Research Jennie Dean Elementary School Public Schools in Manassas, Virginia

“Jennie Dean has failed its SOLs this year. The Principal is driving away all of the good teachers (most of whom are not leaving town but just going to different schools in the same district). The Superintendent for the school district seems to be oblivious despite numerous complaints from many parents. The Principal needs to go.”

“I go to Jennie Dean many times a week. I find it pleseant. Not depressing in anyway. The teachers & children are happy and smiling. I see the Principal greeting the children every morning and saying goodbye to them in the pm. And a 'welcome back' on Mon. mornings. You can't just go in and make an assumption by someone not receiving you properly. Everyone has a rough day and may or may have not noticed you. There are many seasoned teachers still at JD, only a few have left. Mostly for change, moves, etc. Only one has had a beef with the school. Change is good and if the teacher wants to stay in a rut then JD is not the school for them. There is constant aesthetic changes going on as well as changing how we shape our children's minds. Go Dolphins!”

“I can't believe the positive postings I am seeing. I went into the school last week, said hello to both the principal and the assistant principal and received no response! All of my daughter;s former teachers have left the school and I truly understand why. The atmosphere at Jennie Dean is so depressing Extra-curricular activities do not make p for good solid teaching. 9 more weeks and we are gone- can't wait!”

“I agree that the teachers are truly dedicated to the children. Dean also has a history of extremely dedicated parents. To our credit, we have before and after school clubs that other schools are lacking. We also have challenges with our demographics that other school don't seem to have. So the bottom line is that we do the best we can with what we have to work with and I wish our administration would support staff the way the parents do.”

“Jennie Dean continues to be a great school despite perceived problems with the Administration. While I have personally been satisfied with my interactions with the Principal and Assistant Principal at the school, my understanding is that many parents and teachers are not. One thing I have noticed is that many good teachers are leaving (usually to teach at other schools in Manassas or in surrounding counties). So far, the new teachers my kids have had, while not as experienced, have been very good. Both of my kids continue to do well on SOLs and Stanford 9s, so I believe they are getting what they need. However, I do believe the teacher flight issue could pose long-term problems if something isn't done about it.”

“Experience is great. Credentialed, new and enthusiastic teachers are also important. Teacher-student ratios are important. Test scores are important. Morale is very important. The teachers make the greatest impact on the quality of the school. Parents should be engaged in this issue and have backup plans if this school doesn't measure up.”

“The new administration has high expectations for all students and staff. This means change. Teachers are being asked to update skills and teach more effectively (a good thing). Change is difficult but it was necessary at Dean. I have had 3 students go through Dean. The one who is currently there is significantly more prepared and educated.”

“turnover in faculty last year. Few teachers who remain are teaching their accustomed grades and curriculum. This adds up to a tremendous disruption in continuity of education.”

“I would encourage any parents moving into the Manassas City Schools district to take the time to visit the school and talk with staff members--to include teachers, administrators, and specialists. As a parent, my first impression of Dean is that it doesn't appear child-centered. As an elementary school teacher myself, I find the teaching staff at Dean to be highly professional and well-intentioned, but they also appear to lack the administrative support to do their jobs even better. I worry that with the loss of seasoned staff members, Dean's children will suffer.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Baker! Jennie Dean will continue to have a great staff and is a great school. Our individual commitment towards the common goal of improving student achievement will make the new school year a success.”

“My name is Melissa Baker. Having just read the responses on this website, I felt compelled to write my own response. I taught at Jennie Dean for 15 years and decided to transfer to another Manassas City school this past spring. One response that concerns me is about change and how the people who left were all about themselves and not the students. Change is the reason I decided to leave. I was ready for a personal and professional change, not because I didn't care about the children or staff at Jennie Dean. I care very much about the students' achievement and I have always worked with highly dedicated colleagues. Jennie Dean has gone through many changes in the past two years but what has not changed is the love the teachers have for their chosen profession and their love for the children whose lives they have the privledge of touching.”

