At Potter-Thomas, change the only constant
by Gustavo Martínez on May 02 2010
For the past eight years at Potter Thomas Elementary School, the only constant has been change.
As a low-performing school, it was turned over toEdison Schools in 2002. But because it made little improvement, it was taken away from Edison in 2008.
During and after Edison’s tenure, Potter-Thomas has had a total of six principals. This year, parents finally got one they liked and who seemed to be making a difference. Since Dywonne Davis-Harris came in September, there has been a palpable change in school climate and a renewed focus on academics.
“With this new principal, we have seen an improvement overall, even in the behavior of the students,” said Guadalupe Tovar, who has three children at the school.
But now, as a designated Renaissance School, Potter Thomas is facing yet another upheaval, just as parents thought they had found some stability. The school is in line to be matched with one of five possible outside providers – all of which would convert the school into a charter.
Parents – the school is 95 percent low-income and 78 percent Latino – are worried about what becoming a charter will mean.
“Now there’s resources for parents and kids,” said Elizabeth Álvarez, whose
“With this new principal, we have seen an improvement overall, even in the behavior of the students,” said Guadalupe Tovar, who has three children at the school.
But now, as a designated Renaissance School, Potter Thomas is facing yet another upheaval, just as parents thought they had found some stability. The school is in line to be matched with one of five possible outside providers – all of which would convert the school into a charter.
Parents – the school is 95 percent low-income and 78 percent Latino – are worried about what becoming a charter will mean.
“Now there’s resources for parents and kids,” said Elizabeth Álvarez, whose
