Willa Cather Elementary School

I used to go to this school a few years ago thinks were mostly fine besides a few teachers not taking things seriously. Though when my sister went there she claimed to be harassed by multiple teachers. Due to my sisters mental health issues her teachers had little to no hope in her. I'm seriously disappointed.

Cody Elementary presents itself as warm, child-centered, and collaborative but this image is paper-thin. Beneath the surface lies a deeply dysfunctional culture defined by emotional neglect, professional isolation, and unchecked disrespect.Teachers who walk into Cody expecting a supportive team or even basic collegial courtesy are often met with silence, exclusion, and passive hostility. Staff interactions are frequently cold and transactional. Simple kindnesses, like saying good morning or offering help, are rare. Some teaching teams operate more like social cliques than collaborative units. Information is hoarded rather than shared, and new staff are often left to figure things out on their own while their “partners” look the other way.There is an unspoken hierarchy at Cody; if you don’t conform to the existing culture, if you’re too compassionate, too conscientious, too emotionally attuned, you become a target for subtle forms of mistreatment. It’s not always loud or overt. It’s the quiet cruelty of being consistently left out of conversations, ignored in meetings, and treated like an outsider.Even more troubling is the behavior of certain support staff. There are individuals in this building who speak to both colleagues and students with open disrespect. Yelling at children, condescending tones, and public reprimands are not rare occurrences; they're routine. And they are tolerated. Leadership has yet to demonstrate that emotional safety, especially for children, is a priority that goes beyond empty slogans.While there are a few genuinely kind individuals in the building staff who bring light and care to their roles, the toxicity of the overall culture overshadows these moments. Instead of fostering connection and trust, Cody has created a work environment that breeds isolation, anxiety, and burnout. It is emotionally unsafe for anyone with sensitivity, empathy, or trauma-informed values.If you’re a parent, ask yourself: What kind of energy are my children absorbing from the adults around them?If you’re an educator: Prepare to navigate the job alone, unless you’re willing to emotionally disappear into the culture of silence.Cody Elementary looks safe on the outside. But what happens behind the scenes tells a very different story.

Unfortunately growing up without a father made me resent the days where students dads could come and spend the whole day at the school, and unfortunately as a child with mental health problems, being punished for them instead of being heard made this elementary school difficult to go through. I was a new student when I was 9, and left the school at 11. I was young for my grade and definitely needed some extra help. UNFORTUNATELY having a mean and disrespectful principal did not help any of that . I used the word unfortunately a lot because this school definitely has potential but does not reach it and will not without new staff and new admin.

My children have attended Catlin since 2018 and it is the best school in OPS!! Classroom sizes are small which is great for learning! Students began learning the violin in second grade, band is offered in 5th grade and chorus. The PTA is very engaged and create fun family events creating a sense of community at Catlin. Catlin is a small school with the biggest heart, best teachers staff and support for students and families!

I had 2 children go to this school. The teachers at Oak Valley are fantastic. You can tell they enjoy what they do & try their best to meet the needs of each of their students. The class sizes are smaller & the building is really nice. Truely a gem among OPS