“I have taught at Jennie Dean for many years. My focus was always about the children and not about myself. During the past two years, I have watched dedicated and outstanding teachers be harrassed and bullied by the administration. I myself have been harrassed and accused of conduct that I never participated in. Some of our new staff is not certified and not being supported in their development. The students suffer by their lack of knowledge and experience. These teachers are applauded, while dedicated teachers are pushed out the door. There is a very 'secretive' environment created by the administrators and 'selected' others who will 'report' to the administrators. These children deserve the highest quality of teachers and we have again lost too many.”

“I can wholeheartedly say that the teachers @ Dean are caring, dedicated professionals who focus completely on their students. The current administration, both principal & assistant principal, are very defensive to both parent & teacher inquiries, questions, or complaints & they have no compassion for their teachers or the children.”

“We teach our children that character counts. We focus on things like respect, caring, trustworthiness, and responsibility.”

“We have tried repeatedly to meet with the administration and have been met with closed doors. Yes, the music program is great, but it is not due to the administration- it is because of Mrs. Boyles. The administrators will not even stay through an entire program! Music education is a dictate of the school board- all elementary schools have it! Yes there is a geography club, but has an administrator attended even a single meeting? It is the teachers who are keeping things alive. If you want to see how things really are at Dean, check the retention rate of teachers!”

“Having several children that have attended Dean I believe I am qualified to assess the major changes Dean has undergone in the last several years. First of all we could not have been happier with our childrens education at Dean under the past administration led by Diane Pate. After Diane retired the scholl has lost its direction, from the top all the way down to the children. The school is no more than a holding tank for children now. The excellent teachers and their compassion for the childrens education has dwindled as all the experienced teachers have fled the sinking ship. It is obvious even to the most casual school board member that there is a major problem at Dean. Many parents agree that Dean has gone from one of the finest elementary schools in Manassas to the worst. There needs to be a change in management.”

“When the administration ignores parents, doesn't support teachers, and avoids the children's education, we are looking at a school where teachers should leave (who would want to work somewhere where they are not supported), parents move/transfer, and children do not learn. All the administrators care about is making Dean look good, and its doesn't look good when you see parents upset, teacher's transferring, and children not succeeding. The programs work because of the teachers and parents. The children learn because of the teachers and parents. I do not believe this is a safe school. My daughter did not feel safe in her classroom at times, because students were not following the Code of Conduct. Maybe someone should take a look at the discipline program at the school. I am glad my child will not be at Dean next year.”

“A sigh of relief. The school year is over and I'm not coming back to Dean as a teacher. I have taught there many years and have never considered leaving until the current administrative policies have made it impossible to provide a quality education to 'all my children'. We now have an administration only worried about their survival and not the children's education. The PTA is unhappy, the school board and Superintendent of schools seem oblivious to what is going on. Dean is losing experienced quality teachers in mass. Please save the children and consider competent school management. It is so bad at Dean even our school nurse that has been here forever is leaving. How does all this support our mission of preparing our children for higher education? Please help!”

“I am extremly disappointed with this school for letting the most qualified experienced teaching staff leave this year. It is obvious to the parents that there must be something driving the departure of all these experienced teachers. If the Manassas City School System cares about the loss of significant Jennie Dean experienced teachers they should look into the cause and fix it before they have a staff of all inexperiened teachers. Who are the mentors if all the good teachers leave?”

“Jennie Dean's faculty is terribly demoralized. The principal's policies have reduced dramatically the availability of school facilities for faculty class preparation time.”

“As a first year teacher I must say that I truly picked the wrong school to start my career. I can't begin to rationalize how so many good teachers are departing this school. It is a cold uninviting place to work with virtually no compassion from the management.”

“As a teacher who has worked at Jennie Dean for at least 5 years, I am dismayed at what is happening to our school. Our once cohesive group of teachers who fought tooth & nail for our students has disintegrated under the present leadership. The climate is one of fear & intimidation. This cannot help but affect the quality of instruction brought to the students. Seasoned teachers are constantly being told they don't know what they are doing & new teachers are terrified to speak up at all. The teachers here are professionals who give their heart & soul to their students but their spirits are broken. This is evidenced by the large number of teachers who are leaving, as well as by those who are still actively looking for jobs elsewhere. The environment is now one that is cold & uncaring in which the children are no longer put first.”

