Anonymous
11/15/2024 14:40
Subject: Class size at WL and YHS (APS)
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I think this is key. Your child has been in classes with academically motivated students their entire time at W-L. That's going to help a lot with classroom management. My child is also there, has taken a mix of AP/IB and regular classes, and some of the teachers have not been great. WL is definitely having some issues with teacher turnover as well - not sure how it is at Yorktown.
Anonymous wrote:My kid (senior) has had a great run at W-L in the IB program. I never focused on class size bc kid was thriving. Even outside IB, in math classes like int alg 2 with trig and DE precalc, teachers were great. Some had creative systems with kids working in groups and signaling when they were stuck so they could get some help. My kid also wasn’t shy about going to visit teachers during Generals period when they got lost, fell behind etc.
I think this is key. Your child has been in classes with academically motivated students their entire time at W-L. That's going to help a lot with classroom management. My child is also there, has taken a mix of AP/IB and regular classes, and some of the teachers have not been great. WL is definitely having some issues with teacher turnover as well - not sure how it is at Yorktown.
Anonymous
11/13/2024 10:51
Subject: Class size at WL and YHS (APS)
Not to say names but I can quickly count on all fingers current APS admins that were terrible teachers (just didn't get it) that were moved to admin because getting rid of bums isn't allowed, just move them up the ladder. There is no transparency in their current ranks. Teachers and support staff are too scared to say it. The students and community are the ones suffering. Crimes and tragedies by both students and staff go on and unanswered. Watch any of the last two years of school board meetings. The current leadership department is sinking APS.
Anonymous
11/13/2024 10:31
Subject: Re:Class size at WL and YHS (APS)
Anonymous wrote:Your question about class sizes hits at the heart of APS's resource mismanagement. While our core classes are bursting at the seams (28-32 students in many Algebra 2 and AP History classes), APS continues hiring outside administrators at inflated salaries, claiming they'll fix our system. These expensive hires drain our resources while failing to address fundamental classroom needs.
The Math Is Clear:
Each administrator returned to teaching could create 5-6 new class sections
The salary of one new senior administrator could fund two classroom teaching positions
Just 5 administrators back in classrooms would mean 25-30 additional class sections and smaller class sizes
Real Solutions:
Return qualified Syphax administrators to classroom positions
Stop hiring expensive outside administrators with no connection to our community
Redirect inflated administrative salaries to classroom resources
Before accepting overcrowded classes as "normal," we need to ask why we're paying premium salaries to outside administrators when we need teachers. Our students need educators in classrooms, not more highly-paid bureaucrats in Syphax who don't understand our schools or our community.
I think you have a simplistic view of staffing.
5 administrators = 25-30 additional class sections and smaller class sizes.....for whom? which classes? how many classes does each of those 5 administrators teach?
Are they all math teachers? Are they all high school level teachers?
Syphax has absolutely become over-bloated. But administrators are still important.
I agree with reducing the outside "experts" being brought in; but you don't see the irony/circular logic of demanding administrators go back to the classroom and staffing Syphax with internal administrators? Plus, sometimes an outside objective view is important and helpful.
Also, administrators were not necessarily good teachers. Some of them are better being administrators. Unfortunately, some of them aren't even good at that and sometimes certain poor performers just get shuffled around.
Anonymous
11/13/2024 08:21
Subject: Re:Class size at WL and YHS (APS)
Your question about class sizes hits at the heart of APS's resource mismanagement. While our core classes are bursting at the seams (28-32 students in many Algebra 2 and AP History classes), APS continues hiring outside administrators at inflated salaries, claiming they'll fix our system. These expensive hires drain our resources while failing to address fundamental classroom needs.
The Math Is Clear:
Each administrator returned to teaching could create 5-6 new class sections
The salary of one new senior administrator could fund two classroom teaching positions
Just 5 administrators back in classrooms would mean 25-30 additional class sections and smaller class sizes
Real Solutions:
Return qualified Syphax administrators to classroom positions
Stop hiring expensive outside administrators with no connection to our community
Redirect inflated administrative salaries to classroom resources
Before accepting overcrowded classes as "normal," we need to ask why we're paying premium salaries to outside administrators when we need teachers. Our students need educators in classrooms, not more highly-paid bureaucrats in Syphax who don't understand our schools or our community.
The Math Is Clear:
Each administrator returned to teaching could create 5-6 new class sections
The salary of one new senior administrator could fund two classroom teaching positions
Just 5 administrators back in classrooms would mean 25-30 additional class sections and smaller class sizes
Real Solutions:
Return qualified Syphax administrators to classroom positions
Stop hiring expensive outside administrators with no connection to our community
Redirect inflated administrative salaries to classroom resources
Before accepting overcrowded classes as "normal," we need to ask why we're paying premium salaries to outside administrators when we need teachers. Our students need educators in classrooms, not more highly-paid bureaucrats in Syphax who don't understand our schools or our community.