As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, I would like to touch on one of the most common questions or wonders we get -- How are teachers selected? Can they be easily changed?
Preparing classroom rosters is a collaborative effort amongst all staff members and administrators in the building. This process begins in the spring with their previous homeroom teachers, and can take several weeks and go well into the summer. Many factors go into creating a classroom roster. Some of the things we look at include:
- The personality of the student and teacher
- Family involvement
- How many students are receiving exceptional services
- Numbers of students who are being pulled out for small group intervention
- How many boys and girls are in the class
- The academic levels of the students
- Which kids had a tough time getting along with specific students the previous year, and at times, which kids socialize more when they're around specific students.
- And more!
Again, this process can take several weeks to complete and is very thoughtfully completed by all staff involved.
Sometimes, when these teacher announcements come out, we get the question "Can you just please put my student with TEACHER/STUDENT X?"
Please know that due to the extensive process that we went through to make these lists, it isn't always a simple switch, and is in fact quite difficult to do. It can create a domino effect that impacts many. Moving a student after these lists are made has the potential to not only affect your child and the teacher's classroom they're moving to, but it also affects the schedule of so many other students receiving services, the schedule of the support teachers providing interventions for your child and others, it affects the culture of the classroom, and may affect the teacher's schedule itself. Due to this, moving students after these lists come out is not a practice we regularly do. All of our staff are top notch and eager to work with you and your student(s).
A few things you can do to set the year up for success:
- Meet with your new teacher with an open mind to share any concerns or hopes you have. Be very specific.
- Establish a communication plan with the teacher in regards to providing updates on any areas of concern you might have.
- Most importantly, understand that we all have the same goal: for your child to receive a world-class education, in a safe and nurturing environment, and for them to reach their full potential! We're here as partners with you to make that happen!
Thank you for your understanding and trust in this process! We know it is going to be a wonderful year!
