Gis Elementary School

My children are in first and second grade at East Elementary this year, 2006. Their experience has been positive due to the strong principal - teacher - parent relationship. The principal is heavily involved with all activities. The teachers are highly trained and overall, very loving to the children. My advice is get involved. No matter where your children go to school, get involved. If the staff and teachers know your face and know you care about your children and their school, they are more apt to seek you out to help with activities, to volunteer in the room or even when there is an issue with your child. At East... Everyone Always Stands Together.
--Submitted by a parent

While East Elementary is improving under the leadership of a new principal, the special ed. program is light-years behind many other districts with regards to inclusion and access to the general curriculum. Problems include lack of funds to provide enough aides so that children can be included with their peers for regular classroom time as well as special events, lack of understanding from the teachers in general with regards to how to work with children with multiple disabilities, and lack of accountability for the education and progress these children make. Hopefully, if the school district will voluntarily work with experts in the field of special ed, as well as parents and staff, we can improve conditions for everyone involved. I will rate the school per the categories listed below, however, keep in mind that I am critiqueing the special ed, and not the overall school.
--Submitted by a parent

In the past year I have been very disappointed with East, I am waiting to see if a new principal will make the changes necessary to give our kids the chance to excel. There are some good teachers but many of the methods this school uses are nowhere near good enough. Too many children are being floated to the next grade without the tools they need to succeed. And too many of the teachers seem to not care, 'let the next teacher worry about it'. Someone needs to reenergize them. Every child that walks out of your classroom is a reflection on you as a teacher. No child is unreachable or unteachable stop being afraid to try new methods and start making learning fun again. For those of us unable to move out of your district,give us a reason to feel confident in you.
--Submitted by a parent

I think East schools is one of the Best Schools I have seen in a long time. This new Principal (wow!) She is doing an outstanding job! Its a bouns to see all the activies that are going on... This school is really involved in whats important our kids.
--Submitted by a parent