Is SSMA really that bad?

[Anonymous]

I guess the question to families that left... is the grass really greener?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question to families that left... is the grass really greener?

Depends where they went. K is a much easier lottery year so I would think many people with kids that age had some genuinely better options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question to families that left... is the grass really greener?

So much better! We are happy with our new school and all the families we know that left are feeling like it's a huge improvement, wherever they ended up. You don't realize just how terrible the SSMA leadership is until you have experience with another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question to families that left... is the grass really greener?

Yes, our new school is far from perfect but I was never looking for perfect. I just needed a school where I felt like the administration, teachers and parents were all, in general, prioritizing the best interests of the children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow based on this thread Im about to give up my spot.

Not a bad idea. Your neighborhood school is probably not as bad as you think it is.

Agree, your neighborhood DCPS is likely the better option.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget the secret waitlist for the Spanish program that they only let you be on if they like you. Amazing that the charter board allows that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget the secret waitlist for the Spanish program that they only let you be on if they like you. Amazing that the charter board allows that.

How is that different than principals giving families they like the better teachers. Happens everywhere.

And I'm not defending ssma. No idea why I'm even on this thread!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget the secret waitlist for the Spanish program that they only let you be on if they like you. Amazing that the charter board allows that.

How is that different than principals giving families they like the better teachers. Happens everywhere.

And I'm not defending ssma. No idea why I'm even on this thread!

Because it's a multi-year committment-- once you're in Spanish, you get to stay permanently. And also because, as PTA president at a different school, I learned that parents' preferences for certain teachers are all over the map, don't necessarily have any basis in reality, and can often be satisfied without anyone else missing out on something they care about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question to families that left... is the grass really greener?

Yes, our new school is far from perfect but I was never looking for perfect. I just needed a school where I felt like the administration, teachers and parents were all, in general, prioritizing the best interests of the children.

Totally this. We were at SSMA for three years, and I found myself many times defending the school on DCUM and in the neighborhood (admittedly because we were "stuck" there and I was trying to make the best of it - and we did like our teacher). But those three years were challenging in many ways, primarily in dealing with the ED and being constantly afraid of which good teachers would be gone the next year.

Now that we "got out" we are much happier for many reasons, the biggest of which is what the poster above said. Feeling like we're all working together. And being able to trust the choices and decisions of the administration.

Do I think you can have a good experience in PK3, PK4, and K at SSMA? Probably. Will you want to stay long term? Doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget the secret waitlist for the Spanish program that they only let you be on if they like you. Amazing that the charter board allows that.

How is that different than principals giving families they like the better teachers. Happens everywhere.

And I'm not defending ssma. No idea why I'm even on this thread!

Because it's a multi-year committment-- once you're in Spanish, you get to stay permanently. And also because, as PTA president at a different school, I learned that parents' preferences for certain teachers are all over the map, don't necessarily have any basis in reality, and can often be satisfied without anyone else missing out on something they care about.

If there were a waiting list for certain teachers, it would also be wrong to operate it in a opaque and favoritism-prone manner.