PPEP Tec - Celestino Fernandez Learning Center

Posted: April 13, 2014

Serves low income students, many of whom have been expelled from multiple other schools. PROs: has both day and night school; some exceptional teachers; competent Principal and VP (albeit somewhat inexperienced -- called "Lead Teachers"); many bilingual teachers; low attendance means students can get individualized attention; not cliquish; computer labs are decent, with over 40 new computers available and a strong IT department. CONs: attendance is atrocious; top-down management stifles creative solutions from teachers and Leads; security and counseling services are inadequate; electives very limited; shortage of physical space (classrooms, desks and computers are shared for most teachers). Enrollment ($$) drives management practices, which means expelling truly bad students (verbally attacking teachers, bringing weapons to school, 10 referrals within a semester, vandalism, etc) is problematic. Admins are often forced to cater to students who should be expelled, in the interests of funding - completely undermines disciplinary practices. Too bad, because about half the students actually want to learn. Things are improving under recent Leads but upper mgmt needs to change.