Got teacher name for this fall
Find a Conversation
| Mon, 08-27-2007 - 8:32pm |
We just got our teacher for 4th grade and I am NOT happy!!!
The first two years at elementary school were TERRIBLE. Sean was suspended 3 times (before IEP). His first two teachers were brand new--1 or two years experience and NO experience dealing with challenging children. He first grade teacher actually called me because DS said "No, thank you." to a request she made. "I've NEVER had a child tell me no in all my years of teaching!" she claimed.
In second grade, when he got ANOTHER inexperienced teacher (after we told the school he needed a VERY experienced teacher) he got one who'd JUST finished student teaching--another bad year. I wrote a letter and made a phone call to the school, saying DS's need were not being met, that the school would likely have management issues with DS if he didn't have a teacher who could handle him, and I suggested a teacher with 10 years of experience. I was bluntly told, "we don't switch teachers once the decision is made." I later found out that was totally untrue, that at least 6 kids were moved to other classrooms within the first month of school.
So, third grade was AWESOME! He finally got a great teacher with 15 years in the classroom. She was even surprised DS had an IEP because he was so manageable as long as he was given proper paramaters. What a great year. No suspensions, one letter home. She and I discussed his placement for 4th and she agreed he needed a strong, flexible teacher and, although she didn't know who would be in there, she would see he got a good teacher.
And the teacher he got--the one teacher everyone describes as "sweet," "nice," and "pretty." Not that any of those are bad, they just aren't the first adjectives I'd like to have for his teacher. And she's only been teaching 3 years!
So what should I do. I feel that a letter/phone call will result in the same 'poo-pooing" as second grade. Should I send an email to his 3rd grade teacher asking for some feedback? Should I have Sean's therapist say anything? There isn't anything specific in his IEP as to the type of teacher he should have so I'm not even sure I can use it a leverage.
Any advice?
Thanks!

Hi,
Boy btdt with bad and good teachers....
I myself just found out that you can demand by law that the teacher gets special training for your child. Like if he has a dx on the spectrum and that teacher has never dealt with it, you can put that in the IEP.
Now I haven't done this yet, as so far so good, and my son was just dx'd, but boy if I have too, I will do it in a quick heartbeat.
Have you ever looked up wrightslaw.com? It has all sorts of free advocate/legal info to read about.
Also please run this by Stephanie over on the Special Education Board and see how right I am (sometimes I'm wrong hehehe). She's great and can really help you get specific with your IEP, and MAKE them move, so your sons gets an appropriate education.
Good luck :)
Lainie