Blake St
El Cerrito, CA 94530

This is our fourth year with El Cerrito High School and we've been extremely happy. My kids both went to K-8 in another district, where test scores are sky-high but there is little to no real diversity. We were excited to send them to a school where the student body better reflected the diverse Bay Area community and the real world. The teachers at El Cerrito High are talented and committed. The James Morehouse Project (the student wellness/mental health support center) is a godsend for teens going through the ups and downs of adolescence. The PTSA is dedicated to helping make the school as supportive a place as possible for students and teachers. Principal Norrington is an outstanding school leader--he's extremely communicative; cares deeply about the students; is equally committed to helping support academics, sports, and the arts; and leads the school with integrity. My youngest is graduating this year and she's grown academically and personally thanks to her experience at El Cerrito High.

We've been happy with our kid's experience at Madera. No school is perfect, but this one has a lot of great things going for it.1. The teachers we've had have been wonderful and caring. My kid has learned a lot and enjoys showing up for class every day.2. The community funds a lot of enrichment programs, like gardening class, music class, field trips, and special assemblies - along with classroom supplies and extra reading support.3. Principal Ranch genuinely cares about the school, teachers, and students. I was surprised/impressed at how much he cares about getting students' opinions on things that impact their experience there.4. I see a lot of family involvement - there are so many parents in the community who help out with substitute teaching when needed, spend time in the classroom, and also help outside of the classroom (for things like school cleanup projects).5. There's a great after school program that's conveniently on campus, and there are several enrichment programs offered throughout the year (chess, art, science, improv, sports, you name it).

I worked at Korematsu as a student teacher for the first semester of my teaching credential and it was a terrible experience. This is largely due to the bitter and negative mentor teacher that I worked with, Diana Jenkins. She has a negative reputation at Korematsu for being controlling--something that is very apparent after only a brief period of time spent working with her. While working with her, she would constantly complain, sharply badmouthing both staff and students. Teachers should not engage in arguments or quarrels with children. Nor should they sharply rebuke or criticize staff for trivial things when students are nearby. Her behavior and persona were so bad that I switched mentor teachers before the semester was over. If anyone has a child or relative that is assigned to Diana Jenkins for physical education, the best thing for them to do is to switch out of her class as soon as possible.