Look at Gunston Montessori

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were only 2 classes with 30+ kids in all of the APS middle schools combined last year. You should look at the data. https://www.apsva.us/statistics/enrollment/

I doubt this. My kids’ English class in 7th had like 36 kids. The TA or home room has 15. PE had over 100.

PE isn't 100 kids with one teacher. That's nonsense. They split the group so some are in a health class unit while others take PE, and then rotate over the quarter. There are also several teachers for PE and they split the kids into groups for different activities.

Anonymous wrote:There were only 2 classes with 30+ kids in all of the APS middle schools combined last year. You should look at the data. https://www.apsva.us/statistics/enrollment/

I doubt this. My kids’ English class in 7th had like 36 kids. The TA or home room has 15. PE had over 100.

The concentration of certified teaching staff in administrative roles at the Syphax Center exemplifies the broader resource mismanagement plaguing Arlington Public Schools. Let's examine the specific impact:
Current Staffing Reality:

Our classrooms are overcrowded while certified educators occupy desk positions at Syphax
We're paying premium salaries for administrators who could be addressing our critical teaching shortages
The district maintains multiple layers of program directors and coordinators, many of whom hold unused teaching credentials

Financial Implications:

Each administrative position at Syphax represents a missed opportunity to reduce class sizes
We're effectively paying twice: once for administrative overhead, and again for substitute teachers to cover staffing gaps
The cost per square foot at Syphax for administrative office space could be redirected to classroom resources

Practical Solutions:

Immediate classroom reintegration for certified teachers currently in administrative roles
Implementation of a rotating teacher-administrator model where experienced educators split time between classroom and administrative duties
Reduction of administrative positions with overlapping responsibilities, particularly in curriculum oversight and program management

The math is simple: if even half of the certified teachers currently working as administrators at Syphax returned to classrooms, we could:

Reduce average class sizes by 2-3 students in affected grades
Provide additional planning periods for current teachers
Create sustainable mentorship programs led by experienced educators

This isn't about dismantling administration – it's about right-sizing it. Every certified teacher working in an office at Syphax represents a classroom that could have an experienced educator leading it. We need to ask ourselves: what serves our students better – another program coordinator or another classroom teacher?
APS must prioritize direct student instruction over administrative convenience. The current staffing model at Syphax Center represents an outdated approach to educational management that we simply can no longer afford – both financially and academically.
It's time to bring our experienced educators back where they're needed most: in front of our students.

I have twins who have very different personalities and when I talk to my kids teachers, they seem to get each of my kids as individuals