ReEnrollment at Inspired Teaching

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. We are re-enrolling. Our experience has been very good and I figure the school is only going to get better from here. I thought about leaving as the drop off / pickup won't be easy at the new location but we will make work.

PP with the rising second grader? I have also heard nothing but good things about the second grade teacher and experience.

The second grade teacher is supposed to be amazing, but there's no guarantee that you will have him. There's a chance he'll move up to 3rd and the 2nd will be left with an unknown. The current 1st grade has not had an exceptional year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. We are re-enrolling. Our experience has been very good and I figure the school is only going to get better from here. I thought about leaving as the drop off / pickup won't be easy at the new location but we will make work.

PP with the rising second grader? I have also heard nothing but good things about the second grade teacher and experience.

The second grade teacher is supposed to be amazing, but there's no guarantee that you will have him. There's a chance he'll move up to 3rd and the 2nd will be left with an unknown. The current 1st grade has not had an exceptional year.

Is this a real possibility? I've not heard anything at all about teachers "looping" or staying with their classes. Or is it just this one particular teacher that this may happen to?

[Anonymous]

Rumor mill says one teacher. I think we'll end up seeing lots of turnover in staff and students. It's just a matter of who will leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"A 28 year old principal, no matter how smart just needs more experience in our view."

Just FYI, I believe the Janney principal is about 33 and was in her 20s as principal there at one point. So...really?

Wow - only 28?

Yes and she is awesome. I couldn't ask for a better leader for the school that is as energetic, passionate, caring as she is. She just gets it. We have been to one other charter and another public in another city.

Awesome wouldn't be the word to describe her. She does not get it. She is a bureaucrat and only speaking the official line. She comes off as stiff, insincere, cold, fake at times, hence "does not get it." You know she is lacking in the experience department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"A 28 year old principal, no matter how smart just needs more experience in our view."

Just FYI, I believe the Janney principal is about 33 and was in her 20s as principal there at one point. So...really?

Wow - only 28?

Yes and she is awesome. I couldn't ask for a better leader for the school that is as energetic, passionate, caring as she is. She just gets it. We have been to one other charter and another public in another city.

Awesome wouldn't be the word to describe her. She does not get it. She is a bureaucrat and only speaking the official line. She comes off as stiff, insincere, cold, fake at times, hence "does not get it." You know she is lacking in the experience department.

I disagree. "Bureaucrat"? "Official Line?" Whose line is she supposedly toting? I do agree that the admin seems a bit TOO tight-lipped, but I think they are just really afraid to over-promise on something they can't deliver (location, specials, etc).

Good luck at your new school!

[Anonymous]

The pre-K teacher is leaving.

[Anonymous]

She comes of as standoffish because she does not have the answers or solutions to the tough issues in the school. She is evasive because I don't think she is comfortable in her role and doesn't trust parents. She's got too many entities to answer to -- still unclear where the power lies. With the Board? The Center? Who makes the final call on the school and who's interest will be served first? The Center's or the School's? I am starting to see the flaws in this model. Nevermind that classroom teachers have enough to do to meet the learning needs of the kids in the class!

[Anonymous]

The loss of the super star pre k teacher is a massive blow.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know where she is going?

[Anonymous]

The negative comments are likely coming from one departing paent, so please take them with a grain of salt. The school, like a few other schools, is sprinkled with just a few parents that can come off as demanding and entitled. This is in no way a reflection of the school as a whole. The families and the admin are pretty amazing. Turnover? Sure that can be expected in both families and staff in a brand new school. As long as the school maintains their rigorous hiring process, I am quite confident any new teacher will be great. You may think I'm sipping the koolaid but it sure tastes great and my kid is just thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pre-K teacher is leaving.

This is news to me. When/where did you hear this?

[Anonymous]

Actually, not departing, just eyes wide open and that's a good thing. Not everything is going to be perfect. There were lots of neat things that happend and my kid is pretty happy, it's just a long hard road ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She comes of as standoffish because she does not have the answers or solutions to the tough issues in the school. She is evasive because I don't think she is comfortable in her role and doesn't trust parents. She's got too many entities to answer to -- still unclear where the power lies. With the Board? The Center? Who makes the final call on the school and who's interest will be served first? The Center's or the School's? I am starting to see the flaws in this model. Nevermind that classroom teachers have enough to do to meet the learning needs of the kids in the class!

I don't comment much but I really feel I need to balance out some of these comments about the principal.

I have never had the impression of the principal as standoffish or evasive. I have never encountered the problems with "where the power lies" with respect to the school. I agree the administration is very careful in how they communicate at times, and perhaps this is interpreted as evasive. If you have been to the meetings, you would know that communication around sensitive issues is something they know they need to work on and plan to do so. I think their openness in this respect is right-on.

Also, the principal is probably one of the warmest people I've met. Have you seen her interact with the kids? I am at the school many times that other parents aren't, and I have seen her daily interactions with the students that are unlike any personal experience I had with a principal growing up. (She has an open door policy with the kids from what I've seen, and the kids feel safe coming to her when they need to.) I also raised a concern with her about my DC, and she took the time to discuss it with me and then spent time specifically observing my child in the classroom and on the playground. She then met with us again to discuss her observations and hear our concerns. She was open to what we said, and offered incredibly valuable insight (and encouragement!) about our DC. She has gone out of her and the school's way to accommodate DC's needs (and no, DC's not a SN kid with an IEP, but they still tailor the program to fit DC and any other student).

Finally, if you come to the meetings (or call in for the calls), you know that the administration is open and actively seeking families' involvement and input.

I'm sorry PP had a bad experience. I hope either the PP gets more involved in the school so s/he feels her voice is being heard or finds a school that is a better fit. Because these negative postings are not constructive, and ultimately unfair for the children and families who are making the school a great place to learn.

[Anonymous]

I completely agree with PP. The principal is absolutely caring and compassionate and is anything but "standoffish". It's rare to see her without a preschooler on her lap or an older kid by her side doing tasks. I find her reading books to kids as they are waiting for their parents to pick up from aftercare. At all-family meetings, she is incredibly patient with the loud noises of kids running around and is still effective with communicating. I have seen her soothe crying kids and a kid with an allergic reaction. You don't see her talking to kids without getting on her knees to get at eye level. When a kid is sick for more than a day or had an incident, she will not rest until she hears that your kid is doing well. She may be limited with certain things she can say like previous issue of location, what the teacher makeup will look like next fall etc, but she is an awesome an very emotional person that the children seem to adore.

[Anonymous]

She is a professional with a maturity beyond her years. Try elsewhere, PP, if you want something else for your child or are not happy. There are plenty of people waiting for spots at IT. It has been a wonderful school for us.