T. L. Whitehead Elementary School

Our current principal, Mrs. Lewis, is fantastic. There is a positive climate at the school that starts with the principal and trickles down through the staff and students. I am glad to be a part of the teaching staff this year, and I am so impressed with the overall climate and culture of the school that I am open enrolling my own child in Kindergarten at Whitehead next year.
--Submitted by a teacher

My GATE child has always had wonderful teachers who challenge him academically and are caring individuals. The staff picked up on my childs needs right away. This school has given my chid a good foundation for his/her future in education. As well, this school promotes respect,morals,manners and focus on the child as an individual. As a single mother, I can appreciate all of these concepts. Thanks Whitehead! Michelle
--Submitted by a parent

My GATE identified kids have thrived at this school. I have to say that there were a couple years when the emphasis was on English language learners, and there weren't too many activities for my kids, but his year seems to have been when the school included more afterschool enrichment for high achieving students. The Young Writers' Club (and the publication that resulted) was a wonderful experience in writing and in working with seniors; the Nature Bowl team went to the state finals; and the Algebra Academy really challenged my kids, but did it in a way that made it fun (and different than in-class math). Parent involvement always seems to be an issue, but I understand there is a plan in place to address that in the fall. This is a school where the test score really does not tell the true story.
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers at this school take care to make sure all students succeed. The school is working hard to focus its instruction on key standards while differentiating for diverse student learning needs. An afterschool program provides homework support, reading tutorial and recreation. School activities include a Harvest Festival in October, a Posada celebration in December and a Wheat Harvest in June. The school has a garden which provides hands on learning opportunities for students at all grade levels.
--Submitted by a teacher

My boys' experience at this school has been wonderful. The teachers are committed and caring, the principal is committed to the success of all children, and the PTA offers many enrichment programs. While Whitehead is in school improvement status according to NCLB guidelines, the scores for all groups of children are improving and the school site plan outlines how staff plan to move even more children into a higher achieving bracket. The goals for 05-06 include addressing the teaching/learning of EL students, increasing leadership roles and parental involvement in the school community, and maintaining enrichment programs like the Newspaper Club, Nature Bowl, Artist in Residence, and Band, and expanding afterschool opportunities for all children. It would be hard to find a group of teachers more dedicated to the achievement of all students than the Whitehead staff.
--Submitted by a parent

Great Kindergarten teachers. Lots of experience. Realy care about their students.
--Submitted by Nicolette Rossouw, a parent

I have to say mostly good things about this school. I have had 5 kids in this school and can say I was pleased with every teacher they had, however some parents who had other teachers were not happy at all. This school has a lot of parents support but most of them will be leaving after this year, I hope more parents will get involved next year or the PTA will not survive. The PTA supports the Band dept by purchasing instruments because the budget cuts every year keep threatening to cut the Music dept and can't buy any new instruments. Then there's the PE dept. They keep getting threats of being cut. These threats that the school district keeps making in the Music dept and PE dept make me sick. They can't figure out how to make cuts in the district office so they can keep these very important activities for the students. I've always thought the students should come first but not in this district. Otherwise the school itself is a good school.
--Submitted by a parent