I am on the SIT for my child’s middle school. This is my 3rd year, 2nd Principal.
I realized that I really have no power.
If the school needs a Math Teacher, the parent can do nothing.
If the school has discipline issues, the parent cannot suggest anything.
What it did give me was insight into the bulls***. And with those insights, I was able to email our former (and effective) school board member and lodge a complaint with details, about our school’s former principal (I am sure it is not the first).
We are now in our second year with a calm and effective Principal. Discipline issues have been mostly addressed and teachers want to work for her.
What needs to be changed is really beyond even a Principal’s fix.
For example, there is no tracking for science and social studies teachers. Fine. But how effective is a classroom with 5 kids that can’t read, 5 who can speak English, and a few discipline problems - and no textbooks (only Chrome books - now on their last legs), and a new teacher?
Or on the Elementary level, the Illustrative Math curriculum is abysmal and required.
EL Education for ELA (K-8) has tough standards, I will give it that, but is so boring and politically correct.
Those issues cannot be changed on a parent/school level.
I am on the SIT for my child’s middle school. This is my 3rd year, 2nd Principal.
I realized that I really have no power.
If the school needs a Math Teacher, the parent can do nothing.
If the school has discipline issues, the parent cannot suggest anything.
What it did give me was insight into the bulls***. And with those insights, I was able to email our former (and effective) school board member and lodge a complaint with details, about our school’s former principal (I am sure it is not the first).
We are now in our second year with a calm and effective Principal. Discipline issues have been mostly addressed and teachers want to work for her.
What needs to be changed is really beyond even a Principal’s fix.
For example, there is no tracking for science and social studies teachers. Fine. But how effective is a classroom with 5 kids that can’t read, 5 who can speak English, and a few discipline problems - and no textbooks (only Chrome books - now on their last legs), and a new teacher?
Or on the Elementary level, the Illustrative Math curriculum is abysmal and required.
EL Education for ELA (K-8) has tough standards, I will give it that, but is so boring and politically correct.
Those issues cannot be changed on a parent/school level.
Thanks for sharing! I at least appreciate that I get the behind the scenes look.