Imagine School at Town Center

This is my third year here, to be honest, this is the worst year I've had. Next year, if your child is going to be in Middle School, if he/she is assigned with Mrs. Rodriguez, ask for Mrs. Casher. Reading, science, or civics? You won't have a problem with them, you'll think Mrs. Gordon (Science) is weird, but you'll get used to her. Back to math, watch out for both math teachers. Mrs. Rodriguez is supposedly "Advanced mathematics", but she is just simply full of boredom. She constantly threatens her students with detentions, and doesn't care about your child. Mrs. Casher is moody and miserable. At Open House, you'll think she's awesome, but towards the middle of the year, you'll dislike her. She writes you up for no reason, and obviously plans to dominate the world... Overall, I wouldn't reccommend this school, especially the disorganized and lazy administration.

We moved to Palm Coast in June not knowing the schools and placed our son the school that was our home school close to our home. He was bullied at that school and dreaded going to school and we started looking at options for him. We are so thankful to have found Imagine School as he is being challenged in his education and is growing and learning so much. His teacher is fantastic and very communicative. We love that parents have to be involved. Great academics, communication, and collaboration.
—Submitted by a parent

My family and I moved to the PC area almost 2 yrs ago in the middle of the year for my girls. We didn't know the schools but they went to a public school we lived near. I was totally unhappy and searched around for another school. I was told about Imagine and while taking a tour, my husband and I fell in LOVE. The middle school students help assist the elementary teachers durring their free periods. Everyone helps everyone. My kids are known by many teachers not just their own. I am recognized and greeted by all staff as I walk through the school. They allow me to stop in at any time and welcomed warmly. My kids enjoy going to school more than ever at Imagine!
—Submitted by a parent

This is my first experience with Imagine Schools and I am quite satisfied. The teachers, staff, and volunteers are extremely helpful and happy. My son was in a private school with a class of mixed grades. Bullying, and other unmentionables were tolerated and not dealt with at the school. The disciplinary action, and the organization is the best part of the school. It shows that children can and will be responsible adults. I thank all of the staff and those that os making it possible to run a successful school!
—Submitted by a parent

We had a terrible year at Imagine this year and my child will not be going back. Lisa O'Grady is the principal but you can never get a hold of her. I have been told that she wasn't there and then walked in to find her to definitely be there. I have left messages that were never returned. I hear teachers and staff talking openly about a parent they don't like or a child's behavior. These things should be kept confidential. No one seems to be interested in resolving a problem to the parent's satisfaction. The attitude seems to be "if you don't like it - tough" My child has always loved school, but this year at Imagine has ruined the feeling and all I hear is "I hate school" This is terrible and we have a lot of healing to recover from this devastating year. Please consider another school. This one does not care about your child.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my 7th grader's first year at Imagine and he continually tells me how much he likes it. He's getting straight A's, works hard, and has a deep respect for his teachers (which surprised me coming from a 13 year old!) The teachers are well educated and excited by what they do. At conferences time all five of his teachers sat with me as a group and together shared his progress. What a great way to get feedback. Most importantly the teachers show a love for their jobs and respect for my son, which I know makes him happy to go to school each day...and want to learn more. He does do PE, art and music...so don't worry. They are getting all that. As for the school as a whole, there's a wonderful sense of community there. It certainly feels like a welcoming place. My twins will be starting Kindergarten there in the fall!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I am so happy that I have all THREE of my children at Imagine. My only regret is that I didn't enroll them sooner. EVERYONE is so nice. Regardless how busy the day is for Mrs. O'Grady, she is out there every a.m. helping the kids out of the car "with a smile." As soon as you walk into the building you are greeted by Ms. Butler who is always professional. The kids just love her. There are teachers who aren't my kids teachers who know me by first name and know all my kids. They always say hi when you pass by them. The entire staff has been so helpful and I know if I or my children needed anything that I can go to anyone of them and get RESULTS! My children are so happy to be attending Imagine. They do have PE, Music, Art, and Library time. They also get to go on field trips unlike they did at Public School. The ladies in the cafeteria have gotten to know my children's face just by them going through the lunch line and know them now by first name. They see them on campus and always say HI. This is a very family oriented school which is great. There isn't one teacher that I've met there that I wouldn't want my child to have. WE LOVE IMAGINE and THE IMAGINE FAMILY!
—Submitted by a parent

The office staff is very disrespectful especially Marie. The school staff say they wants the students to be honest, respectful, and integrity and yet they lack that themselves. If you need principal O' Grady for any reason they say that she is busy and they give you her voice mail. Kristy Kendall lacks ethics and a moral compass and should not be in a position of disciplining the students when she acts as bad as they do. My children frequently come come with bumps and bruises. This school has a discipline problem. The teachers are very confrontational you cannot talk with them civil about your concerns about you child without them taking offense. In fact the front office worker Marie told me to that Imagine is a choice school so if I don't like the school to send my children elsewhere ....that's real professionalism there... And the PTO meetings are worthless its just a bunch of egos. Until this school makes some serious changes you are better off sending your child to public school or another private school.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter used to go to Belle Terre were she was intimidated and teacher screamed at her she was getting sick in the mornings not wanting to go to school for the first nine weeks in first grade. I had no choice but to place her at Imagine School which is 25mins away from my home. Ever since my daughter started this school she had a big change in attitude and in learning. Very happy with Imagine they all work together as a team and focus on important things and most important RESPECT! She will definitely finish all the way thru 8grade.
—Submitted by a parent

