Pearsontown Elementary School

I I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!! This is the BEST school in Durham!!! The quality of education at our school is amazing. We strive to meet the needs of ALL of our students at Pearsontown. We have excellent teachers and teacher assistants. The MAIN focus for teachers and teacher assistants at Pearsontown is the STUDENTS. If you are considering this school, please send your child(ren). We would LOVE to have them join our Panda family!
--Submitted by a teacher

Hard working teachers, teaching assistants and staff are the people you will find at Pearsontown Elementary School. This year has been a challenging one for everyone one at Pearsontown, all the staff and the parents. Each day I come to work excited to be with my students, I seek advise from colleagues and look for fun innovative lessons and activities. Despite some of the challenges we have faced this year, I am proud to be a teacher at Pearsontown and plan to spend as many years as I possibly can at this school. I feel so very blessed to be a part of this school. It is my hope that we can stop posting so many negative things and start focusing on all the wonderful things that happen at Pearsontown. Change is in your hands and mine and I plan on making to best of my year.
--Submitted by a teacher

I love my school and I love my students. If I could not work at Pearsontown, I would not be a teacher. I have had offers for much more money based on my prior experiences. The reason Pearsontown has AIG students in classes with only certified teachers is based on a North Carolina General Statute. But there are students who are not identified as "AIG" who are also in class with certified teachers. Change is difficult, but it is everywhere. Just remember "poly" is latin for many and ticks are those little blood suckers... thus politics are simply many little blood suckers. They have nothing to do with children or their education if we all remember that and to everything we can possibly do to help our future generation!!!!
--Submitted by a teacher

The reputation of Pearsontown changed before the current principal arrived. The last principal left a chaotic mess at the school while revamping some of the programs. Stop pointing fingers at each other and try to solve the problem. Maybe the current principal could adjust her leadership style. However, some of the teachers need to come off their thrones of glory and look in the mirror. Grow up and act like professionals. My child comes home almost daily sharing information about what is going on at the school. Stop talking in front of the children, they are listening. It makes you wonder, if all of this dialog is happening in front of the children who is teaching and monitoring them. This is a very sad situation. Teachers and staff, if you are not happy why not look for a job elsewhere. I want my chld to be educated, not taught to gossip. Parents, teachers, administration and community lets bring Pearsontown back to the stop.
--Submitted by a parent

Pearsontown is not what it seems.It is not one of the top schools in DPS. The current principal is not bad. It could be worse. She is an advocate of at risk kids and provides tutoring before and afterschool as well as intervention. I also like how child care services are provided for select students in several classrooms during intersession and afterschool.This is a savings for some due to the fact that this not through DPS Community Education which is extremely costly. No other school offers. Test scores are high when you have AIG students clustered in one class per grade level and a select student population are accepted in. Not fair. Some of the teachers, assistants, and staff are obnoxious and unprofessional. Some talk to the kids unappropriately and if the teacher do not like your child or parents the child is targeted or belittled. The school is very old and needs to be renovated. I think more parents are speaking out about Pearsontown now because fingers are being pointed . I encourage all parents to speak out and let your voices be heard. The community should be aware of the fact that there are other schools better than Pearsontown. Think twice before enrolling your child.
--Submitted by a parent

Pearsontown Elementary has had the reputation for being one of the highest performing schools in Durham for many years, even when adapting to various leaders and their leadership styles. While I may not agree with everything that Dr. McLaughlin says, I respect her and her ability to help us maintain the status of excellence. Change can be hard, especially when we whine and lose focus on what is best for our children. I have found our principal to be a good listener. So, Instead of talking about her, talk to her. Let's direct our stress where it should be-- on added local and state mandates.
--Submitted by a teacher

I am very pleased with the administrative team, teachers, and staff. My child was very fortunate to get into such a wonderful school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very happy with Pearsontown teachers...my kids have had great experiences with Mrs. Bevan, Ms. Stanziale, Mrs. Stewart, Ms. Trapp and Ms. Brown! LOve them!
--Submitted by a parent

My kids(now 5th & 4th graders) started attending this school since Kindergarten and all I have is just praise for this school and its teachers. This school has the most hardworking teachers I have known. We moved to Wake county to cut down down on our commute time since my husband & I both work in downtown Raleigh, but this Durham county school has a lot more to offer than the wake county schools do. Their teachers are very good, highly organized, communicative with parents, innovative teaching styles( ABOLUTELY LOVE Ms. DeChesere, MS.BROWN(all time favorite), Ms. Stewart & Ms.Trapp). The curriculum though similar to Wake county schools, seems to be highly advanced and love the new principal too!!
--Submitted by a parent

After years of applying my child was finally accepted as a 4th grader. We have been VERY happy with the quality of the education at the school. The school is not the fanciest, but the teachers are excellent.
--Submitted by a parent