Sessums Elementary School

As a lifelong educator ( teacher, administrator, University staff and most importantly a grandparent) I find this school and staff very professional and accessible. I appreciate all the additional activities provided for family engagement. THe instructional program is varied according to the student's needs.

I am was a student at this school through pre k to 5th and I loved coming to school almost every day and the teachers were always there for me and everyone. And I never seen or heard of any fights. If you’re in the area you should go to this school. At the time I am righting this I’m in 8th grade in Don Giunta middle school.

This school was a nightmare for my daughter. She advanced to third grade without learning what she should have learned academically, and the emotional impact was severe.The environment at Collins Elementary School was toxic and damaging. My 7-year-old lived in constant stress and fear, worrying daily about what might happen at school. No child should feel unsafe or anxious in a place meant to educate and protect them.On top of that, the school misclassified and documented my daughter inappropriately, treating a bullying situation as something extreme and alarming. The language used by school staff and counselors was completely disproportionate and harmful for a 7-year-old child. At no point was my daughter a danger, yet the situation was handled in a way that caused unnecessary fear and trauma while failing to address the actual bullying.The lack of leadership was deeply disappointing. Despite being informed multiple times, Principal Rebecca Sargable failed to take meaningful corrective action. Concerns were minimized, dismissed, or mishandled rather than resolved.The classroom experience was also unacceptable. Teacher Stephanie Hanshaw failed to provide effective instruction and instead contributed to an environment of accusations and unequal treatment among very young children. As a result, students did not receive the academic foundation they should have, and the classroom environment deteriorated.My daughter is now at a different school, and the difference is night and day. She is learning, thriving, and no longer experiencing fear or anxiety. This clearly shows that what she endured was not normal—it was a direct result of Collins Elementary’s school culture.I would not recommend Collins Elementary School to any family who values safety, emotional well-being, fairness, and quality education.