Anonymous wrote:“From what many of us have witnessed, the school has struggled with transparency, staff turnover, retaliatory culture, and a lack of real support for students with the highest needs.

It’s disheartening to see staff and families pour their hearts into this community only to face gaslighting and broken systems from the top. We want to believe in the mission, but leadership has to reflect that. “

As a past staff member I 100% agree with this. Staff turnover is not just voluntary either. The last 3 years have seen people who given years of service to the school be “forced” out. Also in the beginning, there used to be a lovely spirit of community and way more of an international focus. You felt a part of something bigger than yourself. Now it’s fend for yourself and hope you survive.

As one of those forced out, after years of service, I'm now Angela Bassett in Waiting to Exhale. Let it burn. There's nothing to save there now.

“From what many of us have witnessed, the school has struggled with transparency, staff turnover, retaliatory culture, and a lack of real support for students with the highest needs.

It’s disheartening to see staff and families pour their hearts into this community only to face gaslighting and broken systems from the top. We want to believe in the mission, but leadership has to reflect that. “

As a past staff member I 100% agree with this. Staff turnover is not just voluntary either. The last 3 years have seen people who given years of service to the school be “forced” out. Also in the beginning, there used to be a lovely spirit of community and way more of an international focus. You felt a part of something bigger than yourself. Now it’s fend for yourself and hope you survive.

As a current teacher at CMI I wouldn’t send my own children there! The top leadership ALL need to be gone and replaced with people who believe in and are knowledgeable in the field of education. Most of the teachers are competent or beyond competent! We care about the students but cannot get past most behaviors because the children are not held accountable for their actions! Academics are weak and expectations of high achievements are low! The school will not last much longer especially if academics do not get taken seriously!

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious if they are going to make some wholesale changes for the better, or just do some "playing with your food" kinds of reforms?

The way they're bleeding students, there won't be anyone around to experience any changes.

I'm curious if they are going to make some wholesale changes for the better, or just do some "playing with your food" kinds of reforms?

I know, that's why I'm asking for clarification.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In continuing nonsense at CMI today, "an incident occurred between students in the 7th and 8th grades" that caused the school to cancel DC CAPE testing for 5th and 6th grade.

What?! So many questions. Cancel or postpone? And what sort of incident affects all of those grades?

They're not allowed to just cancel it.

Anonymous wrote:In continuing nonsense at CMI today, "an incident occurred between students in the 7th and 8th grades" that caused the school to cancel DC CAPE testing for 5th and 6th grade.

What?! So many questions. Cancel or postpone? And what sort of incident affects all of those grades?

In continuing nonsense at CMI today, "an incident occurred between students in the 7th and 8th grades" that caused the school to cancel DC CAPE testing for 5th and 6th grade.

Agree. Top heavy. It’s a school of ~500 kids. They need high-quality teacher-facing and student-facing leadership, but mostly they need to be properly staffed for instruction. Teachers, not “Chiefs” make a school great.

One and done!! Worst charter experience ever as an educator. Senior leadership does not care at all. Yes, one step down, but there are still a few left, which are worse. At least the CEO had some nonprofit experience. They collect feedback stating they are anonymous, but your email is the first thing you put in to start. The culture that is being built here is toxic and not inclusive. You feel safer being silent than speaking up because when you do, retaliation happens. Explain how you let go of so many staff members but are now hiring for many positions. What a slap in the face for the current one who got let go, and see the hiring post. And don’t get me started on the new Chief if she was good, why did she leave LAMB before the school year ended ??? Never been in the classroom but wants to lead us. How?! Sad to say, this is our safe space, as we count down the days to the last day of school. I will miss the handful of staff who genuinely care, but your kiddos and the community deserve better. CMI will never change until all the Senior Leadership leave, and if the board doesn’t realize that, it is even sadder.

[quote=Anonymous]As a former educator, I would love to hear from the staff??? How much support is given, if any? I am also interested in how much family support there is ? My grandson got an offer, and we want to do some research, Please share any experiences you've had.[/quote]

I am not a current employee, but I did work here for many years. I left about a year ago for many obvious reasons. Please listen to the reports on here. Sending your child here for a good "baseline" for education is JOKE! The turnover rates for teachers is crazy! They struggle with keeping teachers throughout the school year. Some classrooms never get new teachers and are forced to be led for substitutes that are unqualified. Children are forgotten about, IEPs are lied on, and test scores are horrible. That is the reason the current CEO has been asked to step down. He's made no progress. It will take many MANY years to get the school back on track. Please avoid.

As a former educator, I would love to hear from the staff??? How much support is given, if any? I am also interested in how much family support there is ? My grandson got an offer, and we want to do some research, Please share any experiences you've had.

Wow, the board minutes are really incomplete. It looks like the board chair stepped down midyear, and there was no mention of it in the notes? If his term was up, I would expect to see a thank you at his last meeting. Seeing nothing about that change in board leadership, and the board chair and ED stepping down the same year, and 3+ closed sessions during April-May does not seem promising for the future of this school. What's happening with the other executives? How many board members are staying for next year?

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I remember when we did the PK lottery 10 years ago that everyone wanted to go to CMI.

Us too. Everyone in the Petworth area seemed to want to go there. Campus is beautiful, walkable for a lot families etc.

Too bad they couldn’t do better in solid academics or make the middle school a real draw.