Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By the way, APS knows she is terrible, and has known for a long time, and has let her stay in way too long. It’s pretty awful of APS to allow that.

Why is it so hard for APS to get rid of rotten apples?
These days, I understand the need to hire and retain any physical body possible because we're short so many teachers. But many of these people have been in APS for years and years and should have been "dealt with" long ago. Now we're stuck with them.

My impression is that a) they have bigger issues to deal with and b) Duran is adding a lot of levels to the school board so that creates extra steps when they’re trying to move somebody. Also, the previous superintendent absolutely loved the Oakridge principal for whatever reason. There is the issue of tenure so she basically can’t be fired, but I don’t think that explains everything.

10:38 here.

I want to add that I have never had an issue with a teacher, and I have never heard of anyone else having an issue with a teacher. The teacher quality, as far as I can see, ranges from pretty good to excellent. I could be wrong but that’s just my personal experience. The implication of the state about inexperienced teachers and teacher turnover is that a) the only talent the principal can attract are teachers who don’t know what it’s really like there and b) teachers often leave.

Yes some do teachers love her. So not everybody had had a terrible experience with her. I am sure there are some things she does well. But overall she just isn’t a good principal.

Anonymous wrote:By the way, APS knows she is terrible, and has known for a long time, and has let her stay in way too long. It’s pretty awful of APS to allow that.

Why is it so hard for APS to get rid of rotten apples?
These days, I understand the need to hire and retain any physical body possible because we're short so many teachers. But many of these people have been in APS for years and years and should have been "dealt with" long ago. Now we're stuck with them.

By the way, APS knows she is terrible, and has known for a long time, and has let her stay in way too long. It’s pretty awful of APS to allow that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of taking the opinions of people on here too seriously. Talk to families who have older kids at Oakridge. If it's the school you're zoned for, I wouldn't over think it.

I have talked to people with kids in the school, but no one seems willing to provide specific examples as our kids play together at the park. Was hoping someone might be willing to share details here, since it’s anonymous.

I’m paranoid that I would be telling on myself as a user of DCUM.

See if you can find the stats on the APS website for oakridge. I think I can find them but I have to run in a minute. I’ll post the link later if I remember. But oakridge, I believe, has the highest percentage of inexperienced teachers, the highest rate of teacher turnover, and standardized test scores have been falling since at least 2013.

On a more anecdotal level, it’s very hard to get sped ed services (apparently because 504 and IEP plans require accountability and she’s not a fan of that), she yells at teachers and students constantly, she is obsessed with making herself look good, and she just cannot take any accountability whatsoever. She thinks she’s the smartest person in the room and she is incredibly condescending. Her communication is abysmal. For a long time a classroom didn’t have a teacher and sometimes there was no sub, and parents had no clue. She makes snap decisions with no input and doesn’t care how they impact others.

A lot of people assume some of us don’t like her because she has this bubbly personality at first but then you find yourself getting yelled at, so it seems fake. I don’t care at all about her personality. I care about kids getting a decent education and not being afraid to go to school because they’re afraid they are going to be humiliated by the principal. Better academics would be nice too, but I’d settle for a non-toxic school environment.

I will say that there are efforts to get her removed and they might work. But in your shoes OP I’d apply to all the option schools and if possible consider the Hoffman Boston or Drew districts. They are high FARMS schools but parents there are much happier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of taking the opinions of people on here too seriously. Talk to families who have older kids at Oakridge. If it's the school you're zoned for, I wouldn't over think it.

I have older kids at Oakridge. Whatever rumors you hear about her are not true. It’s way worse than that. And I would suggest talking to some current or former staff members.

I’d love to speak with current/former staff members, but I don’t know any. Why is everyone so secretive? Many, many people say she’s bad (and these people don’t know one another! Completely separate conversations!), but no one says why…

So either it’s not true, or it’s really, really bad? Just trying to figure out which.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of taking the opinions of people on here too seriously. Talk to families who have older kids at Oakridge. If it's the school you're zoned for, I wouldn't over think it.

I have older kids at Oakridge. Whatever rumors you hear about her are not true. It’s way worse than that. And I would suggest talking to some current or former staff members.

What do you mean they aren’t true? Yes she has done things that are worse than the rumors but a lot of the rumors are still true, right?

Short version: toxic work environment means high teacher stress and turnover.

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of taking the opinions of people on here too seriously. Talk to families who have older kids at Oakridge. If it's the school you're zoned for, I wouldn't over think it.

I have older kids at Oakridge. Whatever rumors you hear about her are not true. It’s way worse than that. And I would suggest talking to some current or former staff members.

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of taking the opinions of people on here too seriously. Talk to families who have older kids at Oakridge. If it's the school you're zoned for, I wouldn't over think it.

I have talked to people with kids in the school, but no one seems willing to provide specific examples as our kids play together at the park. Was hoping someone might be willing to share details here, since it’s anonymous.

I'd be wary of taking the opinions of people on here too seriously. Talk to families who have older kids at Oakridge. If it's the school you're zoned for, I wouldn't over think it.

No.

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

But no one provides specific examples. Does she just have an abrasive personality, or is it something more?

Yes.

My kid is still in PK, but we are zoned for Oakridge for K. I’ve heard many people say the principal is horrible. Is this true?