Personnel Concerns

A unique aspect of Woods Learning Center is that there is no principal, meaning our staff shares such duties to manage our school. We understand that parents sometimes wonder where to go if they have issues regarding a Woods staff member, and how a staff can evaluate itself.

The Woods personnel team, listed at the bottom of this letter, is responsible for interviewing and recommending any hiring within this school.  It also writes the official evaluations of staff members who are not certified teachers. They do this in consultation with staff members who oversee or work with them.  Our certified teachers are officially observed and evaluated by an outside district administrator at least twice a year.

Besides the official evaluations, however, the personnel team handles any important issues and concerns with the performance of any staff members.  Here are some guidelines for addressing your concerns and giving input to the process as parents:

If you have concerns with your child’s teacher, please let him or her know.

The Woods faculty is committed to listening to and addressing any concerns a parent may have.  We feel strongly that issues are best resolved when such concerns are brought immediately and directly to the teacher involved.  As we have deliberately chosen not to have a principal, we accept personal responsibility for our teaching performance, and so we are more than willing to hear your feedback ourselves and to respond appropriately.  This direct communication helps avoid misunderstandings and allows us to resolve many issues immediately.  Our job is to do what’s best for your children, and we know that your insight as parents is very important.

If necessary, please bring your concerns to the attention of a personnel team member.

We realize that other times it may not be possible to go to the staff member concerned, or that your previous communication was not satisfactory.  Please direct such concerns to any member of the personnel team, who will then take whatever next step is necessary. You may also bring questions about general school policies to the personnel team. The better we know your concerns, the better we will be able to address them.

We are committed to satisfactory parent/teacher communication and resolution.

When concerns are brought to the personnel team, our procedure is to discuss the issue with the staff member in question. If there is a need for any sort of resolution, then a meeting may be requested with the personnel team and the parties in question.

The personnel team is committed to fair and open communication, and takes its responsibility for neutrality very seriously.  Please do not hesitate to share your opinions or add any input to this issue.  Thank you for your trust in our unique school.

Personnel Team

Jim Gaither: jim_gaither@natronaschools.org
Deyonne Jackson: deyonne_jackson@natronaschools.org
Denise Snider: denise_snider@natronaschools.org
Pam Hopkins: pam_hopkins@natronaschools.org