In 2020 I was a career paraeducator for LWSD. My son was an 11th grader at RHS. When schools closed…read moreon March 11, 2020 this would be the last time my son would see school. They never issued a laptop or hotspot to connect to online learning. I believe they did this because in March of 2018 I saw egregious harm of students with disabilities at the middle school I worked at. Following the law I filed a mandatory report. The district did not fully investigate and brushed it under the rug and I was instantly retaliated against(like my fellow coworkers-paras warned me I would be). At first I dealt with it, when I did not leave the district went after the learning access of my own Autistic son. Denying him access to dyslexic reading curriculum and failing to provide him with a post high school transition plan. They also denied him field trip access during his Junior year to go to Digipen. Despite being one of the first to turn in his permission slip to go, I was told the next day the field trip was full. Which was a lie. So in February of 2020 I filed an OSPI complaint against district on behalf of my son. Within two weeks the pandemic started. OSPI would go on to error on complaint, the district never did the corrective action. I filed a second complaint to OSPI on June 12, 2020 because of no learning, no services like OT and Speech from March 11 to the end of school year in 2020. OSPI ruled in favor of the district despite my son not learning one second from March till the end of June, disconnected that entire time with no access to laptop or hotspot to access online learning. The district covered this up, the parents of the students I saw harmed over and over again were never notified. Again it was not fully investigated and I was not the first person to report on this teacher. They violated the educational and civil rights of every student in the Transition room at RMS. I was told by other employees when I transferred it had been going on for years and I was not the first to say something. This district HARMS DISABLED STUDENTS. I witnessed it. They have a history. A history they do not want anyone to ever learn about. Please homeschool if you can or private school. Do not trust this school or anyone in the Special Needs Parent PTSA. I used to also be a member of that advisory council. Everyone in that group in 2020 knew what was happening to my son and I. They chose not to speak up. Please find another school district. This school operates with a "key communicator network". They will not care to cause harm if you try to follow the law and speak up for students. For proof I uploaded a snippet of my mandatory report I filed. Stamped. Again brushed under the rug and never investigated and never shared with parents of students in the Transition room. No accountability, no transparency. The district, more specifically the leaders in the special education department and Holmen and those superintendents who have come and gone, broke laws and took away the rights of students with disabilities. As punishment for me following the law of my job, they took away the access for my Autistic son, a Junior at the time to graduate. They took away is last four years (until 21) of schooling. He would never graduate. He would never access a post graduation Transition program. His name was Marley Smith - mine Tracy Smith. They destroyed my son's overall wellness and happiness and the trauma he went through, well I write this to warn others so it doesnt happen to your child, especially if you work for the school district. Also don't post on the non-LWSD Facebook group called Parents of Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers. I thought it was a private group only to find out it was not just parents in group, sitting board members were on that group during the time I was being retaliated. It is a group to spy on parents and students. It is a group that should have never been allowed to continue. It was created by an employee. One I used to work with who was a librarian, she may have had good intentions, but bottom line the creation of that FB group went against employee policy. Yet the district did not care because again they could use it to spy on community and students who may not see things the same way the district does. I do believe the group is still in existence. For your protection please do not join that group, what you type there will be seen by the district and if your an employee's your supervisors will also have access to see.

Policy Review: Reasserting Parental Rights and Academic Focus…read moreThis review addresses the recent initiatives within the lake Washington school district concerning the integration of gender identity and sexual orientation topics into the curriculum and school environment. I'm drawing attention to Horace Mann Elementary in particular. While inclusion is a necessary community value, the current approach represents a significant overreach that undermines the authority of parents and distracts from our schools' fundamental academic mission. Lack of Parental Transparency and Consent The most alarming aspect of these initiatives is the systemic lack of transparency and collaboration with parents. Sensitive topics related to gender confusion are being introduced to students without prior notification, easily accessible resources, or, in some cases, without the ability for parents to opt their children out of these topics being discussed very openly at school. Education on deeply personal values belongs first and foremost to the family, and the district is obligated to act in partnership with parents, not in opposition to them. Any policy that encourages staff to withhold information from parents regarding a child's identity or emotional state creates an unacceptable breach of trust between the home and the school. Age Appropriateness and Curriculum Drift We must question the age-appropriateness of the materials being used, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels. Introducing complex, abstract concepts about sexuality and gender identity at young ages risks confusing children and exposing them to emotionally mature content before they are ready to process it. It's also causing a divide between students socially and if they don't believe it's ok to become the opposite gender that they were born as or date the same gender, they are being bullied by kids who are confused by this. Furthermore, this increasing focus on social and ideological issues is causing an undeniable drift away from core academic subjects. Our district's primary responsibility is to ensure every student graduates with strong foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, and science. Resources--including classroom time, teacher training hours, and budget--that are diverted toward social engineering detract directly from measurable academic achievement. Call to Action I urge the school board and district administration to immediately review and revise all current policies related to these topics. We demand: 1. Mandatory Parental Opt-In/Out: Clear, simple mechanisms for parents to consent to or decline participation in non-academic instruction regarding gender and sexuality. 2. Increased Transparency: Full disclosure of all training materials, external consultants, and library resources related to these topics. Students at this age shouldn't have to books showing girls kissing girls. 3. Refocus on Academics: A commitment to prioritize the core curriculum and ensure that all classroom time is dedicated to rigorous academic instruction. 4. Create an environment where kids aren't bullied for not supporting Lgbtq so they feel safe coming to school again The district needs to step back and remember its role: to educate academics, not indoctrinate, and to support parents, not circumvent them.

