7308 Gleason Rd
Edina, MN 55439

Great school and staff meet my expectations

Very disappointed. The school has a reputation for advancing students and providing inflated grades. Straight A students getting low ACT scores. Anyone who takes the “accelerated” classes get an “A”. College admissions are mostly to average schools - not the top schools you’d expect for a school they tout as so good. A heavy emphasis on sports, very cliquey students. What car you drive is how “popular” you are….

I’m reviewing this school for follow up to an interview process. The way candidates are treated and the communication they receive says a great deal about the ethics of leadership in s school or district. I interviewed for an ELL position in February, 2023. My interview was it’s the principal and EL Supervisor. As it turned out, I accepted a position with an urban district and they decided to go with another candidate, which is great, but they didn’t let me know. I called a number of times to find out, and neither the EL supervisor not the principal had the courtesy to call me back and tell me. I finally reached the Principal, who was curt, and very unfriendly as he explained they’d gone with another candidate. That’s great, but how about having the ethics and consideration of informing the candidate, maybe thanking them for taking the time to apply, travel to the site, and interview. Honest feedback would have been great too. I interviewed at four places and received two offers. One who went with another candidate, sent me a letter thanking me for taking the time to meet and giving me positive feedback. The only one of the four that didn’t communicate or return calls or behaved rudely, was Forest Hills Elementary and the EPPS EL Supervisor. (Considering their white majority, snd majority non low income population, you’d think they’d do better at meeting the needs of underserved students, but based on test scores, they don’t to very well at all). This principal reminded me of my childhood principals, mostly white and from coaching backgrounds with little intellect or global awareness. In this aspect I feel like I dodged a bullet. I expect behavior like this from these guys. What I don’t get is the EL supervisor refusing to call back to let me know.