Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect there are some sour grapes on this thread. We have heard many positive experiences at the Chevy Chase HGC, in particular from parents whose children went from strong home school environments.

Children went from being home schooled to the HGC? How many could there be who do that?

Not the PP but, in this context "home school" means the in-boundary elementary school that the child started at before testing in to the HGC. It does not mean that the child was "home-schooled" in the sense of parents teaching the child at home. For ex., in context one might say: "My child's home school was Wood Acres, but she tested in to the HGC and now goes to the Chevy Chase HGC."

Anonymous wrote:I suspect there are some sour grapes on this thread. We have heard many positive experiences at the Chevy Chase HGC, in particular from parents whose children went from strong home school environments.

Children went from being home schooled to the HGC? How many could there be who do that?

I suspect there are some sour grapes on this thread. We have heard many positive experiences at the Chevy Chase HGC, in particular from parents whose children went from strong home school environments.

My child is also in the CCES HGC and accommodations have not been met. The problem lies with the heavy handed administration and the LACK of any real work on the part of the HGC teachers to even read her accommodations or attempt to understand my child's challenges.

The language arts teacher told us at back to school night that she would randomly be grading one part of the five parts of the Wordly Wise assignement, because she had four children and did not have time to do more. My thought, and that of many other parents, was that she was lazy. If she doesn't have time to grade assignments she needs to give the job to a teacher who has the time to actually grade assignments.

We are interviewing attorneys because we are frustrated with the unresponsiveness. I will start with the complaint process the other poster so graciously posted.

My child has had accommodations for years and we have never had problems like we have had in the CCES HGC.

Anonymous wrote:The central administration has been aware of the problems with the Principal for years and they have occasionally checked up on her but done nothing of substance. It is still worth bringing issues to higher ups (not sure who that is now since they no longer use the community superintendent) but what would help more is if the PTA would get involved. Historically the PTA there has not done much but the central administration is not likely to act based on individual complaints. The upshot is that the Principal typically backs down if you do reach out to her higher ups but only on the immediate issue.

IMO, the PTA is very unlikely to get involved in a situation which pits them against the principal and concerns only a portion of the school's students (whether they are HGC students or home school students). The only issue of academic concern that the PTA has been involved in in the last few years is the issue about declining quality of course offerings in the 6th grade program and whether a new school should be built. Even in this situation, the PTA was working for the whole school.

IMO, if one wants to appeal over the head of the principal it can be done on behalf of an individual student or a group of parents making concerns known on behalf of a group of students. Check here to see that Dr. Donna Hollginshead is listed as the
"Associate Superintendant" who has been assigned responsibility for CCES. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/clusteradmin/1566.13_LevelAlikeAssignmentList.pdf

One can also use the organizational chart -- http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ -- to find other "supervisors" on particular issues. For example, on issues related to C2.0, I would actually go ABOVE the head of the head of math curricular instruction, while cc'ing him, because he is probably responsible for getting all principals to implement C2.0 as MCPS wants it (which is clearly what Mrs. Smith is doing). And, I would include the head of AEI (Advanced and Enriched Instruction) who is responsible for the HGC programs.

See the MCPS Staff Directory here -- http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/index.aspx -- for individual phone and email contacts for central supervisory staff.

When one goes over the head of the principal, it is important to include a paper or data trail and not just oral complaints. It is also important to remind supervisors of legal requirements imposed on the educational system -- this is more relevant for special ed parents than HGC parents, since the law doesn't impose a duty to provide the "best" education, just an appropriate one. What is "appropriate" can vary based on individual special ed needs. Remember, if it isn't on paper, it didn't happen. Document your concerns with individual teachers and the principal by writing emails to them describing your concerns. If you meet with someone, document the meeting afterwards by writing an email which describes your understanding of what occurred in the meeting.

The central administration has been aware of the problems with the Principal for years and they have occasionally checked up on her but done nothing of substance. It is still worth bringing issues to higher ups (not sure who that is now since they no longer use the community superintendent) but what would help more is if the PTA would get involved. Historically the PTA there has not done much but the central administration is not likely to act based on individual complaints. The upshot is that the Principal typically backs down if you do reach out to her higher ups but only on the immediate issue.

Given the comments on here, I would encourage any parent who has complaints about a teacher at CCES to copy someone above the principal, who is difficult to approach and quite defensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

This exactly. One of the two 4th grade teachers is a yeller, and overly inflexible. (For example: Pencil sharpeners are not allowed in class, ever. You cannot sharpen a pencil in her classroom.) A couple of her students ended up in therapy for anxiety (I'm not kidding). My child is supposed to receive accommodations which were rarely provided, except in a punitive way. My child was deeply unhappy in the class but the principal did nothing about it. The principal just recently denied to her supervisors that there have been parent complaints in the past. I just learned that the teacher will unfortunately be returning in the fall.

The 5th grade teachers are much better (and not yellers!). But one is more rigid than necessary, and again we found her to be overrated.

