419 E High St
Williamstown, NJ 08094

During my time as a substitute at this school, some concerns were raised without giving the substitute a chance to explain or receive due process. It often felt like teachers’ accounts were taken as automatically correct, which created a stressful and unfair work environment. Clearer communication and support for substitutes would greatly improve the experience.

I'm a recent alum of GHS, with a sibling still in attendance. First of all, the teachers at GHS are wonderful, and I appreciate every single one of them. However, many of the great teachers that I had the pleasure of being the student of have recently started leaving the school, for various reasons. One of these reasons was because they no longer enjoyed the environment of the school. This wasn't because of the students, high school students behave as you would expect them to, but rather decisions made by the new principal in an effort to keep students in line. The principle has started escalating the strictness and severity of the rules governing what the students can and cannot do. Attempting to make the carrying of backpacks against the rules, enforcing a strict dress code including no hats or scarves, and making "hallway sweeps" to make sure students were getting to class, but didn't account for students who had very real business being in the hallway. Essentially, rules are being made and enforced in order to keep the lowest common denominator student "in-line", but with disregard to the actual experience of going to the school to learn. The result is that the school experience becomes more about adhering to the ever growing list of rules instead of on the actual experience of the education. The principle clearly regards her students as a group of people she needs to control, rather than kids who need guidance and inspiration. Each star I gave to the school is given because of my experience with the staff, including teachers, janitorial staff, and the school resource officer. Each star I took away was because I felt that the administration, especially with regard to the current principle, is serving to get in the way of the good experience given by much of the actual staff. If I were still in attendance, the score would likely be lower, but I wanted to be honest in terms of my personal experience, which was mostly positive, despite mitigating circumstances.

J Harvey Rodgers School has the best teachers by far hands down. My twins had both Mrs.Atkinson and Mrs. McDermott. They are both very good teachers who bend over backwards to make sure these students are taught above expectation. I have to say, I am definitely impressed. Can't forget Mr. Taibi the principal who is leaving this year. I had a one on one sit down and talked a little more about him as a principal. Let's just say he loves his job and works outside of the school boundaries to help children all over.

This school get a lot of undue criticism. As a child I attended the school and the teachers were some of the most memorable and interactive people I encountered. (Which sparked my enthusiasm to become an educator.) Twelve years later, my siblings attended and feel the same way. My daughter is currently in fifth grade and LOVES her school and teachers! Last year she was in an inclusive class with teachers who pushed her and helped her to see how intelligent she is when she puts in the effort. They also were very helpful with her ever changing schedule as her father and I had separated. This school was truly wonderful!