“Jennie Dean has high expectations of all students. A parent started a creative, and fun after school Geography Club. A Chess Club is available for students before school. Jennie Dean has a math lab, computer lab, and science lab as part of its specials. There is a broadcast team made up of students. In the spring, both the Science and Math showcase and Artists and Authors show were well attended by parents, students and administrators. The PTA evening functions (Boo Bash, Holidays Around the World etc.) are also well attended. The PTA offers several educational programs throughout the year. For one of the programs this year, Thomas Edison came for a visit and did an interactive educational science program that was very well received. Our child's teachers and specialists are professional, well qualified, and go that extra mile. Our child loves attending Jennie Dean!”

“With the exception of some wonderful teachers and a very helpful support staff there have been very few positive things going on. Many parents are discouraged by the recent loss of so many teachers. I know that several of us have voiced this concern to the principal and as usual our voices have fallen on def ears. The principal is not interested in anything other than her own opinion and I have found it very difficult as a parent to communicate with her. I do not blame the teachers who have left or are leaving, but I feel concern for the next school year.”

“My child is finishing her second year at Jennie Dean (1st Grade). She is constantly challenged academically, socially, and culturally. The access to science and computer labs as well as art and music is providing her a sound basis on which to continue her studies. The school and its environment (halls, administrators) are welcoming to all...parents, children, and siblings. The dedication the teachers have shown in establishing the Geography Club, continuing the Science Fair and Art show, and all of the parental feedback demonstrates an environment where teachers care about the children beyond the 'standard' work day. Schools are partnerships between parents and teachers -- our partnership is working.”

“Jennie Dean was our choice after careful consideration of private school options and even homeschooling - and we are pleased with our decision. Our child's teacher obviously cares a great deal for her students. She is brilliant, enthusiastic, nurturing, communicative, organized and professional. Our child is being challenged and enriched at her own level. We have enjoyed meeting other dedicated parents, administration, and teachers through our involvement with the PTA. The PTA started a Geography Club with the support of administration and 3 dedicated teachers this year. Even though this is our first year, we have felt that our input has been respected and valued. We would like to see the core of involved parents grow, work together with administration and teachers to resolve conflict, and to create solutions and more enrichment opportunities for our children. Our child is proud to be a Dolphin!”

“Jennie Dean Elementary has great teachers and academic programs. Teachers go out of their way to make their students feel comfortable and safe in their academic environment. My child's teachers have been wonderful. My child is very happy at Jennie Dean. While I have noticed some changes over the last few years, I feel that it is for the benefit of the children. Jennie Dean is a very student oriented school. I am very happy to have my child(ren) attend there.”

“Since the departure of Diane Pate the quality of the educational experience has plummeted. The current administration has absolutely no compassion for the children or staff. The school is run more like a prison camp than elementary school.”

“Notice that only 1 comment is in the year 2007. The rest is 2 years ago. Jennie Dean has gone down. Teachers are leaving. The children are wonderful children, but there are no hallway displays of children's work and no feeling that this is an elementary school. There is no feeling of happiness when a parent walks through the doors. So sad. Teamwork is not represented.”

“Jennie Dean is a fabulous school. My child is in 2nd grade and has had wonderful teachers at Dean. The student body is very diverse, however, the staff does a great job of engaging all students.”

“The new principal at Jennie Dean is tremendous! We get excellent feedback from the school. The teachers really go out of their way to help our kids.”

“Jennie Dean is a very diverse elementary school, with many Spanish-speaking students. We have found that the teachers have done an excellent job of focusing on the needs of both ESL and non-ESL students. The class sizes are small and the teachers have given our son a great deal of one-on-one attention. I think Dean has done a remarkable job and could serve as an example to other very diverse schools.”