Thayer Elementary School

It is now a K - 5 school. It isn't the best I have seen. But it isn't the worst either. I have one child attending. Everything they do from needing supplies to putting on an event just seems really hush hush. Very hard to find out expectations of events and what is going on in classroom. The reports of progress (if any)are so vague and very standard. The year almost over and they have yet to have a parent/teacher conferences like in past at other schools we have attended. We don't get much homework and few papers are returned. I suppose if there was a gap or if she needs extra help they would tell me right? We are not from here and haven't lived here in the past. I have never before felt like an outsider on a military installation like here.
—Submitted by a parent

My children attend Thayer and are receiving a great education. I could not be happier. They will work with you no matter the situation to help your child succeed. I highly recommend this school to everyone.
—Submitted by a parent

This school seems to have difficulty in many area's. I agree that the principal and leadership are VERY weak. I also agree that if you have struggling students, you should look elsewhere. I also agree that if you have accellerated students, they will be bored to death. They also have several MEAN teachers that you should hope and pray your child does not get. These teachers are rude, mean and sarcastic to students. The lunch lady is terrible. Awfully mean/rude/sarcastic to students. There are a few great teachers, I might add. But the great teachers are overshadowed by the bad ones, and their bad attitudes towards the kids. It's a shame our children are spoken to so poorly. Librarian is great. Nurse is great. Not sure I would rec this school to anyone, though.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been at Thayer for the past 8 months and has had a wonderful experience there. I have never had a problem with his teacher, the pricipal, or office staff. He is learning wonderfully and my only wish is that we weren't moving in June so that he could go to Thayer again next year!
—Submitted by a parent

I agree that the principal is very, very weak. He seems more interested in how he appears to school district officials than holding teachers and students to high academic standards. His only priority: Teach the MAP Test! Does he know what good schools do???
—Submitted by a parent

My son Loved this school. I have a couple of problems but they were quickly taken care of.. My son went to Kinder, First and some or second grade here.. Mrs, Gann is the best teacher at this school.. and Angel(the office secretary is awesome!!. Also the school nurse is great as well. I wish I could have taken this school with us when we moved
—Submitted by a parent

Bottom line: The current principal has a great character flaw. He will do or say anything to maintain the status quo at Thayer and his golden boy repuatation with school district officials. Know that is his weakness, and you can secure whatever you need for your child. However, if you have a special needs or struggling child, seriously look elsewhere. If you have a highly performing straight A student, he will do well--on paper-- but will be bored to death. This school is all about textbooks, state tests, and worksheets. Military parents: Look hard and dig deep below the sparkling surface. This school has very poor leadership. Good teachers don't grow; bad teachers continue to teach bad. Thayer does not offer the child-centered, diverse education that all military children deserve.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a student in kindergarden at Thayer elementery school. My child has an excellent teacher and is doing quite well in school. Her teacher's name is Cindy Garrison and I highly reccomend her to all other parents.
—Submitted by a parent

I think this is a great school. My children have loved attending school here.
—Submitted by a parent

Great principal, great teachers, great staff, great parents, great students. This school caters extremely well to military families. It would be nice if a foreign language program could be added as an extracurricular activity.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have attended this school since they began Kindergarten. The teachers that we have had have been kind, compassionate and willing to meet the needs of all children. Whenever I walk into the classroom, students are actively engaged in learning. Reading is high-priority at this school, and this really has helped my children become lifelong readers. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this school to others. The principal, however, is new and lacks the leadership that I feel is necessary to run a school.
—Submitted by a parent

My children attented for three years. When we moved to our new duty station, both of my girls were ahead of their peers.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. The teachers take an interest in each student and their learning. Teachers actively use technology in the classroom and employ multiple intellegence strategies to reach the highest number of students. Extra curricular activies such as a reading club, upper and lower grade choir, and special tutoring in math and reading meet the needs of students. Yes, additional aides would be helpful, and the library gets woefully few additional books each year, but these are problems faced everywhere. I don't know who wrote review number 2, but I've always seen this school's principal as firm, but fair to students. Parent involvement varies from year to year with new parents coming in, but the teachers are always willing to have parents helping in the classroom and with extra projects. One of the better school districts we've been in.
—Submitted by a staff

LD services are lacking at this school. The teachers are over taxed. They do the best that they can. They are in need of trained, paid, teacher aids. This is a system wide issue.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the Principal of the school is horrible. She talks down to students and makes them feel stupid. The teachers only care about having the students sit like robots all day long. Please send your child to another school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the best school in the district. I have hade children in grades k-5. Some teachers are better than others. The administration is great and caring. My children enjoy this school though the homework is heavy at times.
—Submitted by a parent