956 E Villa St
Pasadena, CA 91106

My son just completed 6th grade and, as he is an artist, is learning so much from, not only his art and drama classes, but from the after school conservatory. He is taking two fine art/drawing classes, stop motion animation. As I have no artistic talent, he is getting much needed direction, support, and encouragement. In addition, he is getting strong core curriculum instruction. The conservatory, along with the Capturing Kids Heart program, have created a vibrant, kind, calm, and enriching environment for students to learn.A new principal was placed this year and has acclimated easily and taken the helm. I look forward to her increased attention on academics and insuring that students are being fully challenged academically as they are artistically.

Ever since the new Principal Juan Ruelas arrived in August, 2015, the school has been transformed, even though there was been a backlash of Teacher Union agitators and labor attorney's trying to protect some incompetent teachers who spend more time pushing their political agenda than educating the kids. The local media is complicit with City Councilman Victor Gordo (who is a Labor Attorney himself) and his staff Vannia de la Cuba who together with her husband, Esteban Steve Lizardo (another Labor Attorney) have used the school, kids and community for personal political gain. You see, Gordo, Lizardo, Pasadena employee Vannia de la Cuba fight for teachers that are NOT even good enough for their own kids and have done everything in their power to attack the new Principal EVEN BEFORE HE ARRIVED AT THE SCHOOL. Then there's another character aligned with these status quo incompetents; Pablo Alvarado - who heads the $10 an hour Labor Center on Lake Ave. Pablo lost his keys to the school and has been on a rampage since to disrupt the school. Together with the bogus civil rights attorneys Dale Gronenmeier and Hickambottom, (who could be respected if they actually represented the kids who have been failed by the previous leadership of the school) all these people listed above are what is worst in our community. They fight against what is best for kids and only care about their political power. Sound familiar? For now, you'll need to go to the school yourself to see that the kids are no longer running down the halls. Teacher's are no longer sneaking in and out of their classroom windows.... and there is actually now a climate of safety, respect and responsibility which these previous influencers listed above hoped would not occur. FINALLY.... there is hope for the children of Madison School. In the meantime, the City needs to be more vigilant with the after school use of the campus by Pablo Alvarado and his middle aged soccer friends who have forced themselves onto the campus with the help of Gordo and Vannia de la Cuba. There are numerous reports that beer bottles, drug paraphernalia, condoms, trash left on campus as possible payback? Mayor Tornek may too be complicit as he tries to appease the Teacher Union bullies and their allies.

The librarian did not help me with my chromebook