Bright Steps Forward

I walk with my little girl to pick up two of her sisters from the school and one day. I forgot the pick up paper in the car. We parked the car half a mile away. The two ladies that does release would not release my children although they see me every day pick up my kids. I was in tears. The ladies made me walk with my little girl back to the car, which was half a mile away for the paper had no empathy for me. (Single mom w 3kids)I kept saying I messed up. I’m sorry. They said they couldn’t help me because it was part of their rule to have the paper even though they know that I’m the mom and I walk every single day. it was just a sad feeling to go through this experience with my kids. Into this area, everything is very new to us. this made us not welcome

I am extremely disappointed with the leadership at Ramblewood Elementary School, specifically Principal Dacyany Ibarrondo.I recently had to address a very concerning situation involving my third-grade daughter. Another student in her class made a racially inappropriate and alarming statement to my child, saying that her father is a Coconut Creek police officer and that he arrests people who look like my daughter and would arrest her soon. This comment was deeply inappropriate and should have been taken seriously.My daughter responded by defending herself verbally. However, instead of focusing on the root issue—the racially charged comment made toward my child—there has been an attempt to label my daughter as a bully. This is especially concerning because both the assistant principal and my daughter’s teacher acknowledged that there was no bullying involved.Despite this, the principal’s response has felt dismissive and inappropriate. Rather than addressing the seriousness of what was said to my daughter, I feel that the situation is being mishandled, and I have felt threatened instead of supported as a parent advocating for my child.I teach my daughter to stand up for herself, and I will continue to do so. Situations like this should be handled with fairness, sensitivity, and accountability—not avoidance or intimidation.I strongly believe this matter deserves further review and investigation to ensure that all students are treated equally and protected from discriminatory behavior.

I am a former student from Maplewood, I would like to say that most of the teachers were nice but some administration could be a little less harsh on the students. Pretty much all of my necessities were met and resources were given. I was an honor's student and the gifted program could've been somewhat better but I learned a lot and my teachers were usually very supportive and good at what they do. I overall had a great time at Maplewood Elementary.

My child is in their ASD cluster for a few years.Last year, my child has endured a very challenging years. I have always had great things to say but at this point I don’t have anything nice to say about thing that has transpired at the school. My child was moved around teachers and excluded from activities. When communicate issues with staff and teachers, I was met with a lack of empathy and understanding. I was just til they could not handle my child and was told to send them somewhere else. The teachers and staff do not tell the truth about what happens through the day but are very quick to call to pick up your child when they don’t want to deal with them. I am choosing to remove my child from the school because his needs were not being met and due to inappropriate handling.

I wish I could rate this school with no stars. They say "fish rots from the head down" and the I'm sure head of this school is the issue. Zero organization. Unprofessional communication. Complete chaos. Just take a look at the condition of the Principal's office--that's a reflection of this school. After the tour it was easy to conclude that I'd never send my children here and never recommend any child to come here.

In my experience and in my opinion, It is a bad school with very poor leadership. Administration (principal, guidance counselor and curriculum coordinator) and some teachers are biased towards certain students and it is very noticeable. In this school, only a small group of students enjoy all the opportunities to be in clubs and activities (which is not much anyways) or have the priority if space is limited. Principal doesn't respond to emails or calls quickly and it is impossible to get a meeting with her. They yell to students on daily basis and give detention to students for everything and anything, always threatening them with detention. The school currently doesn't provide breakfast or lunch for the students. Good teachers don't last and some teachers are too old to teach considering it is an elementary school where kids are loud and energetic and of course that bothers them, even the administration. A Principal must be a young, energetic and full of new ideas who really like children if want to be a principal of an elementary school. A principal should always smile and have a positive attitude, always.