L B Johnson Middle School

My child is in special ed and the teachers seem to be good but the assistant principal for special ed Jennifer Montano does not care about the children, if you give her complaints she will never follow up. If you tell her something about your child for example....you feel your child is not in the right placement or class she will always fight you back and have something to say against you as if she knows your child better than you. She has a really bad attitude and does not like to be bothered with parents. When you complain to the principal he refers you back to her he is lazy and doesn't do anything.
—Submitted by a parent

my daughter attended this school in 7th grade and first semester of 8th grade. this school does not put up with misbehavior from students and all rules and especially the dress code were strictly enforced. teachers are in halls between classes monitoring what is going on. i also volunteered at the front desk so i witnessed parents being called continuosly for misconduct. it is a safe environment and they are 100% anti bullying---if you have a disruptive rule breaker type child they will not make it at this school...
—Submitted by a parent

RECORD YOUR CONVERSATIONS! I had a huge problem last year while my child was in 7th gr. While learning that my child missed class, I was told by the art teacher how my child explained to her the reason she was gone was due to being hurt on the foot she had foot surgery on a week before. The teacher questioned me. I confirmed my child DID have foot surgery. I asked the teacher if she had offered my child an opportunity to go to the nurse's office to be checked. She argued with me. I asked her again, "Did you offer my child a chance to go to the nurse?" She argued more. She began yelling. I requested the principal's contact information from her. The teacher then pulled an UNBELIEVABLE stunt. She started screaming, "I wont be talked to this way, I wont' be abused!" At the time of that conversation I had lost my voice and could not speak normally. I had to whisper. I could NOT yell and never did, nor would I. It became very clear that the Art teacher was crying wolf; acting like a "victim". When the fact was she began yelling the moment I requested to talk to her supervisor. How sickening, appalling and UNETHICAL!!. I will never trust the administrators of this school!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is terrible. I began seeing problems from day one. I was informed this school does not accept failure but my son consistently failed every subject he needed to be placed in special education they did not do not anything to assess him until the week before he got out of 8th grade. I even volunteered at the school on a regular basis. There was no communication. Now my daughter who is in 8th is having problems and the school is not addressing this correctly. She is being bullied in the classroom with the teacher present, and the couselors state that there is nothing they can do. The only thing going for this school is parent volunteers.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is an 8th grader this year and we have been very happy with our three years at LBJ. We have had some issues with bullying, but after speaking with the teachers and also the administration, in some cases, it has been taken care of. It is very important that parents be involved in their children's school as much as possible. The parents who are involved are generally happier than the parents who leave everything up to the school. I have and would recommend LBJ.
—Submitted by a parent

The highlight of this school is the music program. Both the orchestra and band teachers are outstanding. My son attended 6-8th grade and was in the 'gifted' program. During his 6th grade year, the gifted program included science and math. Mid-year 2008, the one gifted teacher that my son liked transferred to another school. They were only able to fill the position with teachers with English, literature, and social studies qualifications, so those were the only 'gifted' classes offered. I discussed this with the gifted program coordinator, but she basically said that is just the way it is. I thought that it was a terrible waste of instruction time, since there are many more interesting teaching opportunities in science and technology fields; compared to decomposing sentence structures and studying literature themes and plot techniques. Otherwise, the AP courses were OK, and overall my son had a reasonably good experience at the school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is special needs and gifted and just started school here for 6th grade. I have found the teachers very helpful and willing to work with my child. I especially appreciate the PE program which has accommodated my son and his needs. I also appreciate that they have started some new programs for these children this year. The nurse is great and very understanding with the children. I also like the anti-bullying program they have in place and that they segregate the 6th 7th and 8th graders. The only complaints I have are with the special ed program. Since my son's class is brand new there are some growing pains, but especially problematic is that the head of the special ed dept seems to be overworked and overwhelmed. This is more due to having enough people to do the work as opposed to the teachers and staff from trying to do their best for the school. Hopefully this will improve
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the comments about the school's focus. I don't know if it is the administration, or the parents, or the teachers, but there is far more focus on adherance to dress code than on education. The past principal was terrible, and despite my best efforts to meet and address one teacher's abusive and discriminatory behavior, she never met with me once. It took letters to the chief of staffing at APS to get any action taken. The current principal is clearly focused on discipline rather than progressive approaches to education, but at least he was available to meet with me and addressed the bullying behavior one of my children was experiencing. Some of the teachers have been wonderful. Some of the teachers are not there for the kids. The atmosphere of the school is not conducive to a quality education.
—Submitted by a parent

This School is great what are you guys talking about. I feel the comunication is poor because the kids parents choose not to stand on the teachers side and take their childs side. You guys should grow up and stop being your child's friend, because each school you go to there is discipline and different methods of teaching. Teachers have a harder job becuase you guys dont choose to disiplice your childreen so thats why they are disrespectful to others and bully others. DISIPINE YOUR KIDS STOP ACCUSSING THE TEACHERS

I love the music department! We have an amazing Band and Orchestra, taught by incredible teachers! Great Job!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Beware of LBJ Middle school! There is a huge culture of 'bullying' here, and most of it happens in the classroom with the teacher watching! A huge problem though is the new principal. He 'bullies' the kids just as much as other kids do!
—Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend this school to anyone. The communication between staff and families is non-existant. My child went from staight A's to barely passing. The teachers overload these student with homework.
—Submitted by a parent

I want to transfer my child to another school because of the poor eduation and lack of fair disipline to both parties, unfair displine actions to minority children. Trying to get a transfer is like trying to get my child out of prision. They'r more concerned about dress code than education.
—Submitted by a parent

I think LBJ is the most wonderful school ever! The teachers are great and the school communicates with the parents often. I would recommend this school to alot of people, so come and join LBJ middle school!
—Submitted by a student

LBJ is the most wonderful in all of Albuquerque . The staff is great to studets and parents. They keep the parentts very up to date on things happening at school.
—Submitted by a teacher

As a parent, I have found it difficult to discuss concerns with administration here. I have found that many of the teachers are wonderful and are willing to work with parents and students and show a true concern for the education of students. As an active member in the PTO, I have a deep concern regarding administration's attitude toward the dress code here. I feel that 'policing' the dress code takes too much time away from actual education and brings the educational atmosphere down. I hope more parents can get more involved in the school, and hopefully, work to bring about necessary changes.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school with a wonderful staff and good leadership. If you look at the data, the performance exceeds other schools in the area consistently. This school has high expectations, sends home frequent information and works well with parents. The only drawback I see is the high number of student transfers into the school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is terrible and I would not recommend anything about it. It's obvious that the 'glowing' reviews come from administrators, as no parent (or teacher) would honestly write such things. The few great teachers have all left for other schools, communication is zero for parents and, as one teacher told me, they are 'kept in the dark' as well. With a new administration, changes could be made that would benefit everyone, but sadly, that hasn't happened. Students are not educated enough here to compete in high school and then college. No wonder the drop-out rate here is abysmal. There are so many better schools in the area---parents, pick another school and send your kids there, not here! Horrible!!!
—Submitted by a parent

There is a serious lack of communication at this school on all levels including student/faculty and parent/faculty. Response time is poor if there is a response at all. Parent/Teacher conferences were a joke. Staff try to pacify parents rather than find solutions. Great teachers are few.
—Submitted by a parent

this school needs to focus more on these kids academic needs and keeping in touch with parents instead of their dress code. I have made several calls to teachers with no responds.
—Submitted by a parent