oth our kids have attended Cascadia since PreK. We had heard about this wonderful institution from…read moreour colleagues and were very intentional in our choice. Mrs Keeton's leadership and high bar for the teachers and students is amazing. Cascadia provides our kids with a safe environment (home away from home) where there is focus on academic rigor but also on whole child development. Mrs Keeton and all the teachers/staff genuinely care for the children and set a high bar for them both academically and socially. It is also very well recognized amongst other middle/high schools of the region (Overlake, EPS, Lakeside, Eastside Catholic etc) and Cascadia alum have made great impressions at these schools. If you are looking for a nurturing yet academically rigorous school, this is your place!

My both kids attended Cascadia and we thoroughly enjoyed our journey through Cascadia. Cascadia…read morenot just provides strong academic environment, but also overall development of the child - development in terms of social, emotional, public speaking, creative writing, confidence building, respect for others. The director of the school knows each child personally and involves actively in the child's development. Cascadia is a small, closed, connected community which differentiates Cascadia from many other schools in the area. Some might consider the smaller school size and lack of at-school activities to be drawbacks, but that did not bother us as our kids always had time to pursue their interests outside school as well. Our kids are not at Cascadia anymore, but they look forward to meeting teachers and other kids at every opportunity possible. Even after our kids graduated from the school, parents still try to keep in touch and help each other. We are pretty fortunate that our kids attended Cascadia and thankful to teachers and Mrs. Franklin.

Incredible school and staff. We were looking for a bilingual school for my oldest son so he could…read morelearn Spanish. I also loved the mindfulness and breathing they bring into everything. The school is run by parents who truly care, and even set up amazing after school care and activities for the kids. Highly recommend!

Amazing little school, all the teachers are so attentive, caring and professional. My daughter…read moreleaves easily in the mornings, and wants to stay as late as possible - what could be a better signal!

My son has been going there. I see a marked improvement in his comprehension and essay writing…read more One of main challenge was to get him to use English words instead of Gen Z slang. Ann is a truly amazing and genuine person, who cares about the kids and parents equally. Tony my son's tutor has been so amazing, patient and so much empathy for him. The best thing is that my son looks forward to going to Brightmont. Truly happy with Brightmont. Highly recommend giving them a try, you never know that may be the missing piece, before it all clicks for you kid.

A wonderful school that offers self paced one-on-one instruction with kind staff and workers…read more Excellent for students seeking more support/credits academically. Also a great place for kids that struggle with the distractions and noise of big class sized schools. Brightmont Academy offers flexible scheduling with the seamless ability to transition from in-person classes to online classes.

Unprofessional, not compassionate, only offers Islamic education to children they deem "perfect",…read moreas in NO HANDICAPS. No compassion, hardly a reflection of Islamic values. If you believe all children have worth, and deserve an Islamic education you may wish to rethink Madina Academy. My child is still living with the scars this place gave him.

Worked formerly as a teacher here so this comes from my own personal views and opinions, although I…read morecan say that many former colleagues would agree with me... I can say with confidence this school is the worst school I have ever seen, been to, or worked at. To start, the tuition rate is outrageous, they have a turnover rate of almost 50% of staff every year, and they barely pay teachers with Masters and PHD's a living wage. In working at public schools before this, I can say the curriculum here is substantially worse and far less engaging. Parents get scammed into thinking this is some elite school for gifted kids. Your child will be far better off at any public school than here. Save your money for a good college or a real private school, not this horrendous place that calls itself a "school". PS after paying over $30,000 a year per child for tuition, that doesnt even cover school lunches, field trips, or any after school enrichment opportunities or activities. They just want your money, and if you pay enough I am sure they will give your kid amazing grades without them having to learn anything! (The school will pressure teachers to give students better grades so it will reflect better on them and make student look more capable than they are)

I'm so glad that we chose BCA a year ago and here's why:…read more 1) I see my son's remarkable progress in Math. Thanks to the engaging curriculum and teacher helps kids to build a solid foundation. Learning is fun. Each kids has their personalized math journal books. 2) Presentation skills have blossomed, with lots of opportunities to present in front of peers. Each child seeks the spotlight, showcasing their ideas with confidence. 3) The peer groups are exceptional, with students excelling in various fields like ice hockey, chess, dance, art performance, etc. 4) The school culture fosters a sense of inclusivity and compassion, emphasizing that everyone is a winner. My son's desire to raise funds for street kids reflects the school's values of community contribution. Special thanks to Mrs. Wilson, our classroom teacher. Not only myself but I've heard from several other parents in this class mention how much the kids love her.