Buckner Preparatory

Admittedly, I thought that Nova Academy (Dallas location) was a good school. Unfortunately, there are many areas that require improvement. The school has wonderful teachers, highly skilled with a strong desire to education children. However, the administration definitely is in need of being changed or receive the proper leadership training. The children at Nova Academy (Dallas location) are just like students all over, they are eager to learn and deserve the best high quality educational experiences.

There staff is very nice and supportive of the parents and students

Staff needs to worry about the wellbeing of the student and not the parent. As long as the child is doing remarkably, don’t worry about the parent. Keep your comments to yourself. Be professional and respectful. There should be a meeting held for the staff of how to conduct themselves while dealing with the children’s’ parents. They often have sarcastic or obnoxious responses. Everyone in the staff should 100% be in attendance, including principal.

My experience at this school was highly unsatisfactory. As a teacher, I witnessed firsthand numerous issues within the school. The school leadership, including the Principal and Assistant Principals, consistently neglected the needs of both teachers and students. Teachers were frequently compelled to cover each other's classrooms to address behavioral problems, diverting valuable teaching time. Moreover, the school failed to prioritize student safety adequately. For instance, during a shootout across the street at the high school, the administration did not initiate a lockdown, despite the shooter being at large in the area. Shockingly, the school administration attempted to conceal their own mistakes and avoid informing parents about incidents involving safety, sexual harassment, or violence. The behavior of the students in all grade levels was appalling, leading to teachers spending more time on discipline than on actual teaching, resulting in an educational disadvantage for the students. If you are considering teaching at this school, I strongly advise against it, as the teachers there universally dislike it. Similarly, if you are contemplating sending your child to this school, I would discourage it. Throughout the school year, several students left unnoticed, walking home in the middle of the day. The class sizes are unreasonably large, preventing students from receiving the attention they deserve. Ultimately, the responsibility for these issues lies with the Principal, Dr. Adreana Davis, as well as DISD and the education system as a whole. While this system appears to perpetuate failure among black and brown students, it is the duty of the leadership to prevent such circumstances, which unfortunately Dr. Davis and her administration fail to support. Many teachers at Guzick are subjected to physical and emotional abuse by students, creating an intolerable environment.

SPSA is a safe and vibrant school where students love to learn and play. Family engagement is central to the school’s model and holistic approach to education. The teachers are passionate about their work and catering to their students’ learning styles. The SPSA community is warm and welcoming and any new member (student, parent, staff) is immediately made to feel right at home. If you’re looking for a school for your child or to work in a community where you will surely make a difference, I encourage you to call for more information (214) 381-4973.