori, so probably would have given it a shot if we were in the neighborhood. But if the school is truly turning itself around and improving, we can always try again next year.

My thoughts exactly. We got pretty low on the WL and withdrew our application. I'm disappointed to even have to make that decision because I'm excited about Montessori and the school has so much potential, but I'll wait until next year to see if SSMA is truly improving.

I feel like this becomes a situation from which the school cannot recover. Because families aren't willing to enroll, the school finds itself underenrolled and this doesn't receive the per pupil allocations it budgeted for. Then the school has budget shortfalls and can't pay for specials teachers, supplies, etc. Families get frustrated and leave. Teachers get frustrated and leave. Families get upset that teachers are leaving and more families leave. It's a cycle which is almost impossible for a school to recover from. That said, this is obviously not the pps' responsibility and I agree that it may not make sense to risk your children's education!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We chose to stay at our in-bounds. We're not in Brookland and the uncertainty with the school wasn't worth the inconvenience of the commute. Plus my 3 year old was already settling into one new school and we didn't want to put him through a second school transition. We're pretty gung ho Montessori, so probably would have given it a shot if we were in the neighborhood. But if the school is truly turning itself around and improving, we can always try again next year.

My thoughts exactly. We got pretty low on the WL and withdrew our application. I'm disappointed to even have to make that decision because I'm excited about Montessori and the school has so much potential, but I'll wait until next year to see if SSMA is truly improving.

I feel like this becomes a situation from which the school cannot recover. Because families aren't willing to enroll, the school finds itself underenrolled and this doesn't receive the per pupil allocations it budgeted for. Then the school has budget shortfalls and can't pay for specials teachers, supplies, etc. Families get frustrated and leave. Teachers get frustrated and leave. Families get upset that teachers are leaving and more families leave. It's a cycle which is almost impossible for a school to recover from. That said, this is obviously not the pps' responsibility and I agree that it may not make sense to risk your children's education!

I agree, generally. It's very difficult for a school to recover from a situation like this. It is impossible for someone as bad as Dr. Rodriguez to recover from a situation like this. A sinking ship captained by the worst kind of leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I agree, generally. It's very difficult for a school to recover from a situation like this. It is impossible for someone as bad as Dr. Rodriguez to recover from a situation like this. A sinking ship captained by the worst kind of leader.

Yet she remains in her position. Surely someone on the Board of SSMA reads DCUM; are they not concerned about the negative perception of the school and the decline in test scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We chose to stay at our in-bounds. We're not in Brookland and the uncertainty with the school wasn't worth the inconvenience of the commute. Plus my 3 year old was already settling into one new school and we didn't want to put him through a second school transition. We're pretty gung ho Montessori, so probably would have given it a shot if we were in the neighborhood. But if the school is truly turning itself around and improving, we can always try again next year.

My thoughts exactly. We got pretty low on the WL and withdrew our application. I'm disappointed to even have to make that decision because I'm excited about Montessori and the school has so much potential, but I'll wait until next year to see if SSMA is truly improving.

I feel like this becomes a situation from which the school cannot recover. Because families aren't willing to enroll, the school finds itself underenrolled and this doesn't receive the per pupil allocations it budgeted for. Then the school has budget shortfalls and can't pay for specials teachers, supplies, etc. Families get frustrated and leave. Teachers get frustrated and leave. Families get upset that teachers are leaving and more families leave. It's a cycle which is almost impossible for a school to recover from. That said, this is obviously not the pps' responsibility and I agree that it may not make sense to risk your children's education!

I agree, generally. It's very difficult for a school to recover from a situation like this. It is impossible for someone as bad as Dr. Rodriguez to recover from a situation like this. A sinking ship captained by the worst kind of leader.

This. Empty seats = budget spiral. In Montessori it's not easy to offer one fewer classroom and lay off a teacher, because it disrupts the enrollment matrix for other grades.

I never root for school closures because it's so sad and disruptive and harmful to the kids-- many of them won't end up in a better school. But I do think that the DCPCSB should hold every school to its agreed-upon goals, and be willing to close schools serving a high-income demographic just the same as they do to low-income schools. It's only fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree, generally. It's very difficult for a school to recover from a situation like this. It is impossible for someone as bad as Dr. Rodriguez to recover from a situation like this. A sinking ship captained by the worst kind of leader.

Yet she remains in her position. Surely someone on the Board of SSMA reads DCUM; are they not concerned about the negative perception of the school and the decline in test scores?

She appointed her friends and supporters to the board. The only thing Dr. R. did right was getting her people on the board to secure her spot. The things that were reported to the board two years ago during the whole community association craziness were completely shocking. If she didn't get fired for anything there, she's completely untouchable.

[Anonymous]

SSMA is on the financial watch list as of tonight's DCPCSB meeting.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/828459.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree, generally. It's very difficult for a school to recover from a situation like this. It is impossible for someone as bad as Dr. Rodriguez to recover from a situation like this. A sinking ship captained by the worst kind of leader.

Yet she remains in her position. Surely someone on the Board of SSMA reads DCUM; are they not concerned about the negative perception of the school and the decline in test scores?

She appointed her friends and supporters to the board. The only thing Dr. R. did right was getting her people on the board to secure her spot. The things that were reported to the board two years ago during the whole community association craziness were completely shocking. If she didn't get fired for anything there, she's completely untouchable.

And the head of the Board defended her often in the community FB group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree, generally. It's very difficult for a school to recover from a situation like this. It is impossible for someone as bad as Dr. Rodriguez to recover from a situation like this. A sinking ship captained by the worst kind of leader.

Yet she remains in her position. Surely someone on the Board of SSMA reads DCUM; are they not concerned about the negative perception of the school and the decline in test scores?

She appointed her friends and supporters to the board. The only thing Dr. R. did right was getting her people on the board to secure her spot. The things that were reported to the board two years ago during the whole community association craziness were completely shocking. If she didn't get fired for anything there, she's completely untouchable.

And the head of the Board defended her often in the community FB group.

The Board meetings were a joke, constantly canceled, postponed or rescheduled. The public meetings that actually took place didn't have a quorum so then board business would actually take place on phone calls with board members only. This seems like a clear violation of charter governance requirements but the PCSB doesn't seem to care.