Henry Zarrow International School

After reading the other reviews I wanted to make sure that it was known that since then the principal in question has left and new one came and went and we are now under the direction of an awesome principal. Sra. Wester has been highly praised by parents at her former school and they were sad to see her leave. Their loss is our gain. Zarrow is an excellent school and a great opportunity for our children. Parent participation is like none other I have ever seen. They truly take to heart the old saying "it takes a village to raise a child" I'm so thankful to be a part of that!
--Submitted by a parent

Zarrow offers students the chance to become bilingual which is a great asset. With only 2 classes per grade, it has an intimate feel that cannot be achieved at some of the larger schools. The parents tend to be very involved which is both a blessing and a curse. No school is able to meet every one's needs but being at Zarrow has been a mostly positive experience for our family.
--Submitted by a parent

The bad news is this school has performed far below its potential because of the poor leadership. The good news is the principal has now been removed (effective at the end of this school year). Now there is at least a chance for this school to become what it was intended. This bold move by the Tulsa Public Schools administration was the right thing to do and will benefit the kids tremendously. Just think, no more bickering about the principal. And, teacher turnover should now reduce down to the average of other schools. The work of all the parents who spent so much of their time and energy trying to improve this school by forcing a change in leadership has now paid off. Congratulations to everyone who participated. And, to the skeptics, I am sure you will see a brighter future for your children now.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a Zarrow parent now for 4 years. I know every school has it's areas for improvement. With that being said Zarrow is a wonderful school with wonderful teachers and a wonderful prinicpal. I am sure some parents who read this comment will not agree and will try to disclaim me but I have been a very involved parent for all the years that I have been at Zarrow and I can honestly say the principal is one of the hardest working prinicpals that I've ever seen. She truly has our children's best intesterests at heart as well as her staff. I have seen her prove this time and time again. I am thrilled that all of my children have had the opportunity to attend Zarrow. It has been a wonderful experience for us and them overall.
--Submitted by a parent

The individual teacher and parent commitment holds this school together, The childredn receive a decent education. There is a hugh and dissapointing gap in what this program is and what it could be. Parent commitment, teacher commitment and the immersion concept should provide innovative, world class results. It presently produces good results. Incompetent leadership is seen in the micromanagement of small details, while larger issues such as ciriculum are neglected. There is to be a trend to remove ones child once the Spanish emphasis is removed in the upper grades. There is little excitement for education from the children or the staff. Fair management-very poor leadership. Very sad.
--Submitted by a parent

The situation at Zarrow is complicated. The parents are interested and try to be involved. By positioning herself as the protector of the teachers, the principal has put a glass wall between the parents and teachers. Parent input that is embraced in other schools is stifled at Zarrow. The teachers, when they stay, are excellent. However, because the turnover is high, there is little consistency from year to year. The yearbooks tell the story all too clearly. Teachers leave and students leave. This year's fifth grade class is less than half the size of the class that began together at Zarrow. The principal is hardworking, polished, and up-to-date on all the district policies. This does not make her the best fit for this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Wow, I've been surprised by some of the criticism. I can't say enough good things about the school. I've been overwhelmed by the quality of teachers. The children have a strong bond with them. I feel extremely fortunate that my daughter has had an opportunity to attend Zarrow. I have two children who have attended Union Schools and have been pleased but Zarrow is far superior, especially when you consider the students are learning a second language. The outstanding work by the teachers and administrators should be encouraged. Keep up the good work.
--Submitted by a parent

Zarrow Interational is a great school. The children learn a second language, have the opportunity to participate in an exchange program, and are continually challenged on a daily basis. I highly recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Zarrow is a wonderful school. I have one child attendig Zarrow. The children are safe, challenged, and enjoy learning. The teachers are highly qualified, as is the support staff, and principal. The humanities teachers are outstanding in their field.
--Submitted by a parent

The constant teacher turnover (30%+) is a huge issue at this school. They continually lose grade teachers not only at the end of the school year but also during the school year which is a great impact to the students in the classroom. There are 2 native speaking teachers left in the program and the remaining teacher's spanish speaking and teaching abilities vary greatly. It is sad the program has so much potential but is plagued by poor leadership. Several families have chosen to move their children to a more stable program and it has nothing to do with those children's abilities. Hoping for a greater future and new leadership.
--Submitted by a parent