No school will be perfect for everyone. If someone is not happy with the school, they should leave. Of course, sometimes the problem is with the parent(s), not with the school, the director, the teachers, or the staff. Someone feels entitled but then doesn't get their way. So, they have to make a stink, attempting to trash what is an excellent school, instead of maturely packing their bags and hitting the road to find a place they like better.

For the record, I have never been employed by Rodef, but I'm a member of the greater TRS community. It's sad to see a few screechy people tear down a great pre-school because they threw a tantrum and it didn't work. What kind of example are they setting for their children? Just stop!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This school has some amazing teachers - my kids went there over 20 years ago and some of the teachers are still there and very sought after. They just get better and better. My neighbors and friends now send their kids.

The teachers you mention were just fired wrongfully!

I am sure the other teachers were amazing but I question who Rodef will hire to replace them - teachers will little experience and knowledge in early childhood development.

Longevity isn't always a good thing. (See Fidel Castro or Strom Thurmond.) Stale, outdated practices and hidebound philosophies need to be modernized. You're jumping to conclusions about any new teachers. I'd recommend we wait and see.

Anonymous wrote:WOW! What is going on there? Not surprised! In talking to many parents of our child's classroom, found out that more than half of the children are not returning to TRSNS next year. Those parents have stated that many other parents are withdrawing their kid's applications. For such a highly touted school, they sure didn't deliver. We need more parents to post here and share their honest experiences (both good and bad), not just teachers who all sound like biased TRSNS cheerleaders.

Wow! More than half? Where did you get your misinformation? Surely students moving on to Kindergarten are not returning. Other than that, what factual data do you have?

This would be truly laughable were it not such a disgusting falsehood. You ought to retract that claim. You are committing a slanderous act under cover of anonymity.

Anonymous wrote:This school used to be fabulous. Unfortunately, a wonderful facility cannot make up for the price and current leadership.

The current leadership is superb. The Director is a career early childhood educator who cares about kids. Now they've announced there will be an assistant director too. Great additions have been made to the program the past few years. it's a wonderful school that keeps up with the times and truly supports families. The poster I quoted must have an axe to grind. Readers should take that kind of comment like a bad review of Chez Francois on Yelp.

WOW! What is going on there? Not surprised! In talking to many parents of our child's classroom, found out that more than half of the children are not returning to TRSNS next year. Those parents have stated that many other parents are withdrawing their kid's applications. For such a highly touted school, they sure didn't deliver. We need more parents to post here and share their honest experiences (both good and bad), not just teachers who all sound like biased TRSNS cheerleaders.

Email that went out to TRSNS parents. Names removed to ensure privacy:
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If your child/children are either currently enrolled in TRSNS (Temple Rodef Shalom Nursery School) or have been in TRSNS PLEASE KEEP READING. If your child/children did not attend TRSNS, I want to apologize for sending this email. However, if you are interested in helping 2 AMAZING teachers at TRSNS PLEASE KEEP READING.

This is a letter that my husband wrote. Following are the stipulations that are in TEACHER01 and TEACHER02’s contracts. Please read.

To the Board Members and Clergy of TRS:

I am writing this letter in appreciation that Barry Holt will be meeting with members of our congregation and parents of TRSNS who are in complete disbelief that the Board and DIRECTOR can force the termination of two women who have positively impacted our children more than words could ever express for over 25 years.

I write this letter like one of many who have always held our synagogue in the highest regard primarily because of a nursery school which was our first encounter with TRS and led to our longstanding tenure as members of TRS since we moved here 7 years ago.

Most importantly, I write this letter in support of all TRSNS teachers who have voiced concern and disillusionment with the direction of the preschool and have been brushed aside by DIRECTOR and the Board when concerns have been raised. As a parent, we have raised issues with DIRECTOR and have often received a condescending response with no resolution and even to the Board who gave us the time of day but little else. I hope that when you hear our voices tomorrow and Tuesday that you right a terrible wrong as you have the ability to fix this.

I also have little intention of getting involved in personnel matters and although the Board and DIRECTOR may try to couch this as such, it is so much more.

Parents and teachers alike have had serious issues with the direction of TRSNS. I just did not realize the magnitude until the Board and DIRECTOR’s horrible decision led to parent after parent talking to one another and so many having the same feelings as to how and why the preschool is no longer what it used to be. From my perspective maybe you as the Board have ignored these issues because the school has stayed full and profitable. I hope that tomorrow and Tuesday is your wake up call to fix this wrong because I can assure you that the horrible decision you made last week has woken us up. I ask that you remember who you work for and how that "profitability" is due to the hard earned dollars we have given to TRSNS because of the teachers and have continued to give despite DIRECTOR's leadership.

I am anxious to learn tomorrow how you see this as a personnel matter after hearing the discontent of so many parents, the loss of longstanding and wonderful teachers like Lisa Schoenfeld and Lisa Hurrowitz who left because of the school leadership and now the forced termination of two women who have been part of the TRSNS institution for over 50 years combined.

