898 W Sterling Pl
Chandler, AZ 85225

This school has always been weird with scheduling, they constantly switch your classes around without warning or giving any reason. For some weird reason, this keeps happening to my nephew. They’ll randomly be pulled out of class and told their schedule has been changed, sometimes swapping out one or two classes for that day. In my junior year, I met with my counselor, Zachary Sumnicht, to plan my senior schedule. I asked if I could switch one of my classes because I needed half a credit to finish the class I want. He said it was fine and that he’d take care of it. But after winter break, I noticed my schedule hadn’t changed. I emailed him, and he replied saying I couldn’t switch a full-year class for another one. That didn’t make sense to me, especially since I saw may other students getting their schedules changed, even if it’s a full-year class. My sibling called him to ask why he changed his mind and why allowed other students to switch. His response was that my family had no right to know about my schedule, that it was “school policy” and not my family’s business. I was still a minor at that time, and him saying that is really weird. He also claimed I never told him about switching classes, even though I had emails and remembered the meeting where he agreed to the switch the class. After my sibling confronted him, he said he’d speak with me. But instead of scheduling a meeting, he barged into my second hour class and loudly asked, “Where is she?” Like if he’s Batman. He pulled me near my teachers desk and he humiliate and embarrassed in front of everybody. He said that my family had no right to be involved in my schedule. I felt embarrassed, humiliated, and incredibly frustrated. The next day, my family was outraged at my counselor and wanted to talk to the principal. But instead of the principal, we talked to the assistant principal, Justin Firehawk. He took the counselor side, saying that he met him for a year that he would never do that. After that useless meeting we just left because there was nothing else to do.

My son transferred to Sirrine Montessori Center as a former Montessori pre-K student, but he had also been at one of the top-rated Kyrene elementary schools for years prior. His kinder and first-grade teachers were amazing, but in the second grade he became very down, lost all his self-belief, and frequently told me he was the slowest and dumbest in his classes at the former Kyrene school. I asked him why he felt this way, or who had said any of that to him, and he would say it was just obvious. We spoke to his teachers and sent him to a counselor there, but no one seemed to know what we were describing. From a teaching friend I have, I learned I could ask to have him evaluated in case he had any learning disabilities or needs. I asked at least three times, and was told it would be arranged, but never was. Meanwhile, every single day when we picked him up he was unsmiling, worn out, defeated. I'd had him on waitlists at public Montessori elementary schools all during his second grade, and when we learned he was accepted at Sirrine I was beyond happy and relieved, not just for the Montessori elements, but also due to the smaller school and classroom sizes overall.He loves this school! (Well, as much as he will ever love going to school.) When I say he literally looked like his old self with the reduced stress, and no more of that completely defeated demeanor that first week, I'm not exaggerating. It was like he was a kid again, smiling, lighthearted, and at ease. As the year progressed, his teachers were both incredibly kind and encouraging to him, and they never waivered in giving support. His lead teacher stayed in regular contact with us (without us reaching out first) and I realized this is what it feels like to actually be partners with his education. He had some rough quarters grades wise, and she gave me tools and suggestions that made all the difference.And then, in the winter when he had the worst repeated/ongoing illness he's experienced by far, not only were his teachers there for him, but his school's office and health staff were incredibly supportive. I was so concerned about him, but not once were they anything but genuinely caring and calm while I was seriously worried.I am eternally grateful for SMC's staff and environment; it is truly an amazing group of people that make it so great.Caleb J's mom

This school used to be filled with kind and supportive staff, now, not so much. The new Principle Mike is pretty rude and so is their staff, quite a change compared to the past 20 years. Their early education teacher, doesnt know how to decide that a child is ready for kindergarten, but rather goes off her little test on paper with a pass or fail. Missed opportunities for kids who are intelligent and ready to learn, but may not know everything on their written test. Just not the school it used to be.