Annie Kellond Elementary School

I am a parent and a teacher and I can not say enough about the how special this school is. I have taught at Kellond for 8 years now and during that time, the school has undergone some incredible changes. The entire school has embraced the Ben's Bells Kindness program and it has made a positive impact on the students and teachers. The school has weekly all school assemblies, where the staff and students gather together, increasing the sense of community. The office staff, teachers, principal and learning support coordinator are incredibly welcoming and approachable. They truly have every child's best interests in mind and make an effort to know each student personally. The parent community is highly involved, with P.T.O. fundraisers bringing major improvements to the school, such as shade structures on the playground. Kellond is an OMA Mentor school, so every student receives and extensive Arts integrated based education. Kellond has an extensive library, two beautiful playgrounds, a computer lab, before and afterschool program, preschool, an active student council, special education services, extra curricular activities such as drama, track and choir, and next year GATE.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is attending this school currently. She is in the first grade. I was concerned at the first two weeks of school because it seemed that my daughter was only going over things she learned last year and not learning anything new. After a few weeks, I began to notice my daughter learning so much about our history, government, ecoscystems, wildlife, grammar, math (especially word problems). Her reading skills is improving each day. We do practice with her at home and discuss what she is enjoying. I think the teachers she had in the last two years are excellent and they really encourage the kids and they do make learning fun.
—Submitted by a parent

After Rogers Elementary School merged with Kellond Elementary this year, I was unsure how my children would make the transition. It's been a surprisingly good experience with the merger going off without a hitch. We gained a whole new group of friends. The school is an OMA school, which means it has a great music and arts program. The principal Mrs. Gallegos is very involved and accessible to both students and parents. It's a good school and does its best do defy the lukewarm reputation TUSD seems to have in the public eye.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my childs first completed year in school. Yes, the teachers are great but who is not during sparatic visits. Every thing I tought my 5yr old before she started school was reinforced. Nothing extra was noticed. Home work was cancelled the 2nd wk of school. It was breaks and snacks before lunch and play time, thereafter. My child would have been just another percentage if and behind a year, if I didnt home school her. She gained social school being the only child, but Academics NO.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are all very nice, and there is a lot of extra activity options available (OMA, Good Choices) yet, I feel that there's no one within the school who takes the time to stop and work with my daughter to teach her in a way she will learn best. It feels very one-appraoch fits all. Nice school, but I am looking to change for next year.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the reviews of this school has given it a bad impression. My kids have had an wonderful experience at Kellond. The teachers are very hard working and dedicated. They have an afterschool program 2 days a week that is run by the teachers. The principal is very approachable. The PTO is pretty small, run by a few parents. I think that more parents need to be involved.
—Submitted by a parent

I taught at this school for one semester. It was an amazing experience. The teachers and administration truly care for the students and their programs (art, music, computers, etc) are all once a week.
—Submitted by a teacher

well I agree that the 'new' Principal has made things less friendly and less progressive.she is very un-approachable and in 5 years and having had two kids go there I still have never had a face to face talk with her about anything. Recently i thought I was set to have a meeting with her but she sent her asst. out to talk with me at the last minute. I think most of the teachers are pretty good.we've had some excellent ones for my kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Sad to say, but this school rapidly went downhill when a new principal took over ~5 years ago. I don't know if this school can be salvaged. Let's hope so. I'm just terribly sad it imploded & I had to take my children elsewhere. I would have loved to stay in my neighborhood school.
—Submitted by a parent

Annie Kellond Elementary School really has a lot of problems. There are some good teachers and some tremendously poor teachers at the school. In general, the environment is negative. As may be typical in a public school, there is not a lot of challenge for the more gifted children. Gifted pullouts are only an hour per week. If I had it to do over, I would have sent my son to a private or charter school.
—Submitted by a parent