When parents such a ourselves were brushed off by DIRECTOR, we went to those like TEACHER01 and TEACHER02 to voice our frustration and concern. Many teachers have had the same concerns and have gone to the parents seeking help to get changes made. Who are we (parents and teachers) supposed to turn to when DIRECTOR and the Board have failed us?

You have the power to fix a terrible decision in the forced terminations of TEACHER01 and TEACHER02. You have the opportunity to begin the healing and bring the teachers, parents and director together to move forward for whom the focus should be on and that is the children. If you think that TEACHER01 and TEACHER02’s forced termination was best for our children, you are sorely mistaken. I hope that you and the clergy do a lot of praying for the strength to right a terrible wrong. We the parents, teachers and children are depending on you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This school has some amazing teachers - my kids went there over 20 years ago and some of the teachers are still there and very sought after. They just get better and better. My neighbors and friends now send their kids.

The teachers you mention were just fired wrongfully!

I am sure the other teachers were amazing but I question who Rodef will hire to replace them - teachers will little experience and knowledge in early childhood development.

What's all the controversy about?
What am I missing here?

Anonymous wrote:This school has some amazing teachers - my kids went there over 20 years ago and some of the teachers are still there and very sought after. They just get better and better. My neighbors and friends now send their kids.

The teachers you mention were just fired wrongfully!

I am sure the other teachers were amazing but I question who Rodef will hire to replace them - teachers will little experience and knowledge in early childhood development.

We loved trsns, Fantastic education, good values, small class sizes, wonderful music, art. Really prepared for kindergarten, our catholic friends sent their son, who needed extra attention and they were extremely pleased with the school as well. I would recommend the school to anyone, the teachers are so knowledgeable and kind and Fran knows everyone. If you need anything, they're open to talking. If they had an elementary school we wouldve sent child there.

We are not a Jewish family and financially it was a stretch for us to do Rodef but it has been money well spent. My son is going again next year. At first my husband wanted someplace cheaper but after one year of seeing how amazing it is, he agrees it is a must. I want my baby to go when she's old enough.

This school used to be fabulous. Unfortunately, a wonderful facility cannot make up for the price and current leadership.

This school has some amazing teachers - my kids went there over 20 years ago and some of the teachers are still there and very sought after. They just get better and better. My neighbors and friends now send their kids.

Another happy Rodef Shalom mom here. Never did I encounter any communication problems or felt I couldn't speak to the teachers or the director. Quite the opposite. Can't imagine a better place, and we looked around. My 2 kids attended, the youngest is still there. They have very different personalities and strengths and both did well there. I guess you can't please 100% of people all the time, but I have never heard complaints among my many friends with kids there. The opposite, only good things, and we talk a lot about it.

Anonymous wrote:Parents be cautioned! The school touts itself on fostering creativity, independence and uniqueness yet they will quickly stifle and subdue any child displaying such traits. Our daughter was happy, calm and without issues when she started this year. Since her enrollment, we have noticed a decline in her behavior and the school has even brought in a psychologist to examine her. The physiologist found no issues with my daughter, yet the teachers still label her as "not normal" and are constantly separating/excluding her from other activities. In talking with other parents from the same classroom, we have learned that other parents have been told the same thing about their children and have been referred to the same psychologist. Our stories are similar and we parents feel that the teachers are ill prepared/not fully trained to work with and understand young children. The difficult part of dealing with such an ineffective teacher is the staff and principle will not find fault with the teacher, but have labeled all of our children as the source of the problems. Hard to believe that almost every child in a small class of 12 is the problem, and that it's not the teacher.

I am a teacher in the two year old class at TRSNS, and the mother of three children; two were students at TRSNS many years ago.

We are a group of committed, professional educators, striving to be better and do better for your children. Our director pushes us to be our best, not allowing us to rest on our past accomplishments, but to continue to grow and develop according to the best practices in early education.

But first, before we were teachers, we were moms. We understand the angst you feel when leaving your precious baby in our hands; we understand the trust you put in us to keep your child safe, to help him make friends, and to assist him discovering the world outside of your loving arms.

We also understand how difficult it is to hear that your child might need additional assistance to be successful in a school setting.

It would be much easier as a teacher to just overlook some "issues". It is easier to give a child a "time out" instead of a "time in." Some schools identify a child as a "behavior problem"; we believe that all behavior has a cause, and we do our best to uncover that cause. We acknowledge when we need help in understanding some behaviors, and ask for and receive help from our specialists to ensure a positive experience for all children.

We don't want "cookie cutter" students, all behaving in a certain way on a certain timeline. That should be apparent to anyone visiting our school because we're not "cookie cutter" teachers. We are given a curriculum as a base, and are expected to bring our own identity, passions and creativity to our classrooms - - we encourage the same in the children.

We are committed to continuous communication between school and home (as evidenced by our Weekly Wrap-Up including photos, parent/teacher conferences in person and on the phone, and prompt response to e-mail communications). Parents are encouraged to visit, call or e-mail the teachers and director. But problems can arise. It's how we deal with the problem that says a lot about who we are. As we tell the children, "We have a problem. How are we going to solve it?" Most issues can be resolved with a walk into Fran's office!

Nancy Chajet
Mom of three - - two TRSNS graduates
Teacher at TRSNS for eight years