As a fellow CCES parent, I beg you to please document each failure to provide accommodations or punitive provision. As a courtesy (and in order to be seen as willing to work with the principal), you should email your first complaint to the teacher with a copy to the principal, and ask for a plan to correct the failure and/or ensure future appropriate accommodations. If there is a second failure to provide accommodations, please document by taking the original failure, attaching the new complaint and emailing the principal and copy either the countywide 504 Supervisor (Steve_Neff@mcpsmd.org -- for 504 complaints) or the Director of the Department of Special Education Services (Gwendolyn_J_Mason@mcpsmd.org -- for IEPs). If there is a third failure to accommodate, file an official complaint directly with the offices on your due process notice (one of which is still Steve Neff for 504s, but I'm not sure about IEP complaints)

Repeated failure to provide accommodations or using accommodations punitively is a violation of the law, and the central MCPS staffers I mentioned will be much more sensitive to a failure to resolve this at the school level than the principal ever is. (The principal basically knows that she is top dog at the school and that you are unlikely to go outside the school with your complaints.) I know from personal experience, talking with other parents, and talking with attorneys and advocates, that the CCES principal has a track record of being quite difficult when it comes to special ed. I know that other parents have filed complaints against her due to her failure to respond appropriately on special ed issues and that those complaints have resulted in her superiors directing her to comply. She does not work well with parents, but she does respond to oversight from MCPS superiors.

Please help all of us in the CCES special ed community by insisting on compliance with your child's 504 or IEP plan and filing complaints when the school fails to comply with its legal duty.

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

I don't understand the complaint about it being overcrowded. There are 26 kids in each class, that doesn't seem overcrowded by MCPS standards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

This exactly. One of the two 4th grade teachers is a yeller, and overly inflexible. (For example: Pencil sharpeners are not allowed in class, ever. You cannot sharpen a pencil in her classroom.) A couple of her students ended up in therapy for anxiety (I'm not kidding). My child is supposed to receive accommodations which were rarely provided, except in a punitive way. My child was deeply unhappy in the class but the principal did nothing about it. The principal just recently denied to her supervisors that there have been parent complaints in the past. I just learned that the teacher will unfortunately be returning in the fall.

The 5th grade teachers are much better (and not yellers!). But one is more rigid than necessary, and again we found her to be overrated.

Very interesting. I believe my child is in that class and we, too, have complained. There better not be anyone at that school claiming that parents have not complained - that would be absolutely untrue. Makes me wonder if our complaints fell on deaf ears. Parents - as we did - often feel the need to walk a fine line (so as to avoid retaliation) so maybe we should have gone farther with our complaints.

I wrote one of the posts quoted above. I have already written two letters to supervisors, and there was a big push a few years ago to get rid of this teacher. Unfortunately it went nowhere and I've heard she is returning.

My younger DC is in second grade and will not be applying to the HGC, so this is the end of my efforts to promote change at CCES.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

This exactly. One of the two 4th grade teachers is a yeller, and overly inflexible. (For example: Pencil sharpeners are not allowed in class, ever. You cannot sharpen a pencil in her classroom.) A couple of her students ended up in therapy for anxiety (I'm not kidding). My child is supposed to receive accommodations which were rarely provided, except in a punitive way. My child was deeply unhappy in the class but the principal did nothing about it. The principal just recently denied to her supervisors that there have been parent complaints in the past. I just learned that the teacher will unfortunately be returning in the fall.

The 5th grade teachers are much better (and not yellers!). But one is more rigid than necessary, and again we found her to be overrated.

Very interesting. I believe my child is in that class and we, too, have complained. There better not be anyone at that school claiming that parents have not complained - that would be absolutely untrue. Makes me wonder if our complaints fell on deaf ears. Parents - as we did - often feel the need to walk a fine line (so as to avoid retaliation) so maybe we should have gone farther with our complaints.

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

This exactly. One of the two 4th grade teachers is a yeller, and overly inflexible. (For example: Pencil sharpeners are not allowed in class, ever. You cannot sharpen a pencil in her classroom.) A couple of her students ended up in therapy for anxiety (I'm not kidding). My child is supposed to receive accommodations which were rarely provided, except in a punitive way. My child was deeply unhappy in the class but the principal did nothing about it. The principal just recently denied to her supervisors that there have been parent complaints in the past. I just learned that the teacher will unfortunately be returning in the fall.

The 5th grade teachers are much better (and not yellers!). But one is more rigid than necessary, and again we found her to be overrated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

Our experience was better than this, although I do think the current 5th grade team is probably better than the 4th grade team. I would think twice if going was a big sacrifice for your family in terms of transportation and your kid is happy at the home school.

The 2 5th grade teachers are long-time HGC teachers and pretty good. We did not find them "hyper rigid." In fact, one teacher let my DD essentially do her own projects and present to the class in one subject area in which she was years ahead. It is the 4th grade team that has experienced more turnover in recent years, which is a shame, because the 4th grade teachers 5+ years ago were awesome! Unfortunately, they left due to maternity and marriages.

I encourage people with valid complaints supported by evidence or other documentation of attempts to resolve issues with the principal, to complain outside of the school to upper management either in MCPS AEI (the department of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction or something like that if its an HGC issue) or to special ed supervisors or curriculum supervisors (whatever is appropriate given the issue). I know that a few individual parents who have done this have quickly seen their problems resolved and the principal apologize. She is very sensitive to criticism from her superiors. She cares more about what her upper management thinks of her than what the parents or students think of her.

Anonymous wrote:Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.

Our experience was better than this, although I do think the current 5th grade team is probably better than the 4th grade team. I would think twice if going was a big sacrifice for your family in terms of transportation and your kid is happy at the home school.

Would NOT recommend CCES HGC. The teachers are hyper, rigid, and create anxiety for the children. Over-crowded and over-taxed teachers. We attended one year there and have finally recovered from it. The principal cares more about updating her twitter posts than she does about the children.