S. D. Spady Elementary School

I can tell you as a parent & the PTA president of Spady our school is not always perfect but what school is? But ,what I do know for sure is our Spady community of teachers, staff and parents are that of a loving, caring & accepting community that I am honored to be a part of. We are all human beings & sometimes do not get things right but just like any parent or person we are striving to do our best each day. Here in SoFL where there are so many cultures & it is very diverse, it is nice to find a small community of people who truly care about each other & their school. We are blessed to have been at Spady since K and as we move on next year I can say being at Spady was where we were meant to be. Kimmy Cooper, Proud Parent of Spady
—Submitted by a parent

Sigh. Thank you for looking into this school. It is a sign that you are a conscientious parent trying to figure out what the best scenario is for your child's education. I commend you on your efforts. BUT the best way to learn about a school is to VISIT it and get opinions from people you KNOW AND TRUST. Online reviews either come from people who are ecstatic about their choice or people who are bitter. You will most likely not get a balanced, fair review. Is Spady the epitome of Montessori? No. It is a public school that has to meet Statewide standards that are constantly in flux. Are all teachers at ANY school perfect? NO. Is there a school that exists that doesn't have children with social development issues, problems at home, learning disabilities? NO. No school...NO SCHOOL... is perfect, and no school is perfect for EVERY child. Best of luck to you in your search. For me, for now, I love Spady and so do my children.
—Submitted by a parent

When problems happen at Spady, we don't simply punish. Instead we see discipline as a skill to be learned and so we use conflict as a teachable moment with a problem-solving reflection. We discuss the situation with the students involved & focus on them understanding mistakes that were made & learning to make better choices in the future. We ask them to think about their part in a problem, to consider the other person's feelings, and to plan for different options for themselves if the problem occurs again. As Charles Swindoll said, "We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it." I believe teachers & administration do a great job of teaching students resilience, focusing our kids on self-regulation & communication skills, encouraging positive interactions, and treating both children & adults with respect. I wish Great Schools would structure reviews so that feedback on BOTH a school's strengths & weaknesses would be provided.
—Submitted by a teacher

Im actually a spady graduate (kindergarten-5th grade). I remember vividly being chased down and thrown to the ground during recess and getting sand thrown in my face. What is messed up about all of this is i remember seeing 3 teachers watching me get beat up. I remember vividly feeling racially discriminated against. The teachers who care are good. But the teachers assistant's are usually hoodrat garbage.

I am an active parent at Spady as well. Both of my children attend the school. Spending time at school really gave me an opportunity to see the real picture. First of all, I have to mention that THIS IS NOT A TRUE MONTESSORI SCHOLL!!!! May be it was in the past but not anymore. Upper elementary grades have only some components of Montessori education. Lower elementary teams focus on drilling kids reading so they can pass the expected levels. Creativity does not exist in the classroom. Kids are not allowed to use crayons anymore even in preK because being creative means loosing instructional time. Very Sad. Yes, there is bullying and stealing seems to be a normal thing. (even from the teachers purses). I will even call it an epidemic. It seems that every classroom has someone with sticky fingers. I agree with the previous posts that there is lack of caring from administration and from some of the teachers as well. Most of the teachers do not have Montessori certification and not all of the teachers are Montessori trained. So, if you are looking for a Montessori education for your child, THIS IS NOT A SCHOOL FOR YOU!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I had heard so many great things about S.D. Spady before entering my fist grade son. But as the year progresses I notice that there seem to be a lack of caring? The amount of children without manners seems to be a big problem, and it is not addressed at all. I also noticed that the aftercare program is horrendous! The kids are bullied with no seeming consequence. The aftercare teachers are too busy texting on their phones to even notice what the kids are doing. Then when they do notice strict punishment and referrals are given out like candy.
—Submitted by a parent

Academically, this school is fine. Our 5th grader is gifted and has been able to accelerate his learning in the Montessori environment. There is a real problem, however, with the lack of control and there seems to be a lot of lip service given to not tolerating bullying. Kids with known problems are consistently allowed to get away with things simply because they have a 504 plan. My 4th grade daughter was teased mercilessly to the point where she hated going to school. She will NOT be going to Spady next year and neither will our soon to be 6th grader. We've been told by someone that used to substitute in the school that it has seriously gone downhill in the past 2 years.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my first year at the school and it is excellent. My kids were enrolled at another neighborhood school that had a great rating, but within two weeks of joining the school it was clear they were lacking. Academics is only one part of school, and Spady gets that! No child learns every subject at the same pace. They don't all fit into a nice box. Why should you teach them as if they do? Spady gets that. My kids love the school and my 3rd child will be entering the pre-K program in the fall. We're thrilled and recommend the school without reservation. Imagine? Your child has the same teacher for several years...and you won't waste the first few months of school while the teacher gets to know your child and you and your child get to know the teacher. The alone is amazing.
—Submitted by a parent

The Montessori environment is great. The kids learn and love going to school. The teachers are patient and take time to get to know wach and every child. We love this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are caring and kind, their skills and knowledge unsurpassed and we love the Montessori envirnment
—Submitted by a parent

Best Elementary School Great Staff and a beautiful facility
—Submitted by a parent

Montessori education, which focuses on the individual child, is superior to the standard methods that more resemble military basic training.

What a great experience this school has been for my son!
—Submitted by a parent

S.D Spady is one of only 2 Montessori public schools in PB county, actually the 1st started in 1989 & it's celebrating it's 20th year! And our school is nationally recognized as a top Montessori Public school! Spady is a Green School and has been running a POLIT recycling program for 3 years now.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Spady! It's my son's first year there. He is in Kindergarten and we couldn't be happier!
—Submitted by a parent

We love the community at Spady between teachers, staff and family!
—Submitted by a parent

the PTA folks are fun...our administration cares for the kids, the kids are thriving...we are eco-friendly, academically focused and culturally diverse...we have families from many different nations who synergize each day to help make our school better....
—Submitted by a parent

They have a great sac! The teachers want to be there and do a great job letting the kids progress at their own pace.
—Submitted by a parent

Because of the Montessori spirit, the loving and nuturing atmosphere and the focus on well-being and green living
—Submitted by a parent

Great Montessori program with awesome, caring teachers and staff. Warm, friendly, inviting atmosphere for parents & caregivers to paticipate in their childrens elementary school years. Thank You Spady for being a Great school!
—Submitted by a parent