Jackson Elementary School

Our daughter started Kindergarten at Val Jackson in fall 2012. We have enjoyed the staff, and administration thus far. The kindergarten teachers are teaching the students how to read with a success of the read well program last year and trying it again this year. Our daughter is learning what we expect them to learn at this age. We are also making sure we do our part at home for her to excel. The behavioral system is great with our child. The traffic light system... We wish we had it growing up.
—Submitted by a parent

As a a parent of of 2 former students who attended this school., I concur with the last post. I do not understand why the district supt. does not clean house here and replace this administration. Many good teachers are being abused in front of students and this is being done by the school leader.There appears to be racial selection of students and staff, and exclusion of others. What message do we teach our children? . If you are not in this schools majority , you feel fear- inadequacy, Why is this reverse discrimination being allowed? These messages are why we have bullying. 259 do something quick , this is a volitale situation.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal at this school is unbelievable. I do not work there, but I am a friend of one of the staff members who currently works there. She [the principal] will transfer teachers to other schools without any words as to why. She has a click of teachers from a previous school that she would gladly take a bullet for. However, if you are not in her click, she will throw you under the bus. In a confidential survey the staff said that she was unapproachable. She LAUGHED at this!! In front of her STAFF!!! Is that the type of woman you would want to work for? She refuses to give feedback to her teachers (positive or negative) without giving a formal observation. She is uncaring and inconsiderate. Sorry this isn't more of a review about the school, but I think that the leadership of the school is a good reflection of what the school is like. This is not a woman I would want to work for. I think you should think VERY CAREFULLY before working here or sending your children to school here. The staff are good people, but she is moving good teachers out of the building for nothing more than personal distaste. At this rate, the school will be even more poor than it is very soon

As a parent of a gifted child I find that the school and staff seem to resent the gifted students. it doesn't seem like they are doing anything to help the program grow, especially since there isn't even enough room for one of the classes. The class is crowded in a very small room not intended for a classroom. Why aren't these kids' needs as important as students' on the other end of the spectrum? is there only one kind of diversity at this school?
—Submitted by a parent

principal and staff as a whole was rude, in effective and favored certain students and families in the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have bee a parent at Jackson for four years now. Yes we have seen some leadership changes and they each brought something new to the school. We have a great leader now and she is building her team and improvements have been seen and more will come. My oldest daughter has a great teacher and provides her and I great support. Which I will miss once she moves classes next year. My youngest daughter is doing good but has a class size of 23 which is not a lot of time to spend with a teacher, so I hope for a smaller class for her next year. If you are an active parent you will see the good things that are happening at your school. If you are not active you will tend to focus on the negative.
—Submitted by a parent

My child's teacher was organized , provided rigor and structured lessons, but the principal and staff as a whole was rude, in effective and favored certain students and families in the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I really liked my son's teacher, she worked hard, stayed late, had a challenging curriculum, and his scores went up alot. The school as a whole tho, was not as good as his last school. The kids were disrespectful to teachers and other students. The lunch room was out of control. It had a behavior plan that did not work for the kids who were out of control and was too stict for kids who did not need it.
—Submitted by a parent

This school was a huge mistake to go to ,we ended up changing schools ,my sons were behind so much from going to school here ,but they finally caught up and at a school they like now
—Submitted by Forest, a parent

My experience at Jackson has been positive. The staff and administration is open to questions and any issue I have raised has been addressed. The students are orderly and this allows for a calm learning environment, which increases student achievement. The school is fortunate to have had 2 strong principals since it opened in 2004. For a relatively new school, the staff has done a fine job of taking on academic challenges they inherited from other schools and building a foundation for success. I am proud to be a Jackson parent.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter in the 1st grade. I enjoy and appreciate (Mrs. Robinson) her teacher's efforts in pushing the student to do well and understand new information.But due to her changing teachers for next year, I am afraid she will not get that same dedication from her future teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I am extremely impressed with the intermediate self- contained gifted teacher who is new this year. I would like to see the principal more involved, and other teachers more friendly. The specials teachers do an awesome job too.
—Submitted by a parent

My too sons we always trated as outsiders there because of the diversity they have at the schol but my kinigardener once we moved was so far behind compaired to other schools ,he like his new school because the school is not near as strict but feel like we wasted a year ar Jackson because there was no one on one help and no caring that now he will probably have to repeat a grade because the difference in what and how they teach at Jackson
—Submitted by a parent

The school is too strict , the rules are intended to keep control, but end up being like a military, and stifle students fun to learn, and enjoy school. The teachers are mean and do not really teach- the principal is uninvolved, and appears to have an agenda for 'projects' not running a school- I never see him in the halls with kids- or involved in student successes- he lets the clique teachers over run him and he does not ask parent input for the new behavior plan that requires students to walk all around the building and not talk- not talk in the lunch room, and Not talk in class hallways, only when spoken to--- way to strict
—Submitted by a parent

I enrolled my son just this year into kindergarten. I liked the ethnic diversity even though he is very much a minority. The teachers do seem to hold children accountable for their actions and the principal follows through as well. My complaints are that my son, again is in kindergarten. He is not rude or mean or even disrespectful however he is a talker. He is made to sit by himself facing a wall and frequently he is asked to leave his classroom to go be with another random teacher because he needs time to 'think.' Also, latchkey offeres honeybuns for breakfast and coco puffs for snack at 4:30. I feel like the children are not given enough quallity attention but instead are made to feel like an inconvenience.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter started at Jackson in 2006. Jackson Elementary was open to students in 2004. Although my daughter was kinda scared at the ethnic diversity, she ended up okay with it. The education is a little below average in my opinion. The teachers try to teach, but the parents are not holding the children up to the excellence that they can achieve. My son will not be attending Jackson, but my daughter will be staying due to ethnic differences in my children.
—Submitted by a parent