3908 Booker Avenue
Durham, NC 27713

Day 3 at Jordan High school and I remember why we left public school before. He was told by the counselor to go to the counselor office by Friday to fix his schedule. First period coach won’t let him go that he should go during another class…. so the coach wants my child to leave a core class like math to go fix his schedule instead of leaving PE. Then once we get to the school because I go in person because he’s not missing his lunch *again* and going the whole day without eating because they insist on kids trading their lunch for fixing administrative issues. The counselor is darling. She helped us but then we had to go to the media center and we talked to very nasty and said he has to come at lunch to fix his login account even though I was very positive and kind I explained he’s not missing lunch again to fix it and she said he can come after he eats, but in a very fatty tone for what reason I’m not sure other than I guess The first of the year stress but no need to take it out on me. Then upon leaving, I asked the office to give my son an excused tardy because he was handling school issues and should not be counted tardy, and the administration looked at me like I had two heads and Active, as though he should have a tardy which I argued he should not. Then they said the counselor should’ve given him a excused tardy and I said she didn’t so we need one and the administrative personnel argued with me about why he was denied the ability to go when the counselor told him to go and instead said I should have emailed which I had no email and I said it doesn’t make sense for me to email if my child is having a face-to-face conversation with his teacher and has proof of the email. Why should I go behind all of that and also email for him to have permission to go to a counselor‘s office that may take days to respond and back and forth when he literally has proof of the email and a direct conversation with his teacher should have been enough. I’m glad my son is making friends because if it wasn’t for that, we’d be unenrolled TODAY.

The school will not see progress until the current inexperienced principal is permanently removed from her position

Our family toured many schools before moving to Durham and we were immediately impressed with the warmth and transparency that met us at Southwest. Many years later, we are more impressed than when we started. As our family begins graduating away from Southwest we are thankful for academically and emotionally strong children built in partnership with Southwest, lasting family friends and an elementary school experience that has left us seen and heard as parents. Southwest for helped my neurodivergent child thrive, and didn’t give up on my other child with dyslexia. As parents we were welcomed to attend field trips, class celebrations and walk our kids to class every morning before the pledge. As a bi-cultural family, we were drawn to the wide racial and cultural representation at Southwest and have loved seeing school wide celebrations like parades and talent shows for Hispanic heritage month and black history month. Thank you teachers for growing my children, responding when I reach out, and truly caring for my kids. Mr. Rotosky, Ms. Fuga and Ms. Flores, I see that you know my kids by name, are approachable and engaged, and set a culture of high expectations and high celebration. We love Southwest!