Deer Valley Families,
Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about the 2025-2026 school year. Please see the information below regarding Placement Guidelines.
Every year we try our best to evenly distribute students into classes. Many different methods have been tried, all of them with the intention of creating balanced homerooms. It was decided many years ago that we would no longer accept placement letters due to the fact that trying to respect all requests made our efforts to balance the classrooms ineffective. Therefore, I would like to remind you of the process that we used last year which we are going to employ again this year.
Current grade level teachers will work to create rolls without identifying the teacher for each class. Their focus will be on creating classes that are balanced in ability, behavior, and special needs. These rolls will then be turned over to the placement team who will assign a teacher to each of the classes.
Though we are not taking preference letters, I realize how easily biases can be created. If you or your child has had a difficult experience because of your (or your child's) perception of a teacher or another student, we need to know that. Every teacher has a tremendous number of fans and I have complete confidence in each of them, but I want you to feel comfortable as the 2025-2026 school year begins.
Parents/Guardians are asked to click on this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5z0OsHvrIZeFYC7tz2kkDuezLjtwWE9whffnr9vR1aOsRpg/viewform?usp=dialog to identify two things:
1. Any teacher* with whom they have had a difficult situation in the past and with whom their child should not be placed and/or;
2. The name(s) of one or two children with whom their child should not be placed.
* Please remember it is entirely possible that a teacher might be moved to a new grade level. Please list ANY teachers, regardless of the grade they currently teach, with whom your child should not be placed.
*Any requests for students to be placed with a specific teacher or student will not be considered.
Grade level teachers will be given the information concerning students to avoid placing together and will consider the information as they develop classes. The placement committee will be given the information concerning teacher/student placements to avoid. We will do everything we can to honor your requests.
It is my hope that not everyone feels the need to provide this information, however please know that this is your time to be heard if you have any strong feelings in these areas. The form will close on April 7, 2025. Any requests received thereafter will not be considered during the placement process. Grade level teams will begin creating classes soon after April 7. Class placement information will be sent out late summer 2025, and I will not consider moving any child at that point.
While I am not taking letters concerning the “type” of teacher your child needs, I would highly recommend you share this information with whichever teacher your child is currently assigned. All of our teachers are capable of being structured, encouraging, nurturing and challenging, but they will greatly benefit from knowing what you consider your child's greatest needs.
As always, there is a possibility that we will have at least one new teacher next year, and that teacher will be assigned a class as well. If your child ends up in the new teacher's classroom please know that we have an excellent mentoring program in place, and I will not hire anyone who does not have excellent references. I have great confidence in every teacher currently a part of our faculty, and I take great care and pride in hiring dynamic new teachers.
We will try to avoid placing a child in a first-year teacher’s room two years in a row. By Deer Valley definition, a first year teacher is one who has no experience at all – not someone new to Deer Valley. Also, we will do what we can to assure that if a student has a teacher this year who took an extended leave of absence, then he/she will not be placed with a teacher next year who we know is planning an extended leave.
Please make sure that you list your email when you make your request so that you can receive a confirmation that it has been received. If you do not receive confirmation within a week please complete the form again. Keep the confirmation email for your records. Several years ago, we had a situation in which a parent was sure they had made a request, but it could not be found, and they did not have the confirmation. If your child ends up in a classroom with a student or teacher identified in your request, and you do not have a confirmation of your email, I will not be able to move them after the fact. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
In partnership,
Nicole Stokes