I transferred my son to Imagine to repeat kindergarten last year. Within 1 week all teachers working the car rider line new his name and greeted him warmly. Uniforms not only make our mornings easy but instill a sense of responsibility in my son - he knows when he puts on his uniform he's going to "work". The school just started an after school performing arts program that we're very excited about! Parent involvement is mandatory which helps in countless ways. Highly recommend! (A comment was made about the car-rider line in a previous post. It is working smoothly now. I heard many parents from other schools moaning during those first few weeks as well.)
—Submitted by a parent

The post from September 4th obviously has never been in ISTC. The school offers PE, Art, Music and array of after school activities that have done great things in our community (featured in all local newspapers). Its seems that this person did not receive a job so lets bash a school. The teachers are awesome, the programs cater to the individual student and as far as the building or pick up line; instead of complaining parents, do something about it!! Talk to your child's teacher, volunteer to help with the line. Every school has problems to solve; only Imagine will let the parents be part of the solution!
—Submitted by a parent

What good is a school if social programs such as PE, Art and other classes of the such are not offered. Most schools offer these yet imagine does not. Also, I think that as long as your a friend of a friend of a friend of you dog groomers cousin, you can get a teaching job here. It's who you know, not what you know or how you teach. Not happy with this school. Also heard that although more buildings were built , the financial mess that the school is in, will be exposed soon.
—Submitted by a parent

Is anyone out there paying attention to the new "pick-up" line after school. Outrageous and demonstrates a total lack of planning. Let's increase the student population by aprox. 400 without any consideration or planning for the increase in traffic flow. We're now driving on sidewalks to get the children! Laughable if not so sad, and don't forget to allow another 1/2 tank of gas a week just to idle in the heat for 1/2 or more. Even the sheriff's assisting traffic are not happy about this total lack of foresight by the school causing traffic jams. Common sense literally went out with the baby's bath water on this one!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Imagine is the best school in Flagler County by far...Moved our son here mid-year, he so much happier and his school work has improved drastically. He was so far behind from Belle Terre. At imagine they take their time with the students and spend some actual one on one time with them which is so important and most public schools do not have the time or care to do this..My son is not just another body at this school the Staff are wonderful and all take the time to get to know the students on a personal level everyone knows our son there and he feels important..All I can say is wonderful things about this school, too many to list..
—Submitted by a parent

This school is so different from any of the area's public schools for many reasons, but the one that drew me to it was the smaller size. My children can excel and shine in a smaller environment and that does a lot for their self esteem. I do not feel that my children are receiving less of an education or lower standards. True, many of the teachers have very little experience, but their passion for what they do is much more consistent. My children are actually being TAUGHT instead of TESTED. If the state and county would let the public school teachers TEACH, there would be less of a difference. However, given the current political climate, Imagine blows away all local elementary schools for the needs of my particular children, based on my priorities as a parent. All of that with a LOT less money from the district, too.
—Submitted by a parent

People are complaining about trifling things like no library, no music rooms, not enough social activities, no P.E course/its own space, no art room. But let me ask you this; what does any of these things do for your child in the long run? The people who are going to except your child into their college aren't going to be running through your child's middle school life to find out Oh hey! You participated in P.E, good for you!" If you want your child to exercise and the school doesn't have the resources, YOU make them. if you want them to excel at art, BE A PARENT, all you need to do is say keep up the good work and supply them art pencils. Do not expect this school to give something it cant due to its funding, if you are, that is foolish. Don't let school do the job you as a parent should be doing. As for the leadership skills that so many of you say your child or student lacks, whose fault do you think that is? The teachers? The students themselves? No, it s you the parents! if you believe your child lacks something its because you lacked to give it to them. Do not expect these teachers to do the job of a parent.

people do not deal with imagine, they dont have to worry, unless your kid was not listening to you when you told him/her to ride or not ride the bus and they do not show up where yuo would like them to be... that isnt imagines fault, its between you and your child. do not start yelling at them for something they did not mean to happen because of your communication skills. this school is free, a free amazing school with reg school dances and field trips, eduacation, it might not be a higher as in honors classes, but it is regualar, your kids will pass, they dont have to be the smartest, they will get it sooner or later. let me tell you who are reading this something, high school has a lot less communacation skills then imagine, they will contact you if anything you should know about is happening or has happend, between your childs saftey and events going on and other things. be proud of this school and how well its done, not bag on it...

Great school, teacher and leadership. Will be looking forward to the new school there are building. I hope it has a gym do to there will be no more land for the children.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall I am glad I put in ISTC. However not all the teachers are great. My child's teacher last year constantly yelled at the class and when my child asked a question, he was told to be quiet and go sit down. This happened more than once. This teacher also yelled at the class to "be frickin quiet". My son's FCAT score dropped to below average in one category because he was afraid to ask this teacher for more scrap paper. Bad/grumpy teachers happen in every school. Overall I am satisfied with the school, curriculum is the same for all the students, teachers know your child very well, and the homework doesn't take more than 30 minutes as night. But it is not the educational paradise that some parents think it is.
—Submitted by a parent

The Imagine School Town Center needs a stronger leadership role, this includes within all staff. The curriculum is weak, and the teachers need to improve in all aspects of teaching. This school should also have challenging academic programs, and has to stop hiring friends and family, and needs to expand the hiring from the outside. Imagine School can be a wonderful school overall, if they stick to their mission, and philosophy of what Imagine Schools stand for.
—Submitted by a parent