Back To School Night At Redwood High School in Larkspur
I’m a big fan of schools in Marin, and after attending Back To School Night at Redwood High School in Larkspur again last night, I’m even more impressed.
My oldest daughter graduated from Redwood last year, and her teachers and overall experience was terrific. She worked hard, and received an excellent education. She starts at UCLA in two weeks, and I’m sure she is well prepared for it, thanks to Redwood.
This was my fifth Back To School night at Redwood, and it consistently is a great experience. Redwood pulls students primarily from Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield, Greenbrae, and Ross.Parent involvement tends to be high at elementary and middle schools in all of these areas, and students are pretty focused.
The teachers though, are the real stars on Back To School night. The night is spent following your child’s schedule, ten minutes in each room, and each teacher gives a short presentation about themselves, the class, and what they hope to accomplish.
I am always amazed at the energy, enthusiasm, and absolute desire they bring to their jobs. Most of them are there by 7:15 in the morning, and available for consultation. They stay late, on some nights until 6 pm. They are all available by email, have “homework hotlines” with the day’s assignment on it updated daily, and are very responsive to parent questions or concerns.
Occasionally you read negative press about teachers. They’re lazy, overpaid, tenure is bad, etc. Not these ones. They don’t get paid much - many can’t afford to live in Marin County, which is a real shame - but their dedication is amazing.
One quick story. My oldest daughter had pneumonia last spring, and missed an entire week and a half of school. Her teacher, Robert Winkler, called one day and I answered the phone. I immediately began explaining she was sick, still keeping up with her assignments, and he cut me off. “I was just worried about her and wanted to make sure she was ok,” he said.
I have a client right now who teaches first grade in the Dixie Schools. She thinks she and her husband can’t afford a home here. I told her nothing would make me happier than to help a teacher get into a home in Marin. We’re getting close!
