Ryan Elementary School

Well this used to be a great school, but now it has a new dictator. She was hired to be the new leader, but she has done nothing but create fear, anxiety, and allowed bullying. In fact she is a bully herself. Teachers are quitting, transferring, and leaving even mid year to get away from her. She has kept PTA funds and not allowed teachers from purchasing necessary supplies for their class even when funds are available and offered by PTA. Students are not punished for yelling, screaming, cussing, threatenening others or hitting. In fact, they are rewarded daily with candy (against state law) and prizes. If your child attends this school, you might want to visit the school soon.
—Submitted by a parent

What a great school! The faculty, staff and administration work very well together. The administration really listens to the parents. My child is getting better education at WS Ryan, than in private school.
—Submitted by Bill Cheek, a parent

Great leadership, great teachers, great PTA, great opportunities for children to grow and succedd.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a very nurturing place for children to learn all they need to know to become a successful citizen. The atmosphere is a warm enviting one that makes me glad to be here.
—Submitted by a teacher

Excellent teachers and staff. Excellent level of volunteer participation. Ryan Wrangler choir, great art teacher (award winning!), Student Council for 4th and 5th grades. Camping experience for 5th graders was excellent! Great school
—Submitted by a parent

I am completely satisfied with Ryan Elementary!
—Submitted by a parent

I couldn't ask for a better school for my child to go too.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in 5th grade and we chose to let him stay and finish out the 5th grade here instead of moving because of redistricting. He has had a wonderful 3 years at this school. The teachers he has had have been great. The arts are prioritized here at this school. My son is in orchestra - which scored a superior at the district level contest. He is in the Ryan World Wrangler group which is a music ensemble, where he learned dances, sang and played instruments. This group is amazing and includes 4th and 5th graders! This campus sends its 5th graders to 5th grade camp -which is a great opportunity. I would highly recommend Ryan Elem. It is going to produce well rounded students and students who enjoy going to school each day.
—Submitted by a parent

I sub all around this district this is by far one of the best schools. The problem with this school is systemic from the district. Not enough science is taught. To many children per class.
—Submitted by a parent

We transferred from a private, montessori school to WS Ryan two years ago. We did so with great hesitation, as our children we receiving a great education. My oldest child has a physical disability and was miserable, socially, going to school - until we came to WS Ryan. The teachers, the counselor, the nurse, the office staff and both principals have made her school experience safe, fun and comfortable - something she had never had before. I have since held quite a few PTA positions and seen first hand the power of parent involvement. As fundraising chair, I have watched our PTA has raise funds in the tens of thousands of dollars, supporting the students and staff of the school in many ways. I can't begin to describe the feeling of community at our fall festival each year! The entire staff (from Mr. Gregory down) and the level of education is top quality. My oldest daughter's teacher is in a doctoral program in education! How is that for experience/education level in the staff! She is amazing - her expectation of her students is incredible. My children are in extra curricular activities and they love it! Overall, my family could not be happier at WS Ryan. It is a safe environment with wonderful things happening every day.
—Submitted by a parent

I am the Volunteer Coordinator for this excellent school. We have an exceptional level of parent involvement, with over 200 volunteers contributing 7,123 volunteer hours in the 86 days of school so far this year. That equates to 82.8 volunteer hours per day or more than 10 full time employees per day volunteering at school or at home on behalf of our teachers and students. It is an outstanding learning environment with a commitment to excellence shared by faculty, staff and by the community that supports our school. We also have student volunteers from both the University of North Texas and Texas Womans' University coming regularly. Please see the front page of the Denton Record Chronicle on 12/24/03 for an article on 'Writers of the Purple Sage', a joint effort of our wonderful librarian, Janet Latham, art teacher Nancy Walkup, and our dedicated volunteers, who together enabled 12 fourth grade students to publish and illustrate their own original books. I have a first and fourth grader at this school and could not be more satisfied.
—Submitted by Gayle Prybutok, a parent

It's too bad when a parent cannot understand the choir program---and for future reference it is a World Music Ensemble. It is the philosopy of the music specialist to educate the students on the musics of the world, other cultures, after all America is a plethora of cultures. It would have been nice to take the time to get to know the music specialist and learn about her interesting adventures and experiences. Don't judge a book by it's cover. She is an educated, well-versed author, performer, and teacher, and is smarter than one would think! So before one calls a 'choir' program strange---educate yourself!

I have two children in the school and they have grown tremendously- academically, emotionally and socially. I give the teachers and staff much of the credit. I feel like my children are truly cared about in every way when they walk through the doors.
—Submitted by a parent

I am both a parent and teacher at W.S. Ryan ELementary school so I see this school from both sides! I can say that this is a fabulous place to work for many reasons. The leadership is enthusiastic and supportive, the custodians are hard-working and positive and most of all the teachers work hard every day for the children! I also believe that this school is a great place to have my children attend school. This school provides a good balance between learning and creativity. We have outstanding special area teachers and students! I am proud to work at W.S. RYan!
—Submitted by a parent

Amazing things are happening at W.S.Ryan! They have many extracurricular activities. There are the Ryan World Wranglers (the diverse ensemble, STUCO (student council), orchestra, and the Writers of the Purple Sage (WS Ryan's very own publishing house!) I continue to be amazed at the dedication and determination of the staff and also the parents. This school has found its groove!

I was very surprised to read the previous review about WS Ryan. We transferred from a private school to WS Ryan a year and a half ago, and we did so with great hesitation. However, my family has been so happy with the entire experience. The entire staff (from Mr. Gregory to the lunch helpers) and the level of education has always been top quality. I am active on the PTA and in the classroom, and I see it all--and every day I am excited that my kids get the chance to attend such a wonderful school. Parental involvement is outstanding--just look at the volunteer sign in log and you will see how involved so many of our parents are every day! It's great to see so many individuals interested in the quality of our kids' education. Believe me--WS Ryan is an excellent school!
—Submitted by Penny Horn, a parent

The atmosphere in this school is amazing! The unity of the faculty makes this school a very warm and friendly place for children and their families. The bar is raised towards the curriculum learned in the classrooms. The children are always engaged in learning! It is nice to know that more than half of the teachers use their own time and money to participate in workshops during the week and weekends that teach new and exciting ways for the children to keep learning! They then bring that information back to the school and share it with all the grades to use as a resource in the classroom. The children have the opportunity to participate in many extra curricular activites such as orchestra, student council, World Wranglers, and more! The parent involvement is more than any teacher could ask for! As a teacher, we are spoiled with wonderful help from many different parents that donate their personal time and energy from their families to help in the classrooms, on field trips, and with work sent home. They volunteer their time in the lunchroom to open milk, ketchup, lunchables, you name it, just so teachers can have a break for 30 minutes to enjoy their own lunch. Our school has an extravagant carnival as a fundraiser for our school and a very much needed Student Appreciation Day for the children at the end of the year, which includes a bounce house and maze, many refeshments, Karoke, and games. All this is planned and put together by the many different wonderful and supportive parents of our school! Any and every parent is encouraged and welcomed to become more involved in their child's educational experience. The leadership of our administratiion is very clearly understood. As teachers, we know what is expected of us and we rise to those expectations. It is those values that I implement in my classroom, as the children rise to my expectations as a teacher. Our environment is comfortable, fun, and supportive because of the morale established from our faculty and staff. Teachers have the privilege to teach at any school they choose; I am very proud to be teaching at Wayne Stuart Ryan Elementary! Keep it up guys!
—Submitted by Macey Griner, a teacher