Donnie Bickham Middle School

I'm certainly glad DON posted his cooment (oldest one) a LONG time ago. DON, you don't understand how special ed works at all. Parents begin the process of identifying a child for special ed. There is only so much the school or school system can do. My second child is attending DBMS this year, and I must say that BOTH Mr. Windham AND Mr. Wall have been huge part or my child's success, as well as the teachers that were there then AND now. We love DBMS and we LOVE Blanchard and Blanchard Elementary School! VERY BEST schools anywhere!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I'm just curious as to how you come up with the ratings for each posting. I noticed that the postings that spoke negatively about DBMS were rated very low yet the postings which spoke highly of the school or it's staff rated very high. Seems to me this site may be biased. Therefore my question are...Who rates the postings and if it's done by the site itself, how do they determine the rating? Can we, as parents, rate a comment and if so how do we do it?
--Submitted by a parent

Donnie Bickham is an asset to the community in north Shreveport as well as the entire city. The administration, faculty and staff have been strong providers for a well rounded, world-class education since it's inception. Both my children attended Donnie Bickham and were quite successful in high school because of the strong academic foundation they received. Thanks to the guidance and forward thinking of the principal and his support staff for the academic discipline and high expectations of our future leaders.
--Submitted by a parent

I have one child currently attending DBMS and one that is now in high school and attended DBMS. I would recommend DBMS to anyone. The administration, teachers, and staff are the best. The technology is great and getting better every day. There are clubs, sports, music, and just about anything else you could ask for. If you haven't seen DBMS lately, you need to check it out. It's the best.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a 6th grader currently attending Donnie Bickham and a 10th grader who attended Donnie Bickham in grades 6-8. I am very pleased with the quality of education my child has received while attending Donnie Bickham. The Principal, faculty, and staff have been incredibly kind and have made the transition from elementary to middle school a very positive experience. The new administration, advances in the use of technology, and changes in the way that the school communicates with parents have all been steps in the right direction, making Donnie Bickham, in my opinion, the best middle school in Shreveport.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a local educator, and my child attended Donnie Bickham in grades 6 - 8. He is now attending a highly respected high school in Shreveport where he is making straight As. True, he was not offered a foreign language at DBMS, but he was offered a quality education and an incredible middle school experience. What I have found is that most former students and parents who complain about the quality of education at DBMS were not enrolled in the enriched classes. I have another child who will attend DBMS in just a couple of years. She is currently in the gifted program. Yes, DBMS will have gifted beginning the 2009 school year - I've already checked. Finally, Donnie Bickham's new principal has an open door policy, and he really listens to the community. For instance, he is currently pursuing a Spanish teacher for the 2009 school year.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a currently a teacher at Donnie Bickham. I have been there for almost 5 years and my experience has been excellent. Donnie Bickham has a very safe and structured environment. The faculty always the best interest of the students at heart, and the administration is very strong and fair. Also, Bickham is one of the only true neighborhood schools left. There are new and exciting things coming to Donnie Bickham everyday! For example, we have state of the art technology in EVERY classroom. There will be a gifted program at Bickham for the 2009-2010 school year, and we will soon be the home of a brand new athletic complex!
--Submitted by a teacher

I attended Donnie Bickham and then transitioned to a more challenging high school in Shreveport. At Donnie Bickham, I was arguably the best in my class, but in comparison to other college-bound students, I was behind in all subjects, had no foreign language preparation, was not well-informed about the requirements to earn admission to colleges outside of Louisiana, and I had to work exceptionally hard to catch up to my peers. In addition, the school transitioned to having school uniforms, which actually distracted students and teachers in the classroom...because they were trying to enforce ridiculous regulations about the way in which we dressed. However, these rules may be enforced more smoothly now. My experience with extracurricular activities was extremely positive, I will say this for the school, and I always felt safe.
--Submitted by a student

You should know that parents, not schools, put their children in special ed. Bickham is an excellent school, with a plethora of outstanding educators, all the way from the principal to the paraprofessionals. My children got an outstanding education at DBMS, because I ensured that what was taught at school was reinforced at home. The problems many students face are that they don't come to school with the social skills needed to interact properly with others and many don't get reinforcement on the lessons learned once they leave school every day. Those parents whom are very involved in their children's school life have been consistently pleased with Donnie Bickham Middle School. Thanks!
--Submitted by a parent

The '06-'07 school year will be my son's last at DBMS and we have both enjoyed the school. As a mother, I appreciate the concern and willingness to work on an individual basis regarding issues which have concerned either my child or myself. We have dealt with everything from first year intimidation (others may call it 'bullying') to questions involving teaching methods. In sixth grade, we addressed a not-so-obvious self-esteem dilemma my son had developed being a 'new kid in a new school', as well as the usual and ongoing minor problems in the area of homework. The counselors were helpful in offering suggestions and they were gracious enough to listen to my input as well. Everyone involved was eager to lend an ear and provide feedback which helped us all to find mutually effective solutions. Overall, our experience at DBMS has been a great success. Get involved and get results!
--Submitted by Christi, a parent