The Gordon School of Beth David Congregation

My experience with this school has been deeply disappointing and concerning. Instead of being a supportive and nurturing educational environment, the school has become a place where many children—especially those with academic difficulties—are made to feel overwhelmed, insecure, and discouraged rather than supported and helped.There is a noticeable lack of empathy and patience among a large portion of the teaching staff. Several teachers display poor attitudes, little understanding, and a harsh approach that intimidates students and negatively impacts their self-esteem. Rather than motivating children to grow and learn, they are made to feel incapable and constantly pressured.This culture appears to stem from the school’s leadership. Beginning with the principal Barbara Martin, the school’s methodology seems to support a rigid and emotionally insensitive approach, where academic pressure outweighs students’ emotional well-being and individual needs.Additionally, there is clear evidence of favoritism. Certain students—particularly children of teachers or school staff—receive preferential treatment, leadership roles, and opportunities that are not equally available to other students. This creates an unfair, exclusionary, and discouraging environment for the rest of the student body.The overall school climate is negative and unhealthy: poor communication with families, lack of emotional support, minimal inclusivity, and an absence of genuine concern for students’ mental and emotional health. As a parent, it is extremely troubling to witness how this environment damages children’s confidence and their relationship with learning.I would not recommend this school to families seeking a safe, equitable, and compassionate educational environment for their children.

Warning to Other Parents: Unclear and Unfair Award PracticesAt our 5th grade graduation the school handed out over 50 trophies with completely unclear criteria for academic awards.My son was the top performer in Math, one of the strongest in Science, and earned multiple perfect FAST scores. Yet he received zero recognition.He left frustrated and feeling helpless. He is now questioning the worth of hard work and top results, and feeling deeply disappointed in the institution he once trusted.Parents, academic excellence is not reliably rewarded here. Do not assume the awards reflect real performance. The process feels arbitrary and unfair.Demand better transparency and standards for our kids.

We were very excited to get in this school. You have to get lucky to win the lottery and it is the best public school in the area. Teachers in kindergarten are amazing and our little one learned a lot during her first year in Ada Merrit. School staff is very nice for the most part. The only person who really ruins the impression about the school is Patricia Marty. She is one of the ladies who works in the front office, she processes excuse notes for absences. She never does it on time, it takes several emails and reminders in person for her to do her job. And every time she will give you an attitude. She is the rudest person in the whole school. The principle should have a conversation with her. I hope my kids don’t get sick so I don’t have to deal with her. Otherwise it is an amazing school.

My daughter started the Gordon School at 12 months and is currently enrolled still. As part of the ECC community, my daughter has grown and developed in a way I could have only dreamed. She is now speaking both Spanish and English and looks forward to going to school everyday. When it is time to go home, she never wants to leave-if she could sleep at the Gordon School and go home with her teachers I think she would. Not only are the teachers INCREDIBLE in the sense of love, warmth nurture and academics, they love each child like they are their own. When I was looking for schools for my daughter I saw the outdoor space, the garden and the trees and was immediately sold. As parents, we have made lifelong friends and are happy to belong to a community as welcoming, fun and warm as the Gordon School community. There are so many opportunities to be involved in the community and the school-its also been beautiful to watch my 2.5 year old cover her eyes during the shema and learn the traditions of Judaism at such an early age. Another huge plus is the security...I drop my child off every day and I know that she is safe.I would recommend the Early Childhood center to any and all families.

Terrible principal. So many people have left because of her. It’s so sad what this school has become.