Teacher at a JKLM school AMA (ask me anything)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

Trying to imagine the problematic economic diversity at a JKLM that does not intersect with race. Would that be the OOB parents that have HHIs of 300k (which is poor in DC, as we know) vs IB parents with HHIs of 700k?

How about a white OOB family with income of <$100K? They actually exist in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

Trying to imagine the problematic economic diversity at a JKLM that does not intersect with race. Would that be the OOB parents that have HHIs of 300k (which is poor in DC, as we know) vs IB parents with HHIs of 700k?

How about a white OOB family with income of <$100K? They actually exist in DC.

Sure. That's not what we're talking about. White child of legal aid lawyer or artists not likely to be what PP was thinking about in terms of academic or cultural gaps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

Trying to imagine the problematic economic diversity at a JKLM that does not intersect with race. Would that be the OOB parents that have HHIs of 300k (which is poor in DC, as we know) vs IB parents with HHIs of 700k?

This (bolded) is a ridiculous statement. A household income of $300,000 puts that household roughly in the top 5 percent of incomes for DC. That is hardly poor. Median household income for DC is around $65K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

Trying to imagine the problematic economic diversity at a JKLM that does not intersect with race. Would that be the OOB parents that have HHIs of 300k (which is poor in DC, as we know) vs IB parents with HHIs of 700k?

This (bolded) is a ridiculous statement. A household income of $300,000 puts that household roughly in the top 5 percent of incomes for DC. That is hardly poor. Median household income for DC is around $65K.

(I know - I was joking as a way to question what kind of economic diversity PP means.)

[Anonymous]

My child is a middle class educated family kid at a title 1 school out of the DMV area. Given that the school is safe, would you still advise to transfer them to a "better" school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are DCPS middle schools so bad and what can be done about it?

I don't think they are all that bad...especially that they are a pretty good value (free compared to private). If more parents would trust the public school system, the problem would be solved, but who do I know? I just work within the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Impact and Leap?

It's a waste of time (LEAP). Impact has some positive attributes, but negative attributes as well. I believe it was created to get "rid" of teachers who appear to be ineffective, but like any system, you can game it and move to the top of the charts. An educator has so many attributes that are intangible that I don't think there is a way to effectively and unbiased-ly evaluate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of SEM?

School-wide enrichment model? I've never been a part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Impact and Leap?

Yes, how much time do you spend in LEAP and what model do you use?

We spend about 1.5-2 hours a week on seminar and then weekly observations. I'm not sure what is brought down from the district level, but because of a supportive admin, I believe it is modified for us. All I know is that the seminars (meant to improve our understanding of curriculum and instruction) is "okay" for teachers that are either new and/or ineffective. However, for most of us, it is pretty stupid. I do appreciate the weekly feedback from my admin team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the most outrageous interaction you've had with a parent? I always hear rumors about things the parents do at our JKLM - any good first hand stories?

Almost every single parent I've had has been nothing but 100% supportive. For the few, they (less than 5 with over 140 students over the years) have just acted liked they wanted me to roll out the red carpet for them and then treat them like their child is the next Einstein with kid gloves. Most parents understand that not everything is going to be perfect and can appreciate the lessons that their child will learn with challenges be it academically and/or socially or emotionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever had any formal complaints filed against you by a parent?

Not that I am aware of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

From society at large.

[Anonymous]

Seriously op what does from "society at large@ mean? So guessing you are a minority. Please explain yourself. Yours is a ridiculous generalization. Fyi not exgerating here I have a white make child who actually told me years ago that he wishes he were black. Now, should I be concerned about his racial identity or the fact that apparently he feels inferior to black students and peers. Growing up in Washington DC having my children to grow up here I find the racial discrimination of minorities argument to be pretty baseless-- may be some where else but not here. Especially since I as a white female have been targeted many times by black police officer's purely because I am white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Impact and Leap?

It's a waste of time (LEAP). Impact has some positive attributes, but negative attributes as well. I believe it was created to get "rid" of teachers who appear to be ineffective, but like any system, you can game it and move to the top of the charts. An educator has so many attributes that are intangible that I don't think there is a way to effectively and unbiased-ly evaluate them.

Not OP but I'm a LEAP leader and I think it's a waste of time!

[Anonymous]

Of all the high performing elementary schools in DCPS which one has the Principal with the worst reputation among teachers.