Stephanie Adams Shares Her School Search Experience

More a year ago, our family gear up out on a search to discover a school that would educate our children—Madeline, historic period half-dozen, and Charlotte, historic period four—not only in the traditional context, but in a fashion that would cater to their whole being. We wanted a schoolhouse with strong community ties and an influential science backing, too as a identify our children could be themselves. Our goal with our children'due south pedagogy has never been to create a student that remembers answers just to build an adult who possesses cadre skills that allow for systematic thought.

How did it plough out? Madeline is in kindergarten at Promesa University this year, and Charlotte volition be attending Pre-K 4 SA in the fall. We learned a lot during our school search, and promise to share that cognition with you, as well every bit an appreciation of the importance of school option for San Antonio families.

Our Family's School Search

I began researching schools in San Antonio when Madeline was three years old. We knew that we wanted to send our children to pre-M because we believe that a strong early childhood instruction sets children upwardly for success in and out of the classroom. One time we found Pre-Grand 4 SA and learned of its background and the pillars on which the program was congenital on—and that it only serves four year olds—we knew nosotros would have to choose two unlike schools for our kids. Nosotros started our search with charter districts that served grades K–12. After a few months, we opened our search to districts serving grades K–5 and K–viii.

Madeline is extremely strong willed and sometimes struggles with treatment her emotions. This knowledge guided us in directions that led us to schools with whole kid education and witting subject field. We understood that our kid needed all the benefits that these styles of classroom management would bring. Initially, we did investigate homeschooling. However, nosotros learned extremely fast that my daughter sees me as her love and care giver and refused to come across me equally a true educational support member, so we re-channeled our efforts. We did non investigate private schooling as an choice, based on our experiences with private education in our own by.

We live in North Eastward ISD but opted out of the traditional public school system because we wanted to feel as if our kid was more than a number and a test score. Existence on the northeast side has had an impact on our choices. In our office of town, we have a few schools from the larger lease districts, like Idea Public Schools, BASIS Charter Schools, Great Hearts, and SST, to proper noun a few. Even so, most of the larger charter districts did not meet the criteria nosotros as a family unit had set up. Once we researched the schools in our area, we expanded our search to include downtown and the Medical Center area.

Focusing on the Right Schoolhouse

For our search, we utilized the San Antonio Charter Moms app and private Facebook group. With these 2 tools, we had recommendations and reviews from parents in our own metropolis, placed in our laps. We were allowed admission to a backside the scenes view of well-nigh every school in our area. Without the Facebook group, we would non have met Ambika Dani, the amazing CEO of Promesa Academy.

We were fortunate plenty to accept started our search well before the pandemic hit in March 2020. We were able to tour facilities and meet with top educators from many unlike charter schools in the San Antonio area, also as attention Schoolhouse Discovery events organized by the San Antonio Lease Mom squad. By the time the pandemic had placed our city into the never-ending spring break, nosotros had been accepted into all three of our peak option schools. However, we quickly knew we would be sending our children to Promesa Academy: the schoolhouse had not opened their doors to students of their own, but they already supported the students of San Antonio.

Nosotros found Promesa Academy later an extremely emotional twenty-four hours. I asked in the Charter Moms Facebook group if at that place was a school in the expanse that used a HighScope Curriculum for kindergarten. (I have since learned that HighScope is just for early childhood teaching, merely the group is a no-judgement zone, where information technology's condom to ask questions.) Promesa Academy's CEO Ambika Dani contacted me that evening. We spoke for a while about my views on what I wanted for my family. The next day Ms. Dani and her team member, Mary Hoekje-González, Managing director of Curriculum and Instruction, met with me in person to talk about the pillars Promesa is built on and the direction the school would be headed. The founding staff of Promesa Academy has held our hand as we transitioned into uncharted territory.

Starting School During a Pandemic

I was worried at first that our kindergarten year would exist full of disconnect. Yet, with Promesa Academy, nosotros take been granted a total school civilization. Since starting school in the fall, we have started a Family Advisory Council. During the winter holidays, our quango co-lead, Lillia, along with Mrs. Bathgate, who is both a staff member and a parent, headed our first ever Promesa Tree. We did not want any pupil's families to go without over the holiday flavour. We have been loved and our students feel special.

Madeline has special bonds with her teachers, that I cannot wait to encounter blossom in person. We dearest that Promesa holds their staff in such high regard. I take met every member of the pedagogy staff and experience like I could not take handpicked better educational supports for my children. I adore everyone. Our family appreciates that Promesa utilizes subject experts. When your students can see how much a instructor loves their task, they will love doing theirs aslope their teachers

I know my kid is in the right learning environment—she cannot await to log on to her classes. She asks about her teachers; she loves her school family unit. I remember Ms. Mitchell, Madeline's ELAR teacher, called a few weeks into this schoolhouse yr. When I answered, I expected to hear, "Mrs. Adams, nosotros demand to talk about Madeline'southward beliefs over the terminal hour or so." Instead, I was met with "Mrs. Adams, I'd like to speak with Maddie, I believe I have upset her, and I demand to apologize." I love that my daughter is treated every bit a homo being that but happens to be young. Promesa has helped Madeline navigate what could very well exist i of the most defining times in her life. I wholeheartedly believe that my child's life has been changed for the meliorate.

Tips for Your School Search

Finding the correct school is a team effort. Our friend and family group hither has a truly various educational culture. We have a homeschool family and a Brooks Collegiate family in our group. My friends were ever so supportive of my rants and raves while finding our school home.

Always keep in mind: You know your child; y'all know what they need.

When looking for schools for your family, remember yourself as well. Are you a parent who wants to be involved? Does your family need later schoolhouse care? Have a list of what you expect from your child'due south educational back up. Utilize all resources you can get your hands on. Speak with families, staff members, anyone who has a connection to that institution.

Ask all the questions!

You lot exercise not have to settle when it comes to your child'southward education. Choosing a schoolhouse is nervus wrecking and tedious, only our children deserve the best we every bit parents and a community can provide. Remember, we go to help cull our children'due south destination.

"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who set up for information technology today."—Malcolm X (June 28, 1964)

Charter Moms Chats

Watch Stephanie Adams share her parent perspective with Inga Cotton on Charter Moms Chats on May 5, 2022 at 4:00 PM Central alive on Facebook and YouTube.

Stephanie Adams is the female parent of two immature daughters, half dozen-year-old Madeline and four-twelvemonth-quondam Charlotte. She and her hubby, Chris, have resided in San Antonio for the past eight years with their two pugs. Stephanie is the sole owner of Howdy Sweetie—Gluten Gratuitous Sweet Treats, a specialty bakery. She is a Promesa University Founding Family fellow member.

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