Paul Banks Elementary School

This school has some phenomenal teachers, and it has some human beings who should never be allowed to even volunteer in a classroom. My child has loved school and grown steadily intellectually for two years at this school, asking us incessantly over breaks, “Is there school tomorrow?” That all changed when he entered 1st grade into a lazy, red, bigoted teacher who has a history of mistreatment of boys and constantly giving busy work that had already been learned in kindergarten. My child now makes statements like, “I am a failure” and “I am bad at math.” This is a first-grade child! Other local educators refuse to allow their child to enter her classroom. The brand-new principal is more concerned with his ego than the best interest of the students and defends her regardless of the evidence showing regression. This school has burned out teachers sprinkled throughout and, as of this year, a burned-out high school teacher as a principal. No child deserves to be emotionally abused and have their education stolen from them through a plethora of worksheets that belong in the previous grade. Who wants to roll the dice on their child’s education or emotional wellbeing?

I have loved this Homer school for my 3 kids, two of whom are still attending. We transferred in mid-year from homeschooling three years ago and it was a good transition. My son with special needs has had comprehensive evaluations offered and support provided. The team includes the parents in all decisions. Teachers have been utterly amazing at dealing with different needs of kids in the classes. Two of mine are also identified as gifted. Even without a gifted program for the younger ones, the teachers have been able to provide extra challenges as needed to keep my kiddos engaged. By 2nd grade they currently offer pullouts for gifted kids to do some extra stuff. Even the placement of kids with specific teachers has impressed me. The staff knows their strengths and what each child needs. The new principal, Eric Pederson, began about 3 years ago and is AWESOME. He's already been nominated for "LifeChanger of the Year" for 2016/2017. You can see all his praise on that website. Expansive playground, new outdoor classroom, plenty of after school offerings through the PTA, active and organized PTA, swim lessons every year for all grade levels, music, PE, science, new violin program. The classroom teachers have all been respectful of personal/religious differences and supportive of our special diet. They have gone out of their way to see my kids each succeed. I can't think of a single complaint of this school. We have been probably one of the harder families to accomodate, so that says a lot.