1596 E 17th St
Brooklyn, NY 11230

I had a very disappointing experience with the school principal. The principal’s communication style was disrespectful, aggressive, and unnecessarily confrontational.It felt that there may be personal bias influencing decisions regarding my child, which is very concerning. A school environment should be fair, supportive, and free from personal prejudice.Unfortunately, the interaction felt dismissive and hostile. I hope this is taken seriously, as students deserve to be treated with fairness and respect. Overall, the school is good, but the principal leaves much to be desired.

This is the worst school I've seen. A teacher in the first grade drove my son almost to a nervous breakdown, and then the school recognized him as a developmental lagging behind. The school staff tricked me into signing the documents and transferred the child to a special class. Despite the fact that 6 months before that, he was one of the best in the Russian school. And now the school is trying to recognize the child as mentally retarded to hide the school's mistakes.

I had a very disappointing experience working at this school. The environment was extremely toxic, unprofessional, and stressful from the moment I started. The administration, especially the principal, created a culture based on intimidation instead of leadership. Staff members were frequently spoken to disrespectfully, yelled at publicly, and made to feel unsupported. Professional concerns were often dismissed instead of properly addressed.The principal’s behavior toward teachers and staff was completely inappropriate for someone in a leadership position. There was constant tension throughout the building, and many employees were clearly burnt out, overwhelmed, or looking for a way out. The turnover rate speaks for itself — teachers and staff leave constantly, and it’s easy to understand why once you work there.The scheduling changes and daily expectations were chaotic and poorly organized, making it difficult for both teachers and students to succeed. Staff were expected to “figure it out” without proper support, communication, or teamwork. Co-teaching support was inconsistent, and many teachers were left carrying the workload alone while administration ignored the real issues happening inside classrooms.What was even more disappointing was the lack of meaningful support when problems were brought up. Even the UFT chapter leader acknowledged how toxic the environment was, yet nothing ever improved. Instead of helping staff feel valued and supported, the culture made people feel anxious, disposable, and constantly on edge.This school desperately needs better leadership, accountability, and respect for staff. There are good students there who deserve stability and support, but the administration creates an environment that makes it difficult for both teachers and students to thrive. I would strongly advise anyone considering employment here to do extensive research before accepting a position.