Forty-Second Street Elementary School

Great school my son loves it! My son feel safe here

I am very pleased with Transfiguration Elementary School in Los Angeles. My son has attended Transfiguration since he was just 2 years old. Over the years, I have seen remarkable growth in him—academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. The school has always maintained a strong curriculum with high expectations for student learning, while also recognizing and supporting individual student needs. Academically, my son is a high achiever, and I am incredibly proud of him. That success is not by chance; it is the result of dedicated teachers, faculty, and staff who are highly qualified, deeply caring, and genuinely invested in each child’s success. They know their students well, take the time to support them, and consistently go above and beyond to help them thrive.One of the greatest blessings of Transfiguration is its low staff turnover, which creates a stable, unchanging, nurturing environment. Because of this, my son is well known by his teachers and feels safe, comfortable, and confident at school. The environment is structured and disciplined, helping students develop self-discipline, strong morals, and good character. Character education and community are clearly valued—students learn respect, responsibility, and compassion for others alongside their academic subjects. In addition, Transfiguration offers enriching programs in STEM, music, and the arts, all aimed at helping children become the very best versions of themselves.At the heart of it all is the principal, Mrs. Rickenbacker, who truly is the maestro behind the school’s success. She is both personable and highly professional, and she thoughtfully oversees every aspect of the school with care and vision. In my opinion, Transfiguration Elementary is one of Los Angeles’ best-kept academic secrets. It is a place where children are challenged, supported, and formed into well-rounded, confident young people. Many of whom (students) graduate and attend top high schools. I am beyond grateful that my son has been able to grow up in such a loving and purposeful school community.

The principal Priscialla Doorbar is a poor excuse of an individual let alone principal. She has no empathy for the kids or staff, and she has a very old school mentality of taking care of things. She needs to retire and get out of the field all together. The students are afraid and all highly highly dislike this woman. I pray she gets terminated or locked up for the way she treats the kids. This woman has no place in this type of role. I hope LAUSD can replace her with a more level headed individual who uses kindness and empathy instead of harshness when dealing with young kids. Shame on her.